One thing that Todd and I are both really crazy about is Jam. We eat a lot of it here. I use it for baking and all sorts, and sometimes when we are both feeling really lazy we have nothing but bread and jam for a light supper. We both really enjoy it and it feels like a real treat. Especially if I have some crusty or homemade bread in the house!
I especially love jam in biscuits, or cookies as you would call them in North America. If there is jam in a biscuit I am in like Flynn! So is Todd . . . and homemade biscuits with jam . . . well even better!
These biscuits here today are so, So, SO good! And so simple to make too. You simply measure the flour and sugar into a bowl (self raising flour) and rub in butter until it's like cornmeal. Then you stir in a large beaten egg to make a dough.
The dough gets shaped into a log and then cut into 12 even slices. No refrigeration required. Place them on a baking sheet, make a dip in the centre, spoon in a bit of jam and bake. Easy peasy, lemon squeasy!
Don't be tempted to overdo the jam . . . it melts like crazy and you want it to stay in the middle. Once baked I drizzle them with melted chocolate and an almond drizzle icing so that they look real pretty! These are pretty hard to resist. It's a good thing the recipe only makes a dozen . . . any more than that and I would be in deep, deep . . . DEEP trouble!
*Chocolate and Almond Glazed Jam Biscuits*
Makes one dozen
Makes one dozen
These are so simple to make and so tasty. You get a nice buttery and short biscuit with the added bonus of a dab of jam in the middle. Perfect for with that hot cuppa!
200g self raising flour (approximately 1 1/2 cups)
100g caster sugar (1/2 cup)
100g butter (7 TBS)
1 large free range egg, lightly beaten
4 TBS cherry jam
Preheat the oven to 190*C/375*F/ gas mark 5. Line a large baking tray with baking paper. Set aside.
Measure the flour and sugar into a bowl. Drop in the butter. Rub the butter into the flour mixture, using your fingertips, until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. You can do this in a food processor if you wish. Add enough of the beaten egg until the mixture comes together into a stiff dough. (I needed all of the egg for mine.) Flour your hands and shape the dough into a roll about 7 inches in length and 2 inches in diameter. Using a sharp knife cut into 12 equal slices. Place the slices onto the prepared baking sheet. They spread out so leave plenty of space between them. Using the tip of a wooden spoon, make an indentation in the centre of each. (Not too deeply). Fill each indentation with 1 tsp of jam.
Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until slightly risen and golden brown.
Place the
chocolate into a microwave safe bowl and microwave it at 20 second
intervals until well melted and smooth. Drizzle this chocolate
haphazardly over the cookies while they are still on the baking sheet.
Whisk together the icing sugar, almond flavouring and just enough hot
water to make a thick drizzle icing. Drizzle this haphazardly over the
cookies while they are still on the baking sheet.
Scoop off onto a wire rack to cool completely and set before eating. Store in an airtight container.
The Cherry Jam that I used for these lovely biscuit today came from Holy Art. Holy Art is a site which is the first religious art shop in Italy, which sells exclusively on-line!
A bit about them:
We are a team of sincere people driven by a simple and clear goal: offering our customers the best service possible! This means unique products, value-for-money prices, prompt answers, safe and easy payment methods, quick delivery and above all, make our customers sure that they will run no risks in purchasing on our website!
Yes, you get it, and, we would like to repeat it once again: no risks for our customers.
We bear all the risks. In fact, we do on-line shopping too and we can understand your fears…therefore we can assure you that:
- if the ordered goods do not meet your expectations, you can easily return the products and we will immediately refund the total amount you paid for your order
- if you register to receive our newsletters, we will not disclose your personal data to third parties! Your understanding is right: the provided data will be protected as our most precious thing;
- you can really stop receiving the newsletters you registered for, any time just with a click
They sent me a bottle of their Sour Black Cherry Jam to try along with a Bar of Milk Chocolate.
This Sour Black Cherry Jam is made by the discalced Carmelites of San Remo, Italy. Produced according to ancient recipes and using first choice fruits. The fruits are gathered, processed and cooked following artisanal methods for a tasty natural and genuine flavour. It sells for £4.99 for a 310 g jar.
We love it. It has just the right balance of sweet and sour. I am crazy about cherries anyways, and I liked knowing that I was eating an artisanal product created traditionally.
The Milk chocolate is produced by the trappist monks of the Frattocchie monastery using traditional recipes and 100% natural ingredients. Ingredients: 30% minimum cocoa, sugar, cocoa butter, powder milk, cocoa paste. It contains: soya lecitine and vanilla. A 150g bar sells for £2.95
It's not Lindt, but it's very good. We've both been enjoying it. Again, love that it's an artisanal product created in a Monastery.
They ship all over the world, and there is free shipping for orders over 199 euros. The two items I was sent arrived in a timely manner and in good condition. They were very well packaged.
To find out more about them and their products check out Holyart.co.uk
Many thanks to Holy Art for sending me these products to try. I was not required to write a positive review.
They look very good!
ReplyDeleteThanks Monique! xoxo
ReplyDeleteMmmmmm, I'm drooling.
ReplyDeleteYou need to bake these Jeffrey!
ReplyDeleteWow this looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much anonymous!
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