Its been a strange few weeks, in which everything has been put on hold. Remember the posts when I was so ready to go back to uni? Where although I was stressed about the work load I couldn't wait to get back and finish second year? Well.. My brain has decided to give up on me and the hopes of graduating. Anxiety. I used be one of those people where when people said they had anxiety, depression, panic disorders I would think "Get over it" yes I know, very narrow minded. I now realise that this is something that you cant just "get over"! I know im going off topic from ,the tarts but I will get to them in due course. For some unknown reason I've developed anxiety attacks which is very much interfering with uni! I missed the odd lesson a week from it which has now turned into missing two or three days a week.. not ideal.
Is what I keep screaming at myself. I now realise that even though you know your being irrational, you can't tell your brain the same thing. It's such a daunting feeling when it happens, and it only seems to be when Im driving to uni. I live in Bristol and travel to Cheltenham for uni something I've done for two years so its nothing new to me. So why the attacks? Who knows. All I do know is that if it gets worse I may have to leave uni which is something I do not want to happen!! So in two weeks time I'm having a telephone assessment with a psychologist to see what my next steps are. So to be continued.. With all this foods been on the back burner and its not something I'm happy about, with that I thought it was time I got off my bum and stopped moping around and cooked something. Ever since I tried figs a few months ago I've wanted to cook with them, I've heard they work well with goats cheese so I made some little tarts with my new tins. Plus, it took my mind off things for a while, cooking is very therapeutic you know!
Enough about my life and more about the food! I made my own short crust pastry which in all fairness didn't turn out that bad! For a beginner anyway, even if i did have flour everywhere imaginary, up my arm, half on the floor, on my face, that inevitable push of the glasses .. Its so easy to make and only needs half an hour to set in the fridge so there's no excuses if your in a hurry.
Equipment
6 mini tart tins
Baking Tray
Mixing Bowl
Baking Beans
Ingredients
Pastry
250g Plain Flour
125g Cold Butter
2 Egg Yolks
Pinch Salt
1-4 Tbsp Water
Goats Cheese
175g Goats cheese
1 Egg Yolk
2 Tbsp Double Cream
Half an orange zest
3 Figs
1. In a mixer or bowl place the flour and butter and blend together until it resembles bread crumbs. Add the egg yolk, if the mixture is dry and not coming together add a table spoon of water and mix, keep adding until the mixture has come together and resembles a dough.
2. On a floured surface need the dough for five minutes and then wrap in clingfilm, pop in the fridge for half an hour.
3. When taking the pastry out of the fridge, leave to rest and cool for ten minutes so it is easier to roll out.
4. Whilst your waiting for the pastry move on to the filling. Put the goats cheese into a bowl, add the egg and double cream and mix together. Zest half an orange and add to the goats cheese mixture.
5. Roll out the pastry fairly thin. Cut out 6 squares that are big enough to fill the tart tins. I did this by placing the tin on top of the pastry and cut a square around it.
6. Place the pastry into the tins and cut off the excess pastry around the edge of the tin - do this with the back of a knife.
7. Blind bake the pastry for 10 minutes.
8. Cut the figs into 6 small pieces to place on top of the goats cheese.
9. After 10 minutes take the pastry out of the oven and evenly place the goats cheese mixture inside the tarts. Place four fig pieces on each tart and place back into the oven for 8 minutes. The pastry should be golden brown and the goats cheese just brown and oozy, just the way I like it!
This would work well with a rocket salad with a lemon dressing, subtle flavours perfect for an afternoon treat.
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