Sunday 3 July 2016

Chocolate Eclair


Serves 4-6 


INGREDIENTS
For the choux pastry:

60g of salted butter
130ml of water
80g of plain flour, sifted
3 large free range eggs

For the creme patisserie:

6 large free range egg yolks
120g of sugar
50g of cornflour
450ml of milk
1 vanilla pod
50g of butter

For the chocolate glaze:

100g of good quality dark chocolate
50ml of cream
50g of butter
75g of roasted hazelnuts, roughly chopped

Why not try adding a shot of espresso to the chocolate glaze. 

Method
Preheat the oven to 220˚C/425˚F/Gas Mark 7 and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.

Place the butter and water in a saucepan and bring to a steady boil until the butter is melted. Remove from the heat and add the flour, beating with a wooden spoon until a dough comes together. Place back over the heat and beat the dough in the saucepan for about 40 seconds
.
Remove from the heat and set aside. Beat the eggs in a small bowl.

Add the eggs little at a time, beat thoroughly with a wooden spoon until the egg is completely incorporated after each addition. Add a little of the beaten egg at a time until you have a consistency that will hold it’s shape when piped. It should be smooth, shiny and just about fall from the spoon. You may not need all of the egg.

Using a spatula, scoop the dough into a large piping bag fitted with a large round piping nozzle and pipe 10cm lines on the lined baking sheets, leaving about 4cm in between each line to allow for spreading. Brush each one with the little leftover beaten egg.

Place in the oven, reducing the heat to 190˚C/375˚F/Gas mark 5, for approximately 25 minutes until they have risen and are golden and crisp.

Transfer to a wire wrack and use a sharp pointed knife to pierce three holes on the underside of the buns. Allow to cool completely before filling.

For the crème pâtissière, split the vanilla pod in half and scrape out the seeds. Add this to a medium saucepan with the milk and place over a medium high heat. Bring to the boil and then turn off the heat. Scoop out the vanilla pod.

While the milk is coming to the boil, place the sugar, cornflour and egg yolks in a large mixing bowl and beat with a whisk until thick and pale.
Pour the hot milk into the bowl, whisking quickly and continuously until it is smooth and incorporated. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan and place over a medium heat beating continuously until it has thickened. Transfer the crème pâtissière to a cold bowl, create a flat surface with the back of a spatula and wipe the top with little butter (this will prevent a skin forming). Cover directly with cling film and allow to cool completely.

For the chocolate glaze, melt the dark chocolate in a bowl set over a saucepan of hot water. When the chocolate has melted remove the bowl from the heat and gently stir through the cream. Fold in the butter until you have a shiny, spreadable chocolate glaze.

To assemble the eclairs, fill a piping bag, fitted with a small round nozzle, with the crème pâtissière and pipe into the holes on the underside of the choux buns. Spread the chocolate glaze over the top of each eclair and sprinkle with the roasted hazelnuts

Serve straight away or the eclairs will keep for 1 or 2 days in the fridge.

Enjoy!


Saturday 2 July 2016

Nutella French Toast

Serves 2


You can view this heavenly recipe on my Youtube channel SamThyme. Subscribe, like and comment if you enjoy. SamThyme is a co-created channel with fellow Youtuber MellyVK.

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Ingredients 2 Large eggs 60ml Milk 1tsp Vanilla extract 4tbls Nutella 4 Large slices brioche 1tbsp Soft butter For sweet berries 100g Frozen berries 100g Caster sugar 50ml Water  
Method For the berry compote, Place berries and caster sugar into a small pan with 50ml water, bring to a simmer and cook until berries are soft mash lightly with fork. 
Get a flat dish then whisk eggs, milk and vanilla extract and set aside.

Now cut your brioche and spread the nutella on each slice of brioche then make them into sandwiches.

Melt the butter over a medium-high heat until foaming.

Soak each side of the brioche sandwiches in the egg mix.

Fry the sandwiches on the frying pan with the foaming butter for 2-3 minutes on each side.

Cut and plate the sandwiches, cover in the berry compote and sever.

Optional: Smoked bacon, cream, sprinkle of cinnamon, zest of orange.

Thursday 30 June 2016

Portuguese Inspired Chicken


Ingredients:                                                      Serves 3-4 People

Chicken wings (10)
Bulb garlic (1)
Chorizo (4)
Mixed pepper (4)
Chilli  (1 optional)
Cherry tomato (15)
Sea Salt (pinch)
Pepper  (pinch)
Piri Piri seasoning (enough to cover chicken)
Olive oil (Glug)

Method: 

1. Put the chicken in a deep tray and rub seasoning onto the chicken
2. Chop the pepper, chilli and chorizo
3. Squish the tomato and garlic (with skin on)
4. Put everything in with the chicken
5. Drizzle with Olive oil
6. Cover Tray with foil then put in the oven on gas mark 6 (200C/ 400F) for 1 1/2 hours
7. Check the progress an hour in and remove tin foil for the skin to crisp

For an accompaniment I cooked roast potato wedges seasoned with thyme and crushed garlic however if you don't fancy potatoes try boiled rice and a slice of lemon.

Enjoy and let me know what yours turned out like; Or give me feedback on what you would do different!

Homemade Raspberry Pavlova


I made a simple French meringue and the toping is semi-freddo. 

This was made back in 2015 however as I am just starting the Blog now, I wanted to share past adventures in cooking. I hope to show a variety of different recipes and skills in the coming future and wanted a format to share my experience in the culinary world, hence why I have started this page. 

I also hope to review others work, Share pictures of my travels and the food I experience, as well as share my own recipes.

I welcome any and all feedback and hope people enjoy the recipes I make and the things I share!