Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Apple Shortcake - Best way to use up extra Apples

 
I'm always trying to think of nice things to make, as a Treat for My Beloved and the Wonderful Staff at Marino Ward,
As luck would have it my friend Mary gave me some apples, They needed some urgent attention.
Solution Apple Shortcake
Sourced from the Trusty Edmonds Cookery Book
A cooking Bible for New Zealanders... for ever

Every child,  that leaves home should be given one, to start them off in their new lives
All basic food groups covered

This Apple Shortcake is so so simple and very delicious.
I thought that I should double the recipe, so that I could get many pieces
I actually made 2 batches, one for the bottom and one for the top
Rather than 1 large one
Worked well
The Quantities below, are for one batch

225gms Flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
Pinch salt
125 gms Butter
1 egg
Milk about 2 tablespoons
 
1 dessertspoon Sugar
3 medium apples peeled, cored and thinly sliced

Topping
Milk and some extra suger
Pre heat oven to 180C

Sift flour, baking powder and salt into a large bowl
Grate the butter into the flour
Rub with your fingers till it resembles breadcrumbs
Meanwhile whisk together egg and milk 
Add to flour mix
Stir
Add milk and blend together with your hands
Knead together lightly, to make a nice dough
Do not overwork

Cut in half and roll out to about 1.5 cms thickness
Lay on a lined baking tray
Cover with sliced apples
Sprinkle evenly with sugar

Meanwhile roll out other half to same size
Cover and press down lightly
Push the edges together

Brush with some milk and sprinkle with extra sugar

Bake for about 20 - 30 minutes tyill golden
I found it took about 25 minutes

Cut into squares while hot and devour

Cooks treat, I tided up the edges and wolfed down the delicious pieces
It was very popular, with inmates and staff alike.

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Breakfast Muffins - Viva Les All Blacks

Thanks to my friend Lorraine Woods, (who sent me a video by Tip Hero
Check out their website here )
We were able to enjoy a fabulous, non French, Breakfast, to accompany
the Magnificent Quarter Final between the All Blacks and The French

First we had a Bloody Mary and then these wonderful little Omelet Muffins
So so simple and very tasty

Just assemble and then pop in the oven
Just served with a Sriracha sauce on top , for that little extra kick
and a piece of buttered Vogels's Toast
Superb
They are so light, probably because there was a little baking powder added to the mix
Delicious

So for 3 people... 2 muffins each
I used the Texas Muffin Tins

1 large shallot, peeled and finely chopped
1/2 re pepper finely chopped
3 rashers bacon finely chopped
A little olive oil
Grated cheese


Butter to grease the tins

8 eggs
1/3 cup milk
3/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp olive oil
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Heat the oven to 190C
Lightly grease the muffin tins

Meanwhile lightly sauté the shallot, pepper and bacon in a little olive oil
till just soft

Beat together, the Eggs. Milk, Oil, Baking Powder, Salt and Pepper
Divide the sauté vege into the bottom of the greased tins
Place a good amount of grated cheese on top

Top up with the Egg mixture

Bake for 18-20 minutes
Let sit in tins for a few minutes


Then serve

Viva Les All Blacks
Sorry France