Vintage Style Garden Design Wall Calendar

Vintage Style Kitchen Garden Wall Calendar

This vintage style Kitchen Garden wall poster will not only look gorgeous on your wall but is a very practical guide to getting started in your vegetable garden. Don’t know what to plant where and when? Check the plan for the current year and follow the guidelines for the current seasons.

Shows a 4 year crop rotation cycle to encourage healthy gardens and long term sustainable gardening for us and the earth. A beautiful and useful gift for gardeners everywhere whether you are experienced or a beginner

Special online offer. Regular price is $16.10 + p&p per poster but if you buy online it is 2 for $19.90 + P&P of $6.75. Buy one for yourself and one to give away to a young gardener! You can either email me with your order on keren@professionalcountrywoman.com

Saturday 1 June 2013

Best Apple Shortcake Recipe



The original recipe for this came from the late Margaret McConnell who was an amazing country cook and regularly fed  not only her family but many others. I have modified it a little but it is a great recipe. 

Peel and slice about 8 large Granny Smith apples and put in a pan to stew. Add a tiny amount of water to prevent burning. Add about 6 cloves and a teaspoon of cinnamon and 1/3 cup sugar.  The apples will make their own liquid but you dond’t want it too runny.

Sweet shortcake.
125g butter softened
125g sugar
1 egg
1 and half cups flour
2 Tbsp Cornflour
1 Tbsp Custard Powder
1 tsp Baking powder

Cream butter and sugar then add the egg and beat some more.
Sift dry ingredients and mix together.  The dough should form a ball and come away from the sides of your bowl.   Turn out onto a floured board and work together to form a ball.

Divide in half.  Roll out one half to form the base of your pie dish.  I used my pyrex dish which is 34 x23cm but will fit a standard 23 or 25cm pie dish.  You can also press the bottom layer in with your knuckle but you want the layer to be nice and thin.

Roll out top layer. Spoon your apple onto pastry base.  Then cover with top layer.
Does not have to be perfect – if it breaks just patch up. When it is cooked you will sprinkle icing sugar on anyway.

Bake about 20 mins at 180c or until cooked. Sift icing sugar on top.

Tip for Rolling Soft Pastry. I always roll this short pastry between 2 sheets of cling film to prevent breaking when moving it. 

1 comment:

The Professional Countrywoman said...

I made this the day before our National Radio host, Kathryn Ryan interviewed a visiting expert on Heritage apple trees so sent the recipe to her. So now also on RadioNZ National website! So far have made this with Central Otago Apricots (the best) and as a base for lemon meringue pie. Yum.