Cookery

Blueberry Cheesecake

Ingredients

For the base: 

100g butter

225g digestive biscuits crushed

For the filling:

 2 large lemons

 225g full fat soft cheese

100g caster sugar

200g full fat crème fraiche

For the topping:

3 tablespoons lemon juice

50g caster sugar

150g blueberries

Method

For the base melt the butter and add to the crushed biscuits. Press into a loose bottomed tin which has been greased.

For the filling : finely grate the zest of the lemons and squeeze the juice into a bowl. Add the cream cheese and sugar and beat well.

Fold in the crème fraiche

Spoon the mix into the tin and chill.

For the topping: cook all the ingredients together and cool. If there is too much liquid when cooking, add in some diluted cornflour and cook out until thick.

Once the cheesecake has set top with the blueberries.

 

BUTTERSCOTCH CHOCOLATE BARS

INGREDIENTS

140g butter

2 eggs

350g light muscovado sugar

2 teaspoon vanilla extract

250g self-raising flour

100g milk chocolate

100g milk chocolate chips

Icing sugar

 

METHOD

Line a shallow baking tin with parchment paper

Melt the butter and leave to cool

Put the eggs, vanilla and sugar in a bowl and add in the melted butter

Tip in the flour and the chopped milk chocolate and half of the chocolate chips

Mix well

Spread the mix into the tin and scatter over the remaining chocolate chips

Bake for 25 minutes in a moderate oven

Cut into slices or squares

 

 

 

HAM AND SWEET POTATO ROSTI

INGREDIENTS

600g sweet potatoes, peeled and halved

1 tbsp. oil, plus extra for greasing

4 shallots, peeled and finely sliced

80g ham, cut into thin strips

20g chives, chopped

50g Cheddar cheese, grated

4 large eggs, beaten

 

METHOD

1) Preheat the oven to gas 4, 180ºC, fan 160ºC. Grease and line a 20cm x 20cm square cake tin.

2) Boil the potatoes for 7 minutes. Drain and leave to steam-dry. When cool enough to handle, coarsely grate into a large bowl.

3) Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large frying pan, add the shallots and cook for 5-10 mins until softened. Add to the bowl with the potatoes along with the ham, chives and cheddar. Season and mix well to combine. Pour in the beaten egg and mix well to coat. Tip into the prepared tin. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden. Allow to cool in the tin, on a wire rack, for 15 minutes. Remove from the tin and cut into 12 rectangles.

Make ahead tip: Allow the cooked slice to cool completely. Wrap in foil (wrap individual rectangles in foil if liked). Chill for 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. If frozen, unwrap and cook from frozen: place the slices, separated, on a baking sheet lined with parchment, cover with foil and cook at gas 4, 180ºC, fan 160ºC for 25 minutes (remove the foil 5 minutes before the end of cooking time).

 

 

VEGETABLE WELLINGTON

INGREDIENTS

1 each of red, green and orange pepper-diced

1 onion-diced

500g courgettes-large dice

125g feta cheese

1 packet puff pastry

1 egg

Oregano

Seasoning- 2 gloves garlic crushed and pepper

Oil to fry

 

METHOD

Oven on to 180 degrees gas 6

Fry off the diced vegetables in a little oil

Add in the herbs and seasoning

Roll out the pastry to a rectangle shape and transfer to a lined baking tray

Place the vegetable mix along the centre of the pastry and dot over the feta cheese

Egg wash the pastry that is left

Fold the edges of the pastry to the middle and tuck in the ends neatly

Egg wash the pastry all over and bake for 25 minutes

 

 

CRUMPET PIZZAS 

INGREDIENTS 

6 crumpets  

4 tbsp. Passata  

4 tbsp. ketchup

½  tsp dried oregano  

toppings of your choice (peppers, cherry tomatoes, red onion, sweetcorn,  olives, ham and basil all work well)  

75g grated cheese  

METHOD 

Heat the grill to high.  

Lightly toast the crumpets in a toaster or under the grill.  

Meanwhile, mix the passata, ketchup and oregano together in a bowl. Season.  

Chop your chosen toppings into small pieces – young children can tear basil, or  chop soft veg in a cup using safety scissors.  

Line a baking tray with foil.  

Spread the sauce over the crumpets, then top with the veg and cheese.  Arrange on the tray and grill for 3-4 minutes, until the cheese is golden and  bubbling.  

Leave to cool slightly before eating.