Sunday, August 19, 2012

Not The Recipe

I have a problem with recipes... I can never seem to follow them. I don't think I have tried many recipes I haven't changed, the one exception would be baking. So today I decided to make a dish from the August edition of the Coles grocery store magazine and actually follow it. It looked so good in the picture I knew I had to make it.(Below)
I decided to make it for a meatless dinner tonight. I was following the recipe to the letter and then I remembered that my daughter does not like cooked carrots. Yes, I know but she eats so many other veggies we overlook this one. I also have a fridge full of veggies because my hubby and I are on a juice kick. So I decided to tweak the recipe. This is the result. I was quite happy with the way it looked but not so happy with the photos. Food pics are so difficult.
It was delicious and we will definitely be making it again. I tried to post a link to the original recipe but I can't seem to find it on the Coles website. So here is mine instead.
1 Bunch of Dutch carrots or an assortment of veggies
375g block of puff pastry,thawed
300g fresh ricotta
1 tbsp finely grated lemon zest 
1 tbsp chopped oregano, thyme, parsley or any other herb you want.
1. Preheat oven to 200ÂșC. Line a baking tray with non-stick baking paper. Scrub carrots and trim the leafy parts. Cut each carrot carefully lengthways or slice veggies in to 5mm slices. Arrange in a single layer on tray and drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and and herbs you like. Bake for 10-15 mins. Cool slightly.
2. Roll out pastry to 5mm thick. Score a line 2cm from the edge being sure not to cut all the way through. Poke holes with a fork all over the area within the line. Combine ricotta, lemon zest, herbs and salt and pepper and spread over the pastry. Arrange veggies.
3. Bake for 20-25 mins until the pastry is golden brown.
The beets were peeled and sliced thin. Next time I will probably add nutmeg to the cheese and will say the lemon is essential. I do recommend a block of puff pastry not a pre-rolled unless you want a square and then its no big deal. I could see doing this with any veggie. Thin ribbons of zucchini sprang to mind or lovely colourful tomatoes. I am really looking forward to playing with this one. Everyone loved it...well the 6 yr old ate the veggies (not the carrots) and the pastry but I got no further in my goal of trying to stick to the recipe...again.