Tourte de Blettes (Chard “mince pie”)

Classic French recipe that opens up the world of possibilities in leafy desserts…! Many variations, with the possible addition of cheese diverging from the mince pie theme

  • Leaves – Chard: stripped of the stems; washed, wilted, squeezed of as much liquid as possible, chopped
  • Core fruit – apple or pear: peeled, grated, squeezed out
  • Nuts – pine nuts is classic but pecan can work, toasted
  • Currents – raisins, soaked in liqueur – I like to use Pedro Ximenez; brandy is classic; Pernot might make sense
  • Citrus – lemon zest, or orange
  • Sugar – nothing too dark, have even tried using freeze-dried pollen
  • Spice – cinnamon or nutmeg or other winter warm spice
  • 1 or 2 eggs, beaten, to tie it all together
  • Pastry – sweet shortcrust pastry or one made with olive oil (and even yeast) for more savoury theme

    Options
    Classically has Parmesan sometimes – in that case, making a pastry with olive oil works well

Gas 5 / 190C
can use many different dish types – make encased tart
~30mins

Notes
no need to pre-bake pastry
You want the filling to not be wet, and may need to add something to soak any liquid up. Perhaps a nice flour, oat, crumb or powder (boabab?!)
dust with icing sugar when cool

Ma’s Apricot & Walnut Bread

A quick and easy healthy loaf that serves well sliced with cheese.

  • 400g flour (wholemeal/plain)
  • 50g porridge oats
  • salt
  • 1tsp bicarb of soda
  • 50g dried apricots, chopped
  • 50g walnuts, chopped
  • sunflower seeds
  • 250ml natural yoghurt
  • 175ml milk

Gas 6 / 200C
lined & floured baking sheet
mix as a well with a knife
don’t overmix
18cm round, cross top with knife
30-35mins until hollow sounding bottom
wrap in teatowel to keep crust soft

Notes
Lasts 2-3 days
Makes great toast if a bit stale.

Ma’s Banana Cake

A naturally sweet loaf absolutely packed with whatever you want to put in. Classically with apricots, dates, walnuts and sunflower seeds; it’d be fine with whatever you have.

  • 5 oz wholemeal SR flour
  • 3 oz jumbo porridge oats
  • salt
  • 4-5 bananas
  • 4 fl.oz oil
  • 5 oz dried fruit, chopped
  • 3 oz nuts & seeds

    Options
  • add baobab powder to try to add a zing; works well as coating to fruit
  • originally sunflower oil, can try with olive oils to play with bitterness

Gas 5 / 190C
Don’t overmix.
2lb loaf tin
50mins with foil tent; 10mins without
Cool immediately

Notes
Does not freeze well.