Cinnamon Cookies

Ingredients

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup butter

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

1 1/2 cups plain flour

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

How to make tham

In a large bowl, cream together butter and  sugar until white and creamy.

Beat in egg and vanilla.

Add flour, cinammon, baking powder and salt.

Blend well until mixture sarts to stick together.

Divide mixture into two. Form one half into sausage shape, wrap in clingfilm and freeze.

Chill the remaining half to firm it up a bit – put it in the freezer for 15 minutes or in the fridge for a couple of hours. You can use it straight away but it will be very sticky to work with.

When it is firmer, make small balls by rolling between hands – about 3/4″ across.

Set balls about 2″ apart on lightly greased baking tray.

Bake at 350F for about 5 – 10 minutes until edges are lightly browned.

Cool on rack

Store in airtight tin.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Biscuits | 3 Comments »

Dad’s Yorkshire Puddings

After much experimenting, this is the perfect yorkshire pudding mix!

This makes 12 small puddings in muffin tins.

N.B. You can make up the mixture in advance and keep it in the fridge for a few hours. Then give it another whisk before cooking. If you make it just before the meal, remember you need to let the mixture stand for about 15 minutes before you bake it. The oil needs to be nice and hot before you pour the mixture in.

Ingredients

2 oz plain flour

1 egg

1/4 pint of milk and water (half milk, half water)

oil – any sort, dad likes groundnut but sunflower or olive oil are just as good.

How to make them.

Set oven to 210C

Sift the flour into a jug.

Break the egg into the liquid and stir to break up.

Pour the egg/liquid mixture into the flour and beat with a food mixer until well blended – 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Leave the beaten mixture to stand for about 15 minutes.

Pour a little oil into each muffin tin to cover the bottom.

Put the oil filled muffin tin into the oven to get hot.

When the oil is hot, carefully pour in the mixture, dividing it between the 12 tins.

Bake in the oven until well risen, about 15 minutes.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Accompaniments | No Comments »

Jean’s Bobotie from South Africa

Ingredients

1 lb beef mince

3 small apples

1 onion

1 dessertspoonful curry powder

1 tablespoon vinegar

1 slice bread soaked in 1 cup milk

1 egg

Pinch salt

1 teaspoon sugar

1 dessertspoon apricot jam

handul of raisins or sultanas

1 oz dessicated coconut

1 tablespoon chutney

How to Make it

  1. In large frying pan, ightly fry the onion and apples. Set aside on plate.
  2. Lightly brown the mince until no longer pink.
  3. Drain the milk from the bread and reserve the liquid.
  4. Add the bread to the mince.
  5. Add salt, vinegar and sugar to mince mixture.
  6. Add the onions and apples to mixture.
  7. Beat the egg with the drained off milk and add to the mixture.
  8. Stir in the jam, raisins, coconut and chutney (adjust or leave out according to taste).
  9. Turn the mixture into the buttered pyrex dish.
  10. Bake in oven for 40 mins at 350F, 180C 170C (fan oven).
  11. Prepare small dishes of chopped and sliced accompaniments – banana, tomatoes, pineapple, dessicated coconut, chutney, peppers
  12. Serve with boiled rice.

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Beef Mince Meals | No Comments »

Mrs Scott’s Mars Bar Slice.

Ingredients

1/3 small box of Rice Krispies

3 Mars Bars (not giant ones!)

4 oz margarine

1 tablespoon golden syrup

Milk chocolate.

How to Make it

  1. Line a tin with black silicon sheet.
  2. In a large pan, melt the Mars bars, margarine and golden syrup.
  3. Stir in the rice krispies a little at a time until they are all coated with Mars bar mixture and there is no ‘liquid’ left.
  4. Press mixture into the tin and smooth.
  5. Melt about half a bar of cooking chocolate in the microwave, or in a basin over a pan of boiling water.
  6. Spread the melted chocolate over the Rice Krispie mixture. Leave to set (in fridge if necessary).
  7. When set, turn out of tin and cut into squares.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Sweets | No Comments »

Easy Fruit Cake

Ingredients

4 oz margarine

4 oz sugar (brown or white)

12 oz mixed fruit (8 oz will be enough)

8 fl oz water

1 level teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

1 level teaspoon mixed spice

2 beaten eggs

4 oz plain flour

4 oz self raising flour

Pinch salt

How to Make it

  1. Set the oven to 350F, 180 C, 170C (fan oven), Gas Mark 4
  2. Put margarine, sugar, mixed fruit, water, bicarbonate of soda and mixed spice into a large pan. Bring to the boil, stirring as the ingredients melt to blend gently together.
  3. Once boiling, simmer for one minute.
  4. Allow to cool while you prepare the tin:
  5. Line a 7″ square or 8″ round tin.
  6. When mixture has cooled a little, add the eggs, flour and salt and mix well. If you add the eggs while the mixture is really hot you’ll have scrambled eggs! Pour the mixture into the tin.
  7. Bake in the centre of the oven for 1 – 1 1/4 hours. Test with a skewer to see if it comes out clean.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Cakes | No Comments »