11.5.11
10.5.11
9.5.11
3.5.11
Treacle Tart with Créme Fraiche
Ingredients:
- PASTRY
- 225g /8oz plain flour
- Pinch salt
- 25g /1 oz fine sugar
- 115g /4oz very cold unsalted butter
- Cold water to mix
- FILLING
- 300g /10oz golden syrup
- 1 heaped tbsp black treacle
- Zest and juice of 1 unwaxed lemon
- 4 medium free range eggs
- 25g /1oz fresh bread crumbs
Preparation:
- Heat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/Gas 4
- Place the flour, salt, sugar and butter in a food processor. Pulse until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. With the processor running add the water a few drops at a time until the dough comes together. Remove the dough from the bowl and wrap in cling film and leave to rest in the fridge for an hour.
- Roll out the pastry and line a loose bottomed tart tin the place in the fridge for 30 mins.
- Meanwhile, mix together the golden syrup and treacle with the lemon juice. Beat the eggs in a bowl and add to the treacle mixture. Finally stir in the bread crumbs.
- Carefully pour the mixture into the prepared tart case.
- Bake for 20 – 25 minutes until the crust and filling are golden brown and firm to the touch.
- Serve warm with crème fraiche which balances really well with the sweetness of the tart or a good vanilla ice cream.
2.5.11
Wedding Pavlova
For the meringue base:
8 egg whites
Pinch salt
2½ cups superfine sugar
4 teaspoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon coconut extract
For the topping:
6 passionfruit
3 white peaches or nectarines
Juice of ½ lime
2½ cups heavy or whipping cream
1 cup shaved dried coconut
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and draw a rough 10 inch circle, using a springform of that size as a guide if you have one.
Whisk the egg whites and salt until satiny peaks form. Then beat in the sugar, tablespoonfuls at a time, until the meringue is stiff and shiny. Sprinkle over the cornstarch, vinegar and coconut extract, and fold in lightly. Mound on to the baking sheet within the circle, flatten the top and smooth the sides. Put in the oven and immediately reduce the heat to 300°F and cook for 1¼-1½ hours. It will have risen and cracked on the top and a little around the sides. If it is not dry and crispy on the outside give it a little longer. Then turn off the oven, open the door and leave to cool completely.
When you are ready to assemble the pavlova, blanch the peaches or nectarines in boiling water and slip off their skins. Cut the fruit in half and take out the pits, lay them in a shallow dish and squeeze over the lime juice to keep their color or “bleach” them. Invert the pavlova on to a plate and peel off the parchment paper – at least, that’s what I normally do, though I see from the picture I didn’t bother this time. But if the meringue base hasn’t crumbled too much, it is the best thing to do, as it means you swathe the marshmallowy top (ie the inverted bottom) with the cream, and the two seem to meld together. If all is too crumbly, don’t bother.
Whip the cream until thickened but still soft, and pile on top of the meringue, spreading it to the edges in a rough, swirly fashion. Cut the passionfruit in half, and scoop everything out into a sieve placed over a glass measuring cup and press through, so only the seeds remain in the sieve. Pour most of the juice over the swirly cream. Or just halve the passionfruits and scoop pulp, seeds and all, over the cream. Slice the blanched halved fruit into thin segments and arrange them on top of the cream and passionfruit juice. Then do a final pouring over of the remaining juice. Or, if you haven’t sieved the fruits, just give a little squeezing over of the empty shells.
Sprinkle the shaved coconut over the top of the pavlova, like wedding confetti.
http://www.cookstr.com/recipes/wedding-pavlova
Cinnamon Bun Babka
1 package active dry yeast
1 cup warm water
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup (11/2 sticks) melted margarine or butter, cooled, plus more for brushing
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Filling:
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup melted margarine or butter, cooled
Glaze:
1/4 cup water
2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 orange, zest finely grated
1 large egg white
Directions
To prepare the dough: In the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with a dough hook, dissolve the yeast in 1/4 cup of the warm water. Sprinkle in 1/4 teaspoon of the sugar and let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes.
Turn the mixer on low speed and add the remaining water, sugar, melted margarine, eggs, and salt. Add 2 cups of the flour and turn the speed up to medium; continue to mix until incorporated. Gradually add the remaining flour, and continue to mix until the dough holds together and pulls away from the sides of the bowl; the dough will be very soft.
Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface, until smooth and elastic. Rub the inside of a mixing bowl with the oil and put the dough in it, turning to coat. Cover with a towel or plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature for about 1 1/2 hours, until doubled in size.
To prepare the filling: Combine the brown sugar and cinnamon in a mixing bowl. Add the orange zest, raisins, walnuts, and melted margarine. Fold the ingredients together to combine.
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and brush with melted margarine.
Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface into a large rectangle, about 10 by 18-inches. Brush the surface of the dough with melted margarine and spread the filling evenly across. Roll the dough up, jelly roll-style, into a long cylinder, and twist it a few times like your wringing out a towel. Put the dough on the sheet pan and coil it around like a pinwheel, tuck the loose end of the dough under so it doesn't unravel. Brush the top of the dough with more melted margarine. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour until your kitchen smells like cinnamon, and the babka is golden brown. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, and then transfer to a wire rack.
To prepare the orange glaze: Mix the all the ingredients together in a bowl, until the sugar dissolves. Whisk the glaze to smooth out any lumps; drizzle it over the top of the babka while it is still warm.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/cinnamon-bun-babka-recipe/index.html
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