Tropical Papaya Refrigerator Cake

Serves 12
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Refrigerator Time: 8 hours

Ingredients
250 g cream cheese (one block)
300 ml pure cream
1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp vanilla paste or extract
1 1/2 packets Nice biscuits
300 g papaya, thinly sliced
1 x 440 g can crushed pineapple in juice, drained

To garnish:
Extra sliced papaya
1/4 cup flaked coconut, toasted
1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted

Method
With a hand-held mixer beat the cream cheese until smooth. Slowly add cream, beating to incorporate well as you pour, then continue to beat for 1 - 2 minutes until it thickens and holds soft peaks.
Add the condensed milk, vanilla and lemon juice to the cream and beat until the mixture begins to re-thicken and the beaters leave trails in the surface. Spoon 1/2 cup of the cream into a separate dish, cover and place in the fridge for toping the cake when it's ready to serve.
Line a 1.5 litre loaf tin with cling-wrap to cover the base and over-hang on all four sides. Spread 1/2 cup of the remaining cream in the bottom of the prepared tin and arrange a layer of biscuits on top, cutting a few into smaller pieces to fill any gaps. Dollop over a quarter of the cream (about 1/2 cup again) and spread to cover the biscuits. Top cream with a third of the papaya slices and a third of the drained pineapple.
Repeat with biscuits, cream and fruit for two more layers, then finish with a final layer of biscuits and the remaining cream.
Cover the surface of the cake with the over-hanging cling-wrap. Press gently to compress and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight – giving the biscuits plenty of time to soften.
When ready to serve, peel the cling-wrap off the top of the cake and invert onto a serving platter. Remove all cling-wrap and discard. Spread the top and sides of the cake with the reserved cream. Decorate with the coconut, almonds and extra papaya. Keep cake refrigerated until ready to slice and serve.

Tips:
To toast coconut and almonds, spread over a tray and bake for 5 - 6 minutes in an oven preheated to 180°C, or toss in a hot pan until just golden.
As long as the cream is thick enough to stay on the biscuits without running quickly off the edges it will do the job perfectly, however if you feel it's too thin at the end of Step 2 you can refrigerate it for an hour and beat again.
To cut biscuits into smaller pieces use a serrated knife in a sawing motion so they don't shatter or crumble.

Boost Immunity This Autumn With Healthy Fresh Papaya

The Australian papaya industry is experiencing a healthy harvest year, with the prediction of plenty of deliciously sweet fruit available all throughout the autumn flush. 

Dietitian Jemma O'Hanlon says that papaya boasts a wealth of health benefits and with the tasty tropical fruit in abundance, it's the perfect pick to help keep the whole family healthy. 

"Papaya is the perfect addition to your weekly shopping basket. One serving (150g) provides a healthy dose of folate, fibre, vitamin C and vitamin A, which helps keep your immune system, gut health and skin in-check. 

"Papaya also adds a refreshing and sweet twist to any dish, making it a versatile option the whole family will love" she added. 

Papaya can be enjoyed simply with a squeeze of lime or in a range of delicious ways – the taste and texture make it a refreshing contrast in everything from curries to cake, salad or your morning muesli or smoothie. 

Six reasons why you should be enjoying papaya this autumn, according to a dietitian: 

Immunity Strengthening: Papaya provides a whopping 225% of the daily intake for vitamin C which helps to support so many key functions of the body – iron absorption, growth and repair, and immunity. 
Waistline Friendly: At just 51 calories per serve, papaya is the perfect nutrient-rich snack or sweet tooth satisfier – enjoy on its own or with a squeeze of lime for added zest. 
Gut Health Boosting: Papaya contains dietary fibre which is good for your gut and digestive wellbeing. Just one serve contains 3.5g – the perfect fuel to help keep you feeling full! 
Mums and Bubs: Papaya is a source of folate which is great for mums, bubs and mums-to-be. Folate supports immunity, is essential for brain function and acts to reduce neural tube defects in unborn babies. The soft texture is also ideal for a baby's teething gums! 
Supports Glowing Skin: Important antioxidants found in papaya include cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin. These and vitamin C help to boost collagen formation and support healthy glowing skin. 

Boosts Hydration: Papayas are 90% water, so you can enjoy papaya as a way of meeting your hydration needs. The versatile tropical fruit will help keep you hydrated across the day - serve with muesli, sliced as a refreshing snack or tossed through a salad. 

President of Papaya Australia and Mareeba (QLD) papaya grower, Gerard Kath, says that despite a later start to the autumn peak, Aussies can expect plenty of fresh, tasty papaya in stores from April, thanks to the important role Aussie farmers play in helping to supply the nation with fresh and beautiful produce. 

"Although we had a dry start, the relatively below average wet season has helped the fruit to develop well and we're thrilled with quality hitting supermarket shelves - it's a nice size and deliciously sweet," he said. 

"We're excited for our customers to enjoy the fresh papaya coming onto the market now – they'll be able to find an abundance in their local supermarkets as well as any independent retailers or green grocers," he said. 

For delicious recipes and more information about papaya visit: www.australianpapaya.com.au