Onion Tarte Tatin

Onion Tarte Tatin

30ml + 30ml butter
1 clove garlic, minced
6 onions, halved horizontally
100ml sugar
60ml water
30ml balsamic vinegar
5ml thyme leaves
5ml salt
1 x 400g roll Today puff pastry

Preheat your oven to 200℃.
Put a wide-bottomed pan on medium-high heat and add 30ml butter to melt.
Add the garlic and onion halves cut-side down.
Cook the onions until they have caramelised and softened slightly (about 10 minutes).
Gently remove the onions from the pan and set aside.
Add the sugar and water to an ovenproof pan over medium heat.
Cook, swirling constantly, until the sugar dissolves – DO NOT stir!
Turn the heat up to high and cook undisturbed (no stirring!) for 5 minutes or until it turns to a golden caramel – this happens instantly!!
Remove from the heat and add the balsamic, thyme, salt and 30ml butter.
Return to the boil and swirl to combine.
Arrange the onions cut-side down, trying to fit in as many halves as you can.
Place the puff pastry on a lightly floured work surface and roll it slightly wider.
Now cut a circle that is 1cm larger than the diameter of your pan.
Place the pastry circle on top of the onions and tuck in the edges so that it forms a “basket” for the onions.
Cut a very small hole in the centre of the pastry and bake in the oven for 30 minutes.
Remove from the oven and cover with aluminium foil to prevent burning.
Return to the oven and bake for another 20 minutes until the pastry is cooked through.
Remove the tart from the oven and leave to stand for 10 minutes.
Place a flat plate/wooden board over the pan and carefully invert the tart.
Season with salt and pepper to serve.

Coconut-Bran Muffins

Coconut-Bran Muffins

Makes 12 muffins but can be doubled.

375ml bran
125ml boiling water
60ml butter, melted
190ml brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
50ml + 200ml buttermilk
6ml bicarbonate of soda
160ml flour
160ml wholewheat flour
2ml salt
250ml desiccated coconut

Preheat your oven to 220℃ and line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cups.
Add the bran to a mixing bowl and pour the boiling water over. Stir through.
Pour the 50ml buttermilk into a small bowl and sprinkle the bicarbonate of soda over. Stir through and set aside.
Add the melted butter to the bran and stir again.
Now add the sugar, egg and 200ml buttermilk.
Pour the bicarb and buttermilk into the mixture and mix through.
Add the flour, wholewheat flour, salt and coconut and stir until just mixed.
Divide the batter among the paper cases and bake for 20 minutes.
Remove the muffins from the oven and from the muffin tin and cool them on a cooling rack.