Get into a Creative Space
If you are a busy working mom or someone who just doesn’t have a lot of time on your hands, it may be difficult for you to get into a creative space. Coming up with a great recipe is work just like any other creative project and you need time to sit down and think. Turn the music up and pour yourself a glass of wine. Everything else can wait. Try to come up with a base for your recipe. In this case it will be pastry. Do you want a sweet pastry or a savory one? You will need to decide before you start.
What are you trying to achieve with this pastry? Do you want something reasonably healthy like a fruit pastry or would you like it simply as a kind of soul food? You need to follow the basic recipe design template: Base – Filler – Topping. Say you’ve chosen a tasty, fruit fill for example; your basic ingredients might be filo pastry and strawberries. Now try to come up with something unexpected in your filler. How about some shaved almonds or a complimentary fruit? Then you will need to think about your topping. Would you like cream and sprinkles or a sweet sauce for example?
What do You and Your Family Love?
Normally when we come up with recipes, we have others in mind too. It’s much more fun sharing a tray of delicious pastries then it is sitting alone guzzling them all by yourself. Pastries don’t have to be solely created for the purpose of a desert or treat. They can be used in supper recipes or for a family breakfast celebrating a special occasion. What were you going to make for supper tonight? Mince and veg? Chicken a la king? Why not try bringing butter pastry into the mix instead of rice or pasta? Line your muffin tray with a non stick ingredient. You now have a clean canvas as it were. Use this pastry to spice up supper and your recipe is made almost on the spot! Get someone in the family to offer their opinion…briefly.
Getting it Done
Sometimes we have beautiful ideas in theory but when it comes to the practical implementation, things don’t always work out as planned. It is important that as you develop your recipes, you practice making them. You may find that actually those kiwi fruit and sour apple tartlets you thought would be amazing are actually bitter or just don’t sit right. Another common problem is that certain ingredients burn more quickly than others. Through practice you will be able to perfect recipe instructions and ensure perfect pastries every time. You learn through doing. It will become easier and easier to create your own pastry recipes as you go along.
