Watch our Simply Better brand ambassador Neven Maguire prepare this delicious Irish Tomato & Pesto Puff Pastry Tart using our new Simply Better Irish Grown Tomkin & Tomistar Tomatoes from Grantstown Nurseries in Co. Waterford. Shop the ingredients in your local Dunnes Stores and find the full recipe below:
Ingredients (Serves 8) 1 Pack of Simply Better Ready To Roll All Butter Puff Pastry, thawed 3 Tbsp. Simply Better Italian Basil Pesto alla Genovese with PDO Genovese Basil 250g Simply Better Irish Tomkin & Tomistar Tomatoes, sliced 125g Cream Cheese Fresh Basil Leaves, to garnish Sea Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Method 1. Preheat the oven to 200ยฐC Fan (425ยฐF/Gas Mark 7). 2. Dust a work surface with flour and roll out the puff pastry into a large rectangle measuring about 45x30cm/18x12in and about 3mm thick. Lightly score a 1cm border around the edge of the pastry using a sharp knife and transfer to a baking tray. 3. Smear a layer of cream cheese inside the pastry border, then cover the cream cheese in a layer of basil pesto. Arrange the sliced tomatoes on top and season with a little salt and pepper before transferring to the oven to bake for about 25-30 minutes until the pastry has puffed up and become golden. 4. Garnish the puff pastry tart with the fresh basil leaves and serve straight to the table.
Student chefs from TU Dublin joined Maura and Dรกithรญ in the studio.
Ingredients
Sticky Toffee Pudding
ยท 200g butter, room temperature
ยท 185g self-raising flour
ยท 185g dates, roughly chopped
ยท 1 tbsp bicarbonate of soda
ยท 185g brown sugar
ยท 30g treacle
ยท 1 tsp nutmeg
ยท 1tsp mixed spice
ยท 2 medium eggs
ยท 1 tsp vanilla extract
ยท Pinch of salt
Butterscotch Sauce
ยท 70g butter
ยท 70g brown sugar
ยท 70g golden syrup
ยท 100ml double cream
ยท Pinch of sea salt
ยท ยฝ tsp vanilla extract
ยท A few drops of lemon juice
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180ยฐC / 350ยฐF / Gas Mark 4. Line a baking tin with parchment paper.
2. Dice the butter and place it in a saucepan over medium heat. Allow it to melt, then continue to cook until it foams and turns a light golden-brown colour. Remove from the heat immediately and set aside to cool.
3. Place the chopped dates in a saucepan with 300ml water. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, until the dates are soft.
4. Remove from the heat and stir in the bicarbonate of soda (the mixture will foam). Set aside to cool slightly.
5. Transfer the date mixture to a mixing bowl and add the brown sugar, treacle, vanilla extract, nutmeg, mixed spice and cooled brown butter. Mix well.
6. Beat eggs and add to the mixture until fully incorporated.
7. Sieve in the flour and salt, then gently fold until a smooth dropping consistency is achieved.
8. Pour the batter into the prepared tin and bake for 35โ40 minutes, until risen and firm to the touch.
Butterscotch Sauce
1. Place the butter, brown sugar, and golden syrup in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir and allow to simmer gently.
2. Remove from the heat, add a few drops of lemon juice, then whisk in the double cream.
3. Finish with sea salt and vanilla extract. Serve warm over the pudding.
Chef’s tips:
ยท When making brown butter, don’t use a high heat, as milk solids can burn easily
ยท Brown butter can be used in so many other dishes, such as madeleines and fish dishes, or even vegetables, with its rich nutty caramel flavour.
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Brown scones are full of roughage and great for breakfast. And here is a good tip: you can make this mixture, shape the scones and freeze them. You can then cook the scones straight from the freezer to the oven – just give them an extra 5 minutes and make sure the scones are golden brown and well-risen.
Ingredients
Rapeseed or sunflower oil, for greasing
225g (8oz) self-raising flour, plus extra for dusting
225g (8oz) coarse wholemeal flour
ยฝ tsp baking soda
ยฝ tsp salt
50g (2oz) wheat bran
25g (1oz) butter, diced and at room temperature
1 tsp light muscovado sugar
300ml (ยฝ pint) buttermilk, plus a little extra if necessary
Method
Preheat the oven to 220ยฐC (425ยฐF/gas mark 7). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and grease the paper with a little oil.
Sift the flours, baking soda and salt into a bowl. Tip in the bran left in the sieve and stir it in with the wheat bran. Rub in the butter with your fingertips until it is evenly dispersed. Stir in the sugar.
Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and add the buttermilk and golden syrup. Using a large spoon, mix gently and quickly until you have achieved a smooth, not-too-sticky dough. Add a little more buttermilk if necessary, until the dough binds together without being sloppy.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a 2.5cm (1in) thickness and cut into rounds with a 6cm (2ยฝin) plain cutter. Arrange on the lined baking sheets and bake for 10-15 minutes, until golden brown and well-risen.
Serve with butter or lightly whipped cream and strawberry jam.