Taste of Kiwi: Blog of Author Shelley Munro

During this time of the year I think hand or homemade gifts work well. While they might not be expensive, they’re made with love, which makes them priceless. These are quick and easy to make, they taste good, and they go well with a cup of tea or coffee.

SPICE BISCUITS

250 g butter/ 2.2 stick of butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon golden syrup
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons mixed spice

Beat the butter and sugar to a cream. Add the egg and the golden syrup, then mix in the dry ingredients. Roll balls about the size of a teaspoon and place on a cookie tray (greased). Flatten with a wet fork. Bake at 180C/350F for 12-15 minutes until they are golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Store in an airtight container.

Shelley’s notes:
*These bicuits spread during cooking, so don’t put them too close together on the tray.
*This is a Jo Seagar recipe from her Easy-Peasy Summer Entertaining book
*This recipe makes 36 biscuits

Do you have a favorite biscuit (cookie) recipe that you make at this time of the year?

Here’s a very easy recipe for bread. It’s the sort of recipe you can whip up very quickly when you’re short of bread or you need some bread to go with a pot of soup. The recipe is from Jo Seagar’s Easy-Peasy summer entertaining recipe book.

Beer Bread

3 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt (I use about half of this)
1 can beer (400ml or .845 pints) – If your can is smaller, make up the amount with water. Don’t use low-alcohol beer
1 handful of grated cheese (about 1/3 of a cup)

Preheat the oven to 200 C (400 F). Mix the flour, baking powder, salt and beer in a large bowl and combine well. Tip into a well-greased loaf tin or two smaller tins. Sprinkle the cheese on top of the dough. Bake the large loaf for 50 – 60 minutes. (That’s what the recipe suggests. With my oven I find around 30 – 40 minutes works so you might have to experiment with cooking times) Bake the smaller loafs for a shorter time – around 30 minutes depending on your oven. Tip out and cool on a wire rack before slicing. This bread also makes good toast.

This recipe is taken from one of Jo Seagar’s cookbooks called Jo Seagar Cooks and as the title states, the quiche is very easy to make. It’s the perfect thing for a summer picnic, unexpected guests or a quick weekend dinner.

4 eggs
1 1/2 cups grated tasty cheese
1 small onion peeled and chopped
6 rashers of rindless bacon chopped
1/2 cup self-raising flour
1 1/2 cups of milk
1/4 cup of chopped parsley
salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups of your choice of vegetables (chopped mushrooms, peppers, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, corn, peas, beans, grated pumpkin etc) – your imagination is the limit when it comes to vegetables.

Preheat oven to 180 degrees C. Spray a medium – to large size lasagne dish with no stick baking spray. Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Pour into the prepared dish and bake for 40 – 45 minutes until set and golden brown. If your oven is a fan one reduce the cooking time accordingly. It takes around 30 -35 minutes in a fan oven. Serves 6 people.

Note – if you prefer a vegetarian option just leave out the bacon. That’s what I do.

What is your favorite food to take on a picnic?