Serves 2
One should be thankful to one’s mother every day of the year of course, but Sunday 11 March 2018 is the day it’s official. This Mother’s Day, let your thank-you come in the form of food. It could be a cookery course, in which case a cookery school gift card is just the ticket, as it can be used to pay for classes at any of the top 50 UK cookery schools features on this site); or it could be something as simple as a delicious little something, whipped up at home and presented to mum with a flourish.
We nipped into the kitchens of Eckington Manor in Worcestershire to ask what the most mum-pleasing dish on their course curriculum is, and they swiftly responded with a French classic: tarte tatin. Now, tarte tatin has a reputation as a tricky dish to pull off, but unlike the conventional method Eckington Manor’s version caramelises the apple and sugar on the stove before adding the pastry lid, meaning you get full control of how golden it gets before you top it off. Perfect for tatin first-timers and younger cooks – so even the kids can get involved in making mum’s day. (Do watch out for the hot caramel, however…)
Ingredients
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80g lightly salted butter, softened
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80g caster sugar
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2 apples – (Granny Smiths work well)
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1 stick of cinnamon
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1 sheet puff pastry
Method
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Heat the oven to 180ºC
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Butter a heavy-bottomed, oven-proof pan of around 14cm in diameter.
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Sprinkle the sugar over the butter.
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Peel and core the apples, then cut them into quarters. Place the apple pieces in the pan and add the cinnamon stick.
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Place the pan on the hob and caramelise the butter and sugar until golden.
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Cut the puff pastry sheet to the same size as the pan and lay it on top of the apple. (Once you’re confident with the caramel, you can add the pastry after step 4.)
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Cook in the oven until the pastry is golden – about 15 minutes.
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When cooked, turn the pan over onto a plate, taking care with the caramel.
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Serve with ice cream.