lemon-shortbread

Lemon Shortbread Biscuits

 

lemon-shortbread

I was inspired to make these delicious Lemon Shortbread Biscuits whist I was searching for a shortbread recipe. I came across this recipe by Jo Pratt. I had never made shortbread using semolina & was intrigued by its addition. The result was a very pleasing light & crisp texture.

Initially the dough seemed quite dry, but once I began to lightly knead & roll it, the dough became more pliable.

These little shortbread biscuit store very well, so it makes them a very good choice to make as an edible gift.

Make around 30

Ingredients
• 225g unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 75g caster sugar
• 275g plain flour, plus extra for rolling
• 75g fine semolina
• pinch of salt
• finely grated zest of 1 lemon
• icing sugar, for dusting
• small biscuit cutter, about 4cm in diameter

Method

Preheat the oven to 160C/gas 4.

Beat butter and caster sugar until it is light in colour and consistency.  
Beat in the flour, salt, semolina and lemon zest, then finish with your hands to form a soft pliable dough.
Wrap in clingfilm and place in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
Dust your worktop with a little flour and roll out the shortbread dough to about
1cm thick.
Using the cutter, cut out as many biscuits as you can, re-rolling and re-cutting any trimmings as you go.
Place on a couple of greased baking trays and bake in the oven for about 12 minutes until they turn lightly golden.
When cool, dust with a sprinkle of icing sugar. 
lemon-shortbread-dough

lemon-shortbread-red-velvet-cake

lemon shortbread biscuit

Note

They can burn very easily, so keep your eye on them.
You can use dairy free margarine
Try using different shaped cutters & flavours: grated zest of 1 small orange or 1tsp almond essence

All photography credit: copywrite ©2016 Sara J Orme
Permission must be requested to reproduce any photography from Cooks and Captures ©Sara J Orme
Instagram: sarajorme
Twitter: @sarajorme
Facebook: Sara J Orme Photography
Contact: sarajorme@cooksandcaptures.co.uk

pumpkin-walnut-cake-recipe

Spiced Pumpkin and Walnut Cake

pumpkin-walnut-cake-recipe

In the UK we waste 18,000 tonnes of edible pumpkin at Halloween! That’s awful, this Pumpkin and Walnut Cake is a very quick, easy and tasty recipe. The hardest part is getting the pumpkin flesh out of the pumpkin.

Gas Mark 4 180°c fan 160°c
Bake 30 mins

Ingredients

150g wholemeal self raising flour
150g self raising flour
300g light muscovado sugar
100g broken walnuts
2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/4 tsp salt
11/2 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp allspice
1/8 tsp cloves
200g melted butter/ Pure margarine
500g pumpkin purée
4 beaten eggs
1 tbsp orange juice

50g icing sugar
orange food colouring
1 tsp water or orange juice to mix, add a little at a time to keep it quite thick

Method

Simmer pumpkin till soft, about 20 mins. Blitz till puréed, leave to cool.
Mix dry ingredients including nuts
Mix wet ingredients
Pour wet ingredients into dry & evenly combine
Pour into greased & floured tin or lined tin with grease proof paper
Bake for 30 mins

Notes

You could use this recipe to make individual muffins, a tray bake or bake in a loaf tin. You can also sprinkle with chocolate chips prior to baking.
I have adapted this recipe from Halloween Pumpkin Cake recipe

All photography credit: copywrite ©2015 Sara J Orme
Permission must be requested to reproduce any photography from Cooks and Captures ©Sara J Orme 2015
Instagram: sarajorme
Twitter: @sarajorme
Facebook: Sara J Orme Photography
Contact: sarajorme@cooksandcaptures.co.uk