Thursday 15 December 2011

***RECIPE*** Crumble Top Mince Pies

Makes 12 to 18 pies – depending on size of tins and how thickly you roll your pastry!

For the Pastry:
½ lb / 225g Plain Flour
5oz / 140g Butter cut into cubes, use cold butter in the food processor or room temperature if making by hand
½ level tbsp Icing Sugar
½ Level tbsp Caster Sugar
½ pinch of salt
1 Free Range Egg Yolk
2 to 3 tbsp of very cold water

1.    If you are using a food processor – whizz the flour, icing sugar, caster sugar and salt for a few seconds. Add the cold butter and whizz until it resembles breadcrumbs. Add the egg yolk and whizz slowly then gradually add the water until you form a dough (you might not need all the water).
2.    If making by hand – mix the flour, icing sugar, caster sugar and salt together then rub in the butter until the mix resembles breadcrumbs. Using a knife to stir, add the egg yolk and then the water until the mix forms a dough (you might not need all the water).
3.    Cover or wrap the pastry and chill in fridge for 30 minutes.


For the Filling:
The Bay Tree Indulgent Mincemeat
4oz / 110g Plain Flour
2oz / 50g Butter cut into cubes, use cold butter in the food processor or room temperature if making by hand
2oz / 50g Demerara Sugar

1.    Place all ingredients into a food processor and whizz until the mix resembles breadcrumbs. Or rub the butter into the flour until the mix resembles breadcrumbs and then stir in the sugar with a knife.
2.    Lightly roll out the pastry and cut into circles to line the tin.
3.    Place a heaped teaspoon of The Bay Tree Mincemeat in each pie.
4.    Top with a teaspoon of crumble mix.
5.    Bake in the oven at Gas Mark 6, 200°C fan 180°C for 20 – 25 minutes.
6.    Once cooked leave in the tin for a couple of minutes then remove them and cool on a wire rack.
7.    Dust icing sugar over the top before serving


 
 

Thursday 17 November 2011

***RECIPE*** Grilled Lamb with a Redcurrant Glaze

You will need:

The Bay Tree Redcurrant Jelly
Boneless Lamb Leg Steaks
Rosemary
Red Wine Vinegar
Salt & Pepper
Roast or New Potatoes and Veg to serve
 
 
 
Chop 4 sprigs of rosemary and rub over the lamb leg steaks along with salt and pepper to season.  Heat 5-6 table spoons of The Bay Tree's Redcurrant Jelly in a pan with 2-3 table spoons of water and 3-4 table spoons of red wine vinegar.  Keep stirring well and once the jelly has 'melted' brush the glaze over the lamb steaks.  Pop under the grill for around 5 mins, turn, brush glaze on the other side and grill for a further 5 mins or until cooked. 
 
Pour the remaining glaze onto the lamb steaks.  Serve with roast or new potatoes, a selection of veg and glass of fruity red!

Monday 7 November 2011

***RECIPE*** Beef Casserole

You will need:

Onion
Diced Stewing Beef
Carrots
Mushrooms
Red Wine
Beef Stock
Mashed Potato & Broccoli to serve
 
 

 
Fry a diced medium sized onion in a little oil in a casserole dish until soft. Add 750g of stewing diced beef and cook until meat is sealed but not brown. Add 3 large carrots diced into chunks and cook for 3 minutes stirring to prevent sticking, add 100g of chopped mushrooms and cook for a further two minutes. Pour in 1 pouch of Caramelised Onion and Rosemary Sauce, 200ml red wine and 500ml of beef stock, (or miss out the wine and replace with extra stock). Bring to the boil, put lid on and place in pre-heated oven, 180°C for 90 minutes, stir once during cooking. A rich tasty casserole, perfect served with mashed potato, steamed broccoli and a glass of red wine!

Monday 10 October 2011

***RECIPE*** Baked Salmon Vindaloo in Foil Parcel

 





You will need:

The Bay Tree Vindaloo

Salmon portions

Fresh Coriander

Lime



Place foil on a baking tray and pour half a pouch of vindaloo curry sauce onto the centre of the foil.  Place 3 or 4 salmon portions on the sauce and then pour the remainder of the vindaloo sauce on top of the fish. 

Fold and seal the foil into a parcel and place in a preheated oven at 180°C for 15-20 minutes or until cooked. 

Garnish with coriander and serve with lime wedges, basmati rice and naan bread.

For those that prefer a milder curry add Greek style yoghurt to the finished dish.




Tuesday 27 September 2011

***RECIPE*** Tomato and Mozzarella Salad

You will need:

Crushed garlic
Large beef tomatoes, sliced
Mozzarella, sliced
Fresh basil leaves roughly torn
 

Arrange the tomato and mozzarella alternately slightly overlapping on a large flat serving dish.  Mix the crushed garlic and The Bay Tree Sun Blush Tomato DressingSpoon the dressing and garlic over the tomatoes and mozzarella.
Sprinkle over the torn basil leaves.  Season with freshly ground salt and black pepper.  Cover and leave for an hour before serving.

Fabulous for a starter or ideal for a light lunch. Serve with warm ciabatta or focaccia which are great for mopping up the last bits of tasty dressing!



Wednesday 21 September 2011

***RECIPE*** King Prawn Skewers

You will need:

King Prawns
Variety of veg - tomatoes, peppers, courgette, mushrooms
Salad - to serve


Place King Prawns in between pieces of vegetables on skewer. You can use, tomatoes, peppers, courgette, mushrooms. Coat in Hot Chilli & Garlic Dressing and leave covered and chilled for 30 minutes. Cook under a grill or on a BBQ on a medium heat, turning regularly until cooked.
 
 
 

Wednesday 7 September 2011

***RECIPE*** The Bay Tree’s Cheats Salmon Risotto

You will need:

The Bay Tree Dill & Lemon Sauce
Salmon Fillets
Rice
Salad - to serve


Cook 200g of plain rice in boiling water and then drain. Spoon The Dill and Lemon Cooking sauce into a saucepan, flake in 2 to 3 cooked salmon fillets or 320g smoked salmon and gently bring to boil. Fold in the cooked rice to the sauce mix and serve with a green salad. This recipe is so easy and so good and so simple!

 

Tuesday 30 August 2011

***RECIPE*** Roast Veg & Goats Cheese Tart with Caramelised Onion Gravy

You will need:

Pack of puff pastry
Selection of veg (e.g. peppers, courgettes, red onions)
Goats cheese


Pre-heat oven to 220°C.  Roll a pack of puff pastry quite thinly and place on baking tray.  Score a border 2cm wide in the pastry and prick the pastry with a fork inside the border, bake for 10 minutes.  Once cooked place a selection of pre-roasted vegetables (e.g. peppers, courgettes, red onions) inside the border and top with slices of goats cheese.  Bake for 20 minutes at 200°C. Serve with the heated Caramelised Gravy.  Delicious and so simple to make!



Friday 22 July 2011

***RECIPE*** Smokey Belly Pork Strips

You will need:

1.35kg of belly pork
Olive Oil
Freshly ground black pepper
One medium onion

 
Take 1.35kg belly pork, trim and cut into 8 thick strips. Pat meat dry with kitchen roll, rub with olive oil and freshly ground black pepper. Put in a roasting tin with one medium sized diced onion. Put on highest shelf and cook at 200c for 35 minutes. Remove from oven and pour off any excess fat. Coat each strip of pork with Smokey Chipotle Sauce. Place on BBQ over a medium heat and turn regularly, cook for a further 20 minutes or until cooked.




Wednesday 20 July 2011

***RECIPE*** Pork and Vegetable Medley

You will need:

Onion
250g Pork or Chicken
Selection of veg; carrots, broccoli, beans

Fry half a sliced onion in a little oil, add 250g of pre-cooked pork or chicken. Add 700g of a selection of pre-cooked vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, beans etc and one pouch of Mustard and Tarragon Sauce, boil then simmer until cooked. Serve with rice, sensational!

 

Monday 18 July 2011

Introducing our latest Great Taste Award winner ...

Sweet Cucumber Pickle



A new addition this year our Sweet Cucumber Pickle is handmade from whole cucumbers with peppers and mustard seeds.  It packs a punch as the perfect partner to burgers, salmon and cheese and we think it rightly deserves its' 2 star gold award. 

Wednesday 13 July 2011

Excitement at The Bay Tree towers

We had a lovely phone call yesterday morning which caused great excitement here at The Bay Tree towers ... we've won a 2 star gold in the Great Taste Awards!!!!

This year, only 8% of all products entered (a whopping 7,482) won a 2 star gold so, as you can imagine, we're chuffed to pieces with this.

We'll be able to confirm which product won shortly but in the meantime let's reminisce about last year's winners ....


Korma Curry Sauce - 1 star gold




Brown Sauce - 2 star gold





Somerset Ale Chutney - 1 star gold



Friday 8 July 2011

***RECIPE*** Marinated Miniature Figs with Mascarpone Cheese

Need to find a really tasty but super quick dessert?  Our Marinated Miniature Figs are just the ticket ....

You will need:

Mascarpone Cheese
 
 
Spoon the Marinated Miniature Figs into a bowl - add the mascarpone and voila! 
 
Also great with Greek Yoghurt and even with pancakes for breakfast.
 
 
 

Friday 1 July 2011

***RECIPE*** Grilled Portobello Mushrooms with Blue Cheese and Balsamic Dressing

You will need:

Portobello Mushrooms
The Bay Tree Balsamic Dressing
Blue Cheese
Rocket Salad
 
 
Brush mushrooms liberally with The Bay Tree Balsamic Dressing, cover and leave for 5 minutes.  Grill mushrooms stalk side down on a pre-heated grill for 1 to 2 minutes.  Turn mushrooms over and place a slice of blue cheese on each one. Grill for 5 minutes or until the mushroom is cooked and the cheese is melted and beginning to bubble. 

Serve mushrooms on toasted granary bread and drizzle with The Bay Tree Balsamic Dressing, serve with a rocket salad.  This recipe is packed with flavour and is great for a starter or as a light lunch.


Monday 20 June 2011

***RECIPE*** Super quick Coq au vin

Here's a super quick, delicious meal idea to help you out on a hectic Monday evening ...


You will need:

Chicken thighs
 
 
Place the chicken thighs in an oven proof dish and pour over the Red WIne & Mushroom sauce.  Cover the dish and pop in the oven for about 45 - 60 mins on 1800C or until tender. 
 
Yep - that's it!  While it's cooking put your feet up and unwind with a glass of wine (this part is essential!). 
 

Thursday 9 June 2011

Panic ...

... what to get Dad for Father's Day?


Socks?  No, he has dozens of pairs I've bought over the years.

Ties?  No, he's retired now and practically has a wardrobe full anyway. 


After a while of mulling over the usual suspects the light bulb goes on ... we've just launched a new gift pack - The Bay Tree Pub.  Decorated with a great, quintessentially English design, the gift pack contains three of our most popular condiments; Somerset Ale Chutney, Cider Apple Jelly and Piccalilli. 

Excellent, panic over – the perfect gift for someone I just never know what to buy them!

 

Tuesday 7 June 2011

NEW PRODUCT - Children's Pasta

Our NEW children's pasta has arrived!  Imported direct from Italy these fun, tasty pasta shapes are sure to be a hit with little ones ....

Available NOW!



Friday 3 June 2011

***RECIPE*** Pasta with Artichoke Hearts, Pine Nuts and Green Olives

Our friends at Joshua's Harvest in Devon have come up with the following recipe which we think is fab!

You will need:

The Bay Tree Trofie Tricolori
Artichokes
Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper
Garlic
Balsamic Vinegar
Green Olives
Pine Nuts
Coriander
Parmesan


Drain the artichokes, cut into halves and baste with some of the olive oil, salt, pepper and Tabasco then place under a hot grill for about 15 minutes, turning at least once.  Remove from the grill and marinate in olive oil (reserve 1 tbsp of olive oil) crushed garlic and balsamic vinegar for at least one hour.

Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil; add the reserved spoon of olive oil.  Add the pasta, stir once at the beginning then lower the heat a little and cook to pasta packet instructions.  Once cooked, drain and refresh briefly under cold water.  Quickly return to the pan, add the artichoke hearts and the marinade, add the green olives.  Heat through quickly, tossing the ingredients and finish off at the last moment with the toasted pine nuts, coriander, seasoning to taste.  Serve immediately with the grated parmesan.

Delicious!


Thursday 2 June 2011

***RECIPE*** Creamy Pancetta & Mushroom Pasta Bake

You will need:

Pancetta
Pasta - we suggest Garganelli
Spinach
Parmesan cheese


Fry 150g diced pancetta until crispy, cook pasta for 4 people to al dente, once cooked add 4 handfuls of fresh spinach to allow it to wilt and drain immediately.  Place the pasta and spinach in the bottom of an ovenproof dish, sprinkle over the crispy pancetta, spoon over 1 pouch of Creamy Mushroom Sauce, top with grated parmesan cheese. Bake in oven, 1800C for 20 mins until bubbling hot. 

EXCITING NEW CHILDREN'S PASTA!






   


This Spring we are launching a fantastic range of children’s pasta; Animal, Let’s Go!, Teddy Bear and Spooky.  Having discovered these tasty pasta shapes on a recent trip to Italy, we’ve wasted no time in bringing the range to the UK.  Made to a traditional recipe using only the finest durum wheat semolina this range makes quick, delicious meals that children will love!


Available soon on our online shop.


***RECIPE*** Lamb Casserole

You will need:

Onion
Carrots
Diced lamb
Mushrooms
Plain flour
Lamb or chicken stock


Recipe:

Fry a diced onion in a little oil in a casserole dish, add 2 chopped carrots and cook until tender. Add 700g of diced lamb, once browned add 100g of diced mushrooms. Mix in 25g of plain flour, stir and cook for 1 min. Pour in 1 pouch of Redcurrant and Rosemary Sauce and ½ pint of lamb or chicken stock, stir and bring to boil.  Cover and place in a pre-heated oven, 1800 C for 45 mins.  Serve with creamy mashed potato, a delicious supper!