Mushroom Dip with Bagel Chips

December 18th, 2012 § 0 comments § permalink

Chip and dip, chip and dip, chip and dip . . . it’s very difficult to stop.

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— Mushroom Dip with Bagel Chips (serves 3) 

2 tablespoons butter

1/2 onion, finely chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

300g button mushrooms, sliced

2 tablespoons white wine

200g cream cheese

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh thyme

1/2 teaspoon salt

A pinch of ground black pepper

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– for bagel chips –

3 plain bagels

50ml extra olive oil

2 clove garlic, peeled and crashed

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Melt the butter in a frying-pan, sauteé the onion and garlic over a medium heat until the onion became translucent.

Add the mushrooms and sauteé for 5 to 7 minutes until the mushrooms turn brown. Add the white wine and cook until all the liquid is evaporated. Let cool slightly.

Place the mushroom mixture, cream cheese and salt into a food processor and puree until smooth. Mix in the chopped thyme and ground black pepper.

Cover and refrigerate until chilled.

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Preheat the oven 350F / 180C.

Slice the bagels vertically into very thin slices.

Heat the olive oil and garlic in a small saucepan over low heat until the garlic became golden, remove the garlic from the oil.

Lightly brash the oil on the bagel chips. Bake until golden brown.

Serve with the mushroom dip.

Pear Tarte Tatin

December 9th, 2012 § 0 comments § permalink

Sweet and warm, a little spice and upside down.

That’s what I want in my life right now.

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— Pear Tarte Tatin (serves 4) —

3 pears

80g butter

80g sugar

1 vanilla pod, split

1/2 cinnamon stick

1 star anise

200g puff pastry

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Preheat oven to 200C / 400F.

Peel, core and cut the pears in half.

Melt the butter in a 8 inch ovenproof frying-pan, add the sugar and cook over a medium heat until golden. Add the vanilla pod, cinnamon stick and star anise to the frying-pan.

Lay the pears, cut-side up, to the frying-pan, then cook in the sauce for 8 minutes.

Roll out the puff pastry on a lightly floured work surface to a a 1/4 inch thick, cut out a 9 inch circle. Cover the pears, tucking the pastry down the sides of the tin and pierce the middle of the pastry disc.

Place in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the pastry is golden brown.

Leave the tart to stand for 5 minutes, then put a large plate over the top of the frying-pan and invert.

Serve with vanilla ice cream.