Mini Apple Rose Tart

Today I got it in my head to try make a rose out of apples and pastry. It's very finiky but I was happy with the overall effect.

 I chose Gala Apples as I liked the reddish colour for the rose effect. Pink Ladies also work really well.

1. Cut the apples into thin segments.
2. Soak them in ginger ale.
3. Roll out pastry (I was lazy and bought the ready made roll out shortcrust) and cut into long strips.
4. Melt a little butter in a frying pan on a gentle heat.
5. Dry apples with paper towel and place carefully in pan - not overlapping each other.
6. Sprinkle with a teeny bit of sugar if you wish but I found they didn't really need it thanks to the ginger ale.
7. Take a strip of pastry and place apple segments along the strip, overlapping them a little.
8. Leave one end with pastry over and start rolling from that end carefully gathering the apples along the way. At times the apples poked out but I gently encouraged them back in!
9. Beat an egg and brush over the rose gently.
10. Place on a baking tray with grease proof paper on it and bake in oven for 15 minutes.

...et voilà!

Snaps!

   

My Especially Good Mars Bar Squares!

Yes, these are particularly delicious ... must be thanks to all the fattening butter and the magic touch is the right chocolate covering!!

What you need:

Mars Bars (6x65g bars)

200g of butter

200g Rice Crispies

250g Lindt Milk Chocolate

What you do:

1. Cut the butter and Mars Bars into small chunks and place in a saucepan. 
2. Put it over a low heat and whisk (important to whisk, not stir with spoon) until melted. 
3. Add the Mars Bars/butter mixture to the Rice Crispies in a large bowl.
4. Stir well until all the ingredients are combined.
5. Put into a tin or dish and press down with the palm of your hand until firm.
6. Melt one bar (100g) of chocolate either in a microwave or over a saucepan of simmering water.
7. Pour over the squares. Don't worry if it seeps a little the next step resolves that!
8. Melt the rest of the chocolate, (sometimes when I feel gluttonous I melt 200g here instead of the remaining 150g) spread evenly and leave to set.
9. When set, turn out on a board and cut into squares.

Heavenly Chocolate Buns

Nothing like a good old bun! These are to die for ... scrummy isn't even the word and simple enough to make!

Sponge Ingredients:
4oz butter
4oz sugar
4oz flour
tsp baking powder
2 eggs
2 squares Lindt 70% cocoa chocolate
2 squares Lindt creamy milk chocolate
Large white chocolate disks

Method:
Soften butter in bowl, add all other ingredients except the chocolate. Melt the chocolate (careful as milk chocolate melts quicker than milk chocolate.
Add the chocolate to the mixture and stir well until all combined.

Place dollop into each bun case. Press white chocolate disk into the centre but ensure it doesn't reach the base. Top the bun case with a little extra mixture and spread evenly.
Bake in the oven for about 10 minutes.

Leave to cool on a wire rack while you make your butter icing.

Butter Icing Ingredients:
Butter
Cocoa Powder
Icing Sugar

Topping: I always make this to taste so I do not know my measurements, sorry!
Chocolate Vermicelli
Large Milk and White Chocolate buttons.
Lindt eggs (whole) or Lindor Truffles (cut in half or quarters)

Soften butter in bowl. Sieve in about a table spoon of cocoa powder and a large amount of icing sugar. Mix well until happy with the consistency. If too stiff I sometimes add the teeniest bit of milk but too much and it looses it's smoothness.

Presentation:
When the buns have cooled completely, pipe the icing in a circle on the top. Don't be too generous as a hint actually tastes nicer. Just enough to have a taste in each bite. Top with the eggs. Add the buttons vertically and alternate the colours. Sprinkle a small amount of chocolate vermicelli for extra pizazz!!

Nom, nom .... enjoy!!

Banana Pancakes

Simple as ...
1 mashed banana, 1 egg, a generous pinch cinnamon.

Mix together with a hand held blender.

Heat pan with a teeny bit of butter/oil to prevent sticking.

Pour little dollops of the batter into pan and leave to cook for a few minutes. Once you're able to turn pancake, do so and cook on the other side. (slow at a low heat works best)

Lovely served with blueberries.

Nothing too fancy, however it's a very satisfying, tasty and healthy option!

The first attempt!

Surprised I haven't had a blog before now ... I suppose with Pinterest and Facebook I haven't felt the need for more but decided (not sure why) it's time to set up a blog!
I imagine I will fill my blog with recipes, photo's, artsy projects and general things I get up to in my life. So here it goes ...