Apricot Meringue Pie Food

APRICOT MERINGUE BARS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine flour and 1/2 cup sugar; cut in butter until crumbly. Add egg yolks and vanilla. Press into a greased 15x10x 1-in. baking pan. , Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Spread apricot filling over crust., In a small bowl, beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in remaining sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, on high until stiff glossy peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Spread the meringue evenly over filling; sprinkle with pecans. , Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until meringue is lightly browned. Cool in pan on a wire rack (meringue will crack). Cut into bars. Refrigerate leftovers.,

DUTCH APRICOT PIE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine sugar and tapioca. Add apricots and lemon juice; toss to coat. Let stand for 15 minutes. Line a 9-in. pie plate with pastry. Trim pastry to 1/2 in. beyond edge of plate; flute edges. Pour filling into crust., In a small bowl, combine the flour, sugar and pecans. Stir in butter. Sprinkle over filling. , Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cover edges with foil during the last 15 minutes to prevent overbrowning. Cool on a wire rack. Store in the refrigerator.

APRICOT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Mix 2 1/2 cups of flour and the salt in a bowl; cut the shortening into the flour mixture with a pastry cutter until the mixture is crumbly. Using a fork, mix in water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough just holds together. Divide the dough in half and form each half into a ball. Working on a floured work surface, roll each ball out into a crust big enough for a 9-inch pie dish with an inch or so to spare. Carefully lift a crust, fold into quarters, position into pie dish, and unfold the crust. Set the other crust aside.
• Mix the sugar, 1/4 cup flour, and cinnamon together in a large bowl until thoroughly combined; stir in the lemon juice and apricots. Spoon the apricot filling over the pie crust in the dish, and top with the reserved crust. Crimp the edges of the crusts together with a fork, cut away the excess crust, and cut slits into the pie to allow steam to escape. Cover the edges of the pie crust with strips of aluminum foil to prevent burning.
• Bake on center rack of the preheated oven until the pie is browned and the filling is bubbling and thickened, 35 to 45 minutes. Remove to a rack to cool and sprinkle top with 1 teaspoon of sugar.

APRICOT MERINGUE BARS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine flour and 1/2 cup sugar.
• Cut in butter until crumbly.
• Add egg yolks and vanilla; mix well.
• Press into a greased 15 in x 10 in x 1 in baking pan.
• Bate at 350°F for 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Spread apricot filling over crust.
• In a small mixing bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form.
• Gradually beat in the remaining sugar, 1 Tbsp at a time on high until stiff peaks form and sugar is dissolved.
• Spread over apricot layer.
• Sprinkle with pecans.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Cool on a wire rack.
• Cut into bars.
• Refrigerate leftovers.

GIANT PEACH, NECTARINE & APRICOT MERINGUE TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Lay the pastry on a large baking sheet and mark a border 2cm from the edge with a knife. Bake for 10-12 mins until puffed up, golden and crisp underneath. Mix the crème fraîche, whole egg, ground almonds, vanilla extract and 40g of the sugar together.
• Push the centre of the pastry down and spread this with the almond and crème fraîche mixture, then top with the fruit. Warm the jam in the microwave, then sieve and brush all over the fruit. Bake in the oven for 10 mins.
• Meanwhile, whisk the egg whites until stiff in a big mixing bowl. Add the remaining 100g sugar, the almond extract, if using, and cornflour, and whisk again to a thick, smooth glossy meringue. After 10 mins, remove the tart from the oven and turn down to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Dollop the meringue in spoonfuls over the tart, then scatter over the almonds. Bake for another 10-12 mins until the meringue feels crisp to touch. Eat at room temperature with more crème fraîche.

WINNING APRICOT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla. In a small bowl, whisk flour and baking powder; gradually add to creamed mixture, mixing well. Fold in coconut and walnuts., Press two-thirds of dough onto the bottom of a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Spread with preserves; crumble remaining dough over preserves. Bake 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars.