Pumpkin Pie

 

Ingredients

• 750g/1lb 10oz pumpkin or butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and cut into chunks
• 350g sweet shortcrust pastry
• plain flour, for dusting
• 140g caster sugar
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp fresh nutmeg, grated
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 25g butter, melted
• 175ml milk
• 1 tbsp icing sugar
• Prep: 40 mins Cook: 1 hr, 30 mins Plus chilling
  Moderately easy
  Serves 8 
   

  Method

  1. Place the pumpkin in a large saucepan, cover with water and bring to the boil. Cover with a lid and simmer for 15 mins or until tender. Drain pumpkin; let cool.
  2. Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface and use it to line a 22cm loose-bottomed tart tin. Chill for 15 mins. Line the pastry with baking parchment and baking beans, then bake for 15 mins. Remove the beans and paper, and cook for a further 10 mins until the base is pale golden and biscuity. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly.
  3. Increase oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Push the cooled pumpkin through a sieve into a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the sugar, salt, nutmeg and half the cinnamon. Mix in the beaten eggs, melted butter and milk, then add to the pumpkin purée and stir to combine. Pour into the tart shell and cook for 10 mins, then reduce the temperature to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Continue to bake for 35-40 mins until the filling has just set.
  4. Leave to cool, then remove the pie from the tin. Mix the remaining cinnamon with the icing sugar and dust over the pie. Serve chilled.
  Pie 

Simple seafood chowder

 

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 100g streaky bacon, chopped
• 1 tbsp plain flour
• 600ml fish stock, made from 1 fish stock cube
• 225g new potatoes, halved
• pinch mace
• pinch cayenne pepper
• 300ml milk
• 320g pack fish pie mix (salmon, haddock and smoked haddock)
• 4 tbsp single cream
• 250g pack cooked mixed shellfish
• small bunch parsley, chopped
• crusty bread, to serve
•   Prep: 15 mins Cook: 25 mins
  Easy
  Serves 4 
   

  Method

  1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat, then add the onion and bacon. Cook for 8-10 mins until the onion is soft and the bacon is cooked. Stir in the flour, then cook for a further 2 mins.
  2. Pour in the fish stock and bring it up to a gentle simmer. Add the potatoes, cover, then simmer for 10-12 mins until the potatoes are cooked through.
  3. Add the mace, cayenne pepper and some seasoning, then stir in the milk.
  4.  Tip the fish pie mix into the pan, gently simmer for 4 mins. Add the cream and shellfish, then simmer for 1 min more. Check the seasoning. Sprinkle with the parsley and serve with some crusty bread.

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Interior Design