Mini Pork Pies With Cherry Compote

Mini Pork Pies With Cherry Compote

      I am sure many of you have heard of pork pies. Those little hand held pies filled with savory meats and other ingredients including different vegetables if you want. Typically seen in British and Irish cuisines, these little meals are usually made with fresh hand formed crusts and usually a sort of gelatin is poured in on top to keep all ingredients formed, however I chose to make a short cut and used store bought pie crust and withheld the gelatin to make things a bit easier. These were just as good and even better the next day for a lunch snack served chilled. Mini Pork Pies With Cherry Compote

Ingredients:

• 1/2 diced white onion
• 1 lb ground pork
• 5 strips of bacon diced into small pieces
• 1/2 tsp thyme
• 2 sage leaves diced
• Pinch nutmeg
• fresh cherries
• Tart cherry jam
• 1 round store bought bake at home pie crust

1. Roll out room temperature pie crust and cut into large circles to fit a mini muffin tin. Also cut out circles to cover the tops of each pie. Form into the pie tin. Typically makes enough for 9 mini pies.

2. In a large skillet over medium high heat sauté onions until translucent. Toss in the ground pork and cut up bacon slices.

3. Mix in thyme, sage, and nutmeg. Stir until all meat is browned and fully cooked.

4. Press meat mixture into individual pies. Press a circle lid over each pie and poke a small hole in the center with a chopstick.

5. Brush with a little egg wash and bake for roughly 30-45 minutes until crust is golden brown. 

6. Meanwhile take fresh cherries and some cherry jam and mix together. You can crush the cherries or dice them up. Serve on top of each little pie. Enjoy!

These were delicious. I even enjoyed them more so the next day for a little lunch snack. 

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Serves: 2+

Sticky Toffee Pudding

Sticky Toffee Pudding



     What is Sticky Toffee Pudding? Well it is a classic British dessert perfect for your afternoon tea or dinner party with friends. I first discovered this dessert as a child when the neighbor kids mother used to make it all the time. I completely forgot about this cake until I went searching for what exactly it was. This delicious dessert has been enjoyed by people for ages. Give it a try! Trust me you will love it. Sticky Toffee Pudding.

Cake Ingredients:

• 1 cup dates chopped
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 stick butter at room temperature
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 2 eggs

Sauce:

• 3/4 stick butter
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 cup cream

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9x13 inch pan with cooking spray.

2. Combine the chopped dates, water, and baking soda in a saucepan and cook over high heat until boiling. Remove and set aside.

3. Combine flour and salt in one bowl and whisk together.

4. Combine butter and brown sugar in another bowl and beat with a mixer until the mixture is smooth.

5. Add in vanilla and eggs one at a time and mix well.

6. Stir in the date mixture and then the flour until well incorporated.

7. In another saucepan bring some water to a boil.

8. Pour the cake mixture into the coated pan. Sit the pan in another larger baking pan and pour the boiling water around to create a water bath. (Be careful).

9. Place in oven and bake for about 45 minutes or until the center is cooked through.

10. Meanwhile in another saucepan on the stove over medium high heat melt the butter, brown sugar,
and vanilla just until the mixture starts to simmer and bubble.

11. Slowly add in the cream and stir until the mixture becomes thick and doubles in volume.

12. Slice cake into individual pieces and pour the toffee sauce over. Serve with vanilla ice cream.

This dessert will definitely become a favorite.

Prep Time: 5 minutes.
Cook Time: 60+
Serves: 5+