Easy Apple Tart and Champagne Cocktail

So I just bumped into some friends in town who are popping around shortly for a leisurely Sunday drink and catch-up.  No need for panic, I always have some pastry in the freezer, fruit in the kitchen and chilled bubbles in the fridge. Going to whip up a very easy apple delight to be enjoyed with a fruit champagne cocktail ... here we go:

4 tbsp raisins
20ml rum
10ml vanilla essence
2 apples, skin on thinly sliced
2 tsp brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp orange zest
1 tsp flour
50g melted butter
1 sheet ready-made puff pastry
1 egg, lightly beaten
Double vanilla ice-cream

• Preheat oven to 200'C.
• Place raisins, rum and vanilla essence in a bowl and microwave for 30 sec.  Allow to cool.
• Place apples, sugar, cinnamon, orange zest and flour in a bowl and mix to combine.
• Add melted butter and raisins with their juice and mix well.
• Cut pastry into a big circle using a dinner plate as a guide.
• Layer apple mixture leaving 1 1/2 inch border.
• Gently fold the border over to enclose apple edges and brush pastry and fruit with egg.
• Place on a baking tray lined with non-stick baking paper, bake for 20 min.
• Serve with double vanilla ice-cream.

Elderflower Champagne Cocktail:
Place 4 mint leaves in a champagne flute.  Bruise leaves with a back of a spoon to release flavours.  Add 2 tbsp Elderflower concentrate syrup (or similar) and top up with you favourite bubbles.

Just a perfect Sunday something to share with some good friends.  Make it count ...