HOLIDAY CANAPÉS CARAMELISED SWEET ONION TARTS

SOooooo Gorgeous...

These melt in your mouth fine crumbly buttery pastry tarts filled with a wonderful sweet caramlised onion marmalade are just divine and a great canapé for guests this up and coming holiday season.

Prep Time: 30-45 minutes / Cooking Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

(makes 24)

Pastry

450g plain flour

110g butter

100g lard

180ml cold water

1 tsp sea salt

Caramelised Onions

Good glug olive oil

1 tbsp butter

4 large Spanish onions sliced

2 tbsp dark brown sugar

1 pack sharp cream cheese

2 tbsp fresh chopped chives

First get the caramelised onions on to cook, melt the butter and olive oil on a medium heat, add the onions and leave to caramelise stirring occasionally for around 30 minutes, you may need to turn the heat down a little.  When the onions have gone a golden brown and have reduced down to a almost jam consisting add the brown sugar and stir in until dissolved, remove from the heat and leave to one side to cool.

Meanwhile make the pastry, place the flour and salt in a large bowl, grate the butter and lard in to the bowl, using a chopping action mix the fat in to the flour roughly, add the water and bring the mixture together to form a rough ball.  Chill in the fridge for 20-30 minutes.

Pre heat your oven to 180 degrees C.  On a dusted surface roll out half the pastry as thin as you dare, the remains half is spare, wrap up and freeze or keep in the fridge and use within a couple of days.  Using a scone cutter cut out 24 circles and place in a shallow Yorkshire pudding tin, spoon in the caramelised onion, bake the tarts in the oven for 15-20 minutes, remove from the oven allow to cool slightly and top with a dollop of cream cheese and a sprinkling of fresh chopped chives.