Mary Berry Puff Pastry Food

MARY BERRY'S RELIGIEUSES

Steps:

• Start by making the choux pastry. Heat your oven to 220°C/200°C fan/425°F/Gas 7. Draw eight 5cm circles and eight 2.5cm circles on the paper lining the baking sheet.
• Put the butter and water into a heavy pan and heat over a medium heat until the butter has completely melted, then bring the mixture to the boil, taking care not to burn the butter. Remove from the heat and tip in the flour. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture forms a soft ball. Set the pan back on a low heat and cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring constantly, to dry out the dough. Remove from the heat and leave to cool slightly. Gradually add the eggs, beating well after each addition, to make a smooth, shiny paste.
• Spoon the choux dough into a piping bag fitted with a 1.5cm plain tube. Pipe discs inside the drawn circles on the baking sheet. Dip your finger in water and gently smooth the top of each disc. Place in the heated oven and bake for 10 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 190°C/170°C fan/375°F/Gas 5 and bake for a further 10-15 minutes until a good golden brown.
• Remove the baking sheet from the oven and pierce each bun with a skewer to allow the steam to escape. Return the choux buns to the oven and bake for 4-5 minutes so they dry out. Transfer the buns to a wire rack and leave to cool.
• Meanwhile, make the crème patissiere. Pour the milk into a heavy-based medium pan. Using the tip of a small knife, scrape out the vanilla seeds from the split pod and add to the milk. Slowly bring to the boil, then remove the pan from the heat and set aside. Put the egg yolks and sugar into a heatproof mixing bowl and whisk together until pale, then add the cornflour and flour and whisk in. Continue to whisk as you pour on the hot milk in a thin steady stream. Pour the mixture back into the pan. Set over a medium heat and bring to the boil, whisking constantly. Cook for 1 minute until smooth and thick. Pour into a bowl and cover the surface of the crème patissiere with clingfilm (this prevents a skin from forming). Leave to cool, then chill.
• For the chocolate ganache, bring the cream to the boil in a small pan, then remove from the heat. Add the pieces of chocolate and stir until melted and the mixture is smooth and shiny. Transfer to a bowl and leave to cool, then cover and chill until the ganache has a thick coating consistency.
• To assemble the religieuses, spoon the crème patissiere into a piping bag fitted with a long thin tube (or use a jam or icing syringe) and fill the choux buns through the 'steam hole' made earlier. Dip the tops of the filled buns into the chocolate ganache to coat them halfway up the sides. Set a small bun on top of each large bun.
• Whip the cream until it stands in peaks. Spoon into a clean piping bag fitted with a star tube. Pipe a line of cream around the join where the two buns meet to form a white collar. Serve as soon as possible after assembling.

BERRY BERRY TURNOVERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a medium pot, combine the first 6 ingredients and mix well. Cook on medium heat until tender and syrupy; about 10 minutes. Allow to cool in refrigerator for 1 hour.
• Roll out the puff pastry into a rectangle on a well-floured surface and cut into 8 squares. Place onto a sheet tray lined with parchment paper. Brush the edges of the square with the beaten egg. Place about 2 1/2 tablespoons of filling in the center of the square, leaving 1-inch on all sides clear. Repeat until all the puff pastry is used. Fold the turnover into a triangle and using a fork, crimp along the edges making sure to enclose all the filling in the pastry. Brush egg wash on top of each triangle.
• Bake the turnovers until puffy and golden brown, about 8 to 10 minutes. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

MUSHROOM VOL AU VENT

Steps:

• If you would rather not make the pastry you can purchase Vol au Vent shells and can skip the first several steps.
• Roll the pastry out to 1/4 inches thick on a well floured board.
• Cut six 3 inches circles with a pastry cutter. Make a smaller cut 1/4 " inside each case all around but do not cut all the way through.
• Place on ungreased baking tray and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Brush the tops of the cases with the egg and water glaze and bake at 400 degree for 20 minutes or until well risen and golden.
• Cool on a wire rack then carefully remove the lids with a sharp knife and scoop out any uncooked mixture.
• Filling.
• melt the butter in a skillet and add the sliced mushrooms. Cover and cook for 2 minutes.
• Blend in the flour and cook for 1 minute.
• Blend in the milk, bring to a boil then lower to a simmer for 2 minutes.
• Season well with salt and pepper.
• Fill the prepared cases with the filling, replace the lids and return to a 400 degree oven for another 10 - 15 minutes. Be careful they do not burn.
• prep time includes making the shells.

LEMON BERRY TARTLETS (WITH PUFF PASTRY)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
• Place frozen puff pastry sheet on a work surface dusted with flour.
• Allow to thaw for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Using a 1 1/2 to 2-inch round cookie or biscuit cutter, cut out 12 round pieces.
• Place pastry rounds on the prepared baking sheet.
• Using a slightly smaller round cookie or biscuit cutter, cut out inner circles in each pastry round, leaving them in place.
• Brush each pastry round with beaten egg.
• Bake in the preheated oven until browned and puffed, 13 to 15 minutes. Allow to cool completely before filling.
• Cut around the small inner circle of each pastry round and gently push it down.
• Fill each tartlet with lemon curd and top with a blackberry, or any fresh berry.
• Dust with confectioners' sugar.