School holidays are always hard to keep kids entertained and off devices. With the added restriction of self isolation, these can pass an hour or so on a rainy day. We made these with just a few easy ingredients from the supermarket. 

Let your imagination go wild with the fillings and toppings. We used fresh blueberries as they are readily available and cheap, but you could substitute with banana,  tinned fruit or jam. These are not overly sweet, and rely on the sweetness of the fruit. If you feel they need a little more just sift over a thin layer of icing sugar.

Ingredients

• Puff pastry sheets (we used New Wave Vegetarian Puff Pastry sheets)
• Ready made custard (we used Alpro Soy Custard)
• Punnet of Fresh Blueberries, jam or fruit of choice
• Soy or preferred milk  to brush
• Caster sugar (optional)
• Maple syrup for brushing (optional)

Method
1. Defrost your puff pastry sheets.
2. Lightly brush one sheet with water using a pastry brush and press another on 
top.
3. Carefully cut your large square into 9, by scoring into 3 in both directions. This bit is best left to an adult. Use a ruler if you need to. 
4. Each square forms the base of your pastry. Here is where you can creative! For an easy shape fold two opposite corners into each other. You can find lots of shaping ideas on Youtube, or each just stick to a square. Whichever shape you choose, make a indent with a teaspoon in the middle and lightly press down to hold the filling.  See our shapes below.
5. Brush the pastry with soy milk and lightly sprinkle with caster sugar.
6. Place a small teaspoon of custard in the indent and top with a small handful of blueberries. 

7. Bake at 200 C for 15 minutes until golden brown.
8. Lightly brush with maple syrup and allow to cool.

If you are hitting the kitchen this weekend here are a few tips  from Sugar Sisters to help you wow your friends and family.

1. Be precise
Digital scales give you better precision than cups.  If you do prefer to work with cups fill the cup rather than scoop with it,  then level it off at the top to get a more even result each time.

2. Precision part 2
Whether you are making biscuits or bread rolls, get your scales out again and weigh each one. Not only will they be all the same size, but will also cook more evenly in the oven.

3. Don't be heavy on your metal
Non stick baking pans require gentle care to keep them non stick.  Never use a knife to cut slices in a pan. Use baking paper and lift the whole thing out onto your chopping board. When it hits the sink keep your steelo or scourer away. Soak the pan and everything will lift off.

4. Think like a toddler
Silicone baby spoons are perfect for helping to lift muffins and tarts out of your pans without scratching them.

5. Follow the recipe! 
The first time you attempt a new recipe follow the instructions to the letter.  There is a better chance that if something goes wrong it was the recipe rather than you not you failing to follow it.

6. Then don't follow the recipe
Once you have made something a few times it's time to start playing and tweaking to make the recipe perfect for you. Pick one element at a time to change.

7. Supersize me
To get café style muffins you really do have to fill the cups to the point where they are almost the same size as you want them to look cooked.

8. Get to know your oven
Like people, ovens have their own personality and traits. The commercial ovens in our work kitchen need a very different approach to my lovely SMEG at home.

9. Keep the door shut
Yes, I know you have heard this one before but keep the door shut and close it as fast as possible when checking what's baking. Letting the temperature drop is a great way of sinking a cake if you open it at the crucial rising time.

10. Keep practicing
Pastry chefs and commercial bakers produce amazing baking by making the same thing over and over and over again.


Thanks for reading. Do you have a top tip you would like to share? Sugar Sisters would love to hear from you.