PINE DUST RECIPES

Steps:

• 1. Even though this recipe is dead easy, the results are so delicious it’s worthy of any occasion. The combination of hot juicy peaches in their own gorgeous syrup with soft yet crisp little scone-like dumplings is just amazing. You can assemble this, bake it ahead of time, then bring it back to life when you’re ready to serve it by adding a splash of water and warming it up in the oven. Best served hot, with a few spoonfuls of vanilla ice cream melting over the top.
  2. Preheat your oven to full whack. In an earthenware cooking dish (approx. 25cm in diameter), toss your peaches gently with the vanilla seeds, lime zest, brown sugar, orange zest and juice and grated ginger. Put the dish into the oven and immediately turn the temperature down to 190°C/375°F/gas 5. Cook for about 10 to 15 minutes, until the peaches have softened slightly – the time it takes will depend on their ripeness.
  3. Meanwhile, mix your cobbler topping. If you’re using a food processor, whiz up your pine nuts, then tip in your flour, sugar and sea salt. Cut your butter up into cubes, add to the processor and pulse until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Tip this mixture into a bowl. If working by hand, pop your pine nuts into a sandwich bag and bash them up with a rolling pin. Tip them into a bowl with the flour, sugar and a pinch of salt, then use a box grater to grate in your chilled butter. Using your fingertips, gently rub the butter into the mix until it starts to resemble fine breadcrumbs. At this point add 2 tablespoons of water to bring everything together, and when you have a firm dough put it to one side.
  4. Remove your dish of peaches from the oven and pour in half a glass of water. Gently mix in and scrape around the edges to make sure nothing is catching, then use a tablespoon to dollop 6 big spoonfuls of dough on top of the peaches. Return the dish to the oven for around 20 minutes. When it’s bubbling, golden on top and nearly perfect, get your ice cream out of the freezer.
  5. Make sure your gang are ready at the table and ready to eat. Dust your cobbler with icing sugar, if using, then spoon a few scoops of ice cream on top and give it a minute to let the ice cream marble into the beautiful peach syrup. Take it to the table and don’t expect much to come back!

Steps:

• 1. Bring the stock to the boil and slowly whisk in the polenta, stirring constantly. Add a pinch of sea salt and, after a few minutes, once thickened, finely grate in the Parmesan and stir in the oregano.
  2. Pour into a greased and lined 20cm square tin and pop in the fridge to chill and firm up, about 1 hour.
  3. For the dip, toast the pine nuts in a dry pan, then tip into a food processor. Crush in the garlic and grate in the Parmesan, measure in 60ml of extra virgin olive oil, then add the rest of the ingredients and pulse until combined but still coarse. Season to taste, and scrape into a serving bowl.
  4. Preheat oven to 220ºC/425ºF/gas 7.
  5. Cut the chilled polenta into chips and brush with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Dust with the extra polenta. Arrange on a greased baking tray in a single layer and bake for 30 minutes, or until crisp and golden.
  6. Serve the hot polenta chips with some extra Parmesan grated on top, and the pesto dip on the side.