Monday 22 April 2013

RHUBARB & VANILLA JAM

RHUBARB & VANILLA JAM

Rhubarb... It has been a very wet and cold start to spring so things are not growing there best but if you can manage to get any rhubarb from your garden make this amazing jam.


500g Rhubarb
500g Jam sugar
1 vanilla pod
1/2 sachet of pectin


  • First things First put a saucer in the fridge, you will need this later!

  • Cut of the leaves and chop your rhubarb in to 5mm slices but in a heavy based pan with a splash of water and cook for 5mins stirring lots so it does not go to mush.


  • Add the sugar & pectin, bring the heat up to no more then 104°C stir till the sugar has melted.

  •  Turn down to a steady/gentle boil (slowly bubbles popping to the top) cook for 15mins then do the plate test.

  • To test the setting point, remove the pan from the heat. Take your saucer from the fridge and place a drop of jam onto the cold plate. After a few seconds push the jam with your finger.
     
     
  • If the jam surface wrinkles then it has reached setting point and is ready. If it slides about as a liquid, then it hasn't reached setting point and should be returned to the heat and boiled for a few more minutes before testing again. 

  • now pour the jam in to some sterilized jars cover with a wax disk made from some baking parchment paper, close the lid when still warm label and store in a dark place for up to 1 year

Sunday 14 April 2013

WILD GARLIC PESTO RAREBIT

  
WILD GARLIC PESTO RAREBIT




Today I cooked this at a pop up dinner at the Bridport arts centere, page to screen festival

100g butter
100g flour
50g milk
1bottle of nice pale ale
20g of mustard
300g mild cheddar

2 yolks (free range)
Worcestershire sauce
tabasco
salt and pepper

Melt the butter in a pan add the flour and cook out the roux.

Add milk and ale keep mixing it with a wooden spoon so it does not catch
now add the mustard, Tabasco,Worcestershire sauce and the cheddar keep mixing till all the cheese has melted. 

now whisk in the yolks and take off the heat.

Take a nice slice of bread and rub with tomato sauce or chopped toms then cover with wild garlic pesto and spread the rarebit over the top and cook at 200c till the top starts going golden...