Quick Recipe needed (well kind of!)

mrs_potato_head

Hi

My little boy loves cooking (he's 5), and I thought that jam tarts seem like quite a fun yummy thing to cook, however I need a bit of direction LOL

I was just going to buy a packet of pastry mix as from memory I 'think' that pastry has lard in it and didn't fancy buying a pack just for these. And I was going to use reduced sugar jam.

Do I need to grease the yorkshire pudding tin?
What temperature and for how long do they usually need (don't know if they are high and fast, or low and slow if you understand what I mean?).

Many thanks in advance, I'm quite a competent cook, but usually follow recipes LOL

Mrs P

Coopster

well it certainly wont hurt to grease the tins.

I`d put them in at about 190C for about 10 mins top shelf.

my little boy loves cooking too, esp fairy cakes....re esp licking the bowl and spoon afterwards!
good luck

twink

recipe for jam tarts here
http://www.be-ro.com/f_insp.htm

ALIBOBSY

You don't have to use lard to make shortcrust pastry (which is what you use for Jam tarts. Basic sweet shortcrust receipe I use is 8oz plain flour,4oz of fat (marg, butter whatever you have) and about 2 oz of sugar and a pinch of salt. If you want the tarts to be less sweet like you say fill with reduced sugar jam and you can leave out the sugar in the mix or reduce it. You rub the flour (and pinch of salt)and fat together till they look like breadcrumbs(rub through your fingertips lightly) and add any sugar if you like. Then bring together useing some liquid I use milk but you can use water. Add the liquid bit by bit until you get your dough. Roll out and cut into your tart shapes. I use a nonstick tin, but still add a little "greasing" before adding the pastry so it doesn't stick.
I have been making my own pastry for years so can turn out tarts, scones pies in minutes so I don't use shop bought very often, but I would avoid dry mixes and go for ready made dough if you need to as it is better, and if you want puff pastry defo go for the ready made so much easier
ali

ALIBOBSY

opps forgot to say medium heat ie around 180 for about 10-12 mins or until pastry looks slightly browned.
ali

mrs_potato_head

Many many thanks for all these tips - I will have a go at them tomorrow with him - didn't think of searching for a recipe LOL, thought it was something I 'should' know!

I'll see how brave I am about letting him make his own pastry from scratch (thinking of the mess!!)

Mrs P

Gingham_Ribbon

Word of warning - the jam stays very hot for quite a while. Tempting for little fingers but just be careful!

miss_pink_4

I wouldn,t buy packet mix its much easier and cheaper to make your own. The recipe ALIBOBSY sent is spot on and theres no nasty hidden extras in using homemade pastry, Good luck!!!!

mrs_potato_head

Might try making some then - will whiz it in the food processor for ease LOL

Mrs P

thriftlady_2

Please don't buy a pastry mix. Pastry has 3 ingredients - flour, fat ( can be all butter or a mix of butter and lard, or marge if you must) and water.

Use twice as much flour as fat. Rub fat into flour with your fingertips or blitz it in a food processor. Add 2-3 tbsp of cold water gradually until it comes together in a ball. Chill in the fridge for 30 mins before using. 8oz of flour and 4oz fat makes a useful quantity.

jenpoptab

My 3 yr old makes better pastry than me, so it can easily be done. At christmas we made mince pies and jam tarts as we usually do each year, however this time I did my mince pie pastry, she did the jam tart pastry- same mix I know but someone wants to be independant! Her pastry melted in the mouth it was delicious. I used trex, flour and water. I have to say my dad swears by SR flour so that's what I usually use for shortcrust and it always comes out lovely.