… many a time I have heard story of an aunt or grandmother who used to bake cheese into the crust of an apple pie… the idea is that the tart-sweetness of the apple is complimented so beautifully by the strength of the cheese and as the apple caramelises slightly in the cooking process it becomes like the sweet pickle that one may associate more with cheese than these lovely little tartlets…
… the recipe come from my random recipes choice for this month which is the most excellent Apple Source Book by Sue Clifford and Angela King… i’ve had the book out on my kitchen table since I selected it last week and have been flicking through it on a regular basis… it’s a great book, full of wit and wisdom about the humble apple… there are no pictures but does include some delightfully naive sketches and evocative lino-prints… the book is really a bible of the apple, from varieties, through growing to of course, eating and is packed with excellent recipes from many great chefs, farmers and growers… I think the book will remain on my table until September and October when the local apples really come into their own…
cheese and apple tartlets
it’s a dead easy recipe this and sometimes one doesn’t tend to bother with the really easy ones but I think these little apple tarts could be eaten on so many occasions and they take minutes to make that it would be a sin not to have them on stand-by as a kitchen favourite…
for the shortcrust pastry
6oz plain flour
2oz butter
1oz strong cheddar or lincolnshire poacher – grated
a pinch of salt
cold water to mix
for the tarts
4 eating apples – finely chopped – any will do but something nice and crisp and a little tart such as braeburn
Lincolnshire Poacher cheese – grated
sugar
– mix the pastry ingredients together into a ball, wrap in cling-film and pop in the fridge for 30 mins
– roll out the pastry and line your mini tart tin
– add the apples, sprinkle each one with a little sugar and bake on 200C for 10 minutes
– remove from the oven, sprinkle with grated cheese and pop them back into the oven until the cheese has melted and the pastry is crispy
… as well as being my random recipes selection I am entering them into this months Tea Time Treats, hosted so sensationally on alternate months by Kate from What Kate Baked and Karen from Lavender and Lovage… the theme for this month is Picnic Pies but tarts and quiches are more than acceptable and I think this little tartlets are perfect for a posh picnic…
… I tried them both piping hot direct from the oven and a little cooler a while later and they were an incredibly intense sweet/savoury heaven…
eat and of course, enjoy!
Oooo I love the combination of apple & cheese. These look wonderful – I bet they'd be great at a buffet-style party. And straightforward to make is always a bonus!
WOW, OMG, that looks SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO good 😀
I could feel the smell all the way to the other half of the world 😀
XoXo
http://abudhabifood.blogspot.com
Sounds like a great idea, the apple and cheese. They look lovely. Do bring some down to Finchley, dear boy!
Apple and cheese always best friends what a good idea,they look very ,very good..
I recently made a cake with cheese and apples and it was divine so I can imagine how these would taste. Please send the whole basket over! 🙂
I'm making note of that crust, I want to try it in a savory appetizer tart, too.
Apple and cheese is a good combination. I like a piece of strong cheddar with a bowlful of stewed apple.
These look amazing, perfect just to pop whole into your mouth!
Yum! I'm going to use this recipe to make handies! Can't wait! Yummmmah!
Love these look amazing!
these look fab would love to grab a couple right now especially with the Lincolnshire cheese 🙂 hugs
Apples have just begun to appear at the local Farmer's Market and I can't wait to begin autumn baking. These cheese and apple tartlets are a perfect start to the season!
PERFECT little tarts and as a Yorkshire lass, I can tell you that cheese and pastry and especially in apple pies and the like is de rigueur darlink! LOVELY Tea Time Treats and Random Recipes entry! MY RR entry will be done next week…..Karen
I'm not posh but I'd definitely take some of these on a picnic.
I do like photos in a cook book, but these sound so nice and simple and perfect little nibbles for when friends drop round.
I like that the crust is so basic, and that I may be able to easily convert it to gluten free for my 8 yr old. She would love these…and so would her mom 🙂
They look A-ma-zing! I know that cheese and apple is a really popular combo so I am ashamed to admit that I have never tried it before. Might have to give it a go with these little beauties though.
I am still after my apple and cheese holy grail after a few disappointments – it is such a great combination – these look absolutely delicious
Oh, oh I want some of those tarts Dom. Cheese and apple are such a fantastic combination and these sound divine. Never mind the chocolate, I'm going to have to make these.
Perfect picnic pies if there ever was Dom, thank you so much for entering these and I really enjoyed reading your lovely, lovely description of the divine little book. Looking forward to reading more recipes from it come the Autumn
Yummo! I can't believe I missed these when you originally posted them. Thank goodness for that old random recipes roundup eh?