CORNISH PASTY

One thing I crave during winter is a Cornish Pasty.  Not just any Cornish Pasty though...an authentic Cornish Pasty.  When it comes to food there is not much that I am snobby about but when it comes to Cornish Pasties, I am a definite snob!  Those so called Cornish Pasties that you get in bakeries and cafes are a travesty.  They usually have things like peas, carrots, corn, puff pastry and heaven forfend....chicken!!  None of those things belong in an authentic Cornish Pasty.  Very simply a Cornish Pasty is a shortcrust pastry wrapped around finely chopped beef, swede, potato, onion, butter and plenty of salt and white pepper.  That's it.  It's so simple.  And don't make the mistake of cutting slits in your pasty to let steam escape - you want the steam to stay in because that is how the filling cooks - the pasty is a mini oven.  Don't skimp on the salt and pepper when you are assembling them either - as potato, swede and beef are fairly bland, they rely on the salt and pepper to bring out their flavours. Finally, the pastry is made with lard.  Yes, you could make it with butter but the texture of the pastry will be vastly different.  The lard gives the pastry a softer, melt in the mouth texture.  Do yourself a favour - if you object to the use of lard for whatever reason, don't make this recipe.  Lard is king here :-)  These won't appeal to everyone but if you like the honest to goodness taste of meat and veg without a whole pile of other flavours, then this will be a treat for you.

CORNISH PASTIES 

Pastry
500g plain flour

150g lard (you will find it in the chilled section near the butter and margarine)

3 tsp salt

1 cup of water

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees.  Flour a large baking tray.
2. Place the flour, lard and salt in the bowl with the kneading blade.

3. Pulse for 20 seconds.

4. Select Pastry P1 Speed 5 Time 1min 30sec.

5. Commence program and immediately add water.
6. Continue program until complete or the pastry has come together.
7. Divide dough into five equal (I weighed mine) pieces.

8. Roll out each piece and use a plate or bowl to cut circles out of about 20cm diameter.

Filling 

500g of good quality beef (rump, topside) don't use cheaper cuts as they need longer cooking than this
200g peeled potato
200g peeled swede
1 small onion
White pepper
Salt
Butter
Beaten egg to glaze

1. Dice potato and swede into very small dice - smaller than 1/2cm.
2. Dice onion very finely.
3. Dice beef into very small dice - smaller than 1/2cm. Divide meat into 5 parts.
4. Mix vegetables together well in a bowl.

To assemble 

1. Place four dessertspoons of vegetable mix in a log in the centre of the pastry circle. Leave 1cm clear at each end.
2. Sprinkle white pepper and salt on the vegetables, liberally. Don't be shy with these seasonings.
3. Take a section of beef and place it along the top of the vegetables.
4. Place two generous knobs of butter on top of the beef sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper.
5. Dip your finger in water and wet the edge of the pastry about 1cm in right round.
6. Pull the sides up to form a seam at the top, using your fingers to crimp the seam.
7. Place pasties on the prepared tray and brush with egg wash.
8. Bake for 45 minutes.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE ZUCHINNI BREAD

Aaahh....kids and veggies....it seems to be the modern day battle ground for kids and parents.  Personally I love my veggies - really love them.  However, I know that a lot of fellow parents are always on the look out for ways to sneak vegetables into their children's stomachs (not just the mouth because they can still be spat out at that point!).  I also know that their are plenty of adults who like to think that a sweet treat is a bit healthier if it contains a vegetable.  So in light of this, I present to you this lovely loaf bread.  Chock full of Vitamin Zuchinni and also happily chock full of nutritious chocolate (ok - I know nutritious is a bit of a stretch but work with me here!).  I hope you enjoy it.  It's moist and dense and very very tasty and it is HUGE! 

Don't worry that your jug will seem very full of ingredients and don't panic if it seems at first that it is not all going to mix properly.  It will mix - the magic happens at about the 1 min left on the programme mark when it all comes together. Have faith! Also, this is a very large batter and I have recommended cooking it in a large loaf tin (normal bread loaf size).  You can speed up the baking by choosing two smaller tins.  It doesn't strictly have to be loaf shaped - round or square tins will do just as well.  You will just need to keep and eye on the cooking time.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE ZUCHINNI BREAD  

1. 180g butter, diced
2. 4 cups grated zucchini (about 2 medium zucchini)
3. 2 1/2 cups plain flour
4. 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
5. 2 teaspoons bicarb soda
6. 1 teaspoon salt
7. 1 cup white sugar
8. 1/2 cup brown sugar
9. 2 eggs
10. 2 teaspons vanilla

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips, divided

1. Grease and line with baking paper a large loaf pan. Preheat oven to 160 degrees and place the rack in the middle of the oven.
2.  Place diced butter in the jug with the kneading blade.  Set Speed 3 Temp 75 Time 3 minutes.
3. Once the butter is melted place all of the ingredients and 1 cup of chocolate chips in the jug.
4. Select Pastry P1.  After 1 min, pause the machine and scrape down the sides of the jug. Recommence programme.
5. Once the programme is complete, pour batter into the prepared tin.  Sprinkle the top of the batter with the remaining 1/2 cup of chocolate chips.
6. Bake for 1 hour - 1 hour 25 minutes. ( I recommend covering the cake with foil after half an hour to prevent scorching.
7. Once a skewer inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean, remove from the oven and allow to cool in the tin before turning out.