Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Tuna and Egg Tartlets



This recipe is adapted from a book I borrowed from the library: Tapas Fantasticas. Here is a link to the book. The tartlets turned out great. The filling was a bit more salty but still good. I will certainly come back to these again.

Tuna and Egg Tartlets

Basic Tartlet Pastry
3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
 4 T chilled unsalted butter, cubed
2-3 Tbs. chilled dry sherry or water (could use egg here)

Filling
one 6 oz can tuna, oil packed
1-2 hard boiled eggs, chopped
2 T capers, rinsed then chopped
1 T mustard such as horseradish or dijon
1 T mayonnaise
1 tsp anchovies, rinsed and minced
2 T chopped parsley
1 tsp chopped celery (optional)
1/2-1 tsp lemon juice
tomato slices for garnish
  1. Mix the flour and salt in a food processor.
  2. Add butter and process until mixture resembles coarse meal.
  3. Add 2-3 T of the liquid and process briefly. Add more liquid if needed. Test the dough using your fingers. It should easily form into a ball. If too dry it would brake easily when rolled. If too wet it wouldn't hold its shape and won't puff well. For beginners it is best to err on the side of making it wetter.
  4. Take the dough out of the processor and plit it two. Flat them and regrigerate wrapped in plastic wrap for about an hour.
  5. Preheat the oven to 375F.
  6. Roll the dough to 1/8 inch thickness. And using a glass or cookie cutter cut circles.
  7. Refrigerate the dough to firm if it becomes too soft to work with.
  8. Grease the bottom a mini muffin pan and press the circles gently. Top with another mini muffin pan.
  9. Bake for 15 minutes with the top pan; then remove it and bake 2-3 more minutes.
  10. Once done, invert the tartlets and let cool on a wire rack. Then proceed with the filling.
  11. For the filling all you need is to mix everything well and taste as you go to avoid making it too salty. I topped these with fresh tomato slices since these were a bit dry on their own. Great appetizer!





Saturday, January 25, 2014

Makoviec


Since I was I a child I loved Kozunak, a challah like sweet bread we had in Bulgaria every Easter. Since I read about Makoviec bread I wanted to try it. This was the second time I used poppy seed filling and I liked the result much better than the first which were some Jewish butter cookies (Hamantaschen). I couldn't stop eating it. It is good for breakfast with tea or coffee. I have had it for dessert and afternoon snack, too.


Mokoviec

 Dough:
  • 1 egg
  • 1-2 tsp. lemon zest
  • 1/4 cup yogurt
  • 1 tsp. active dry yeast
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • flour (2-3) cups

Filling:

  • roughly 1/2 cup poppy seed filling
  • zest of 1/2 orange
  • 1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
  • 1/4 cup raisins, chopped
  1. Mix the yeast with a little warm water and let rest for 4-5 minutes.
  2. In a big bowl mix in the yogurt, flour, zest, and sugar and knead until it becomes springy. I used a hand mixer with a dough hook attachment. It took like 5-10 minutes.
  3. Let rest in a warm place covered with a towel until it doubles in size.
  4. Punch down. Divide in two balls. Roll each one to 1/4 inch thickness.
  5. Prepare the filling by mixing them in a small bowl. 
  6. Spread half of the filling over the dough and roll. Repeat with the other half.
  7. Put the two rolls in a greased 8x8in baking dish. (I used Pyrex here.)
  8. Rest until almost doubled in size.
  9. Preheat the oven to 375F. Glaze with yolk and some sugar.
  10. Bake for 25 minutes, then lower the heat to 345 and bake 15 more minutes.
    Let cool a bit and enjoy. It is still good the following day.