12 Recipes of the Festive Season……#6

For the most perfect alternative to the mince tart, form our very darling Katey Rodgers I think these Eccles Cakes (which have a history all of their own) are a fantastic alternative. Buy a really smashing cheese to eat with them….I promise it is worth it!

Hope you enjoy….

Eccles Cakes

Ingredients

300g dried fruit and nuts (sultanas, cherries, dates, walnuts, almonds etc.)
An amount of cheddar or other delicious hard cheese
2 tsp honey
1 tsp red wine vinegar
3 tsp melted butter
½ tsp ground all spice
½ tsp cinnamon

Method

Mix all ingredients together and leave to sit for 15- 20 minutes, should be enough time to roll the pastry out into about 8mm thick and 9cm in diameter. Make an even amount, half are bases, other half are tops. Spoon the mixture onto the bases. Put the tops on and pinch together. Brush with egg white and dip in sugar. Slash the top three times to release steam while baking. In the oven at 180-200 for 15 minutes.

Sweet Pastry

540g butter
112g yolk
225g icing
60ml water
750g flour
salt

Mix softened butter and Icing sugar gently and without creaming. Add yolks and water, then fold through flour. Separate into 400g lots and chill overnight.

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love sent to me

Six geese a laying…..

Six sharks a surfing.....

Happy tastings.

DC