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A great tea-time treat, or for packed lunches, picnic or munching with a cup of tea or coffee. These easy biscuits can also be cut into complicated shapes such as gingerbread me or stars, hearts, trees and so on for holidays throughout the year. It is very good natured dough which puts up with endless re-rolling and cutting out so is excellent for children to work with. In medieval times the cloves or other decorations would have been gilded especially for fair days and feast days. We think they are too yummy to be left for special occasions and should be eaten at all times of the year!
Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons golden syrup,
  • 1 tablespoon black syrup,
  • 75g (3oz) caster sugar,
  • 1 tablespoon water,
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon,
  • 1 teaspoon ground mixed spice,
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg,
  • 1 ½ ground ginger,
  • Grated rind of one orange,

  • 75g (3oz) butter,
  • ½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda,
  • 2 teaspoons orange juice,
  • 225g (8oz) plain flour
    •

    1. Preheat oven to 180oC (350oF), Gas Mark 4.
    2. Gently melt the syrups, sugar, water and spices together in a large saucepan.
    3. Add the grated rind to the mix and bring to the boil stirring well.
    4. Remove from the heat and add the butter, bicarbonate of soda and orange juice.
    5. Add enough sifted flour to produce a stiffish dough.
    6. Turn the dough out of the saucepan and leave on a board to cool.
    7. When completely cool, roll out the dough to about 3mm (⅛ inch) thick on a large board and cut into shapes with a knife or cutters.
    8. Decorate with a pistachio nut, clove or almond if you wish.
    9. Bake on a greased tray for about 12 minutes or until golden brown.
    10. Remove from oven, leave for a few minutes and then transfer to a rack to cool.
    Tip: Store in an air-tight container to stay fresh, if you can resist not eating them all whilst still warm!! Delicious!

     
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    This delicious salad makes an elegant first course for a dinner party that is best served warm. But why not try it as a main course with some fresh ciabatta bread on a warm evening?
    Ingredients

  • 1 lb (450g) of well-flavoured tomatoes,
  • 4oz (100g) stilton cheese,
  • 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil,
  • salt and pepper to taste,
  • generous handfuls of fresh basil, marjoram or oregano

    1. Preheat oven to 200oC (400oF), Gas Mark 6, fan oven 190oC.
    2. Slice the tomatoes thickly and lay in a large ovenproof dish. There is no need to skin the tomatoes first.
    3. Cut the stilton into large cubes and sprinkle all over the tomatoes.
    4. Drizzle with the olive oil and season (not too much salt).
    5. Bake in the oven until the cheese starts to melt - this should take between 5 and 10 minutes.
    6. Shred the herbs by hand and stir them into the tomatoes and semi-melted cheese.
    7. Leave for 2-3 minutes to allow the heat of the salad to wilt the herbs and release their flavours.
    8. Serve whilst still warm with chunks of crusty bread.

     
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    This eleant planter started life in a much less sophisticated guise - as an orange-coloured plastice garden centre bought planter. A simple paint technique transforms the fake terracotta into a deceptively realistic faux lead finish, which complements plants beautifully.
    Tools & Materials

  • Medium grade sandpaper,
  • Plastic chimney pot planter, or similar,
  • Spray can of white acrylic primer,
  • Matt emulsion paint in white and charcoal grey,
  • Paintbrush,
  • Acrylic scumble glaze,
  • Plastic carton,
  • Spray can of exterior acrylic varnish, in either matt or satin finish

    1. Using medium grade sandpaper, sand the plastic planter so as to provide a "key" for the paint, enabling it to adhere well. Working in a well-ventilated area, spray the planter evenly with white acrylic primer - all over the outside and on the inside at the top of the planter.
    2. When the first coat of primer has sufficiently dried (follow the manufacturer's directions for drying and re-application times), apply a second coat of white acrylic primer - sufficient to cover the planter uniformly. Leave to dry thoroughly - preferably overnight.
    3. )Paint the planter evenly with the charcoal-grey emulsion paint and leave to dry for at least 3-4 hours.
    4. Place a little acrylic scumble glaze in a plastic carton and tint it with white emulsion paint. Add water until the glaze has a runny, milky consistency. Briskly brush the glaze all over the planter, allowing the glaze to run unevenly down the surfaces, forming pools that are opaque in some areas and watery and translucent in others. Wash randomly over the glaze with a little water, taking care not to dislodge the glaze in areas where it has formed naturalistic patterns. Leave to dry for several hours.
    5. Add more of the same glaze to some areas of the planter to give an impression of age-encrusted salts. Add water to soften any hard unnatural lines. Flick splatters of the glaze randomly over some parts to give a further weathered impression. Leave to dry thoroughly - preferably overnight.
    6. Working in a well-ventilated area, finish the planter by spraying it with acrylic varnish. Apply several coats, following the manufacturer's directions for drying andre-application times. Finally, leave the planter until it has thoroughly dried.
    7. When completely dried the planter is then ready to be planted out with your favourite bedding plants. Ensuring that the planter has some drainage holes, simply place some stones or broken pot pieces in the bottom of the planter. Next mix some compost and wetting agent together and fill the planter.
    8. A planter of this type is well suited to almost any type of planting, from geraniums, violas, and fuchsias to strawberries, herbs and trailing plants. The choice is endless and so is the enjoyment!
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