Easy Apricot Betty Food

EASY APRICOT BETTY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Brush 8 inch pie dish with melted butter or oil.
• Place half of the fruit in the pie dish.
• Sprinkle half of the sugar and half of the bread crumbs over the apricots.
• Pour half of the melted butter and half of the apricot juice over the bread crumbs.
• Repeat with remaining fruit, sugar, crumbs, melted butter and apricot juice.
• Bake for 30 minutes.
• Best when served still warm.

EASY APRICOT TART

Steps:

• First, make the marzipan. Mix both sugars with the ground almonds and vanilla in a large bowl. Make a well in the middle. Reserve 1 tsp of the beaten egg in a small dish, then tip the rest into the well along with the lemon juice. Mix everything well, then mix in the cream, 1 tbsp at a time, until the mixture is spreadable (you may not need all the cream). Chill for 20 mins if it's too warm to spread properly, or greasy. Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
• Roll out the puff pastry on a baking tray lined with baking parchment, then score it lightly around the edges to create a 1.5cm border - be careful not to cut all the way through. Lightly score a diamond pattern over the middle to keep the pastry from rising in the centre during cooking.
• Spread the marzipan over the middle of the pastry, leaving the border clear (see tip, below). Top with the apricots, cut-side down. Brush the border with the reserved beaten egg, then bake for 15 mins. Scatter over the flaked almonds. Bake for 5-10 mins more until the almonds are golden and the pastry has cooked through.
• Warm the jam over a low heat, then brush it over the apricots. Cut into squares and serve warm with ice cream or cream. Will keep chilled for up to two days.

REALLY EASY APRICOT & AMARETTI CREAM

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Tip the apricots into a roasting tin, toss with the orange zest, juice and sugar and roast for 15-20 mins until soft. Remove the skins if you like. Tip into a bowl to cool.
• Whisk the mascarpone and custard together until completely blended.
• Tip the biscuits into a large glass bowl, then top with the apricots and custard. Scatter generously with the grated chocolate, then cover and chill until ready to serve.

IMPOSSIBLE APRICOT PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Spray a 9 inch pie plate with cooking spray.
• Stir together all ingredients except apricot preserves until well blended.
• Pour into pie plate.
• Bake for 35-40 minutes or until knife inserted into center of pie comes out clean.
• Cool completely for at least 1 hour.
• In a small saucepan heat apricot preserves until melted.
• Spread over pie.
• Cool.
• Garnish with cool whip or whipped cream.

IMPOSSIBLY EASY APRICOT PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 9-inch pie plate. Stir together all ingredients except preserves and whipped cream until blended. Pour into pie plate.
• Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Heat preserves over low heat until melted; spread over pie. Cool. Garnish with whipped cream. Cover and refrigerate any remaining pie.

IMPOSSIBLY EASY APRICOT PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350ºF.
• Grease 9" pie plate.
• Stir together all ingredients except preserves, whipped topping and nuts until blended.
• Pour into pie plate.
• Bake 35-40 minutes or until knife inserted comes out clean.
• Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Heat preserves and nuts over low heat until melted; spread over pie.
• Cool and garnish with whipped topping.
• Cover and refrigerate any remaining pie.

APRICOT JAM

Steps:

• Mix apricots and lemon juice in a large pot; add sugar. Slowly bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Cook and stir until apricot mixture thickens, about 25 minutes. Remove from heat and skim foam if necessary.
• Meanwhile, prepare jars, lids, and rings by cleaning and sterilizing in dishwasher or boiling water bath. Leave lids in simmering water until ready to seal jars.
• Ladle hot jam into hot sterilized jars, leaving about 1/4 inch of space on top. Run a knife or a thin spatula around the insides of the jars after they have been filled to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any food residue. Top with lids and screw on rings.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil, then carefully lower the jars into the pot using a holder. Leave a 2-inch space between the jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary until the water level is at least 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water to a full boil, cover the pot, and process for 15 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool. Once cool, press the top of each lid with a finger, ensuring that the seal is tight (lid does not move up or down at all). Store in a cool, dark area.