Today was the vicar’s last day for taking services in the two parishes. The 5th of June is his final service but that is being taken by the Bishop of Dorchester and the other members of the local team and will be a bit different. Goodness knows how I shall cope with that as this Sunday was bad enough – kind words of the “I just wanted to say…” from people who can’t be there next week were a bit too much for me. Fortunately the vicar remained the consummate professional throughout.
Macademia nut cookies (left) & white chocolate and orange cookies (right)
I was glad I had made two lots of biscuits as there were lots of people at Ipsden and yet there were sufficient for North Stoke too and we even brought a few home – it always makes the vicar happy when the biscuit tin isn’t empty during the week.
Both recipes taken from Philippa Vanstone’s 500 Cookies (Apple Press, 2005)
Macademia nut cookies
150 g Macademia nuts
2-3 tbsp milk
150 g demerera sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla essence
150 g Self Raising fflour
pinch salt (optional)
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
c. 50-75 g demerara sugar (to roll in)
Makes about 30
Macademia nut cookies (from Philippa Vanstone’s 500 Cookies: Apple Press, 2005)
Pre-heat oven to 175°C/155°C fan oven/350°F/Gas Mark 4
Line a couple of trays with baking parchment or wipe with product like Lakeland’s Cake Realease (I use two trays twice)
Put the macademia nuts and milk into a a food processor and blend for about 2 minutes until smooth OR put nuts into a strong plastic bag and bash with a meat tenderiser if you like your biscuits to be a bit less smooth and a bit crunchy and then mix with milk. Spoon this mixture into a bowl, add sugar, egg and vanilla and beat well.
Sift in the flour, nutmeg and salt (if required -I didn’t use any)and stir to form a paste.
Roll mixture into little walnut sized balls, dip into demerera sugar and place on baking sheet. Flatten slightly with a fork.
Bake for 8-10 minutes until golden. Transfer to wire rack to cool.
Keep in an airtight container for 5-7 days.
These were an unusual, unassuming and even rather sophisticated little biscuit with a delicate flavour of macademia nut and nutmeg (what the little brown jobbie bird is to birdwatchers – not much to look at but worthy of attention). Those who liked them really loved. them. I’m not a big fan of macademia nuts so their glory passed me by but one person so loved them she mentioned them when I saw her again on Thursday; the vicar was also very keen. So there you go, if you know you like macademia nut, you should like these. It’s also worth noting that they are dairy free – I’m always impressed by a recipe that trusts the oil in the nuts to do the work of a goodly sized block of butter.
White chocolate and orange cookies
115 g unsalted butter softened
200 g caster sugar
1 egg
Grated zest of 2 oranges
1 tsp vanilla essence
200 g self Raising Flour
1/4 tsp salt (optional; I leave this out)
200 g white chocolate chips
White chocolate and orange cookies (from Philippa Vanstone’s 500 Cookies: Apple Press, 2005)
Makes 24 -30 depending on size
Pre-heat oven to 190°C/ 170°C fan oven/ 375°F/ Gas Mark 5
An unlined non stick baking sheet is fine for these -with a lick of something like Lakeland’s Cake Release just to make sure.
Beat butter and sugar. Add egg, orange zest andvanilla essence.
Sift in the dry ingredients and mix, then add the chocolate chips and stir round.
Roll into little balls. place on baking sheet and flatten slightly.
Bake for 8-10 minutes. Cool for a few minutes on the tray and then transfer to a wire rack.
When cool will keep in an airtight container for 4-5 days.
Biscuits like these are always a hit and though I made them rather larger than I usually do, nobody hesitated taking one on the grounds of looking greedy.
14 Comments
Very best wishes to both of you for tomorrow.
That’s kind, Linda. Thank you.
Blessings on you both tomorrow and in the weeks to come.
Today has gone very well and thank you for your good wishes Jane.
The church was bursting and the service was wonderful. Lunch and music in a farmer’s garden was very special and I only cried towards the end. Oh … and the weather was blissful.
All the best for tomorrow. I’m sure people will understand if you are a bit emotional!
Lots of emotion but the presence of a small boy to care for was the perfect foil to too much sentiment. A few tears came, but much later.
Thinking of you all tomorrow. Be brave. I have discovered that it is hard to cry while eating polos with the added benefit of minty breath for all those hugs.
Of course I got to the church with few of my necessities – Polos, as suggested, chewing gum (I’m afraid – it does help me to stop coughing) and Strepsils (if the chewing gum fails), although I did remember a bottle of water. Fortunately taking charge of the small person was just what was required to deflect me from sadness and see me dry eyed throughout the service. I weakened later on, but by then others did too.Thank you Alice for thinking of me.
A lovely day to remember. Good luck with your move, summer in the city will be wonderful. bx
Kind of you to say so Becky. I agree London can be fun in summer.
I thought of you, too. Leaving a church and a well loved home is never easy.
You’re right Katie. The next month is going to be tough in all sorts of ways. Thank you for your thoughts.
Very happy to be catching up with your blog again Mary, so coming rather late to say I love macademia nuts so may very well try out your recipe. I doubt even small boys and polo mints would have prevented me spilling over, I do get terribly tearful terribly quickly these days. X
Lovely to hear from you, again, Penny and hope this means all well at your end and everyone healthy now.
I found I’m not especially keen on macademia nuts, so I’ll be interested to know what you think if you try the recipe.