Apple And Currant Slice Food

FRUIT SLICE (FLY CEMETERY)

Steps:

• Pre-heat your oven to 180°c (or 160°c for a fan assisted oven or Gas Mark 4) and grease a 20cm by 28cm baking tray with a little butter. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, using your fingers, rub the flour and butter together until it resembles breadcrumbs. Stir through the sugar before adding the egg. Mix until combined, adding a teaspoon of cold water as required and knead into a soft pastry dough.
• Wrap the dough in cling film and place in the fridge to cool and firm up, whilst preparing the filling.
• In a bowl mix the currants, sugar, butter and mixed spice until combined.
• Remove the pastry from the fridge and roll to 0.5cm thickness and cut into two large rectangles, about the size of your tray. Place on pastry rectangle onto your pre-greased tray.
• Spoon the currant mixture evenly onto the pastry on the baking tray, leaving a small gap around the edges. Wet the edges with a little water. Place the other sheet of pastry on top of the currants and gently press the edges together with your fingers, before finishing with a fork.
• Brush the top pastry with a little milk or beaten egg, before pricking a few holes on the top of the pastry
• Bake for 25-30 minutes until a light golden brown colour.
• Remove from the oven and sprinkle a little sugar on top to finish. Once completely cool, cut into squares or slices of your desired size.

CURRIED CHICKEN SALAD ON APPLE ROUNDS

Steps:

• Whisk together the yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, scallions, curry powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper in a medium bowl. Add the chicken, pecans, parsley, celery and raisins and fold to combine. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use (up to 3 days).
• Core the apples and cut each into six to eight 1/4-inch thick rounds, for a total of 16 rounds. Arrange a lettuce leaf on 8 apple rounds and top each with about 1/4 cup of chicken salad. Sandwich with the remaining apple slices. Serve immediately.

APPLE SKILLET CAKE WITH PORT AND CURRANT JELLY

Steps:

• To make the skillet cake batter, whisk together the eggs, milk and 2 tablespoons butter, melted. Mix the flour, baking powder, sugar, and zest. Combine the flour with the liquids and allow batter to rest, refrigerated, for at least 30 minutes before cooking.
• Peel, core, and cut the apples into 1/2-inch thick slices. In a separate pan, melt 2 tablespoons butter, add the apple slices and saute over medium heat until they turn a rich golden color, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and carefully add the maple syrup, Port, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Cook slowly until the apples are tender at the center of each slice, but not soft and mushy, about 2 minutes.
• Heat a non-stick 7-inch omelet pan over low heat until hot. Add 1 or 2 teaspoons of butter, melted, using either a brush or a tiny ladle, to coat the surface lightly. As soon as the butter has started to bubble, lift the pan off the heat and pour 1/2 cup of batter into the pan, tilting to spread the batter evenly across the bottom. Return the pan to heat, spoon in 1/4 of the apples and cook on low until golden on the underside. When the top is bubbly, flip and brown the second side.
• As each pancake is completed, place on an oven-proof platter set in a 200 degree oven. There should be enough batter to make at least 4 skillet cakes.
• Serve each cake warm with a dollop of currant jelly and some clotted cream or creme fraiche.

APPLE-CURRANT COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a Silpat nonstick baking mat. Heat cider in a small saucepan to a simmer. Place currants in a bowl; pour warm cider over them. Let plump at least 10 minutes.
• Sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and brown sugar until fluffy. On low speed, add apple butter, and beat until well blended. Add egg, and continue beating until well blended. The mixture will look slightly curdled, but it will pull together when you add the dry ingredients.
• Add the dry ingredients, beating until just combined. Drain currants, discarding cider. Mix in currants and oats until just combined. Using the largest holes on a box grater, shred 1 of the apples directly into the dough, rotating to avoid seeds and core. Stir well to combine.
• Using a 1-ounce scoop, scoop out six cookies about 2 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheet. Core 2 to 3 apples, and, using a Japanese mandoline or a sharp knife, slice thinly. Place a thinly sliced apple ring on top of each cookie. (Repeat with the fourth apple if needed.) Sprinkle the top of each with a pinch of sugar, if desired. Bake in the heated oven until dark brown, 18 to 20 minutes. Repeat with the remaining batter.

APPLE AND CURRANT SLICE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180c. Grease and line a 3cm deep, 24cm X 29.5cm (base) laminton pan.
• Process flours, icing sugar and butter to resemble breadcrumbs. Add egg. Process until dough comes together. Turn onto a floured surface. Knead lightly.
• Press two-thirds of dough into prepared pan. Refrigerate. Wrap remaining dough in plastic wrap. Place into freezer until firm.
• Spread apple over dough base. Sprinkle with currants, brown sugar and cinnamon. Grate frozen dough over top.
• Bake for 40 minutes or until firm to the touch.
• Cool in pan, then cut into squares to serve.