Peach Melba Tartlets Food

PEACH MELBA

Steps:

• Put the water, sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla pod into a wide saucepan and heat gently to dissolve the sugar. Bring the pan to the boil and let it bubble away for about 5 minutes, then turn the heat down to a fast simmer.
• Cut the peaches in half, and if the stones come out easily then remove them, if not then you can get them out later. Poach the peach halves in the sugar syrup for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side depending on the ripeness of the fruit. Test the cut side with the sharp point of a knife to see if they are soft, and then remove them to a plate with a slotted spoon.
• When all the peaches are poached, peel off their skins and let them cool (then you can remove any remaining stones). If you are making them a day in advance then let the poaching syrup cool and then pour into a dish with the peaches. Otherwise just bag up the syrup and freeze it for the next time you poach peaches.
• To make the raspberry sauce, liquidize the raspberries, confectioners' sugar, and lemon juice in a blender or a food processor. Sieve to remove the pits and pour the puree into a jug.
• To assemble the Peach Melba, allow 2 peach halves per person and sit them on each plate alongside a scoop or 2 of ice cream. Spoon the raspberry sauce over each.

PEACH MELBA PIE

Steps:

• Combine both flours, the butter and a pinch of salt in the bowl of a food processor and blitz to a fine crumb. Add cold water 1 tbsp at a time (4-5 tbsp), pulsing until the mix starts to cling together. Tip out and knead with your hands (add more water if required) to make a pliable pastry dough. Split in half and flatten each portion. Wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hr.
• Remove a disc of pastry from the fridge, unwrap and, on a generously floured surface, roll it out to a large, circle, wider than the pie dish. Transfer to a floured baking sheet and chill for about 10 mins. Repeat with the remaining disc.
• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Stone and quarter the peaches. Cut each in two, and toss in a bowl with the lemon juice, cornflour, vanilla extract, sugar, honey and raspberries. Add the butter in small pieces.
• Using a floured rolling pin, drape one of the pastry sheets across a 24cm pie dish. Let it sink in and, holding the edges, lift and tuck into the corners. Prick the pastry all over and fill with the peach mixture.
• Drape the second pastry sheet over the filling. Press together the top and bottom crusts, crimping with your fingers to seal, and trim off any excess. Cut three 8cm slits across the top crust, brush with the beaten egg and sprinkle over the demerara sugar. Bake for 55 mins to 1 hr until the crust is deeply golden and the filling is bubbling out. Cool for about 10 mins before serving with cream or vanilla ice cream.

PEACH MELBA POP PIES

Steps:

• Set 6 plump raspberries aside and tip the rest into a bowl. Add the peaches and toss together. In a small bowl mix the cornflour and honey to make a paste, pour over the fruit and combine.
• Unroll the pastry sheets and use a pizza wheel to cut out 6 rectangles from each one. Turn a piece of pastry so the long side is nearest to you, and fold it in half like a book, to create a fold down the middle. Open the pastry out and spoon the fruit filling onto one side, leaving a border of about 1cm around the edge. Brush the beaten egg around the edges and fold the pastry again to encase the filling. Use a fork to seal the edges all the way around, then brush all over with more egg. Poke a few air holes in the top with the fork. Repeat with the remaining pastry and filling. Arrange the pop pies on a baking sheet lined with baking parchment and chill for at least 30 mins, or for up to 24 hrs. Alternatively freeze for up to 2 months.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Bake the pop pies for 20 mins, or until the pastry is golden and the filling is bubbling through the holes. Remove from the oven and cool for at least 20 mins. If cooking from frozen, bake for an extra 5 mins. Meanwhile crush the remaining raspberries until juicy and mix with the icing sugar to make a thick icing. Spread thinly over the pies and sprinkle with freeze dried raspberries or sprinkles, if you like. Eat warm, or cold, for breakfast or drizzle with cream or custard for dessert.

PEACH MELBA TARTS

Steps:

• Place ice cream in refrigerator to soften slightly.
• In a small nonstick pan, melt jam over low heat, stirring, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in water & cool for 5 minutes.
• Set aside 24 raspberries for garnish; add remaining 1 cup to jam mixture & stir gently.
• Spoon cooled raspberry sauce in tart crusts, about 1 tablespoon each.
• Stir together peaches, almond extract & toasted almonds. Remove ice cream from refrigerator, stir it smooth & fold in peach mixture.
• Working quickly, spoon 1/3 cup ice cream atop raspberries in each shell.
• Place pies on a baking sheet & freeze 4-6 hours.
• Before serving, garnish each tart with 2 reserved raspberried.
• **** To toast almonds, heat oven to 350º. Soread nuts on a baking sheet & bake 8-10 minutes. Cool completely.

PEACH MELBA TART

Steps:

• Make the crust: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spread the almonds on a baking sheet and bake until slightly golden, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and let cool completely.
• Combine the flour, 1/3 cup of the toasted almonds, the granulated sugar and salt in a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture looks like coarse meal. Add 2 tablespoons ice water and pulse until the dough just comes together. Turn out the dough onto a piece of plastic wrap and form into a disk; wrap tightly and refrigerate until slightly firm, about 15 minutes. Unwrap the dough and press evenly into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Freeze until firm, about 10 minutes.
• Place the tart pan on a baking sheet. Line the crust with foil and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until the edge of the crust is slightly golden, about 20 minutes. Remove the foil and weights and continue baking until the crust is golden brown all over, 15 to 20 more minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely.
• Make the glaze: Combine the diced peach, granulated sugar, lemon zest and juice, and 1 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook until the peach is soft and the glaze is thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove the lemon zest; let the glaze cool.
• Make the filling: Mix the ricotta, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and nutmeg in a bowl with a mixer until smooth; spread evenly in the crust. Arrange the sliced peaches on top of the filling in concentric circles. Brush with all but about 1 tablespoon of the glaze. Gently toss the raspberries with the remaining glaze, then scatter on top of the tart along with the remaining toasted almonds. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate up to 4 hours.

PEACH MELBA TART

Steps:

• Peel and slice the peaches.
• Whisk together 1/4 cup of the sugar, the ascorbic acid, and 1 tablespoon of Signature Secrets or flour (or 1 1/2 teaspoons Instant ClearJel), then mix with the peaches and set aside. Roll the pie crust dough into a 14- to 15-inch circle to fit an 11- to 12-inch tart pan or baking dish. Place it into the pan.
• Stir together the cream, the remaining sugar and thickener, the egg, nutmeg and vanilla; spread over the bottom of the crust. Place the peaches onto the cream filling, arranging them in concentric circles. Spoon any juice from the bowl over the peaches. Fold the edges of the crust in toward the center.
• Bake the tart in a preheated 425°F oven for 20 minutes. Reduce the oven heat to 375°F; tent the edges of the tart with foil, and bake for an additional 30 to 35 minutes. Cool at least 20 minutes before serving. If pie won't be served right away, refrigerate it, and then bring to room temperature before serving. Just before serving, sprinkle with fresh berries and sugar. This is best served the same day.