Thursday, February 16, 2012

De-lish pastry

On my mission to find all things yummy in the world of baking iv come across some real hit and misses time wasters if you will, there's nothing worse than putting the time and effort into a newly discovered recipe a hopeful gem for it to turn out like a lump of crap. So when I found this "fool proof" recipe for the perfect pastry I just had to try it out.....I found it in one of my Jamie Oliver's books and I have to say its fantastic, and I find it's so versatile it can be used for sweet or savory il elaborate in a wee bit.
Now I love baking using American style measurements it's not as daunting for people to try when I pass them on, so get yourself a decent set of measuring cups and spoons so your recipe will work every time.
Start off with one cup and two table spoons of chilled real Irish butter and pop it in your bowl or mixer and cream together with one cup and six table spoons of caster sugar and don't forget to add a pinch of salt. Next briefly combine three and a quarter cups of flour to your creamed mixture. Now in a mixing jug add one tablespoon of good vanilla extract, four egg yolks and three tablespoons of milk. Whisk together and add to your dry mixture, combine it all together until it forms a ball I find you don't want to over do it as you will be rewarded later in the taste. Wrap your pastry in cling film and pop it in the fridge.
After its been resting for a good twenty minutes flour your board and your pin and gently roll it out. This mixture will line two large pans with plenty left over to make a snuggely blanket for the top of them to make the perfect pies.
If its an apple or fruit pie/tart your desiring I always recommend you part bake it for at least ten minutes so you don't end up with a soggy bottom.
I like to mix things up when making savory dishes by adding the zest of an orange and or a lemon to the pastry mixture especially if it's for a fruit tart of crumble it really compliments every element of your dish.
So be brave take a deep breath and try it out you won't be disappointed (",)



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