Ginger Bread Skeletons

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Ingredients:

  • 350g plain Flour
  • 100g butter
  • 4 1/2 tsp ginger
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 12 tbs honey
  • 1 egg
  • white chocolate

Method:

  1. Mix flour, ginger, cinnamon & baking powder into your mixing bowl, add your butter & rub together using fingertips until you achieve a bread crumb like texture. (Bakers tip: lift fingers out of & above the mixing bowl while rubbing to help aerate the mixture, this gives a finer crumb).IMG_20180930_101052_resized_20181001_101336431IMG_20180930_101558_resized_20180930_011542229
  2. Add sugar, honey & your egg & mix well until you are happy with the texture of your dough  (Bakers tip: if it is too dry feel free to add more honey or a tablespoon of water if you wish).IMG_20180930_102239_resized_20181001_101337217
  3. Wrap in cling film & allow to chill for 20-30 minutes.IMG_20180930_120146_resized_20180930_011537380
  4. When your dough is chilled place onto a lightly floured surface, dust your rolling pin & roll out your dough, if your dough sticks to the surface its okay to add a sprinkle of flour. (Bakers tip: adding too much flour will cause your cookies to be too dry when baked)
  5. Place baking parchment onto your baking tray & grease lightly with butter. (Bakers tip: you can also use spray oil with a basting brush).IMG_20180930_120046_resized_20180930_011536793
  6. Using a ginger bread man cookie cutter cut out your ginger bread skeletons.IMG_20180930_120842_resized_20180930_011538586
  7. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden.IMG_20180930_123230_resized_20180930_011539099
  8. When they are cooked allow to cool on a wire tray, when they are cooled, melt your white chocolate & put into a piping bag with a very thin nozzle (Bakers tip: place your icing bag into a mug before you pour in the chocolate, this will hold it in place and make it easier to fill).IMG_20180930_125932_resized_20180930_011540961
  9. Pipe the skeleton bones onto your gingerbread skeletons & allow to dry.IMG_20180930_131205_resized_20180930_011541500

Enjoy!

Potato Gratin Recipe

 

IMG_20180916_182048_resized_20180929_043015677

Ingredients:

  • Potatoes as much or as little as you want & depending on the size of the oven dish that you use.
  • Onion (optional)
  • Garlic (optional)
  • Cheese sauce (you can find my cheese sauce recipe by following the link below)
  • Cheese Sauce Recipe

Method:

  1. Preheat your oven to about 180 degrees (c), gas mark 4, 350 degrees (f).
  2. Wash, peel and parboil your potatoes, it is important to parboil them as a whole potato in order to cut into slices later on.IMG_20180916_153659_resized_20180929_043017802
  3. When you’re happy with how parboiled your potatoes are, remove them & allow them to cool slightly.  When they are cool enough, slice each potato into thin slices & layer them into your oven dish.IMG_20180916_164125_resized_20180929_043017061
  4. Slice your onions & mince your garlic (as much or as little as you would like, or you can skip this step altogether it is entirely up to yourself).  Then layer your onions & garlic on top of your layer of potatoes.IMG_20180916_164423_resized_20180929_043016183
  5. Then add another layer of sliced potatoes.
  6. Cover over in cheese sauce (Cheese Sauce Recipe).IMG_20180916_165552_resized_20180929_043018131
  7. Salt & pepper to taste.
  8. Cover your gratin with tinfoil & put into the oven for between 20 & 30 minutes, then remove tinfoil & allow to cook for a further 10 minutes to allow the cheese sauce to bubble up and crisp on top.IMG_20180916_182048_resized_20180929_043015677

Enjoy!

Apple Pie Recipe

edh

Ingredients:

  • 8oz plain flour (and a pinch for rolling)
  • 4oz butter
  • 6 tbs water
  • pinch of salt
  • cooking apples
  • cinnamon (if you wish)

For this recipe you need a short crust pastry base and topping, you can either make one batch of pastry and split it into two balls or you can make two separate portions, which I did in this case, but the recipe below will contain measurements for one big batch to be divided in two for the base and topping.

 

Method:

  1. Pre heat your oven to 180 degrees
  2. Sieve flour, salt to a mixing bowl & add butter. Rub together until it forms a breadcrumb like texture.
    edh
    edh
  3. Add water & mix lightly until a dough forms, when this is complete, divide in two & wrap in cling film, allow to chill for 20-30 minutes before rollingedh
  4. While the pastry is chilling, wash, peel and chop your apples.edh
  5. Roll out both portions of pastry.
  6. Line your pie dish with one portion of  pastry & score it along the bottom with your fork.edh
  7. Add apples, a good sprinkling of sugar & cinnamon if you wish. edh
  8. Cover with the second portion of pastry.  Using a knife trim the edges (the off cuts can be used for decoration, by rolling it out and cutting shapes with cookie cutters, I chose stars)edh
  9. Using your fork press down gently all around the edge of the pie to seal it together, score your pastry and lightly egg wash for a golden finish.edh
  10. If you choose to add off cut designs egg wash them also.
  11. Put into the oven for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown and enjoy.edh

 

 

 

Cheese Sauce Recipe

aged cheese close up dairy product
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Ingredients:

  • 4 teaspoons of flour
  • 4 teaspoons of butter
  • 2 cups of stock of your choice (in this instance I used vegetable stock)
  • 2 cups of milk
  • Cheese of your choice and the quantity of choice depending on how strong you want the cheese flavour to be. (I grated a 200g block of mature red cheddar and used a handful of ready grated mozzarella)
  • Salt & Pepper to taste.

 

Method:

  1. In a pot melt your butter and add flour, whisk them together for a minute or 2 to form a roux.edhIMG_20180916_164803.jpg
  2. Add your stock and mix well.  when the stock is mixed through add your milk and allow to thicken while occasionally stirring.IMG_20180916_164928.jpg
  3. When the sauce begins to thicken add in your cheese and stir until it reaches your desired texture.IMG_20180916_165202.jpg
  4. Season to taste with salt & pepper.edh
  5. Voila easy peasy cheesy sauce.
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