GREEN SEASONING

Just seen this in Food Weekly, Observer from The Pepperpot Diaries.

2 sprigs thyme,10g fresh bay leaves, small bunch parsley,small bunch coriander,4 spring onions, 10 cloves peeled garlic, green chilli to add heat, 6 mini sweet peppers, 1/2. white onion, 400ml cold pressed rape seed oil, s and p. Whizz and enjoy!

SWEDISH SAFFRON CAKE

Ingredients

  • ▢ 1 & 3/4 sticks butter (200 grams/7 ounces), unsalted; plus more for greasing the pan
  • ▢ 1/2 cup + 4 tbsp milk (150 ml)
  • ▢ 1/4 tsp saffron
  • ▢ 1 & 2/3 cups flour (240 grams), plus more for dusting the pan
  • ▢ 2 tsp baking powder
  • ▢ 2 medium eggs
  • ▢ 1 cup sugar (235 grams)
  • ▢ powdered sugar, for serving (optional)

Instructions

  • Start by preheating your oven to 180°C (350°F).
  • Grease your cake pan with butter and dust it lightly with flour.
  • Combine milk and butter in a small saucepan and let the butter melt over low heat.
  • Remove the saucepan from the heat, then add saffron and mix — set aside.
  • Sift and combine flour and baking powder in a medium-sized bowl.
  • In a separate (larger) bowl, combine eggs and sugar.
  • Use a hand mixer and mix until you it gets pale in color.
  • Add the flour and baking powder.
  • Pour the cooled butter, milk, and saffron.
  • Mix the batter — just enough to combine everything.
  • Pour the saffron cake batter into the prepared cake pan.
  • Tap the pan on the countertop to get rid of bubbles.
  • Place the cake pan in the lower part of the oven for about 35 to 40 minutes, or when a toothpick comes out clean when inserted.
  • Set aside to cool, then dust with powdered sugar.
  • Slice your Swedish saffron cake and serve. Dust with more powdered sugar, if desired.

LAMB MARINADE

Ingredients

  • 2 lemons
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh oregano leaves, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, roughly chopped
  • 1 whole bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper

Drizzle olive oil on to lemon juice and mix – then add the rest and the lamb and leave for 12 hours

MY STREET FOOD

Warm wraps. Drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegar over chopped salad of lettuce/tomatoes/beetroot/cucumber. Marinate diced lamb overnight with olive oil/wine vinegar/garlic/mustard/chilli/coriander powder – dunk into fine breadcrumbs and fry in hot oil. Combine salad and lamb in warm wraps.

Meat can be replaced with cheese- baked camembert sounds good!

EASTER COOKIES

EASTER BISCUITS (COOKIES)

Published: Mar 28, 2020 · Modified: Mar 10, 2022 by Jacqueline Bellefontaine ·

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These classic old fashioned biscuits are called Easter biscuits because they were traditionally baked and given as gifts at Easter time. Lightly spiced and speckled with currants they are delicious and make a change from the usual chocolate confections.

bowl of biscuits with stack in front.

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These days when it comes to Easter baking our thoughts often turn to chocolate (at least I know mine does) and hot cross buns. But these biscuits make a delicious change and of course, there is no reason why you can not bake them at any time of the year. 

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Making biscuits and cookies gives very quick rewards, especially with recipes that do not need chilling. So if you fancy a quick treat this is the recipe for you. 

Easter Biscuits originated in West Country, some traditional recipes from the Somerset region used cinnamon flavoured cassia oil that was thought to had been used to embalm Christ’s body.

This recipe is adapted from an old WI recipe book of mine from the 1970’s and I have made them many times over the years. 

You will like these biscuits because:

  • Quick and easy to make
  • Keep well – store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks
  • Freezer friendly – Freeze for up to 6 months.
Stack of Easter biscuits with one broken by a glass of milk.
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Hints, tips and Variations

Spice – I’ve used ground cinnamon for the spice which has a similar flavour to cassia (Cassia is often misnamed and mistaken as cinnamon though these are two different spices.) but you can use nutmeg or mixed spice if preferred.

Currents – are the traditional dried fruit and I think they work best (but also works well with raisins or sultanas)

Mixed Peel – I like the mixed peel in these biscuits but many modern recipes use grated lemon zest or even orange zest and omit the peel.

Cookie Cutters – I’ve used a fluted cutter because they look pretty but you could, of course, use plain round cutters or if you don’t have any cookie cutters use an upturned cup or glass instead.

Close up of Easter biscuits showing sugary crust.
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MORE EASTER BISCUITS AND COOKIES FROM MY FRIENDS

MORE EASTER CRUMBS

easter bunny butt cupcakes.
Easter Bunny Butt Cupcakes
Chocolate and salted caramel tarts
Easter chick cupcake.
Easter Chick Cupcakes

Easter biscuits step by step

adding egg yolk to bowl.

NO TIME TO MAKE IT NOW – PIN FOR LATER

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Recommended

stack of easter biscuits with one on side facing forward.

Easter Biscuits

A classic old English recipe which takes it name from when they were traditionally baked. Delicious to enjoy at any time of the year.

Course afternoon tea, Snack

Cuisine British

Keyword biscuits, cookies, Easter, traditional recipe

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 18 mins

Servings 18

Author Jacqueline Bellefontaine

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Equipment

IngredieMTS

  • 75 g (3oz) butter
  • 75 g (3oz) golden caster sugar
  • 1 egg separated
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 50 g (2oz) currants
  • 15 g (½oz) mixed peel
  • 175 g (6oz) plain flour (all purpose)
  • 3 tablespoon milk
  • golden granulated sugar to sprinkle
  • My take on this – double cinnamon and add ginger and mixed spice- leave out mixed peel (Katie) –

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 180℃ (160℃ fan)/350°F/gas mark 4.
  • Beat 75g (3oz) softened butter with 75g (3oz) caster sugar together until light and fluffy, then beat in 1 egg yolk.
  • Add ¼tsp cinnamon, 50g (2oz) currants and 15g (½oz) mixed peel and mix to combine, then beat in 3tbsp milk.
  • Add 175g (6oz) plain flour and mix to a stiff dough. Roll out the dough to 6mm (¼in) thick then use a 7cm (3in) round cookie cutter cut out biscuits and transfer to a baking sheet. Gather up the trimmings, roll and repeat.
  • Lightly beat the egg white and brush the surface of the biscuits with the egg white, then sprinkle with a little granulated sugar.
  • Bake for 15 – 18 minutes until pale golden.

GARDEN AND COOKING

Long range forecast is looking a bit chilly so no rush to plant tomatoes, last year was 3 March but I think wait and see what the weather is like then. Just toms, cucumbers and chillies and maybe red peppers this year? I might move my avocado plants to the greenhouse once it gets warmer and see if we can get just one!

Cooking – I think a Cornish Saffron Cake and a Simnel Cake for Easter?

Before that is pancake day! Can I get beyond brown sugar and lemon juice – probably not, yet again I will not even try!

SATURDAY 28 JAN 23

Rather chilly again – but no frost, but grey. O made some more baguettes and all have gone already. I will make more tomorrow. I am still unsure about the dough being so wet, but they are turning out good despite not following the recipe!

Apple tree largely done, but need another go at it next week and the fuchsia next to it. Then onto tidying up the raspberries and around the greenhouse. It should be warmer next week, maybe 10C by Friday! With possibly some rain tomorrow and Tuesday (both 50% chance). I might have a go at a lemon drizzle cake tomorrow, or a new recipe for a lemon surprise cake.

RECIPES

I might try the lemon surprise pudding from Felicity Cloake in todays Guardian, although it looks bit of a faff! More from Felicity here

Then some recipes of my own! Olives, garlic, chilli, avocado spread? Possibly with anchovies? Mustard? People in the shop will. not like as they are anti-fish! But spread on a warm freshly baked baguette – my mouth is watering. I think everything finely chopped with parsley or basil?

Making soup at the moment with what ever is in the fridge , leeks, spring onions, garlic, plus lima beans, tin tomatoes and either marmite or soy sauce. And some rosemary and thyme.

Lasagne in this weather is a must! Then Melissa Thompson veg one for latter in the week when I will make the lasagne sheets myself.

Lemon drizzle cake

LEMON POPCORN

I liked it and Aaron did get a bit addicted although he thought it too lemony! Recipe was 50g popcorn 1tbsp brown sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon. So less lemon and more cinnamon next time. Sweetness was good.