Mini Savory Tarts

Yesterday was the hen's night for one of my best friends from my cheer days. Instead of bringing gifts, everyone brought a dish to share and the recipe so she could make a scrapbook of them to keep. Such a cute idea and a way for everyone to give something meaningful and lasting. 

This particular recipe is great because it's so easily changed to suit whatever you like. I imagine it could even be made sweet with some vanilla in the cheese mix and something fruity on top!

Basic Tartlets (makes 48+ in mini quiche tins)

6 egg yolks

250gm Mascarpone cheese

1/3-1/2 block cream cheese

Salt

Pepper

Puff pastry

1. Pre-heat oven to 200c, lightly grease mini muffin tins.
2. In a bowl add egg yolks, mascarpone and chopped, soft cream cheese and whisk until smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste.
3. Cut circles of puff pastry to fit muffin tins and press in.
   
   
4. Add fillings and bake for 15-20 mins (or more) until golden.  Be careful of over-filling at the egg mix does expand a bit.

 Caramelized Onion Filling

1/4-1/3 block of butter

2-3tbsp sugar

4 onions, quartered and sliced

Cherry tomatoes, halved and de-seeded

Good quality pesto

1.   Melt butter in a heavy based pan over medium heat.
   
2.  Add chopped onions and stir to coat.
   
3.  Maintain a medium heat and stir occasionally; you may like to drain excess oil at times.
   
4.  When the onions have begun to turn golden brown add sugar, 1 tbsp at a time to help the process. Give each spoon several minutes to mix and cook down to avoid over sweetening.
   
5.  Set aside in a bowl lined with paper towel to cool when golden brown and sweet to taste.
6. Spoon onion mix into tartlets, top with cheese mix, pesto and tomatoes to garnish before baking.
   

Marinated Feta and Capsicum Filling

Yarra Valley Marinated feta, crumbled

Marinated roasted capsicum strips

1. Spoon in cheese mix, top with capsicum and crumbled feta before baking.