Category Archives: Desserts

Valentine's Day Menu: Dessert of Passionfruit & Mango Tartlets

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Passionfruit & Mango Tartlets

This is a really easy and quick dessert to make but is surprisingly satisfying at the same time ! I love the contrast between the tartness of the cinnamon greek yoghurt and the almond flavoured biscuits.

These tartlets can be made in mini tart tins but I am serving them in tall, pretty glasses here.

 (Serves 2)

Ingredients:

30g Amaretti biscuits

30g Digestive biscuits

30g Butter (melted)

150g Greek yogurt

1 Mango, diced

3 Passionfruit, seeds removed

½ teaspoon of ground Cinnamon

1 teaspoon Vanilla extract or the seeds scraped from 1 vanilla pod

A couple of sprigs of mint

1 tablespoon Icing sugar

Method:

  1. Place the biscuits in a food processor and whiz until broken up or place in a bowl and bash with the end of a rolling pin.
  2. Mix the butter in to the biscuits
  3. Pour the biscuit base into the bottom of the glasses and pat down
  4. Leave to chill in the fridge while you get on with the rest.
  5. Place the greek yogurt into a mixing bowl and add the cinnamon & vanilla extract. Whisk gently to combine.
  6. Prepare the fruit by combining the passionfruit with the mango.
  7. You can have everything prepared and in the fridge ahead of time up to this point.
  8. When you are ready to serve, place the greek yogurt mixture on to the biscuit base and spread out evenly.
  9. Pile the mango and passionfruit on top of the yogurt
  10. Place some small, young mint leaves on top and sprinkle the icing sugar over.

 

 

 

 

Flourless Chocolate & Almond Cake with Orange Ganache

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I know it’s January and indulgent an recipe is kind of going against the grain but as I stare out the window at freezing lashing rain and gale force winds, I just want the comfort and endorphin release of this cake! I LOVE this cake! Almond, chocolate, orange…what more can you want from a cake?

Ingredients:

200g butter

300g dark chocolate, broken into pieces

100g  Amaretti biscuits

200g ground almonds

350g sugar

8 eggs

Zest of 1 orange

For the Orange Ganache:

300g dark chocolate, at least 70 % cocoa solids

300ml cream

2 tablespoons Grand marnier or Cointreau

 

Method:

 

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C ,Fan 170°C ,Gas Mark 4, grease 2 spring 22 cm/9 inch release tins and line the bases with baking paper.
  2. Place the chocolate and butter in a bowl and stand over a saucepan of just simmering water until melted, ensuring the bottom of the bowl is not in contact with the water. Allow to cool slightly
  3. Put the biscuits, almonds and sugar into the food processor and blitz until all are finely ground, add the eggs (one at a time) and blitz again.
  4. Add the melted chocolate to the food processor and blitz, the sir in the orange zest.
  5. Pour half the mixture into each cake tin.
  6. Bake for about 35 minutes – when the cakes are ready, they will have risen started to crack at the top.
  7. Leave to cool for 10 minutes then release the clips. They will come out of the tin very easily. Allow to cool fully on a wire rack.
  8. Peel the paper off the bottom of the cakes and cut in half widthways.

For the Orange Ganache:

Place the cream in a pan over a gentle heat and bring to the boil.

Remove from the heat and add the chocolate & Grand Marnier. Stir until the chocolate has melted.

To assemble the cake:

Place one disc of the cake on a plate or cake stand and cover with some of the ganache

Layer the cakes on top of one another using the ganache in between each to hold each piece together.

Using a palette knife, spread the rest of the ganache over the cake. You can keep a jug of boiling water beside you to dip the palette knife into if it is getting a bit sticky.

Decorate with some of the orange zest sprinkled on top.

Mini Christmas Cakes

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Individual Mini Christmas Cakes

I have been making these mini Christmas cakes for about 5 years now and they always go down very well with both my family and with the students at my Christmas cookery classes.

I took inspiration from Nigella Lawson’s recipe for Christmas cake with the addition of chestnut puree. I like the texture and earthy flavour of it in these cakes but leave it out if you wish.

 I love these mini cakes for two reasons! Firstly, they are very quick and easy to make and don’t take weeks of planning in advance. You can decide to make them a couple of days before Christmas and make them at the drop of a hat! Secondly, I love individualising them for the various different members of my family. Sometimes I write everybody’s name on the top of each in icing.

If you are struggling to find mini cake tins, just do what I did and use empty tuna tins! I also use mini loaf tins too.

You can of course make just one large Christmas cake if you would prefer. If doing one cake, use a 9” tin and increase the baking time to 1 ½ hours.

Mini Christmas Cakes

(Makes 10-12 mini cakes)

Ingredients:

225g Sultanas

225g Raisins

110g Candied Peel

75g Dates

75g Apricots

50g Currants

25g Crystallized Ginger

125mls Sherry

175g Butter

250g Light Muscovado Sugar

250g Chestnut Puree

Juice and Zest of 1 orange

Zest of 1 Lemon

3 Eggs, beaten

250g of Plain Flour

½ Teaspoon of baking powder

¼ Teaspoon of cinnamon

¼ Teaspoon of ground cloves

¼ Teaspoon of ground nutmeg

¼ Teaspoon of mixed spice

To decorate:

Apricot jam, smooth

1  pack of marzipan or homemade almond paste

1  pack of ready to roll icing

Method:

 

  1. Place the sultanas, raisins, candied peel, dates, apricots, currants and crystallized ginger into a bowl.
  2. Pour sherry over and mix thoroughly
  3. Pre-heat the oven to 150˚C , 140˚C Fan, Gas mark 2
  4. Grease the mini cake tins and line with grease proof paper
  5. Place the fruit into a wide bottomed pot with the sugar, butter, chestnut puree, orange juice and zests
  6. Bring to the boil gently and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring every now and then
  7. Turn off the heat and leave to cool for 10 minutes
  8. Add the flour, baking powder, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon and ginger and stir
  9. Add the beaten eggs
  10. Spoon the mixture into the prepared tins
  11. Bake for 1 hour, checking regularly as the length of time depends on the size of your cake tins
  12. Check the cakes are ready by inserting a skewer, if it comes out clean they are ready, if the skewer comes out wet they need to be returned to the oven
  13. When they are ready, leave to cool and then remove from the tins.
  14. To decorate the cakes, heat the apricot jam and brush onto the cakes
  15. Warm the marzipand a little in your hands to make it pliable, but no too much or it will start to seep oil
  16. Roll out the marzipan with a little icing sugar if it is sticky
  17. Cut out the shape of the cake in the marzipan and place a the marzipan on the top
  18. Roll out the icing and using the tins you have made the cakes in, cut out the icing so that it is bigger than the cake (allowing enough for the side of the cakes to be covered)
  19. Place the icing over the cake and tuck in at the bottom, trimming as necessary.

Decorate however you wish!

 

 

Saffron & Cardamom Baked Custard Tartlets with Pistachio Dust & a visit to L'Aube Safran, Provence

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I made my annual visit to Paula at A Table en Provence a few weeks ago. Paula runs food & wine tours as well as cookery lessons from Vacqueras every summer. For more about Provence, click here.

As always, I had a lovely time-Provence is a wonderful place for a food lover (not to mention the wine!). One of the highlights this year, however, was a visit to L’Aube Safran, an organic saffron producer near the village of Barroux in the heart of the Dentelles mountains. Francois, the owner explained to me that the saffron threads he produces tend to be thicker and more robust in flavour than saffron produced elsewhere as the weather & soil conditions in Provence are unique to that region. In other words, it benefits from the same dry, clay that vines thrive on with hot summers and bright, sunny winters.

L’Aube Safran is also a gorgeous B&B with cookery classes given by Marie, Francois’ wife in a purpose built demo kitchen.

Francois from L'Aube Safran

 

 

Saffron & Cardamom Baked Custard Tartlets with Pistachio Dust

I have been playing around with the saffron over the last few weeks and I will post a couple of recipes but here is the first one!

These tartlets are refreshing and subtly flavoured, ideal after a strongly flavoured or heavy meal.

 

Ingredients:

(Makes 6)

For the sweet shortcrust pastry:

100 g Plain white flour

50 g chilled butter

1 tblsp icing sugar

1 egg yolk

For the custard:

4 Egg Yolks

250 ml Single Cream

60 g Caster Sugar

7-8 Cardamom Pods

A  large pinch of Saffron threads (about 1 tsp)

To finish:

A little gently whipped Cream (how much is up to you!!)

A handful of Pistachio nuts, very finely chopped (a pestle & mortar or coffee grinder is good for this!)

You will need 6 x 10 cm tartlet tins with removable bases

Method:

Make the pastry first. You can either use a food processor for this or use your hands.

To make by hand, place the flour and butter together in a bowl

Using the tips of your fingers, rub the butter with the flour until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs.

Tip it out on to a lightly floured work surface and,using the heel of your hand, bring together with a little of the egg yolk (try to only add a little of the egg yolk at a time as the less you use the better for a light texture)

To use a food processor, place the butter and flour in the bowl with the blade attachment.

Pulse until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs, then add a small amout of egg yolk.

It should come together very quickly now.

When the pastry has formed into a smooth ball, flatten into a disc shape.

Cover with cling film and refrigerate for at least an hour

Preheat the oven to 180°C, 160°C Fan, 350°F or Gas Mark 4

Roll the pastry out quite thinly (about 1/2 cm)

Using the tartlet tins, cut the pastry into the shape of the tin. Roll these circles out a little more.

Place the pastry in the tins, ensuring the edges are pressed up around the sides

Using a fork, pierce each tartlet a couple of times

Place the tins on a baking tray that is lined with baking paper or tin foil

Bake in the preheated oven for 10 mins

Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5-10 mins while you make the custard.

To remove the seeds from the cardamom pods, either crush in a pestle & mortar or slit open with a knife and remove seeds

Now make the custard.

Place the egg yolks and sugar in a bowl and whisk until the sugar has dissolved into the eggs and the mixture becomes pale in colour. Set aside.

Place the cream in a saucepan with the saffron and cardamom and heat very gently until it just about reaches boiling point. You will be able to see the surface quivering.

Turn the heat off and allow the cream to infuse with the saffron & cardamom for  3 or 4 minutes

Place a strainer over a jug and pour the cream in, removing the saffron & cardamom seeds

Pour a small amount of the flavoured cream into the eggs and whisk (this is to temper the eggs)

Pour the mixture back into the pot along with the rest of the cream

Over a gentle heat, stir the custard until it thickens

When it is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, remove from the heat and return to the jug.

Pour the custard into each tartlet case until it comes right up to the top

Return to the oven and bake for 25-30 mins or until golden brown on top

Allow to cool for 30 mins before removing from the tins.

Garnish with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkling of the pistachio “dust”

Enjoy!

 

 

 

Paula's Pumpkin Pie

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My friend Paula from A Table Provence was here to stay for a couple of weeks recently. She is Canadian and it just so happened that Canadian Thanksgiving fell on a day that she was visiting. Of course we had to celebrate with her and she prepared a traditional Thanksgiving meal for us with all the trimmings including a herb stuffed Chicken (should be Turkey but since there were only 3 of us it seemed a bit crazy!) with roast yams, fresh orange glazed carrots, creamy mashed potato & gravy. It was simple but delicious fare! We finished with this Pumpkin Pie  & Chantilly cream. I love the spices and the almost biscuity texture of the pastry. It really is worth making the Chantilly Cream as it complements the pie so well. I loved it so much that I demo’d it at My Chef at Home’s event at the beautiful kitchen showrooms of Ray Shiels and at the ICA’s headquarters in Termonfeckin!

Ingredients for the pie filling:

  • 2 eggs
  • 235grms fresh cream
  • 400grms pumpkin puree
  • 165grms mucovado sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp each grated orange zest, salt, all-spice, cloves, ginger and nutmeg

Preheat oven to 220°C, 425°F, Gas Mark 7

To make the custard/pie filling:

Start by cutting the pumpkin in half and clean out the seeds. Once clean, cut the pumpkin into small pieces. Place on a baking sheet and bake in oven for 30-45 minutes, or until soft. Let cool, then remove flesh from skin and puree or mash the flesh with the back of a fork. Leave the pulp in a fine meshed sieve for a minimum of 2 hours or leave overnight over a bowl to allow excess water to extract itself.Meanwhile, make the pastry.

For the Pastry:

This recipe makes two portions. You can freeze one and the hard work is done for next time! For this, you will need a 9” flan dish.

250grms white flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon sugar

230grms unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces

60-120mls of iced water

Directions

  1. In a bowl combine flour, salt, and sugar. Add butter, and quickly process by crumbling butter into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
  2. Stir in water, a tablespoon at a time, until mixture forms a ball. Wrap in clingfilm and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.

Once puree is ready, mix all ingredients together until the mixture is smooth.

Roll out pastry and place in a 9″ pie dish. Crimp the edges between your fingers. Place the custard inside the pastry.

Bake at 230°C,450°F, Gas Mark 8 for 15 minutes; reduce heat to 180°C,350°F, Gas Mark 4 for 25 minutes more or until the tip of a sharp knife inserted comes out clean. Let cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.

Serve with Chantilly whipped cream.

Chantilly Whipped Cream:

235mls fresh cream
2-3  tablespoons icing sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, vanilla powder or vanilla paste

Whisk the cream, sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl until soft peaks form. The cream should hold its shape but still be satiny in appearance.

 

 

 

Strawberries with Basil, Balsamic , Mascarpone & Hazelnut Sables

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This recipe may seem like an odd combination at first but is really fresh and light- perfect for alfresco entertaining. There are a few steps in it but they are all easy and the whole thing should take no longer than about 30 mins. Go ahead- try it, you’ll love it!

Ingredients

125 g Flour

85g Butter, cold & cut into squares

30g Icing Sugar (& an extra tblsp)

Salt

30g Hazelnuts

150g Mascarpone Cheese

100mls Cream, whipped

1 punnet of Strawberries, sliced and stalks removed

Vanilla Extract

50g Caster Sugar

50ml Balsamic Vinegar

200ml Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice

1 bunch of Basil

A drop of Olive Oil

Method:

Preheat the oven to 180°

Start by making the biscotti. Sieve the flour into a bowl and add the icing sugar & salt.

Rub the butter into the mixture with your finger tips until it resembles breadcrumbs

Knead the dough on a floured surface for a couple of minutes and leave to rest for 10 mins.

Roll out the dough, it should not be sticky so you will not need to flour the surface.

Cut out the biscuit shape you want, I recommend fingers as they can be use to scoop up the mascarpone later.

Push hazelnut pieces into the dough and bake for 8-12 mins

To make the sauce, place the orange juice in a pot with the most of the caster sugar (keeping a tblsp back) and a few basil stalks. Warm VERY gently to allow the flavours to infuse. Leave to cool.

In a separate pot, reduce the balsamic vinegar until it becomes a syrup.

Place the strawberries in a bowl and add a tblsp of the sugar, a pinch of salt and the balsamic vinegar reduction. Allow to macerate for at least 10 mins if not more.

To make the basil paste for the mascarpone “sauce”, place a little olive oil in a pot and add the basil leaves and a small pinch of salt. Warm gently and break down with the back of a spoon, stirring until you have a rough paste.

Place the mascarpone in a bowl and whisk a little to loosen. Add the basil paste, tblsp of icing sugar and the vanilla extract.

Fold in the whipped cream.

To serve & decorate:

Strain the orange juice mixture into a jug or bowl.

Place two biscottis on  each plate, top with the strawberries and a dollop (or quenelle if you like) of  the mascarpone mix.

Drizzle the orange sauce over and spoon a little of the balsamic & strawberry juice around the edge of the plate.

 

The Tasty Tart in Termonfeckin & Tarte Tatin

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The Tasty Tart in Termonfeckin

The Tasty Tart in Termonfeckin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to my new blog! I am learning as I am going with all this blogging stuff so if you have any comments or questions, please leave them :0)

Last week I spent the week giving cookery lessons at the headquarters of the ICA (Irish Countrywomen’s Association) at An Grianan in Termonfeckin, where I live. I want to say a big “thank you” to the first group of ladies who were so welcoming to me that I had a great weekend with lots of fun! An Grianan is a period house set in beautiful grounds where lots of members of the ICA and non-members come to learn about different things such as cookery, sewing, painting, photography gardening and lots more. Some of the group, lots of which were from Cork had been coming for as long as 50 years! The group told me that the “craic is mighty in the Bar” at night and that they have made lifelong friends there. I think it really is a lovely place to come and learn some new skills as well as having fun with friends and going for nice walks on the beach. By Monday, I had a new group- the ME trust, lots of whom have also been coming to An Grianan for years. I was feeling a bit more at home in the kitchen at this stage and we had a lovely relaxed and friendly atmosphere in the classes. So, here are a few photos and a recipe from the class for you to enjoy and once again, thanks to all who were with me on my first week at An Grianan!

Apple Tarte Tatin

Ingredients:

50g butter
100g caster sugar
8 eating apples
500g block puff pastry, defrosted

Method:

1.Preheat the oven to 200°C, gas mark 7.
2.Heat a frying pan over a moderate heat and add the butter.
3.When the butter has melted, add the sugar and cook for about 5 minutes or until it turns into a golden caramel.
4.Core the apples and slice.
5.Cover the outside of a quiche tin with tin foil
6.Place the apples neatly onto a quiche baking tin (with removable base) and cover with the caramel. Leave to cool.
Roll out the pastry and cut it into a circle – make sure it is large enough to comfortably cover your tin. If it isn’t, you will need to roll out the pastry to fit.
7.Put the pastry on top of the apples and tuck the sides in around the apples.
8.Make a small hole with the tip of a knife in the top of the pastry so that any steam can escape.
Put the tin into the oven and cook for about 25-30 minutes or until golden and puffed up.
9.Remove from the oven and leave to stand for about 5 minutes.
10.Put a large plate over the top and invert the whole lot to turn out – be careful, as the caramel will be molten and very hot.
11.Serve immediately with your homemade custard

Fitting the pastry:

Make sure you tuck the pastry down the sides of the tin, using a spoon or knife to lift the apples and tuck the pastry under. This will ensure the pastry ‘hugs’ the fruit as it cooks, keeping the tart nice and compact.