Marinated strawberries with a hint of mint, served with clotted cream.

Ingredients

(Serves four)

400g strawberries, washed and cut into quarters
50g caster sugar
Lemon juice
Fresh mint, chopped finely
Pinch of ground white pepper
Clotted cream

Method

Take one-quarter of the strawberries, sprinkle with sugar and add a dash of lemon juice. Then, using a fork, mash well and add the remainder of the strawberries. Add a pinch of pepper, 1tsp of chopped mint and adjust the sweetness to your liking, then leave to marinate for 30 minutes in the fridge.

To serve, place the strawberries into bowls and spoon some clotted cream into the middle.
by Michael Caines - 7/14/2008 - Caterer and Hotelkeeper.

Strawberry tart. From Pascal Aussignac.

Ingredients

Shortbread pastry

125g of butter
60g of icing sugar
1 egg yolk
125g of plain flour, plus more for dusting
75g of ground almonds
2g of baking powder
1 pinch of salt
3 sprigs of lemon thyme, leaves picked
Crème patissière

200ml of milk
40g of sugar
2 egg yolks
14g of cornflour
1 vanilla pod, cut and deseeded
Marinated strawberries

18 strawberries, roughly quartered
30ml of rosé wine
1 tsp of caster sugar
1 tbsp of clear honey

Equipment
22cm spring form cake tin

1.To begin the strawberry tart, mix the butter and sugar for the shortbread recipe to form a smooth paste.
Add flour, ground almonds, salt and baking powder.
Rub the mixture using your fingertips to form a sand-like texture

2.Add the egg yolk and the chopped thyme and continue to work the mix until it comes together to form a dough.
When your dough is ready, wrap it in cling film and leave in the fridge to rest for 2 hours

3.Once the dough has rested, preheat an oven to 160ºC/gas mark 3.
Lightly dust a suitable workspace with flour and roll the dough to 1/2cm thickness, place into shallow 22cm spring form tin.
Use the excess dough to build a 1cm side for the tart

4.Bake for 13 minutes until lightly golden. Once cooked leave the pastry to cool in the tin

5.For the crème patissière, put the milk and vanilla pod in a saucepan and bring to the boil

6.Meanwhile, mix the sugar and the egg yolk in a separate bowl until you reach a creamy, smooth consistency. Add the cornflour and continue to whisk

7.Once the milk has come to a steady boil, pour half of the milk into the bowl, whisking thoroughly. Whisk the milk and the eggs in the bowl then return the mixture to the pan and continue to whisk on a low heat, returning to a steady boil. Continue to cook for 3 minutes after boiling

8.Reserve the crème patissière in the fridge on a clean tray and cover it tightly with cling film. Once chilled, place it in a bowl and gently whisk until smooth. Transfer to the fridge until ready to serve

9.For the marinated strawberries, place the cut strawberries into a bowl. Add the caster sugar, rosé wine and honey. Mix until glazed

10.Before serving, spread a generous 1cm layer of crème patissière across your cooked tart and place your marinated strawberries to cover. Once covered, drizzle the excess marinade across the tart to glaze

Super Moist Carrot Cake.

... with Cream Cheese Frosting. (if You like)

Serves: 8

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Oven Temperature: 180° C - 360° F

Ingredients

180 g self raising flour
180 g caster sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
3 eggs
220 g grated raw carrot
¼ tsp salt
300 ml sunflower oil
for the frosting:
180 g cream cheese
180 g melted butter
220 g icing sugar
½ tsp vanilla essence

Method

1. Preheat the oven 180°C

2. Sieve together 175g self-raising flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon salt.

3. Put 300ml oil in a large bowl and beat with 350g the sugar. Beat in 3 eggs one at a time, then fold in the dry ingredients and stir in 225g grated carrot.

4. Place the mixture in the tin, level off the top, and bake for 45 mins. Then turn the oven down to 170C/325F/gas 3 for a further 20 mins. When it's done, take the cake out of the oven and cool in the tin for 5 mins. Then remove from the tin to cool on a wire rack.

5. While the cake is cooling, beat together the 175g cream cheese and 175g butter and add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence. Gradually add 225g sieved icing sugar until the mixture is stiff but spreadable.

6. When the cake is cool, split it in half horizontally and use the icing to sandwich it back together and cover the top.
PS
Cake becomes more mature next day and day after...