Ginger Chocolate Shortbread

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Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter at room temperature
• 1/2 cup superfine sugar also known as fruit sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup finely chopped preserved gingerroot not candied but the type preserved in syrup
• 3 ounces semisweet chocolate chopped

Steps:

• Please note that this recipe calls for preserved ginger
• which is the ginger typically sold in jars or in bulk stores where I buy mine that is in a sweet syrup; the type of ginger that is candied and sugared is NOT the type of ginger to use
• Place soft butter and superfine sugar in a mixing bowl and
• using an electric mixer
• blend butter and sugar together until fluffy
• Slowly stir in flour
• then chopped ginger
• then chopped chocolate
• The mixture will be crumbly
• Divide the dough in half and shape each half into a log about 1-1/2 inches in diameter; wrap logs tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm
• about one hour
• Dough keeps well in the fridge for several days
• so theres no need to bake the whole batch up at one time if youre pressed for time
• When ready to bake
• preheat oven to 300F
• Cut logs of cookie dough into slices about 3/8-inch thick I found a sharp serrated steak knife worked better for me than my chefs knife; arrange about two inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet and bake in centre of oven for 18 to 20 minutes
• Cool cooked cookies on a wire rack; do not store until completely cool

Old Fashioned Scottish Apple and Ginger Chutney

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Ingredients:

• 1 lb onion weight is for onions when peeled and finely chopped
• 2 lbs cooking apples weight is for apples when peeled cored and roughly chopped
• 4 ounces sultanas
• 1 ounce fresh gingerroot grated
• 1 teaspoon dried ginger powder
• 2 teaspoons mixed spice
• 1 lb soft brown sugar
• 1/2 pint malt vinegar
• 1/2 pint cider apple cider vinegar
• 1/2-1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Steps:

• Place all the prepared onions and apples into a large preserving pan and add the remaining ingredients
• Bring slowly to the boil and then lower the heat so that chutney cooks at a rolling boil
• Stir the chutney regularly and make sure it does not catch and burn on the base of the preserving pan
• Keep on cooking until the chutney is the consistency of a thick jam and all the liquids have dissolved
• A trick to check if it is cooked is to draw your wooden spoon across the chutney
• if the space that is left fills up with liquid
• the chutney is not ready yet
• Spoon the hot chutney into hot and sterile jars and seal immediately
• Makes about 4 lbs chutney
• Store in a dark and cool place and leave to mature for at least 2 weeks
• Will keep in ideal storage conditions for up to 2 years

Traditional Scottish Brandy Wafers

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Ingredients:

• 2 ounces light corn syrup
• 2 ounces butter
• 2 ounces flour
• 2 ounces caster sugar superfine sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon brandy
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450F and grease a baking sheet
• Melt the butter syrup and sugar over a gentle heat and then stir in the flour ginger and brandy
• Keep stirring for about five minutes
• Drop small teaspoonsfuls onto the baking sheet keeping them well apart
• Bake for five minutes or until they are a pale golden brown
• Using the greased handle of a large wooden spoon roll the wafers round the handle while they are still hot- take care not to burn yourself
• Allow to cool before use