Saturday 18 December 2010

Fruit Brulee

Serves: 8
Syns per serving: 1.5 on all syns

Ingredients
4 clementines, peeled and segmented
113g/4oz seedless grapes
1 mango, peeled, stoned and diced
1 tbsp Cointreau
artificial sweetener, to taste
567g/1lb 4oz fat-free natural yogurt
8 level tsp demerara sugar

method

1. Prepare all the fruit and divide it between 8 small ramekin dishes. Sprinkle with the Cointreau and artificial sweetener, if using.
2. Spoon the yogurt (the thicker the better) over the fruits to cover them completely, and level the tops.
3. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the grill until it is very hot.
4. Sprinkle the sugar over the chilled yogurt in each ramekin, and then place under the really hot grill for 1-2 minutes, until the sugar melts and caramelizes. You must watch carefully to ensure that the sugar does not burn. Leave to cool before serving. If wished, pop the brulees back in the refrigerator until you are ready.

Mince Tarts

Serves: 32Syns per serving:
3.5 on all plans 
Ingredients
Fry Light for spraying
For the pastry:
227g/8oz plain flour
pinch of salt
113g/4oz margarine or butter
cold water, for mixing
For the filling:
16 level tbsp mincemeat
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas Mark 5. Lightly spray some bun trays with Fry Light.
2. Make the pastry. Sift the flour and salt into a mixing bowl. Add the fat, cut up into little pieces. Gently rub it in with your fingertips. Add sufficient cold water to mix to a ball that leaves the sides of the bowl clean. Rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
3. Roll out the pastry thinly on a lightly floured surface. Cut out 32 rounds with a 7½cm/3in fluted cutter. Use to line the prepared bun tins.
4. Divide the mincemeat between the pastry cases. Roll out the remaining pastry trimmings and make some little stars witha small star cutter. Use to decorate the tops of the tarts.
5. Bake in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes, until the pastry is crisp and lightly coloured. Cool on a wire rack and dust lightly with sifted icing sugar.