March 2019
Minster Matters
25
Kate’s Puddings – what’s cooking? Unexpected, hungry visitors? Rock cakes! Easy to make, easy to eat, and they don’t have to look beautiful. They are also especially good for young children to make, as they are simple to put together, and a great introduction to cooking. I remember one of my sisters learning to cook, and there wasn’t a surface that didn’t have flour on it by the end of the afternoon… and that one’s now a trained cook. Orange and Stem Ginger Rock Cakes 8oz/225g plain flour 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp cinnamon ½ tsp ground ginger (or more for a real kick!) 4oz/100g butter cut into small pieces 4oz/100g Demerara sugar zest of 1 orange 3oz/75g golden raisins/sultanas 3oz/chopped stem ginger 1 egg, beaten plus a little milk
MINSTER FLAG FLYING DIARY For March/April On all other dates we will be flying the Village flag Mar 1
Red Dragon
St David’s Day
Mar 10
Union
Prince Edward (55)
Mar 11
Union/New Zealand Commonwealth Day
Mar 17
Irish Tricolor
St Patrick’s Day
Apr 19
Union
Charles & Camilla’s Wedding Ann
Apr 21
Union
Queen’s Birthday
Apr 23
St Georges Cross
St George’s Day
Apr 29
Union
William & Catherine’s Wedding Ann
Preheat oven to 200 deg C, and line one large or two small baking trays with non-stick baking parchment (or grease the trays). This will make about 12. Sieve the flour, spices and baking powder. Rub the butter into the flour until it looks like breadcrumbs (you could also do this in a mixer, pulsing at low speed). Stir in the sugar, orange zest and fruit. Pour in the beaten egg and mix it in gently (again, quick pulses). You will probably need to add about a dessertspoon of milk, or slightly more (especially if you use gluten-free flour). The mixture should be stiff and crumbly (the clue is in the name!). Drop the mix in tablespoon sized lumps onto a baking sheet – you can shape it with a fork, but it should look craggy and rough. Bake for approximately 15-20 minutes until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack – when they are straight out of the oven, the cakes are quite soft and will spread a little, so use a fish slice to pick them or up or they will break. For hundreds more delicious recipes go to katespuddings.co.uk