This unit, in Design and Technology, we have been looking at different food groups, produce from Brazil and made the final product alfajores.
We started the unit by getting the children to look at their own diet across the span of two days and investigate which food groups they could identify in their diet. We recapped the purpose of each food group and the amount you should have of each to have a balanced diet.
We then looked and a range of recipes from South America and identified the different food groups in each. We discussed which meal were the most/least healthy and why.
With every D&T topic, we explore a famous inventor. Our inventor was, Nicolas Appert, who was a French confectioner and inventor who, in the early 19th century, invented airtight food preservation.
We then explored the terms import and export and the types of food the UK imports from South America.
To finish the unit, we made alfajores – a traditional South American biscuit.
The children have thoroughly enjoyed this unit and getting to taste our final product was definitely the highlight.
Children have asked for the recipe so please find it below.
Ingredients
- 200g plain flour
- 300g corn flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 250g unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
- 150g caster sugar
- 3 large egg yolks
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 400g jar dulce de leche
Method
- STEP 1
Combine the flour, corn flour and baking powder together in a bowl. Using a food mixer or an electric whisk in another bowl beat the butter together with the sugar until very pale. Add the egg yolks followed by the vanilla extract. Beat in the dry ingredients until you have smooth dough. Wrap the dough in clingfilm and chill for a minimum of 1 hour. You can make the biscuit dough the day before and leave in the fridge.
- STEP 2
Line two large baking trays with baking parchment. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to the thickness of a pound coin then cut out 60 biscuits with a 5cm round or fluted cutter. Put the biscuits back in the fridge for 20 mins to firm up.
- STEP 3
Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Bake the biscuits for 8 mins until just set. You want the biscuits to stay pale with a crumbly texture. Leave to cool completely before sandwiching two biscuits together with a spoonful of dulce de leche.
