We're clinging onto summer at the moment as the nights are becoming darker earlier! The good thing about this time of year though is the abundance of fruit ready to pick. The garden is littered with apples and the hedges are full of blackberries. We've collected all the berries and frozen them ready to make some blackberry wine (or other alcoholic beverage!) later on in the year. As for the apples, I've been turning them into batches of chewy apple and nutmeg biscuits which are delicious, even though I say so myself!
If these photos have enticed you to have a go at making them yourself, here is the recipe:
150g flour
100g sugar
100g butter
2tsps honey
one apple, finely diced
sprinkling of cinnamon or nutmeg to taste
- Mix the sugar and butter in a bowl with the honey.
- Slowly add the flower and stir together. The mixture should be crumbly and dry but well mixed.
- Take small handfuls of the mixture and roll into balls.
- Place them on a greased baking tray, but don't squash them down.
- Cook in the centre of a moderate oven for about 15 minutes or until golden.
The cordial I made can be used like squash by adding a small amount to water or lemonade. For sitting out in the garden on a lovely sunny day, it can't be beaten - and so healthy too!
First of all boil about a pint of water in a saucepan with a couple of spoons of honey. Heat until the honey has completely melted. Bring off the heat and add the juice of one lemon and a decent amount of chopped ginger. Leave to steep for half an hour.
Pour through a sieve to remove lemon pips and ginger chunks and decant into a bottle. Pop it in the fridge for when you need it!
Serve it in a glass with ice. Add lemonade and water to taste (I find about one quarter cordial, three quarters lemonade or water is about right!). Take it out into the sunshine and enjoy!
Today I'm sharing this post at the following parties: Cornerstone Confessions, Sumo's Sweet Stuff and Sugar Bee Crafts.
