Cake and Almond Tarts

When you have a cake, that is past it's freshness or comes out from the oven not as expected, crumb it, freeze it, then use it in this recipe as filling! I guarantee that everyone will ask you for the recipe. I managed 24 7cm tarts or buns whatever you may choose to call them! In this recipe I used leftovers from Date and Walnut cake which I crumbed using a food processor.

1 quantity Sweet Short Pastry Recipe

500g pure ground almonds

200g ground peanuts

500g cake crumbs

6 eggs

300g sugar

few drops almond essence

2 tbsp amaretto

12 cherries

72 blanched almonds

Put all filling ingredients except, cherries and whole almonds,  in a large bowl, add eggs and using a wooden spoon stir till all combined and form a thick paste.

Pre heat oven to 165c

Roll out pastry and cut into rounds to line 2x 12 hole bun tin.  ( I prefer non stick tin so that I do not have to butter it)

Using two spoons spoon mixture into each tart right till the top.  Arrange on each tart half a cherry and three almonds, and bake for 45 mins or until cooked and slightly browned.

Creamed Salmon and Mussel Pie

This recipe is enough to feed four.

800g Salmon Fillets
1kg Mussels
3 hard boiled eggs
1 large onion
2 cloves garlic
1 celery stick
150ml fresh cream
300ml milk
1 tbsp butter
2 tbsp flour
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp mustard
1/2 glass white wine
2 bay leaves
Sprig of thyme
Salt & pepper


1 kg potatoes
1 tbsp butter
Salt
1 egg

Chop onions and celery and crush the garlic.  Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large pan, add onions celery and garlic and fry gently till onions are translucent.  Add cleaned mussels and wine, cover and cook for 3 minutes till mussels are opened.  Remove from heat strain mussel juice through a sieve and reserve for later,  leave mussels to cool. 

Heat butter in a saucepan and when it melts add flour stir and cook roux for about 1 minute stirring continuously.  Add milk and using a whisk, stir to get a smooth thick mixture.  Add reserved mussel juice bay leaves and cream and continue to stir till mixture thickens and bubbles.  Cut salmon into bite size, add to mixture and lower heat down.  Cook for just 2 minutes.  Turn off heat, add mustard, shelled mussels and season with salt & pepper. Pour mixture in a shallow oven proof dish, roughly chop the hard boiled eggs and scatter around.

Pre heat oven 200c

Peel and boil potatoes till soft, drain leaving some of the liquid.  Mash with butter then add salt to taste. Finally add egg and beat with wooden spoon to get a smooth mixture.  Arrange mash evenly over the fish stew sprinkle with thyme leaves and bake in a 200c oven for 20 minutes till mash is golden.  Serve piping hot

Home Made Garibaldi Fingers

Garibaldi Crackers are thin crackers filled with fig mixture, well, mine are more rustic and I filled them with dried juicy Prunes which I bought from Annecy.... Delisce!!  Make these biscuits with remaining short pastry when making flans and they freeze well when cooked and completely cold.

200g short Crust Pastry Recipe

300g pitted prunes

2 tbsp sugar

Process prunes to a fine mixture.

Pre heat oven to 175c

Roll pastry to long oblong.  Spoon mixture in the centre then fold over pastry.  Overlap slightly to seal properly. Using a rolling pin, press gently over the prune roll and roll to flatten out as much as possible.  Using a pizza cutter, cut into fingers and place on a baking tray.  Sprinkle sugar on top and bake for 30 minutes till golden.

Pecorino and Zucchini, Ditaloni Bake

This is a quick one pot wonder.  Recipe is enough to feed hungry four and takes just 1 hour to serve including baking and preparation. 

500g Ditaloni Pasta

200g Grated Pecorino cheese

4 eggs

200g Pancetta Cubes

300g Zucchini Cut into Cubes

250ml Fresh Cream

Salt & Pepper

Bring a large pan of salted water to boil add pasta and cook for just 10 minutes till pasta is al dente. Meanwhile pre heat oven 200c.  Just before the last minute of cooking, add pancetta and zucchini then drain pasta and the other ingredients reserving 1 cup of liquid.  Return pasta to pan, add reserved cooking liquid,  beaten eggs, fresh cream and grated pecorino. Mix with a wooden spoon then transfer pasta mixture to a baking dish.  Season with fresh ground pepper and bake for 30 minutes till top is golden and crunchy.  Serve hot!

Butternut Squash and Goat cheese Lasanga

This is a perfect starter when you have guests over for dinner.  It can be prepared in advance and takes only 20 minutes to cook.  It takes a bit longer to prepare compared to a large dish lasagna, but it is much easier and quicker to serve.  You can prepare serving portions in an individual oven proof dishes or use a large dish and place portions next to each other.  I divided ingredients into three sections, one for fresh pasta, one for filling and one for bottom layer and topping. Recipe makes 8 portions

200g durum wheat

100g strong plain flour

3 eggs

pinch salt

600g butternut squash

300g beef mince

200g chicken mince

1 lage onion

3 clove garlic

2 tsp mild curry powder

1 tbsp flour

30g butter

2 tbsp olive oil

sprig of thyme

Salt & Pepper

250ml Fresh Cream

8 fresh goat cheeselets (gbejna)

1 tbsp finely chopped parsely

100ml double cream

50g grated pecorino cheese

600g chopped fresh tomato

1 tsp sugar

Salt and Freshly ground black pepper

Olive oil to drizzle on top

In a food processor add flours , eggs and salt and pulse till pasta forms into a ball. Remove and knead lightly with hands, then cover with cling film and chill.

Heat butter and 1 tbsp oil in large frying pan, add finely chopped onions and crushed garlic and cook till translucent. Add curry and cook for further one minute stirring continuously. Add chicken and beef mince and continue to cook. Chop butfternut squash into small squares,  and add to mixture.  Add thyme and flour and mix well.  Cook thoroughly till butternut squash is softened. Stir in cream, season with salt and pepper and cook till cream is reduced and filling holds together.

Using pasta machine, divide pasta into two portions, take one portion and pass through machine about 20 times till sheet is smooth. Continue to roll it through machine till it is about 1 mm thick and 15cm wide.  Repeat with the remaining pasta. Using  12cm round cutter, cut 24 circles.

Heat a large pan of water, add  1 tsp salt and bring to boil. Add pasta circles and cook for just one minute.  Using a slotted spoon lift pasta and transfer to a clean plate. I suggest you cook pasta in three batches.

Take a large baking dish, drizzle bottom generously with olive oil, scatter chopped tomatoes and sprinkle with sugar.  Season with salt and pepper. Arrange one layer of  round pasta shapes on tomato layer, spoon with mince filling then layer another sheet of pasta on top. Spoon over another heaped tablespoon of filling.  cover with  another sheet of pasta then slice fresh goat cheese and arrange on top.  Cover with last layer of pasta and drizzle over some olive oil.  You may cover dish with cling film and chill at this stage.  

Heat oven to 180c, Add 1 tbsp double cream on top of each portion sprinkle over with grated pecorino cheese and add final drizzle of oil. Crack some black pepper over, and bake for just 20minutes or until tops are golden.

 

Honeycomb Chocolate Cookies

These are marvellous multipurpose wonders.  They serve their purpose at tea, in a snack break or joined with a scoop of ice cream for a delicious dessert.  Recipe makes about 20 depending how big your spoonfuls are!  They keep well for up to one week in an air tight cookie jar.

 

200g unsalted butter

300g caster sugar

3 eggs

3 honeycomb bars (crunchie)

100g chocolate chips

300g self raising flour

80g cocoa 

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp baking powder

chilli flakes or sea salt - optional

Heat oven 180c.  In a food mixer, beat butter and sugar till pale and creamy.  Add, vanilla then the eggs one at a time.  Remove K attachment and add sifted flour, cocoa and  baking powder and using a wooden spoon, stir till ingredients are combined. Do not over mix.  Roughly chop the honeycomb bars and add to the mixture with chocolate chips.  Give few stirs to achieve an even mixture then using two spoons, drop spoonfuls of cookie batter on a buttered baking tray.  Leave enough space from one to another as they spread during cooking time. If you wish, sprinkle with a touch of chilli flakes, or small pinch of sea salt for that additional kick!  Bake for about 20 minutes.  Remove and let them cool in tray.  Store in an air tight container.

Baked Ricotta Puffs

This is a quick fix lunch or as an item to Wine Party. Baked Ricotta is a Sicilian tradition, together with puff pastry, tomatoes and pancetta it completes the treat!!! Recipe Makes 12

1 Puff Pastry sheet 40x30cm

6 cherry tomatoes

150g Ricotta 

12 Slices Pancetta

1 tbsp Olive oil

Salt & Pepper

Chives to garnish

Heat oven 190c.  Cut Pastry into 12 equal portions size 10cmx10cm to line 12 hole bun tin. Divide ricotta into twelve portions and place one portion in each pastry case. Twist pancetta slices and press down next to the ricotta. Cut in half each cherry tomato and arrange on top. Season lightly with salt and pepper and bake for 20-30 minutes untill pastry puffs and turn golden.  Arrange on a serving plate, drizzle some olive oil on top  and garnish with chive sticks.  Serve with a cool crisp chardonnay.

 

 

Maltese Chocolate bread pudding - Pudina

Mum makes best pudding and I can still taste the juicy sultanas mingled with crunchy nutty topping. This is my interpretation which I admit is very close to my childhood memory. Pudina is good served either warm with a cup of tea or cold with a chilled glass of milk.  Keeps well for about 1 week.

200g butter
250g sugar
3 eggs
200g plain flour
400g day old bread
600ml milk
200g raisins
100g ground nuts
50g cocoa
100g packet chocolate custard powder
100g ground almonds
1/2 tsp mixed spice
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Few drops vanilla extract
2tbsp Tia Maria

Topping
2 tbsp chopped nuts
2tbsp desiccated coconut
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp brown sugar

Pre heat oven to 180c. Roughly chop bread in a bowl and pour milk on top allow few minutes to soak. In a food mixer cream butter with sugar, then add eggs one at a time, then add ground nuts, cocoa, mixed spice, cinnamon, custard powder, vanilla extract and soaked bread and mix for about 3 minutes till bread is well incorporated in the mixture.  Then add Tia Maria and flour and give few turns till flour gets into mixture. Then add raisins and give a final mix.  Do not over mix at this stage.  Butter a 9x12inch dish and pour over mixture. Even out with spatula, then sprinkle with nuts and brown sugar then dust with cinnamon.  Bake for 45 minutes till skewer comes clean when tested.  Cut into squares and serve. Pudding keeps well for a week in an air tight container in a cool place.

Strawberry Custard Tarts

Deliscious for an afternoon Tea Party!

1 Quantity Rich Short Pastry
3 eggs
2 yolks
Seeds from 1/2 vanilla pod
100g sugar
300ml cream
200ml milk

Topping
Fresh Strawberries
Icing Sugar

Heat oven to 170c. Roll pastry to 5mm thickness, cut into 12cm rounds and line 12 hole non stick muffin tin.  Put in the fridge to cool slightly, meanwhile prepare the custard.  In a jug pour milk and cream, add eggs and yolks and vanilla seeds, whisk till eggs are well combined into mixture. Take pastry lined muffin tin out from fridge and pour custard over pastry leaving just 5mm from brim.  Carefully place in the oven and bake for about 30minutes or until tops are slightly coloured but still wobbly when shaked.  Leave to cool in tray then carefully remove from tin and arrange on a serving tray. Refrigerate when completely cooled. Right before serving, top with chopped fresh strawberries and dust with icing sugar. (Good non stick muffin tin do not need to be buttered)

Meat Ravioli with Cream and Tomato Sauce

If you plan well and have the right equipment this recipe will not take you more than 1 and 1/4 hour to prepare , start to finish!!  I had just that time to do it and in that time I managed to clean up too! Thermomix helps saving time but few pots and pans on the gas stove running simultaneously do the same thing! The quantitiy is enough to make 80 ravioli, just enough for hungry four!!

For the Dough
400g strong plain flour
4 eggs
1/4 tsp salt

For the Filling
300g Minced Beef
75g sausage mince
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp chopped fresh tarragon
1 small carrot finely chopped
1 medium onion finely chopped
1 crushed clove garlic
Salt & pepper
1 egg
1 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
1 heaped teaspoon cornflour

For the Sauce
1kg Tomatoes peeled and chopped
1 small onion finely chopped
2 clove garlic crushed
1 tsp honey
Salt & pepper
75ml Fresh Cream

Ground Pistacchio and olive oil to garnish

In a food processor add flour eggs and salt and give few pulses till small balls of dough form.  (do not overmix).Transfer mixture to working surface and using hands gather to form a ball.  Cover in cling film and set aside or in a refrigerator. 

Heat olive oil in a medium pan.  Add onion, garlic and carrot and fry till onion is nearly cooked.  Add mince beef and sausage mince and stir.  Continue to fry till mince is cooked.  Add chopped tarragon, salt and pepper and corn flour and stir.  Add egg and cheese and turn off heat.  Stir well then transfer mixture to food processor and process very little to obtain a rough paste.

Using pasta machine, divide dough into three.  Pass each dough many times through the machine so that it becomes smooth and elastic and get a long rectangular and thin sheet of pastry.  Spoon filling size of grape about  in the middle of pastry but 7cms apart. Brush around the filling with a little water then fold pastry over filling.  Press with fingers around filling and then using pasta cutter, cut into rectangle shape ravioli.  Place on a floured tray cover and refrigerate till needed.

Heat a large pan of water add 1 tsp salt and bring to boil.  Cook ravioli for about 5-7 minutes till al dente. serve with Tomato and Cream sauce then sprinkle Ground Pistacchio and drizzle olive oil on top.

Sauce

Heat olive oil in a small casserole, add onion and garlic and cook till soft.  Add chopped tomatoes and cook for 15 minutes.  Using a hand blender blend mixture to smooth sauce.  Add honey, salt and pepper and boil for few minutes to reduce a little.  Turn off heat add cream and stir.

Nero di Seppia Risotto with Sea Bass Fillets

This recipe serves 4

350g Carnaroli Rice

600ml chicken stock(hot)

2 Cuttle fish plus ink bags

1 medium onion finely chopped

2 clove garlic crushed

1/2 cup white wine

4 sea bass  fillets skin on

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp butter

2 chive flowers

Salt & pepper

Lemon Wedges

Wash rice well under cold running water and leave to drain in a sieve.  Remove ink sack from cuttle fish, (or ask fish monger to do it for you) Clean the cuttlefish and chop into small pieces.  Heat a large pan, add 1tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp butter, add onion and garlic and fry gently on low heat till onion is soft.  Add rice and stir so that oil and onion cover well each rice granule.  Add hot chicken stock and stir once.  Cover pan with lid as soon as you hear mixture boil, turn heat to the minimum setting and cook for 12 minutes.(do not open lid). Then open lid add cuttlefish and ink and stir.  Add wine, season well with salt and pepper and continue to stir for 3 more minutes till cuttlefish cooks and rice mixture becomes creamy .

Meanwhile heat a large frying pan, add 1 tbsp oil and fry sea bass fillets skin side down for 5 minutes.  Cover and cook for 1 more minute. 

Plate by spooning black risotto at the bottom, top with fish fillet skin side up and garnish with lemon wedges and chive flowers.

Chicken Liver Pate

300g Chicken Livers

1/4 cup Dry Sherry

1 tbsp Olive Oil

1 small onion

1 clove garlic

2 rashers streaky bacon

 few bay leaves

Salt & Pepper

75g melted butter

Wash chicken livers under cold running water then put in a small bowl and add dry sherry and two bay leaves.  Leave to marinade for 2 hours.  

Finely chop the onion and crush the garlic.  Chop bacon into small cubes.  Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium frying pan. Fry onions and garlic till golden and translucent. Add chopped bacon and fry to render fat. Add chicken livers and the marinade and cook for about 10 minutes till livers are just cooked.  Turn off heat, remove bay  leaf and season well with salt and pepper. Transfer mixture to food processor and blend till smooth paste forms.  Arrange  paste into serving rameking dishes, place 1 bay leaf on top and pour over the melted butter.  Keeps well in fridge for at least 1 week. Serve with toasted bread and cranberry Jam.

Broad Bean and Feta Cheese dip

100g Feta Cheese
400g Broad Beans peeled and shelled
1 clove garlic
3tbsp olive oil
4tbsp Fresh Cream
Salt & Pepper
Grated Zest of Half a Lemon

Cover beans with water add 1tsp salt and bring to boil.  Boil for 15minutes then drain reserving some of the cooking liquid.

Transfer beans to food processor, add garlic and crumbled feta cheese and process to a smooth paste.  Add fresh cream and give few pulses.  Mixture should be smooth and slightly runny, if not add few tablespoons of the reserved cooking liquid.

Transfer paste to serving dish drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle some freshly ground pepper,  then grate the lemon zest all over and serve warm with grissini.