TURMERIC FUDGE + BONUS OMBRE CHIA PUDDING BY THE ARTFUL FOODIE (& Food of Thrones 2016 update)

As those of you who read my previous post or follow my Instagram account will be aware, I have unleashed my inner Game of Thrones-loving nerd and started a creative food challenge (known as #FoodofThrones2016). What began as a totally spontaneous and, dare I say it, self-indulgent exercise (in basically just letting my imagination roam free to create food around a fantasy theme), has become a fun means of sharing & collaborating with others. I joked from the start that it could be like participating in the creation of a virtual Westerosi feast (sans anything gruesome happening!), and indeed it has felt like that in some way; a celebration of both creativity and community. I have thoroughly enjoyed the process of creating food based on whimsy rather than trend, and I have been told by others that they have found the process fun too.

For each week of this Game of Thrones season, I’ll be setting a theme. The theme for week 1 was “Lannister“. This week’s theme is “magic” (spookily apt if you happened to see episode 2!). Before you read on, please note that there may be spoilers if you click on some of the Game of Thrones reference links in this post!

The contributions to the week 1 Food of Thrones challenge were fabulous. In amongst them were dedications to King’s Landing (where the Lannisters currently hold sway… well, sort of) pie references, The Purple Wedding and even The Mountain; all very creative and surprising sources of inspiration! Among the first of the contributions to the Lannister-themed challenge, if not the first, was a stunning Ombre Chia Pudding. And, as a result of the week 1 challenge bonus, I am thrilled to share the first guest recipe ever posted here, created by talented Emma, otherwise known as The Artful Foodie. Please read on for that beautiful and delicious recipe, inspired by a not-so-beautiful event!

But first, I’d love to share with you a creation made here at Marzipan HQ by myself and 3-year-old Lillian (who some of you may know as Cupcake); a delicious and super-easy-to-make turmeric fudge. I am sure most of you are well aware of the health benefits of turmeric, so I’ll spare you the details and get straight to the thing that Lillian cared most about; the taste. In her words, “It’s so yummy!”. I had a little creative fun with this too, turning a flattened piece of fudge into a House Lannister sigil, made to sit proudly atop a raw chocolate tart (dubbed the “Hear me raw” Lannister Pie) that was the amalgamation of a couple of slightly tweaked recipes by two fabulous foodie friends of mine; Audrey (of Unconventional Baker fame) and Bettina (of Bettina’s Kitchen). If you’d like to attempt making your own “golden” Lannister lion sigil, click on this link to download a traceable template. Otherwise, feel free to create a much simpler (and decidedly less nerdy) version, as per the directions below. And for more healthy food inspiration, please pay Emma a visit over at The Artful Foodie 

❤ MM xx

TURMERIC FUDGE

INGREDIENTS
120 ml unsalted almond butter or tahini
4 tbsp rice malt/maple syrup
4 tbsp melted coconut oil
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
2 tsp vanilla extract
400 ml ground quinoa oats

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Line a small baking pan with baking paper.
2. If you want to keep your fudge technically “raw”, make sure all your ingredients are at room temperature and stir them in a mixing bowl to combine (you could also use a food processor). Otherwise you can gently warm the wet ingredients in a medium pan over low heat to bring them together before adding the quinoa oats and turmeric, stirring well to combine.
3. Pop the fudge mixture into the lined baking tray. Use a spatula or the back of a large spoon to flatten the mixture. Try to create a smooth surface & even thickness.
4. It shouldn’t take long for the fudge to firm when chilled. To do it quickly, place it in the freezer for 5-10 minutes. Remove fudge from tray, cut as you like into squares, bars or candy-sized pieces.

*Use tahini or other seed butter in the case of nut issues. It’s delicious too, I promise!
**To make my “Lannister Lion sigil” (pictured below), I made a half portion of this fudge and flattened it out to approximately 3mm in thickness. After popping the tray in the freezer for a couple of minutes for the fudge to set to a “bark”, I used the template attached here, transferred onto baking paper, to cut around using a sharp, small knife.

OMBRE CHIA PUDDING

A beautiful homage to the not-so-beautiful Purple Wedding of Game of Thrones
By Emma, The Artful Foodie

INGREDIENTS

2 tbsp chia seeds
2 tbsp gf oats
250 ml oat milk/milk of choice
125 ml of yogurt of choice
125 ml of coconut cream
1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste
1 tbsp rice malt or maple syrup

BOTTOM LAYER
A handful of blueberries
1 tbsp acai powder

MIDDLE LAYER
1 tbsp raspberry powder  (or 125 ml of crushed raspberries)
1 tsp beetroot powder (optional)

TOP LAYER
1 tsp Forever Beautiful powder by Your Superfoods (optional)

TO DECORATE
Berries of choice plus edible flowers such as violas

DIRECTIONS

1. Firstly, pop a can of coconut milk in the fridge upside-down over night. The next day open from the top and drain away the liquid. Scoop out the thick coconut cream that should remain and whip, add a little vanilla bean paste as you go. Set aside. (Add a little sweetener to taste if you wish)
2. Add chia and oats into a bowl and add the milk, whisk briskly for a minute and then stir continuously until it starts to thicken (this prevents clumping) then allow to sit overnight or at least an hour in the fridge.
3. Take it out and add the sweetener and yogurt (add yogurt a little at a time to prevent it becoming too liquid) and then separate equally into 3 smaller bowls.
4. Add the acai and blueberries to the first bowl and mix well, mashing the berries as you go, then add to the bottom of your jar.
5. Add the raspberries or powders to the second bowl and mix well, pour over the first layer.
6. Then add the powder to the last bowl and add to the jar.
7. Top with the coconut cream, berries and flowers (optional)… Enjoy!

Many thanks to @healthyeating_jo, @foodbymars, @rachels.fit.kitchen, @plantfuelledchaos, @maaikesmunchies, @the_golden_hour_ and @ros13 for their fabulous contributions to the Food of Thrones Lannister-themed challenge! ❤