Eats - Lavender Easter Biscuits

Good morning! So we are a few days from the Easter weekend and it is time for my little contribution for your baking pleasure. Every year on Easter Sunday a bunch of us meet up for a picnic where we play games and eat lots. We usually each bring sweet treats to share and this year I'm going with biscuits. I do love a traditional spiced Easter biscuit, but they aren't to alls taste so thought that I would make some delicate lavender biscuits to hand out as well.

Ingredients

200g plain flour
75g golden caster sugar (plus extra for dusting)
100g unsalted butter
1 egg, separated
2tbsp warm milk
1tsp dried lavender
few drops vanilla essence
pinch salt

• Set oven to 200*c (fan 180), gas 6 and line 1-2 baking trays with greaseproof paper.
• Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Beat in the egg yolk.
• Sift the flour and salt into the bowl and fold in to the creamed mixture along with the lavender, vanilla essence and milk until you have slightly soft dough.
• Knead very lightly and roll out on to a floured surface to about 1/2 cm thick.
• Cut out your desired shapes and place on the baking tray/s. You should yield approx. 20-25 biscuits.
• Bake for 8 minutes, remove from the oven and wash with the egg white, sprinkle with sugar and bake for a further 3 minutes.
• Cool on a wire rack and tie up bundles with pretty ribbon.

I went for a bunny cutter but you could choose any shape you like.

What Easter treats have you got planned?

Tuesday Treat - Creamy Coconut Ice

Coconut ice is a childhood favourite of mine, to me it conjures up sunny days at the spring flower shows with the sound of a brass band floating on the air. My dad worked for the Bath Parks & Gardens so, along with mum, was always roped into working the flower show. I practically grew up in the greenhouses, so all the folks at the show knew me and I used to roam the grounds all weekend with a sense of privilege only a 6 or 7 year old can get away with. Bag of homemade sweets from the craft tent in hand I would go to visit the animals, help sell programmes on the gate and get muddy demolishing the big displays at the end of the show. The taste of coconut ice always takes me back there, though it is never quite the same, it was always so creamy and covered in delicious chocolate. What better way to try and escape the rain that is over our shores at the moment than make some coconutty yumminess and dream of summer!!!!

The recipe I have put on here is from the BBC Good Food magazine, it is so simple and makes a great treat. I actually prefer to leave it all white and roll the mixture into a log, then when set it can be dipped in chocolate and sliced. Delicious.

BBC Good Food Magazine

I also had to add this recipe I found for coconut ice cream torte, looks like crowd pleaser!

Taste of Home

Enjoy xx

Tuesday Treat - Banana & Walnut Bread

It has been such a delight having wall to wall sunshine over the past few days that I have been taking every opportunity to get outside and enjoy it. What better way to soak up a few rays than to sit in the garden with a good book, a cup of Rosie Lee and a slice of cake. This Tuesday treat isn't too sweet and can be enjoyed mid-morning, late afternoon or any time really!!
What you'll need...

225g self-raising flour
100g butter, softened
175g clear honey
2 ripe bananas
2 beaten eggs
1/2 tsp mixed spice
100g roughly chopped walnuts





Pre-heat your oven to 180*c (less for a fan assisted oven) gas 4, and line a loaf tin with greaseproof paper.

This is such an easy, throw everything in recipe that it won't be long between measuring out your ingredients to scoffing the lot! Pop the butter, eggs, honey and chopped banana into a bowl and beat together. Mix in your flour and ground spice until you have a smooth batter. Next throw in the walnuts and fold until just combined.

Pour into your tin and bake for 35-40 mins, it will be ready when golden and a skewer comes out clean. Allow to cool in the tin for 10 mins and then transfer to a wire rack.
The loaf can be eaten on it's own or spread with a little butter (or if you're feeling really naughty, some peanut butter!!!!)

Enjoy xx