:: I found my Thrill ::

Blueberry & Almond Tart

:: Megann’s Kitchen ::

:: beautiful blueberry & almond tart with fresh berries & creme fraiche ::

Whenever I am homesick I seem to crave recipes made with blueberries. You see, I grew up with an amazing blueberry patch on our family farm & it was like a sanctuary for me. Whenever I wanted, I would roam aimlessly through the rows upon rows of blueberries. I would lie under the branches, looking up at the sky & let my imagination take over. I would even play there with friends, having blueberry fights – squishing the berries to feel them ooze between our fingers before pelting the mess at an unsuspecting victim. Yes, these were incredibly wholesome blueberry memories of my childhood filled with pure joy.

I have now made this tart many times. The frangipane cream can be a vehicle for any fruit of the season – but in season or not, a blueberry filling is my ultimate favourite.

to start

1 quantity of sweet shortcrust pastry

basic frangipane cream (GF)

125g good quality unsalted butter, softened

150g castor sugar

1 tsp of vanilla bean paste or seeds of 1 vanilla bean

2 large eggs

200g almond meal

fruit

250g blueberries (2 punnets)

:: gently smooth over the top & sprinkle with blueberries ::

:: bake until evenly golden brown & cooked through ::

Preheat oven to180°C (350°F). Line a 24 cm loose-bottomed tart pan with pastry following the Sweet Shortcrust Pastry instructions, then bake blind at 180°C (350°F) for 10 minutes. Remove pastry weights & parchment paper then bake for another 5 minutes, until just cooked through. Remove.

While the pastry is blind baking, place butter, sugar & vanilla in an electric mixer (I use my ever trusty KitchenAid) & beat until butter mixture is light & creamy. Add eggs one at a time & make sure they are fully incorporated before you add the next. Finish by adding the almond meal & mix through.

Sprinkle half of the blueberries on the pastry base. Spoon the thick Frangipane Cream evenly over the top of the berries, smoothing out the top when finished. Scatter the remainder of the blueberries over the top of the almond mixture, pushing slightly into the batter.

Bake for 35-45 minutes until it has turned a golden brown on top. Cool in tin for at least 30 minutes before serving

:: serve on a breadboard for a rustic & homestyle feel ::

:: this recipe can be made with any sweet fruit - this is a cherry tart ::

Kitchen Notes

:: The Frangipane cream is quite thick, so be mindful of placing it where you want it, then smooth over the top.

:: A way to test if the almond Frangipane Mixture is cooked through is to simply press on the top when it looks golden. If it feels firm and springs back, then it is ready. If your finger leaves an indentation & breaks the surface, pop it back in the oven for another 5 minutes & check again.

:: All is not lost if not cooked through. I accidently did this once & quickly placed it back in the oven for another 10 minutes & it was beautiful! The pastry was a little crunchier than normal, but still a kitchen win in my eyes.

:: No blueberries? Try raspberries, cherries, blackberries, figs brushed with honey, fresh sliced peaches, halved apricots, poached pears… just use your imagination!

:: The Frangipane Cream is a Gluten Free mixture, so omit the pastry for a Gluten Free option.

:: finely diced/cubed fruit with micro herbs & edible garden flowers ::

Style & Serve

:: Dust with icing sugar & a dollop of double or triple thickened cream.

:: To impress, I love finely diced strawberries & baby herbs scattered on the side. If using crème fraîche, I also add a fine drizzle of honey to counteract the sourness of the dairy.

:: elegant accents  with a drizzle of honey ::

Quick Kitchen

:: Have no time to make your own pastry? Never fear. You can either prepare it the day before & let it chill in the fridge overnight then continue with the baking process or

:: Use a good quality pastry base, such as Carème Vanilla Bean Sweet Shortcrust Pastry (see selected outlets) or frozen Pampas Shortcrust Pastry (never, ever use low fat options in pastry – it turns out hard & tasteless).

Enjoy!

:: Oaty ANZAC Day ::

ANZAC Biscuits

:: Megann’s Kitchen ::

:: delicious ANZAC biscuits ::

I first made ANZAC biscuits for my husband while he was deployed in Iraq. I was spending a lot of time being scared out of my wits, so when I was home alone I would bake for my friends to keep my imagination from running away from me. For a biscuit that I had adored my whole life, I couldn’t believe that this was my first attempt at making them! Watching the golden buttery mixture bubble as I added the bicarbonate of soda for the first time was incredible & I realised there was more science to kitchen cooking than I realised.

I have since sent quite a few batches of these cookies to friends overseas & they have stood the test of the wartime mail system, as they would have many years ago. Every time I have an ANZAC biscuit, I reflect on fond memories of ANZAC day in the past. Remembering my Grandfather travelling from QLD to Melbourne every year & watching the parade on TV to see if I could see him or his battalion. In recent years it has been spending ANZAC day at the Harbourview Hotel overlooking the Sydney Harbour Bridge while the boys marched & having quite a few beverages from a very early hour… then continuing throughout the day!

:: a bite of goodness ::

This post of ANZAC biscuits is in remembrance of the Australian & New Zealand war heroes of the past, the fallen, & also to support the amazing men & woman who have fought/are fighting for their country at the present. There are many Australian Defence Force members who have served their country & been wounded, unable to return to normal duties. It is their silent fight that I am supporting today. There is an amazing fundraising group called Soldier On. Follow this link as they deserve your encouragement & ongoing support. This incredible organisation helps wounded warriors of our amazing country. You can easily like them on their Facebook page as well!

“Soldier On supports servicemen and women of the Australian Defence Force who have been physically or mentally wounded in the service of their country. Our vision is to have the world's best care for Australia's wounded soldiers, to help them to achieve the same hopes and dreams they had prior to their wounds.”

There are many Defence members not home with their families today or effected by war in some way, think of them this ANZAC day & show your appreciation by making a quick batch of ANZAC biscuits.

1¼ cups plain flour, sifted

1 cup rolled oats

¼ cup brown sugar

¼ cup white sugar

¾ cup desiccated coconut

2 tablespoons golden syrup or treacle

150g unsalted butter, chopped

½ tsp bicarbonate of soda

1 Tbs hot water

Preheat oven to 160°C (325°F). Line 2 cookie trays with parchment paper. Place the flour, oats, sugars & coconut in a large bowl and stir to combine. In a small saucepan, place the golden syrup & butter, stirring over low heat until the butter has melted. Remove from heat. Mix the bicarbonate of soda with the water & add to the golden syrup mixture. It will form incredible bubbles whilst stirring, like molten lava. Pour into the dry ingredients & mix until fully combined. Roll 2-3 Tbs of mixture into balls or use a 3 Tbs spring handled ice cream scoop & place on the lined baking trays, leaving plenty of space between each one. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven & press firmly down with a flat-bottomed glass in order to produce a uniform cookie shape. Place back into the over for another 4 minutes, or until golden brown. Leave to cool on the baking tray for 10 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack using a spatula.

Makes 12+ large 7cm cookies

:: pressing into a cookie shape 

:: a baked cookie round ::

Kitchen Notes

:: If making with toddlers, be careful with the hot ingredients.

:: I could have easily used a smaller measurement & yielded more, yet smaller, biscuits. What can I say, I like big ANZACs!

:: a glass of milk & some ANZAC's ::

Health Benefits of Oats

:: Oatmeal and oat bran are significant sources of dietary fibre. One component of the soluble fibre found in oats is beta-glucans, a soluble fibre that has proven effective in lowering blood cholesterol. Oats and grains are also one of the best sources of compounds called tocotrienols. These are antioxidants, which together with tocopherols form vitamin E. The tocotrienols inhibit cholesterol synthesis and have been found to lower blood cholesterol. New research has also discovered that the antioxidants found in oats reduce cholesterol by reducing the ability of blood cells to stick to the inside of artery walls.

:: Control of blood glucose and insulin levels is essential in preventing many of the complications associated with diabetes. Oat beta-glucan slows the rise in blood glucose levels following a meal and delays its decline to pre-meal levels. This means dramatic changes in blood sugar levels are avoided.

:: Oats, contain hundreds of phytochemicals (plant chemicals). Many phytochemicals are thought to reduce a person's risk of getting cancer. Phytoestrogen compounds, called lignans, in oats have been linked to decreased risk of hormone-related diseases such as breast cancer, prostate, endometrium and ovarian cancer.

:: Oats, rich in soluble fibre, can reduce hypertension, or high blood pressure, and so reduce the need for anti-hypertensive medication.

:: Oats have a high fibre content. Fibre is necessary in keeping bowel movements regular. Oats are high in both soluble and insoluble fibre.

:: Oats have a higher concentration of well-balanced protein than other cereals. They contain a good balance of essential fatty acids, which have been linked with longevity and general good health, and also have one of the best amino acid profiles of any grain. Oats are a good source of essential vitamins such as thiamin, folic acid, biotin, pantothenic acid and vitamin E. They also contain zinc, selenium, copper, iron, manganese and magnesium. Oat beta glucan also appears to help speed up response to infection, which may result in faster healing. According to a new study, it was discovered that beta glucan can enhance the ability of certain human immune cells to navigate to the site of a bacterial infection, resulting in faster healing.

Sources

:: To find out more information on delicious oats, go to the "eat more oats" website. 
:: get your very own OXO cookie scoop from Amazon... I bought all three sizes & use them all! I used the large 3Tbs scoop for these cookies, but tend to use the medium for other cookies, meatballs, etc. The small one is great for mini ice-creams as well! Choices, choices!

:: the best ANZAC biscuit recipe from Megann's Kitchen ::

Thanks for stopping by this ANZAC day

:: Easy Kitchen - Turbo Chef ::

Turbo Charged
:: Megann’s Kitchen ::

:: tupperware's turbo chef - an easy way to prepare ingredients ::

Soon after I had my son, Will, I decided to host a Tupperware Party in order to add to my ever-growing storage collection, but this time having baby & toddler meals in mind. I have bought much of the Tupperware Collection, but as a hostess gift, I received a Turbo Chef. Now, I have to admit that it wasn’t on my list of collectables & I am not sure if I would have bought it at the time, but I am ever so glad that fortune saw it land in my lap.

As you may know, I developed Easy Kitchen to inform my readers of tools in the kitchen that make my life that little bit easier. Whether it is saving time or energy, Easy Kitchen features equipment I just couldn’t live without. I had recently had some shoulder & tendonitis issues, which made even the easiest of tasks in the kitchen into a challenge. When I first used the Turbo Chef for finely mincing onions for a risotto, I couldn’t believe how easy it was for me to use. To think I had been chopping my onions with a knife all these years!

:: finely dicing onions with the turbo chef ::

The Turbo Chef allows you to chop an onion into simple 8ths (half, half then half again), place the equivalent to half of the onion into the container & with a few swift pulls of the cord chopping onions for your desired dish becomes a breeze. Oh, did I mention no more onion tears? If the recipe calls for it, I sometimes add my garlic in with the onion as well. Simple!

:: make sure to constantly stir your onions to prevent burning ::

If you have any leftover ingredients or need to keep the contents for later, Tupperware provides a handy lid for excess quantities that fits on top of the clear container! It is great for sauces. I pre-make my tartar sauce, pop the lid on & have it at the ready for dinner.

:: turbo chef is an easy way to prepare ingredients for satay sauce ::

The low down

Pros: The Turbo Chef finely chops or minces onions & vegetables like a pro!

:: Easy to use for both right and left handed people.

:: It is easy to pull apart & assemble again for cleaning & the base is dishwasher safe. When disassembled, keep out the top section as the pull cord should not get wet.

:: The Turbo Chef would be great for anyone with upper limb pain, such as tendonitis, arthritis, carpel tunnel, shoulder pain, etc, as it reduces the amount of strain on the muscles & bones.

:: I can imagine the Turbo Chef would be fabulous for pureeing small amounts of food for babies/toddlers as well.

Cons: Ummm, it has to be washed occasionally.

How to use: Simply place small amounts into an assembled Turbo Chef container, pull 4-6 times or until you reach a desired consistency, place contents into recipe!

:: Wash in warm, soapy water or add into your next dishwasher load.

Notes: If overloaded, like any food processor, it will produce some inconsistent results. Simply add small amounts at a time for a more dependable outcome.

:: The blades are extremely sharp in order for a effortless cut, so please be careful when cleaning.

Turbo Chef Details

Price: Turbo Chef: AU $57.20 or Chop’n’Prep Chef: US $45.00

Capacity: Base allows for 300ml worth of product

Dimensions: 10.8cm (d) x 9.2cm (h)

Rotations: Allows for 288 knife cuts in less than 15 seconds

Warranty: All Tupperware plastic products, if used correctly, have a lifetime warranty. Fantastic!

Purchase: Through your local Tupperware Dealer - see website for details.

:: the newly released smooth chopper ::

Tupperware has released a few sister products with additional functions, such as a beater, & with different capacities. It depends how often you will use it & what functions you desire if you want to invest the extra cash, but very much worth your while investigating these as well.

Sister Products: Smooth Chopper 730ml base: AU $76.45 or US $59.00

:: Quick Chef 1.3L base: AU $82.90 or US $69.00

prices are subject to change at the discretion of Tupperware

:: making tatar sauce is easy with the turbo chef ::

Sources

Visit Tupperware Australia for the Turbo Chef or for info on your local Tupperware representative

Visit Tupperware US for the Chop’n’Prep Chef to purchase online

Easy Kitchen Competition

Tupperware Australia has generously combined forces with Megann’s Kitchen to provide you with a chance to win one of these amazing red Turbo Chef’s & help make your kitchen as easy as mine! Thanks Tupperware! Follow the link for your chance to win.

:: Competitions ::

Turbo Chef ultimate Giveaway

:: Megann’s  Kitchen ::

:: I used the turbo chef in everyday cooking ::

Extract from Megann’s Easy Kitchen

“I have to say there are some items & products in my kitchen I simply couldn’t live without. They are things that I rate highly in efficiency & quality. I am going to bring a few essential items to you under the title Easy Kitchen. It is aimed at products in the kitchen that make my life just that little bit easier, & hopefully yours too. They are a few items that I believe help a kitchen to work like a dream, so please enjoy my new Easy Kitchen in the new year!”

Megann

My personal Giveaway criteria

The products that I offer as giveaways have been generously contributed by companies that meet strict criteria. These aren’t just any products, no no. These ultimate kitchen pieces are currently used & loved in my kitchen. I simply want to pass on to you what I believe every kitchen should have.

the Competition Sponsor

Welcome to another Megann’s Kitchen’s ultimate giveaway. Tupperware Australia has kindly provided us with some products from Easy Kitchen’s featured post of the Tupperware Turbo Chef. Click through to find some great Tupperware products on their web site at a fantastic price, plus read the Megann's Kitchen review here.

:: the turbo chef makes chopping a breeze ::

the Competition Details

Simply leave a comment at the bottom of this post or the Megann’s Kitchen Facebook page answering this simple question- in approximately 25 words or less:

“How would a Tupperware Turbo Chef help make life in your kitchen easier?”

Like this competition? Don’t forget to sign up for Megann’s Kitchen e-newsletter, facebook page or join the blog site to find out about more fantastic giveaways! See right of screen.

Terms & Conditions

•    There is one chance to win: Tupperware has provided us with 1 amazing Turbo Chef, thank you!

•    The competition commences 11:59pm A.E.S.T on Thursday 12th April 2012. Entries close 11.59pm A.E.S.T on Wednesday 30^th April 2012

•    Good NEWS! You can enter as many times as you like.

•    Each individual entry will be judged based on literary and creative merit, then placed into a draw of 10 finalists. The winning entry will be extracted from a draw of 10 finalists, based on chance.

•    Prizes are not transferable or exchangeable & cannot be taken as cash.

•    The total RRP of the prize is AU $59.20

•    Winners will be announced on Megann’s Kitchen blog site & Facebook page. Keep on clicking in to see if you are a winner!

•    Competition is open internationally = everyone!

:: making tatar sauce is now so easy ::

Update - this competition is now closed.

:: the finalists ready to be drawn by my husband, Mick ::

and the WINNER is....

Ta DA! The winner of the Megann's Kitchen Tupperware Comptetion is... Danielle! Congratulations on your winning entry.