Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Scottish Recipes - Strawberry Shortbread Creams

Strawberry Shortbread Creams


Today I wanted to make some Shortbread

I had already made classic shortbread a few months back see here

So I decided to go with a different recipe in one of my many British cookbooks, this shortbread calls for orange peel, yummy

Strawberry Shortbread Creams.  They taste as good as they sound

Makes 6

You will need

Shortbread Ingredients
100g/4oz Butter
175g/6oz Plain/All purpose Flour
50g/2oz Fine Sugar
Grated rind of 1 Orange
Ingredients

Filling
150ml/quarter pint Whipping Cream
225g/8oz Strawberries, sliced
Ingredients


  • Set oven to 160C/325F and grease a baking tray and set aside

  • In a large bowl, sift flour
Flour

  • Break butter into pieces and rub into flour 
add Butter

  • Once mixture resembles breadcrumbs, add sugar and rind
add sugar and peel

  • Knead all together with hands to form a soft dough
soft dough

  • On a floured surface, roll out dough to a rough 8 inch round

  • Using a plate as a guide, cut into a circle, then cut circle into 12 triangles
cut using plate
shortbread round

  • Prick with a fork all over to ease equal baking
cut and prick with fork

  • Place sections onto baking tray and bake for 30 minutes 
place on tray

  • Remove and sprinkle with sugar then place on a wire rack to cool 
cool on wire rack

  • Pour cream into medium bowl then whip it up using a hand mixer, until cream forms peaks    
pour cream
cream peaks

  • Spoon cream onto 6 pieces of shortbread
Shortbread with cream

  • Next lay sliced strawberries over the cream

  • Top with a second piece of Shortbread
Strawberry Shortbread Creams

  • Enjoy

The nice refreshing orange peel flavor, paired with the cream and strawberries make this a favorite with us

I hope you enjoy these Strawberry Shortbread Creams soon

Thanks for stopping by


Angela

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Sunday, July 29, 2012

The Liebster Award



 


Woah, I just received my first ever bloggy award

I am doing a happy dance, yes I am.

First off, I really must give a big thank you to Marcie @  I gotta try that  for giving me this award! I was extremely surprised and honored. You really must check out her blog, its awesome, with some great things on there,  I have been following I Gotta Try That for a while now and love the support she has given me, she has a fantastic link party every Monday that is a lot of fun


What is a Liebster Blog Award? (Well, I asked the same question)

The Liebster Blog Award is given to up and coming bloggers with less than 200 followers, and     nominated by fellow bloggers. Liebster is a German word meaning sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing and welcome.


So having said that I hope everyone who visits my blog always feels welcomed and valued, I am thankful for every one of my followers 

Liebster Rules

1. Post about your win on your blog.
2. Link back to the blogger who presented you with the award (Tartan tastes in Texas) and follow them.
3. Copy and paste the award button to your blog. 
4. Present the Liebster Award to 11 blogs that have fewer than 200 followers that you think deserve to be recognized and awarded.
5. Let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
6. Share 11 random facts about yourself. 
7. Answer 11 questions the tagger has asked you, and give 11 questions to the people you've  tagged.
8. You are not allowed to tag back the blogger who chose you.



Here are some interesting/random facts about little me

1. I am Scottish born and although I have lived in Texas for nearly 10 years I still have my accent
2. I love Jazzercise, and no it's not all sweatbands and leggings, well, not all the time :)
3. I am scared of spiders but I will pick up any other bug on the face of the earth
4. I was on TV at age 10 in Scotland, it was a program for Schools and all our class was in it (I have video of it and watching it makes me laugh)
5. I love stripes and am drawn to stripy clothing like a moth to a flame
6. I can swim but not very well
7. Buster my Boston Terrier is the first dog I have ever owned, he is my furr baby
8. I love to paint (decorating walls and painting art pieces)
9. The only food I hate is scrambled eggs
10. I am only ticklish on my knees nowhere else
11. Daisies make me smile, my favorite flower, I remember them everywhere when I was small and lived in Dundee

Now for my 11 questions, this could bet interesting
  

1. What kind of people are attracted to your blog? I first started it with Scottish ex-pats in mind, but I am finding it appeals to all
2. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? I love Scotland, its where my heart is when i have a quiet moment, but somewhere with a beach would be a fantastic place to retire, years down the line, don't you think?
3. Is blogging more of a job or a hobby for you? It's a hobby, a fun place to put all my recipes and share them with others
4.What's the one thing about yourself that you would love to change? My height, i would love to be taller, I am a teeny tiny 5'2"
 5. If you are a mom, how often do you enjoy alone time? Every day, ay bedtime, my 5 year old is about to start Kindergarten after summer so right now being a stay at home mummy I am with him everyday, so more alone time for me is coming up, yay !
 6. If it was going to be made public, which would you tell: your age, your weight, or your income? My age, i am 40 and proud of it
7. What personality trait bugs you the most? Jealousy, its not pretty
8. What's your favorite restaurant? Any place that sells Tex-Mex with a frozen margarita
9. What are you best known for? Being that crazy Scottish lady that will try to feed you haggis
10. Finish this sentence: My favorite social networking site is Facebook
11. Pet names from strangers (sweetie, honey, etc.). Love it or hate it? In Scotland they have one called "Hen" I hate it, lol


OK here are 3 (eeek hope it still counts, lol) well deserving blogs that I have nominated for the award, Congrats


4. 
5
6. 
7. 
8. 
9. 
10.
11. 


Please visit these blogs and show them some love! You will find some fun and original ideas.

Here are the 11 questions for you to answer: (I cheated & used my taggers questions)


1. What kind of people are attracted to your blog?
2. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
3. Is blogging more of a job or a hobby for you?
4. What's the one thing about yourself that you would love to change?
5. If you are a mom, how often do you enjoy alone time?
6. If it was going to be made public, which would you tell: your age, your weight, or your income?
7. What personality trait bugs you the most?
8. What's your favorite restaurant?
9. What are you best known for?
10. Finish this sentence: My favorite social networking site is ______.
11. Pet names from strangers (sweetie, honey, etc.). Love it or hate it?


Angela 

Friday, July 27, 2012

Scottish Recipes - Scotch Whisky Ice Cream

Scotch Whisky Ice Cream is not one for the kids, but any adult that loves whisky will love this Whisky Ice Cream


Whisky ice cream

It is made with a few tablespoons of whisky of your choice

I make all my homemade ice cream with the help of my ice cream maker, my parents bought me this amazing piece of kitchen machinery a few years ago and I love it.

So, Mr Tartan Tastes is a whisky connoisseur and like many Scotsmen I know, he has a fair collection of great malt whiskies and blended whiskies.

So when I asked which whisky I could use to make this creamy ice cream he hesitated, he wanted the ice cream to be out of this world but could he really part with a few tablespoons of Single Malt?

Yeah, you guessed it, the blended whisky it was

Just so my readers know the difference, a Malt Whiskey is a Whisky that is made at a specific distillery, using a specific malted grain like barley and must be aged in Oak casks for a minimum of 3 years. Whereas a blended whiskey is a blend of different types of whiskey and neutral spirits, and is usually cheaper to produce and doesn't have an age mentioned, therefore meaning the Malts in Mr Tartan Tastes cabinet are more precious to him than the blends

So good old Grants blended whiskey was used to make this and that was just fine

You will need

1.5 Cups Whole Milk
1.25 Cups Granulated Sugar
3 Cups Heavy Whipping Cream
4 tbsp Whisky of choice


  • In a medium bowl, preferably with a pouring spout, add the milk and sugar and using a hand mixer, mix until sugar is dissolved, about 2 minutes on low speed

Milk and sugar

  • Add and Stir in the heavy cream

add the cream

  • Add the Whisky and stir again

add the whisky

  • Switch on ice cream maker
  • Pour the mixture into the freezer bowl in the ice cream maker

pour into ice cream maker

  • Leave it running for about 20- 25 minutes until the consistency is soft and creamy
  • Transfer into an air tight container and place in the freezer for a firmer consistency
  • It can be stored there until needed
  • Remove from freezer and serve

Whisky ice cream

Enjoy


Now this would just be perfect with a deep fried Mars Bar, I really need to try that next,  don't you think?

Have fun making some adult ice cream this weekend

Cheers or Slainte Mhath to my Scottish pals

Whisky ice cream


Angela

Linking to Serenity now ; not your ordinary recipes ; simplelivingdianebalch ; The grant life ; Classy clutter ; cupsbykim ; i am addicted to recipes ; Keeping it simple crafts ; whitelightsonwednesday ; couponingncooking ; i gotta try that ; craft-o-maniac ; the southern institute ; moms test kitchen

Monday, July 23, 2012

Scottish Recipes - Victoria Sandwich Cake

Victoria Sandwich Cake


Victoria Sandwich Cake or Victoria Sponge as its also known is a classic cake served with afternoon tea in Scotland

It is a favorite in tea rooms all around Britain and a must for tea time which is typically served around 2pm-4pm, where hot tea is served with classic cakes and petite sandwiches, a great British tradition

Victoria Sandwich Cake

It's said to be named for Queen Victoria who loved it, and rightly so

It's a simple and elegant cake that is made with basic ingredients for maximum taste, sandwiched together with jam and sometimes cream

No thick fondants or frostings are on this cake, it doesn't need it, its just delicious on its own with a sprinkling of powdered sugar on top

So if you are nervous about making fancy looking cakes with tons of fondant then this cake is for you, its basic yet perfect in every way

This type of cake would be great for a little girls tea party

As a kid I loved sponge cakes, so this is near the top of my favorites list


You will need


For the Cake
100g/4oz Butter
100g/4oz Sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
100g/4oz self-raising flour
Ingredients


for the Topping and middle
4 tbsp strawberry jam
Sifted icing sugar for dusting on top

Ingredients



  • Set oven to 180C/350F


  • Grease and flour two 7 inch round baking tins

Tin

  • In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy

Butter, sugar

creamed butter, sugar

  • Gradually beat in the eggs adding some flour to stop curdling

add egg

  • Carefully fold in the remaining flour with a metal spoon to keep light and fluffy

fold flour
cake mix

  • Divide the mixture into 2 tins and level off

in Tin

  • Bake in oven for 20 minutes until cakes are risen, springy yet firm to touch and golden

Cake ready

  • Turn out to cool on wire rack

cooling

  • Once cooled sandwich together with strawberry jam (optional you can also add fresh whipped cream here)

add jam

Sandwich together



  • Sieve powdered sugar over the top

Victoria Sponge cake

Serve and enjoy with a lovely cup of hot tea

Victoria sandwich cake

Ahhh perfect

This is the part where I tell you how to store it, but this whole cake went in one day, yes,  all gone, just crumbs left, and we are only a family of 3

Victoria Sponge cake


Angela


Linking to the southern institute ; craft-o-maniac ; couponing n cooking ; homestoriesatoz ; sugarbeecrafts ; chef-in-training ; Claiming our space ; Our thrifty ideas ; Southernlovely ; Lady behind the curtain ; Gingersnapcrafts ; Five little chefs ; Live laugh rowe ; momnivores-dilemma ; Whats cooking love ; Michelles tasty creations ; the ease of freeze ; show-your-stuff-Justwingingit ; Little becky homecky ; happy hour projects ; not your ordinary recipes ; simplelivingdianebalch ; The grant life ; cupsbykim

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Scottish Recipes - Coconut Ice Squares

OK, I was Blog surfing one night last week and came across a couple of great Blogs that hold a competition of sorts called Get Your Chef On (#GYCO) using a surprise ingredient

So I went ahead and signed myself up to share a recipe with that surprise ingredient and submit it to Julie over at
White lights on Wednesday and Jen over at Four Marrs & one Venus

White Lights on Wednesdays

The surprise ingredient this time round is Coconut

How fun, right?

I admit I was stumped for what to make, I mean after all, I had already made Scottish Snowballs and Scottish Coconut Macaroons and both are pretty awesome Scottish sweet treats that use oodles of coconut...

So what to make, what to make....

Well, what about Coconut Ice

Coconut ice

Coconut Ice isn't ice cream or ice pops as the title may lead you to believe

But its a crisp, pink and white sweet tablet type treat

I remember Coconut ice being sold in bake sales in Church fates or school fundraisers back in Scotland, and although its probably not as popular as Scottish Macaroon it can still hold its own as something sweet and tasty

Makes a slab to cut into squares


You will need


200g Coconut (the Scottish recipe calls for desiccated coconut but I used USA sweetened shredded coconut)
250g Icing/Powdered Sugar
200g Condensed Milk (I measured out 200ml from a 400ml can)
2 -3 Drops Red food coloring





  • Add the required amount of condensed milk to a large bowl

Condensed milk

  • Next sieve the Powdered /Icing Sugar into the same bowl
add powdered sugar

  • Mix both well with a wooden spoon until smooth
mix well

milk and powdered sugar

  • Add the coconut and mix in well, use your hands if it gets too stiff with the spoon (this part is mighty messy)
add coconut
mix well

  • Separate into two equal amounts, leaving one half in the bowl and other half to the side

  • To the mixture in the bowl, add a few drops of red food color, not too much, you want the mixture pink not red, and mix well

  • Sprinkle some powdered sugar onto a work surface and lay out the two mixtures
pink and white mixture

  • Using a rolling pin, roll out both mixtures separately to make two rectangles about 1 inch thick
rolled out mixture

  • Place the white rectangle on top of the pink rectangle
shaped into rectangle


  • Transfer onto a plate and using a spatula space and press into a neater slab
set in fridge

  • Place in fridge to set for 24 hours

  • Once set, trim and cut into squares
Coconut Ice

Enjoy


These can be stored in a container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week

mmmmm, yet another yummy treat that takes me back to my childhood

Thanks again, Julie at White lights on Wednesday and Jen at Four Marrs and one Venus

White Lights on Wednesdays

Angela









Also Linking to lady behind the curtain ; Southern lovely ; five little chefs ; Livelaughrowe ; momnivores-dilemma ; whats cooking love ; michelles tasty creations ; happy hour projets ; show-your-stuff-Justwingingit ; serenity now ; not your ordinary recipes simple living diane balch ; The grant life ; Little becky homecky ; cups by kim ; i am addicted to recipes ; i gotta try that ; keeping it simple crafts ; the ease of freeze


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