Pastry

Asparagus and Leek Quiche

FeaturedLeave a comment

I love when seasons change and new foods become available.

Asparagus is great at the minute, so I decided to make this yummy creamy quiche with it as the centre piece.

I used marscapone to add creaminess the the egg mix, because it’s what I had in the fridge.  You could also use creme fraiche or recotta if this is what have.

I used ready made pastry which made this even easier (it looks quite impressive for not a huge amount of effort if you’re cooking for people and can be serve hot or cold).

Ingredients

1 Sheet of ready made short crust pastry

6 Eggs

1 Leek (finely sliced)

1 Bunch of asparagus

1 Tbsp Oil

100 Grams Marscapone cheese

25 Grams of Parmasan (or other strongly flavoured cheese like mature cheddar)

Salt and pepper

Butter/oil for greasing a loose bottom flan/pie dish

Method

  • Grease the flan dish, and line with the ready made pastry, making sure the it’s pushed well into the edges. Pierce the base of the pastry with a fork and then chill the flan dish for 30 minutes
  • In a frying pan heat the oil over a medium heat and gently fry the Leek until it softens but do not allow to brown (set to one side and allow to cool)
  • To prepare the asparagus, snap off the ends and the blanch the asparagus on boiling water for 30-90 seconds depending on the thickness of the spears). Remove the boiling water and submerge in ice water (this will help keep their bright green colour)
  • Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius.  Cover the base of the pastry with greaseproof paper and poor baking beans or old dried rice or beans on top). Bake for 20 minutes, remove from the oven and carefully remove the greaseproof paper and baking beans
  • In a large bowl, add the marscapone, parmasan and eggs and whisk until smooth (add salt and pepper)
  • Cover the pastry base evenly with the cooked leeks, then arrange the asparagus spears wth tops pointing to the outside of the tin
  • Pour the egg mix on top of the vegetables and carefully place the tin back in the oven ad bake for another 20 minutes or until the centre of the quiche is just starting to set

Potato and Raclette Galette

Featured2 Comments

Last year I ate the world’s nicest pizza when I was in France, which was made with potato and the yummy French cheese Raclette.

I took a craving for it but couldn’t be arsed with waiting to prove pizza dough, so I decided to make a galette using puff pastry.

I made a big galette, and it’s yummy served with salad for lunch.  If you’re entertaining you can make smaller individual ones that make lovely appetisers. You can prepare all the elements the day before and assemble and bake just before people arrive so that you’re not super stressed, and people will rightly assume you are a total domestic god or goddess.

If you can’t find Raclette (it can be tricky enough), any other tangy hard cheese can be used.  The lovely folks at my local Indie Fude recommended a brilliant Irish alternative called St Gall, which was delicious. I used a left over baked potato that I cut into slices, but you could also use left over boiled potatoes and crumble them across the pastry.

Serves 6-8

Ingredients

1 Sheet ready made puff pastry

250 Gram Onions finely sliced

1 Tbsp Oil

1 Large potato (use either cold boiled potatos or a cold baked potato

150 Grams Raclette or other tangy hard cheese (finely grated)

Few springs of thyme or whatever your favourite herb is.

1 Egg yolk or little milk for glazing the edges

Method

  • Heat the oil in a pan and gently fry the onions stirring occasionally for 30-40 minutes until they’re brown and caramelised (brown not black). Allow to cool
  • Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
  • Unroll your sheet of ready made pastry.  I put it on baking paper and put it a cooking sheet
  • With a knife, score a line (don’t cut through the pastry) about 1-2cm on the inside edge of the pastry this.  Then pierce the rest of the pastry with a fork (this will help it cook evenly). Brush the edges with the egg yolk
  • Sprinkle the caramelised onions on the pastry (keeping the edges clear), then lay out the slices of potato on top and sprinkle with herbs and grated cheese
  • Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.  It can be eaten hot or cold

Pork, Apple and Sage Sausage Rolls

Seaneen's Sunnyside KitchenLeave a comment

After Christmas many of us have pork sausage meat and sage left over from making stuffing, and this recipe is a great way to use it up. I actually didn’t have this so you can also use pork mince instead, it will still taste great.

I made cute little sausage rolls because I was making them for friends calling over over but you can make them bigger and they are great for lunches. I liked the sage with these these but if you don’t have, just use the herbs you have available. I know I have preached before about the buying reduced bread in the supermarket and turning it into breadcrumbs to keep in the freezer for recipes like this (do it, they’re super handy and versatile)

Use shop bought pre-rolled puff pastry to make these super quick to make. (only people with no life make puff pastry from scratch).

Makes 24

Ingredients

(for the filling)

400 Grams Pork mince or sausage meat

1 Small Apple (cored and cut into 1 cm chunks)

1 Clove garlic (finely chopped)

1 Egg

1 Handful of breadcrumbs

1 Tbsp Chopped fresh sage

Salt and Pepper

(for the pastry)

1 Sheet of pre rolled puff pastry

1 Egg yolk

1 Tbsp Sesame seeds (optional)

Method

  • Preheat over to 180 degrees (Celsius) , and line a baking sheet with parchment paper
  • Add all the ingredients for the filling into a large bowl and get your hands in and mix until all the all the ingredients were combined
  • Unfold your sheet of puff pastry, and cut in two lengthways, so you have 2 long strips of pasty
  • Add the filling mixture down the centre of the pastry leaving 2-3cm of pastry at each side
  • Beat the egg yolk lightly and brush some down one of the long edges of the pastry, then bring both side together with side brushed with egg yolk slightly overlapping the other side (it will help glue the 2 side together
  • Turn the roll over, so that the were the 2 edges meet is on the under side. Brush with the egg yolk and sprinkle with the sesame seeds if you are using them. Cut roll in half and then devise each half into three (you can make bigger sausage rolls if you want), before placing on your prepared baking sheet. Repeat the process with the other half of your pastry and the filling)
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes until the pastry is a deep golden brown

French Onion Tart

Seaneen's Sunnyside KitchenLeave a comment

Fried onions are one my favourite savoury flavours. This tart is brilliant hot or cold and many of the component’s can be made in advance and then assembled and baked at the last minute if you’re cooking for friends so you have more time to chat. This tastes great and is a pretty cost effective dish if you want to make lunch for friends for example.

I used ready made pastry to save time (it was reduced in the supermarket, don’t judge sometimes its fine to take short cuts). The onions need to cook long and slow before going into the tart and this can be done a day or two in advance and stored in the fridge until you’re ready to bake it.

I used Gruyere cheese because I felt like being fancy, but a well flavoured cheese like cheddar or even parmesan would also work well.

Serves 6-8

Ingredients

300 Grams Ready made short crust pastry

1 Kg Onions (finely sliced). This will look like a lot, but it will cook down.

2 Tbsp Oil (Or you can use half butter half oil if you prefer)

2 Eggs

50 Grams Gruyere (finely grated)

300 ml Double Cream

Flour for rolling out the pastry

Salt and pepper

Method

  1. Add the oil to a large frying pan to heat before adding the onions. Cook over a medium heat for 45 mins stirring occasionally to make sure they don’t burn. Remove from the heat and allow to cool
  2. Preheat your oven to 180 degree (Celsius).
  3. I used a 12in loose bottom flan tin, make sure that this is well greased so that the flan will come out if the tin easily
  4. Dust a counter with lightly with flour and roll out the pastry in a circle fit big enough to fit the flan tin. Make sure the pastry is pressed well into the edges of the tin. Lay baking parchment on top of the pastry and pour on baking baking beans (I use old rice/dried beans that I keep in a jar, its cheaper than buying the fancy clay versions). Bake for blind 15 minutes, before removing from the oven. Carefully remove the baking parchment so you don’t drop the baking beans (or what ever you’re using) into the pastry
  5. In a large bowl beat the eggs, cream, and cheese together in a bowl (add salt and member if you think it needs it). I have French friend who worked as a pastry chef, and her top tip is to put the eggs through a seive to ensure that the mix will be smooth and you have any spots of egg white, but this isn’t essential. Stir in the fried onions and mix well before spooning into the pastry case
  6. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the tart is golden brown and lightly set

“Chinese” Sausage Rolls

Seaneen's Sunnyside KitchenLeave a comment

I don’t pretend that this is an authentic Chinese recipe, but the flavours used always reminds me of Chinese food.

I use ready roll puff pastry which makes these quick and easy to make.  They also freeze really well.

I sometimes dip these into sweet chilli sauce which is sublime but they are also pretty fabulous on their own.

Makes between 8 and 10

Ingredients

1 Large sheet ready rolled puff pastry

500 Grams Lean pork mince

50 Grams Breadcrumbs

1 Tbsp Ginger (grated)

2-3 Cloves of garlic (finely chopped)

2-3 Scallions/spring onions (finely sliced)

1/2 Tbsp Sesame oil

1 Tsp Chinese 5 spice powder

1 Tsp Chilli powder

1 Tsp Salt

1 Egg yolk

Sesame seeds (optional)

Method

  • Preheat your oven to 180 degrees
  • Add the pork, garlic, ginger, breadcrumbs, scallions, spices, and sesame oil to a large bowl and mix with your hands until well combined
  • Unroll the puff pastry, and evenly spread the pork mix in an even line down the centre of the pastry
  • Brush the long edges of the pastry with egg yolk.  Bring the long edges of the pastry together and together by crimping with your fingers or a fork.
  • Brush the long log created with egg yolk (and sprinkle with sesame seeds if you are using them).  Divide the long roll into 8 or 10 pieces and transfer to a baking sheet
  • Bake for 40 minutes or until the pastry is a deep golden brown

Cook’s Perks

Seaneen's Sunnyside KitchenLeave a comment

One of the good things about being the cook is that you get access to the best bits.

I was making a savoury pie, using shop bought puff pastry, and had some left over. I hate food waste, so rather than throw it out, I dusted it with some brown sugar and cinnamon to make a version of bite sized Danishes. I also sprinkled with sesame seeds just to be fancy, but they’re without these.

With only 3 ingredients these are delicious little perks of being the cook.

Ingredients

Ready made puff pastry

Brown sugar

Cinnamon

Method

I had a 5-6 centimetre wide piece of puff pastry. Dust with brown sugar and cinnamon and roll up in a coil.

Cut into 1-2cm slices, place on a baking sheet (sprinkle with sesame seeds if you want to), and bake for 15 minutes at 200 degrees (Celsius) until gold brown.

Chocolate Chip and Walnut Pie

Seaneen's Sunnyside KitchenLeave a comment

Any type of chocolate dessert is normally a winner. This pie is similar to a Kentucky Derby pie, I have left out the bourbon, and reduced the sugar because I found the original version overly sweet. The finished result is still rich and delicious and feels really indulgent.

This is divine served with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. If you’re short on time you can use shop bought pastry or even a pre-made pastry case.

Serves 8

(For the pastry case)

125 Grams Butter

200 Grams Plain flour

2 Tbsp Sugar

Pinch of salt

Cold water

For the filling

125 Grams Butter (melted, and allowed to cool)

125 ml Golden syrup

4 Eggs

200 Grams Brown sugar

50 Grams Plain flour

150 Grams Walnuts (roughly chopped)

125 Grams Dark chocolate (roughly chopped) or chocolate chips

1 Tsp Vanilla extract

Method

  1. For the pastry, add the butter, sugar and salt and flour to a food processor and pulse until it resembles breadcrumbs, (you can use the old fashioned rubbing in method if you don’t have a food processor). Gradually add cold water until the mix comes together as a dough. Form into a ball and wrap in cling film and then chill in the fridge for 30 mins
  2. Grease a 12 inch pie dish/tin, ideally one with removable base. Remove the pastry from the fridge and roll out on a floured surface or between two pieces of parchment paper until 1/2 cm thick (you can check the size by placing your tin the centre of the pastry and checking there is enough room to cover the depth of your tin)
  3. Carefully transfer the pastry to the pie dish and gently ease the pastry into the edges, place in the fridge and chill for another 30 mins. Trim any excess pastry that hangs over the edge of your pastry case
  4. Preheat your oven to 180 degree (Celsius), place a sheet of baking parchment in the prepared party case and add baking beans (I use old uncooked rice, rather than buying the fancy clay baking beans), Blind bake for 20 minutes and then remove the baking parchment and baking beans
  5. For the filling mix, whisk the melted butter (make sure its cool), eggs and add the sugar, vanilla extract and golden syrup and whisk until it lightens in colour and increases in volume (the sugar should have dissolved)
  6. Whisk in the flour, ensuring there are no lumps, and then fold in the chocolate and walnuts with a spatula
  7. Pour the filling mix into the pastry case and bake at 180 degrees for 45 minutes, until the centre of the pie is just starting to set (it will continue to cook as it cools)
  8. Cool for a couple of hours before serving with whipped cream or ice cream

Potato, Cheese and Broccoli Pasties

Seaneen's Sunnyside KitchenLeave a comment

It’s cold, wet and sh*tty outside. No wonder your body is craving carbs and needs comfort food.

You can add some patterns to fancy these up. But they’ll taste delicious regardless

I hate food waste. So when I have bits and pieces hanging around in the fridge I try to come up with a recipe to use them. Left over potatoes and broccoli from previous meals are delicious when well seasoned and combined with cheese. This recipe isn’t dainty or sophisticated, but it does taste really good.

Makes 4 good sized pasties

Ingredients

375 Gram pack of pre-rolled puff pastry

250 Grams Cooked potatoes

150 Grams Cooked broccoli

100 Grams Mature Cheddar (grated)

1 Egg

1/2 Tsp Garlic powder

Salt and pepper

Potato, broccoli and cheese filling

Method

  1. In a bowl break up the cooked potato and broccoli with a fork.
  2. Add the grated cheese, garlic powder and salt and pepper (the mix needs a good amount of seasoning, to don’t forget to taste the filling)
  3. Unroll your sheet of pastry and cut into four smaller sheets
  4. Add the filling to one half of each sheet
  5. Brush the edges of the pastry with beaten egg, and fold the pastry over, crimping the edges of the pastry with a fork.
  6. Lightly brush the top with beaten egg, and bake in an oven, pre – heated to 200 degrees. Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown
Brush lightly with beaten egg.

Lemon Bars

Seaneen's Sunnyside KitchenLeave a comment

I love any form of lemon dessert and these are the ideal tea time treat. There’s a rich buttery shortbread base and a zingy lemon topping.

OMG I love these so much, I have to distribute these among friends and family or else I could easily eat these entirely by myself. If you have better self discipline than I do, these will keep in an airtight box for 2-3 days.

Use a food processor if you have one to make them even easier to make. There’s no need to roll out the shortbread base, just press it into the dish.

Makes 18

Ingredients

For the base

120 Grams Butter

130 Grams Plain flour

30 Grams Icing sugar

For the topping

Juice and finely grated zest of 3 lemons

190 Grams Sugar

3 Eggs

65 Grams Plain flour

Extra icing sugar for dusting the finished bars

Method

  1. Preheat your oven to 180 degrees (Celsius) and line a 9 in x 12 in baking tin with parchment paper
  2. To make the base, add the flour, butter, and sugar to a food processor and pulse until it looks like breaks crumbs. If you don’t have a food processor you can use the rubbing in method to combine the butter and flour
  3. Transfer the crumb mix to the baking sheet and press it down. Put in the oven and bake for 15 minutes until light golden brown
  4. Allow the base to cool slightly before making the topping
  5. Using your food processor again, add all the topping ingredients to the bowl and whizz until light and fluffy
  6. Pour the topping on top of the cooled base and bake for 25 minutes (or until the centre doesn’t jiggle
  7. Allow to cool completely before dusting with icing sugar and cutting into bars

Feta and Vegetable Slice

Seaneen's Sunnyside KitchenLeave a comment

Vegetarian main courses can be a bit Meh.  This yummy mix of vegetables, lentils and creamy feta cheese wrapped up in delicious flaky pastry makes great quick weeknight dinner and packed with protein.

You can change up the vegetables you use depending on what you have (it’s a good way to use up left over veggies).  You can also used canned lentils, and I always use shop bought flaky pastry (because who really ever makes it from scratch).  You can also make the filling the day before, so all you have to do is assemble and bake if you’re short on time.

I made one large pastry parcel that can sliced up, but you could also make 4 individual ones if you prefer.

Ingredients

1 Sheet of shop bought puff pastry (pre-rolled)

1 Tbsp Olive oil

2 Leeks (sliced)

2 Peppers (sliced)

150 Grams Cooked green lentils

150 Grams Mushrooms (sliced)

200 Grams Feta cheese

1 Tsp Dried Thyme

2-3 Cloves of garlic (finely chopped)

Salt and pepper

1 Beaten Egg (for brushing)

Method

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan and cook the vegetables over a medium heat for 10 minutes. Add the garlic and thyme and continue to cook until the vegetables are soft
  2. Remove from the heat and allow to cool completely, stir in the cooked lentils and feta cheese
  3. Pre-heat your oven to 180 degrees (Celsius)
  4. Place your pastry on a sheet of baking parchment. Leaving a border of 2cm, place the vegetable mix on on half of the pastry sheet. I use a slotted spoon to drain off any excess liquid from the vegetable mix
  5. Lightly brush the edges of pastry with beaten egg and fold the pastry over to cover the filling. Press the edges of the pastry together with a fork (or you can crimp it if you’re feeling fancy)
  6. Brush the pastry with some beaten egg, if you want to make things look pretty you can lightly run a knife across the pastry in a criss Cross pattern (be careful not to go too deep and pierce the pastry)
  7. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown