March 1, 2011

Leek and Ham Tarts

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Leek and Ham Tarts

Leek and Ham Tarts

March 1: Feast Day of St. David

Much like St. Patrick of Ireland is associated with shamrocks, St. David of Wales is linked to leeks. The vegetable is one of the country’s national emblems, along with the daffodil, which is also known as “Peter’s leek” (presumably inspired by the first pope).

We usually make St. David’s Leek Pie (see our blog recipe post) to honor Dewi Sant. But sometimes we just want to make something simpler, smaller and swiftly, like a Celtic kind of quiche. Leek and ham tarts are truly tasty and an appropriate appetizer to serve on the feast day of the Welsh patron saint.

Recipe

(Adapted from Food.com)

Ingredients

  • 1 package (2 sheets) puff pastry, thawed
  • 1 cup leeks, washed and chopped finely
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup half-and-half
  • 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
  • ½ – 1 cup ham, diced
  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Wash the leeks thoroughly. Pat dry and chop finely. Saute the leeks in butter until slightly wilted. Salt and pepper to taste.

Leek and Ham Tarts

In a separate bowl, mix together the egg and half-and-half. Salt and pepper to taste. Add the cheese, leeks and ham.

Leek and Ham Tarts

Mist a muffin tin with cooking spray. Unfold the puff pastry sheets. Cut into nine squares each. Press each square into the cavities of the muffin tin with the pointy edges sticking up.

Leek and Ham Tarts

Spoon some filling into each pastry. Bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees F for 30 minutes. Turn off the oven and keep warm for another 10 minutes, being careful not to burn the pastry. Remove from the oven and carefully take out each tart. Serve hot. Yield: 18 tarts.

Leek and Ham Tarts

Notes

  • If there are any leftovers of these leek and ham tarts, we recommend reheating them in the oven instead of in the microwave to retain the puff pastry’s crispness.
  • Search our blog for recipes with ingredients containing leeks.

 

 

March 1, 2011

Welsh Cakes

Posted by HI Cookery under 03 March | Tags: , , , |
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Welsh Cakes

Welsh Cakes

March 1: Feast Day of St. David/National Day of Wales

Saints have their special national days in the United Kingdom. St. David is commemorated in Wales today, St. Patrick is popular in Ireland on March 17, St. George is honored in England on April 23 and St. Andrew is celebrated in Scotland on November 30 (search our blog for recipes associated with each saint).

For the National Day of Wales, we made traditional Welsh cakes (or cookies) from a recipe shared by our Welsh friend, John L., and his wife, Lisa L. These tiny teatime treats, which we have eaten when attending Celtic heritage festivals in America, are cooked over a cast iron skillet or griddle and resemble petite pancakes. Feast on them on St. David’s day. Cheers! Iechyd da (yeh-chid dah)!

Recipe

(From John and Lisa L.)

  • 1 ½ cups self-raising flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • pinch of salt
  • pinch of allspice (mixed spice)
  • ½ cup (1 stick) cold butter, chopped in one-inch cubes
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup caster or superfine sugar
  • ½ cup raisins or currants
  • 1/8 teaspoon of milk
  • oil for frying

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, blend the flour, baking powder, salt and allspice.  Cut in the butter and add to the flour mixture until crumbly. Lightly beat the egg and pour it into the crumbly mixture.

Welsh Cakes

Mix in the sugar and raisins. Pour in a small amount of milk to make a dough. Sprinkle flour on a flat surface and roll out the dough to about a half-inch thick, turning the mixture as it is rolled out.

Welsh Cakes

Use a round cookie cutter or rim of a glass to cut out the cakes from the dough. Re-roll and cut as necessary. Fry the cakes in a little oil about three minutes each side or until golden brown. Sprinkle with sugar to serve.

Welsh Cakes

Notes

  • Diolch (thanks in Welsh) to John and Lisa L. for the recipe. We tried to convert the measurements from the metric system and adapt the recipe for our American kitchen.
 

March 1, 2011

St. David’s Leek Pie

Posted by HI Cookery under 03 March | Tags: , , , , , , |
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St. David’s Leek Pie

St. David's Leek Pie

March 1: Feast Day of St. David

Our oft-mentioned friend, Lisa L., is married to a Welshman, John L. Islander was fortunate to have been the matron of honor at their wedding in Germany. They incorporated interesting German, American and Welsh traditions in their multicultural marriage ceremony. One Welsh custom is that the groom carves a wooden spoon for his bride as a symbol of love. The lovespoon is then displayed in their home. John carved a cute spoon for Lisa and gave it to her on their wedding day. And Lisa presented a special spoon imported from her husband’s homeland to Islander for their longtime friendship. That treasured spoon is now pictured as a prop above with the leek pie we baked for the Feast Day of St. David, the patron saint of Wales.

Recipe

(Adapted from Cooking with the Saints by Ernst Schuegraf)

For the shortcrust pastry

  • 2 cups flour
  • pinch of salt
  • 3 tablespoons shortening
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • ice water

Directions

In a large bowl, put the flour and salt. Rub in the shortening and butter until the mixture looks like coarse bread crumbs. Pour a little bit of ice water to make a kneadable dough. Roll into a ball and refrigerate for 20 minutes.

St. David's Leek Pie

Divide the dough into two pieces. On a lightly floured surface, flatten each into a disc to line the bottom of the pie pan and cover the top of the pie.

St. David's Leek Pie

 

For the filling

  • 3 cups leek, cleaned and sliced thinly
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 ½ cup milk
  • 4 tablespoons shredded cheddar cheese
  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Prepare the green parts of the leek only. Saute in butter until soft. Fill the bottom of the pie crust.

St. David's Leek Pie

In a separate bowl, beat the eggs with the milk. Pour over the leeks. Sprinkle the cheddar cheese. Salt and pepper to taste.

St. David's Leek Pie

Cover with the remaining pie dough. Trim then seal the edges with the tines of a fork. Bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees F for 40 minutes and the crust turns golden brown. Slice and serve immediately.

St. David's Leek Pie

Notes