summer food – Feasting Is Fun

Lemon Sultana Buttermilk Scones

Finally, summer is here and I’m so excited. Since this season also makes life easier and more fun! Windows stay open allowing plenty of fresh air to flood our homes, washing dries easily and long, sunlit days allow eating outdoors. Whether it’s an organised picnic, cup of tea in the garden or venturing to an open air concert, Summer is THE season for outdoor fun. And these Lemon Sultana Buttermilk Scones are as ideal for Afternoon Tea as they are easy to pack up for a fun picnic.

Cut scones topped with clotted cream and lemon curd on a pretty plate. — Lemon Sultana Buttermilk Scones

Picnics are a great way to gather friends and family together, for feasting and fun. Whether you choose to meet at a local park, or trek to the seaside, they are a fantastic way of getting people together without being restricted by space or cost. Also, most people are more than happy to bring food along with them, as well as drinks, blankets and games. And so it’s fun to organise everything in advance. Since delegating spreads the workload, it also ensures that everyone relaxes and has fun making new memories!

Scones; Such An Easy Bake

Scones are the number one recipe I advise people to try if they are new to baking. Since they are virtually foolproof and nobody minds an occasional, slightly wonky One! A successful bake builds a level of achievement and satisfaction in a newbie baker. As a result, they are more likely to continue baking, while learning new skills, attempting more complex recipes as confidence in the kitchen grows.

And now, back to these delicious. Truthfully, I must say these are my favourite scones to date! A positive result for someone who wouldn’t go near a scone until I started baking them myself! So, it is time for me to stop chatting and make these yummy, cream tea favourites.

Recipe: Lemon Sultana Buttermilk Milk Scones makes 8-10 large scones

450g/1lb Plain White Flour

3tsp Baking Powder

1/4tsp Sea Salt Flakes – I use Maldon

25g/1oz Vegetable Fat such as Trex

50g2oz Unsalted Butter

4tsp Caster Sugar – plus extra for sprinkling on top of the unbaked scones

Zest of 2 medium or 1 very large lemon (scrubbed and washed in hot water before zesting)

225g/8oz Sultanas

284ml/10fl oz Buttermilk – Alternatively, use the same quantity of whole or semi skimmed milk, add 2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice or 1 teaspoon of white vinegar and stir. Leave for 5 minutes then stir again, the liquid should be thicker and slightly lumpy and is now ready to use.

3-4 Tablespoons of Semi or Whole Milk

Method: Preheat the oven to 220C/200C fan, gas mark 7, 425F

Note – you may notice an American dry cup measure in the photographs. Since we are decorating at the moment I was unable to locate my round cutters. So I improvised. Using a one cup measure worked perfectly for cutting out the scones. Also, if using a smaller cutter for smaller scones, remember to adjust the baking time.

Making The Buttermilk Scone Dough

First of all line a large baking tray with baking parchment.
Next, tip the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar into a large bowl.
Stir all the dry ingredients together with a balloon whisk.
Add the vegetable fat and butter in small chunks, then add the lemon zest.
Using a pastry cutter work the fats into the flour until it resembles breadcrumbs with some pea sized chunks of fat still visible.
Add the sultanas and using your fingers gently lift and drop them into the bowl so they become covered in flour.
Make a well in the centre of the flour mix and pour in all of the buttermilk.

Four stages showing how to incorporate fats and fruit with flour for a recipe. — Making the scone dough.

Using a butter knife stir all of the ingredients together until large clumps begin to form.

Turning Out And Shaping The Dough And Cutting Out Individual Scones

Turn the clumpy dough out onto a floured surface. And note, the dough should be quite wet and sticky.
Using floured fingers bring the dough together and pat out to form a round shape that is about 1 inch (2.5cm) deep.
Most importantly, check that the disc of dough moves freely across the surface and is not stuck.
Flour a round 3 inch (7.5cm) cutter that is also at least 2 inches (5cm) deep and place it on top of the dough.
Press the cutter straight down onto the dough taking care not to twist it.

Patting the dough out onto a pastry mat, ready to be cut. — Getting the dough ready.

Place each cutout scone onto the baking parchment lined baking tray.
Brush fresh milk onto the top of each scone using a pastry brush and then sprinkle a pinch of sugar over the top.

Baking The Lemon Sultana Buttermilk Scones

Place the scones into the centre of the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes. Because each oven is different and other variables such as the thickness of scone dough affect the baking time, I have given a range of times. My scones took 18 minutes to bake.
The scones are baked when the are risen, golden in colour and sound hollow when rapped on the base with your knuckle. Similar to bread when baked.
As soon as the scones are baked remove them from the oven and carefully place them on a cooling rack.

Raw and baked Lemon Sultana Buttermilk Scones — Before and after baking.

Serving And Enjoying The Scones

Eat these scones either warm or cold. Also they can be enjoyed just as they are, or split in two and topped with either clotted cream or butter.

Split scones topped with clotted cream and lemon curd on a pretty plate. Fresh whole scones and lemons are in the background. — Lemon Sultana Buttermilk Scones

Topping a scone with clotted cream and lemon curd and sitting down with my favourite foodie magazine, a delicious cup of tea, and a relaxing afternoon.

Delicious magazine with a plate on top containing a tasty afternoon sweet treat. — Relax with a great foodie magazine and a clotted cream and lemon curd topped scone.

Homemade scones are usually best eaten on the day they are baked. Yet with this recipe they stayed moist for up to 3 days when kept in an airtight container.

If you have enjoyed this recipe for Lemon Sultana Buttermilk Scones you may also like these:

Super Light Scones

A platter set with small plain scones, fresh strawberries and clotted cream and jam in bowls. — Super Light Scones

Easy Blackberry Oat Muffin Recipe

A lined breakfast tray with muffins, cafetière and mug of coffee and a blush coloured dahlia flower. — Easy Blackberry Oat Muffin Recipe

Cheddar Sun Dried Tomato Scones

Savoury cheese scones in a lined basket with fresh tomatoes and basil and a wedge of cheddar cheese. — Cheddar Sun Dried Tomato Scones

So, is this recipe tempting you to make scones at home? Doing so is a very rewarding experience, especially when you share your bakes and receive compliments on your baking! And, aside from being a world away in taste and texture from their shop bought counterparts, you know exactly what has gone into your baking. Love cannot be bought, yet these scones were made with an extra large helping of it.

Whatever you are making, baking and creating in your kitchens, have fun preparing and sharing your feast.

Sammie x

No part of this post may be reproduced or duplicated without the written permission of the owner. This post does not contain any sponsored content. Please see my Disclosure Policy.

Lemon Sultana Buttermilk Scones piled on a pretty cake plate with a bowl of fresh lemons in the distance. — Lemon Sultana Buttermilk Scones perfect for Afternoon Tea.

White Chocolate Drizzle Strawberry Cream Cake

In my last post Chocolate Honeycomb Sponge Cake, I confessed my love for cream cakes. So, I decided to make another one! A delicious White Chocolate Drizzle Strawberry Cream Cake. Golden sponge sandwiched together with cream and strawberry daiquiri jam, topped with more cream, fresh strawberries a white chocolate drizzle and finally a sprinkling of honeycomb. One bite of this cake and you too will be smitten.

Since the very earliest of our Kent strawberries are becoming available I simply couldn’t resist buying some. Together with fresh cream they make the perfect combination. However, when used to decorate this cake, with white chocolate and crushed honeycomb, these strawberries are elevated to true celebration feasting status. And the first strawberries of the season should, most definitely, be celebrated.

FF White Chocolate Drizzle Strawberry Cream Cake — White Chocolate Drizzle Strawberry Cream Cake

Using a heart shaped tin to bake this cake creates an elegant shape. Also it reflects the romantic side of my personality. If you do not have a heart cake tin then a round tin will be perfectly suitable. While removing the Strawberry husks I cut either side to create a ‘V’ shape. Resulting in sliced strawberries that look like love hearts.

FF Overhead shot of heart shaped cake. — White Chocolate Drizzle Strawberry Cream Heart Shaped Cake

Finally, using a good quality strawberry jam really adds to the finished flavour of the cake. I used a strawberry daiquiri jam with its subtle hint of white rum and lime juice. It definitely adds to the luxurious finish of this cake. Alternatively mix in a couple of teaspoons of raspberry jam. Doing so will add a hint of tartness and elevate the flavour from good to great!

Recipe: White Chocolate Drizzle Strawberry Cream Cake serves 10

275g/10oz Unsalted Butter at room temperature plus a Extra for greasing the tin

275g/10oz Caster Sugar

1/2 tsp Sea Salt – I use Maldon halve quantity if using free flowing salt

1 tbsp Vanilla Bean Paste/Vanilla Extract – I use Nielsen-Massey

6 Large Free Range Eggs

275g/10oz Plain White Flour

2 tsp Baking Powder

450ml/1 pint Double Cream (heavy cream)

1 tsp Vanilla Bean Extract/Vanilla Extract

350g-400g/12-14oz Fresh Strawberries

275g/10oz Jar Strawberry Jam – I used Strawberry Daiquiri Jam available from Hawkshead Relish

100g/4oz White Chocolate

Optional – Honeycomb – I use Art of Mallow

Method: preheat oven to 160C/140C fan, 325F, gas mark 3

Note – you will need a 22.5cm x 22.5cm/9” x 9” (approximately) heart tin that is at least 7.5cm/3” deep. I use a springform tin which allows for easy release of the cake. The tin I have is from Steamer Trading. Alternatively use a deep 22.5cm/9 inch round tin, or slightly shallower 20cm/8 inch round tin.

Making The Vanilla Cake Batter

First of all grease the tin with butter and line the base with baking parchment.
Add the butter, sugar and salt to a large bowl. Whisk until pale and creamy.
While whisking add the vanilla.
Next add 2 eggs and one third of the flour. Whisk until just combined.
Repeat the last step.
Add the last 2 eggs, the remaining flour and baking powder. Whisk until fully combined, taking care not to over mix as this can cause the baked cake to become tough.

Filling The Heart Shaped Tin And Baking The Cake

Spoon the cake batter into the prepared tin. Smooth the surface of the batter.
Place the cake tin into the centre of the oven and bake for 1 hour 20 minutes – 1 hour 40 minutes. My cake took exactly 1 hour 30 minutes, however as ovens differ start checking at the earlier time.
The cake is baked when it is golden brown, springs back from a light touch and an inserted skewer comes out clean.
As soon as the cake is baked remove from the oven and place the tin on a cooling rack.
Allow the cake to fully cool in the tin.

When the cake is fully cooled release from the tin.

Cutting The Cake In Half And Filling With Jam And Cream

Use a long, serrated knife to cut through the middle of the cake, creating two layers.
Place the top layer of the cake face down on to a plate or board.
Spoon the jam on to the sponge and spread out so that it covers almost to the edges.
Pour the cream and vanilla into a bowl and whisk until it just holds it’s shape.
Spoon three large dollops of cream on top of the jam. Spread the cream out to cover the jam.
Place the bottom half of the cake, cut side down, on to the jam and cream covered sponge.

Decorating The Heart Shaped Cake

Fill a piping bag, without a piping tip fitted, with the remaining whipped cream.
If using a disposable piping bag cut the tip off to leave a 1cm opening.
Pipe approximately half of the cream on to the sponge.
Spread the cream to cover using a palette knife.
Pipe swirls around the outside edge of the cake.
Top the whipped cream swirls with a fresh strawberry.
Remove the green part (hull) of the remaining strawberries by cutting diagonally down either side creating a ‘V’ shape.
Slice each strawberry into 4-5 mini red hearts.
Place the strawberry hearts in the centre of the cake.
Break/chop up the white chocolate and place in a heatproof, microwaveable bowl. Zap for 20 seconds at a time until the chocolate just starts to melt. Remove the bowl from the microwave and stir continuously until all of the chocolate has melted.
Pour the melted white chocolate into a small, disposable, piping bag. Cut the very end of the tip off, leaving a small opening.
Pipe white chocolate over the strawberries and then over the entire cake, encouraging some chocolate to drip from the cake.

Finally sprinkle over some broken up, golden honeycomb.
Refrigerate the cake for 30 minutes, or longer, until the white chocolate has set.

White Chocolate Drizzle Strawberry Cream Cake

Serving The Heart Shaped White Chocolate Drizzle Strawberry Crean Cake

To serve, cut the cake in half from top to bottom, this makes it easier to portion slices.

Enjoy with friends, family and loved ones. For a special occasion serve with a glass of chilled champagne.

This cake is best enjoyed the day it is decorated. The sponge can be made up to 2 days ahead. Wrap the uncut cake in cling film and store in an airtight container.

Store the finished cake in the fridge and eat within 2 days.

If you have enjoyed this recipe for White Chocolate Drizzle Strawberry Cream Cake you may also like these:

Chocolate Heart Cake

Mascarpone Topped Carrot Cake

Raspberry Lemon Celebration Layer Cake

When strawberries are in season, warmed by the sun and picked straight from the plant they need nothing else to celebrate their sweet, juicy flavour. Yet adding them to desserts such as Pavlovas, Cream Cakes and other delights, showcases their versatility and beauty. So I get very excited about the start of the strawberry season, poly tunnels and super greenhouses making local, British fruit available earlier in the year and extending the season. While they might be available in the supermarkets all year long, which does have its benefits, nothing beats homegrown or farm fresh berries.

So whatever you are making, baking and creating in your kitchens, have fun preparing and sharing your feast.

Sammie xx

No part of this post may be reproduced or duplicated without the written permission of the owner. Please see my Disclosure Policy.

Refreshing Tropical Fruit Sorbet

The smell of Summer. Sun tan lotion, seaside air and luscious seasonal fruits. Ok, I accept that the fruits in this Refreshing Tropical Fruit Sorbet are not necessarily grown in this country, although they are cheaper and more readily available during the summer.

Making your own Refreshing Tropical Fruit Sorbet is so worth it. Forget about the adverts telling you that ‘you’re worth it’ this is a delicious, good for you treat, that tastes of fruit heaven!

The marriage between the flavours will make your tastebuds sing in harmony.

There are a couple of steps needed to prepare the fruit for this sorbet, but they are absolutely worth it to extract every drop of flavour from the fruit.

Once the fruit is prepped it is then cooked for a short time. This breaks down the pineapple and separates the passionfruit seeds from their surrounding juice. The cooked fruit mixture is then sieved, to remove the very crunchy seeds. A quick whizz with an immersion blender, or liquidiser, cool and your sorbet is ready to be churned.

This sorbet tastes of Summer. Light, intensely fruity, sweet – but not overly so and with a colour to brighten the dullest of days.

A light dessert or a delightful palette cleanser between courses for a more formal meal.

The mangos I bought for this recipe spent a few days on our sunny lounge window ledge ripening up, in fact they were warm when I prepared them. The passionfruit were smooth skinned when bought and ripened to a prune-like wrinkling of the skin. To test if a pineapple is ripe I suggest smelling it. If it smells of pineapple then it’s ripe.

Recipe: Makes 1L Refreshing Tropical Fruit Sorbet

6 Passion Fruit

2 Large Mango

1 Medium Pineapple

400mls Water

100g/4oz Sugar

Optional – see note at the end – Orange Blossom Water 1/4tsp – I suggest Nielsen-Massey

Method: Ensure the frozen compartment of your ice cream maker has been in the deep freeze overnight or according to manufacturers instructions.

Scoop the contents of the 6 passion fruit into a large heavy based saucepan. Squeezing the empty skins to ensure every drop of precious juice is used.
Next prepare the mangos. Cut down either side of the central stone, you will have three pieces. Take a fleshy side of the mango and score into three pieces using a sharp knife. With the blade flat to the skin, run the knife along each third, releasing a long slither of juicy, ripe mango. Repeat for the other side. Place the mango slices into the saucepan. Hold the central flesh and skin covered stone over the saucepan and squeeze as hard as you can. Scrape all of the pulp and juice from your hand into the pan.
Prepare the pineapple by cutting off the green spiky top and the flat base. Cut the pineapple into half and then divide each half into 3 sections. Cut down the outside of the central hard core – it will be the point of the pineapple. As with the mango, lay the blade flat between the fruit and the skin and slice to separate the two. Chop the pineapple into large chunks and add to the saucepan. Squeeze the skin and the hard core pieces over the saucepan to extracte as much juice as possible.
Pour the water over the fruit.
Add the sugar and turn the heat on to high under the pan.

Once the contents of the pan have started to bubble reduce the heat to medium, keep an eye on the fruit to ensure it doesn’t boil over.
Continue cooking for 20 minutes.
Carefully remove a spoonful of liquid from the saucepan, allow to cool and taste. The flavour should be pure fruit, not watered down and not super sweet – just as if you had eaten a slice of ripe mango. If the flavour is a little weak, continue cooking for a further 10 minutes and taste again.
When you are happy with the tropical fruit flavour, remove the saucepan from the heat.
Place a sieve over a large bowl.
Carefully pour the hot fruit mixture into the bowl through the sieve.

Using a strong dessert spoon press all of the fruit through the sieve. Occasionally clearing the underside of the sieve with a clean spoon, so that all the fruit pulp and juice goes into the bowl below.
This takes about 10 minutes to get it to this stage.

I did taste the remaining pulp and although crunchy it was pretty flavourless, that said you could still have it swirled through yoghurt for breakfast.
If you have an immersion blender or liquidiser, blend the resulting lumpy liquid until velvety smooth.
Place the bowl on a trivet, to aid cooling air circulation and cover with a net food tent, or cling film to stop flies having a taste!

Allow the sorbet liquid to cool and then place in the fridge to chill.
Once chilled set up your ice cream maker according to manufacturers instructions.
Transfer the sorbet liquid to a jug, this makes pouring the liquid into the frozen chamber much easier.
With the machine churning pour the sorbet liquid into the ice cream maker and churn until slushy like.
Stop the machine, remove the paddle and scoop/pour the slushy mixture into a freezer proof, resealable tub.

Pop the lid on and place in the deep freeze, generally I leave ice creams and sorbets overnight, until frozen through.

To serve, remove the sorbet from the freezer 15-20 minutes to allow to soften slightly.

For me, this is the perfect dessert after a hot spicy meal such as a curry or my Chunky Chilli. The cool, fruity sorbet, soothing on your tastebuds.

This is the perfect sorbet to make if you happen upon marked down fruit in the market or shops. It will keep for 3 months in the deep freeze and brighten a dull Winter’s day.

If you have enjoyed the recipe for my Refreshing Tropical Fruit Sorbet here are some others you may also like:

Strawberry Ripple Ice Cream

Dark Chocolate Chip Vanilla Ice Cream

Lemon Ripple Ice Cream

I love creating, experimenting, tasting and testing different recipes. If you love mangos but aren’t a fan of pineapple, add more mango and leave the pineapple out.

Being allergic to oranges, means I always have to double check when I buy anything labelled ‘tropical’. Making my own Refreshing Tropical Fruit Sorbet means I know exactly what has gone into it. By all means adjust the sugar quantity if your fruit is sweeter, or riper. That’s why it is important to taste the liquid from the pan, remembering all the flavours will be dulled slightly by the freezing process.

I hope I have inspired you to get creative in your kitchens. Cooking should be fun. Combining flavours, adding a little something here or there, I hope that you take my recipes, try them and then change them to suit your tastes. I very much suspect a drop or two of orange blossom water would work very well in this recipe. But then I’ll never know 😉

Sammie xx

Hawkshead Relish Review

I have thoroughly enjoyed carrying out this Hawkshead Relish Review. Using a trio of fantastic, handmade preserves as ingredients was a challenge and that is what I thrive on.

Traditionally I have used chutneys and Red Onion Marmalade as a condiment. Now I was tasked with incorporating three separate preserves in new recipes!

I was sent three different, savoury preserves by Hawkshead Relish.

2 Jars of Red Onion Marmalade – deliciously different to usual onion marmalades. Cooked with balsamic vinegar and added pine nuts, I adored both the flavour and texture of this marmalade. This is not a sticky sweet marmalade, it is packed with deep onion flavour, punctuated by occasional sweet sultanas and the nutty flavour of pine nuts. As an ingredient 10/10 as a condiment 10/10!
I Jar of Windermere Pale Real Ale Jelly – gloriously pale gold, clear jelly. Sweet but not overwhelmingly so, as the ale taste really comes through and the slight bitterness tempers the jelly. A real surprise, as I’d not tried a jelly like this before. Made using ale made at the Hawkshead Brewery, light and fruity in flavour, it was a dream to use. As an ingredient 10/10 as a condiment 9/10 dropping a mark as I prefer a more textured accompaniment.
1 Jar of Hot Garlic Pickle – packed full of garlic cloves in a hot spicy sauce. Personally I would not eat this as a condiment, however, if you are a real garlic lover, then this is the perfect pickle for you. When used as an ingredient this pickle transforms into the most wonderful rich, hot, spicy, garlic flavour, that can be as intense as you want. An absolute dream to use as an ingredient 10/10 as a condiment 5/10.

My first venture was making this Feta Red Onion Marmalade Quiche. The different layers of flavour in the quiche are so exciting on the palette. Warmed, the Red Onion Marmalade flavour itself becomes more vibrant, contrasting beautifully with the mild, slightly salty feta cheese. This quiche has become a firm favourite in our house.

Hawkshead Relish Review — Red Onion Sausage Plait perfect for picnics or as a tasty mid week meal.

Red Onion Sausage Plait is so simple to make, yet the finished flavour will have your tastebuds singing. Can tastebuds sing 😉? It is so important to use good quality sausage meat, as the meaty flavours work so well with with the flavour and texture of this delicious Red Onion Marmalade.

These Roasted Ale Jelly Tomatoes are so simple and yet this has to be my favourite recipe, if forced to choose. ~~Please don’t make me choose?~~

To make: Roasted Ale Jelly Tomatoes

Cut a dozen, or thereabouts, medium tomatoes in half. I used economy tomatoes from the supermarket.
Place them on a baking tray cut side up.
Spoon 1/2 a teaspoon of Pale Ale Jelly on top of each tomato.

Drizzle over a little olive oil, sprinkle lightly with sea salt flakes (I use Maldon ) and freshly ground pepper.
Place into a preheated oven at 180C/160C fan, gas mark 4 and bake for 1-1.5 hours until softened and slightly caramelised.
When cooked remove from the oven and serve on a platter with some shredded basil leaves. Eat smeared on to some very fresh baguettes, or alongside quiche, sausage plait, chicken, fish.

Warning once you’ve made these Roasted Ale Jelly Tomatoes once you will find more and more reasons to make them. Such a simple recipe, yet it turns even underripe, flavourless tomatoes into a taste sensation. I cannot wait to try it on our home grown tomatoes later this year. A tasty side to many meals.

Another brilliant use for the Real Ale Jelly was adding a couple of spoonfuls to a beef cooked in ale casserole. Added right at the end, just before serving, the sweet, fresh flavour of the jelly lifted the casserole and balanced out any bitter notes from the cooked beer.

Finally to the Hot Garlic Pickle. To be truthful this pickle was indeed a pickle for me! I was stumped as to what I should make with it. The weather was very hot and whilst I knew the spicy garlic would be wonderful in soups, stews and curries, my heart simply wasn’t into cooking a large, hot meal. During the summer we practically live on salad.

Also, to be honest, the strong, pungent aroma of the pickle wasn’t inspiring me. Until one day. I had some pretty hot chilli’s and I figured I’d go with the hot, spicy, garlic flavour, rather than trying to tame it.

Thus, my Hot Spicy Garlic Cheese Straws were born. Whilst not overly keen on the pickle as a condiment, used in these delicious cheese straws, alongside spicy Parmesan cheese and hot jalapeño peppers, the flavour shines. These are THE best cheese straws I have ever made and it is worth having a jar of this pickle on hand simply to make these!

Recipe: Hot Spicy Garlic Cheese Straws makes 16-18

500g Homemade Perfect Butter Shortcrust Pastry

1 Free Range Egg – beaten

3tsp Hot Garlic a Pickle from – Hawkshead Relish

75g Finely Grated Parmesan Cheese

1 Jalapeño Pepper – membrane and seeds removed and finely diced

Method: Preheat the oven to 220C/200C fan, gas mark 7

Line a large baking tray with a silicone baking mat or baking parchment.
Lightly dust a clean worktop with flour and place the pastry on top.
Roll the pastry into a rectangular shape – roughly 35cm x 25cm (14″ x 10″).
Ensure the pastry can move and is not stuck on to the worktop.
Trim the edges with a knife and then brush egg over the surface of the pastry.
Spoon 3 teaspoons of the Hot Garlic Pickle over the pastry and spread to create a thin layer.

Sprinkle over the grated Parmesan cheese and finely chopped chilli.
Fold the bottom half of the pastry over the top half. Gently run a rolling pin over the top to ensure both halves are pressed together.
Cut just over 1cm (1/2″) strips using a sharp knife and make sure it cuts all the way through.
Transfer the cheese straws to the lined baking tray.
Place in the top of a preheated oven and bake for 20-30 minutes, until golden and crispy.

Once the cheese straws are baked remove from the oven.
Enjoy the inviting, warm garlic and cheese aroma!
Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving immediately.

These Hot Spicy Garlic Cheese Straws are incredibly good served warm (my favourite) or cold. Perfect for sharing with friends over drinks, at parties, or snacking on whilst watching your favourite game, on the telly, with the family.

I really urge you to use the pastry recipe given. These cheese straws are somewhere between flaky and shortcrust pastry. This texture really adds to their flavour, however, if you aren’t keen on pastry making, I would use bought, all butter puff pastry as a substitute.

Carrying out the Hawkshead Relish Review has been a challenge, but a challenge I have enjoyed. Each product I reviewed imparted so much flavour when used as an ingredient, I will definitely be using more of their delicious chutneys, marmalades and jellies in future recipes.

I have also learnt not to judge an ingredient on first appearance. The Hot Garlic Pickle completely transformed once cooked and everyone agreed the cheese straws were the best they’d ever tasted. Layers of Red Onion Marmalade in the quiche created an amazing flavour sensation and lastly but by no mean least, the Pale Ale Jelly. Wow! The roasted tomatoes were incredibly good. Slow roasting and the addition of the jelly meant intense, but not overwhelming flavour.

If you have enjoyed my Hawkshead Relish Review you make like these recipes:

Easy Crusty Baguettes

Asparagus Prosciutto Ham Tart

Mini Sparkenhoe Red Leicester Tarts

Whatever you are making, baking and creating in your kitchens, I hope this post has inspired you to Embellish With Relish? A phrase used by Hawkshead Relish to inspire people to be more creative with their products.

Sammie xx

Hawkshead Relish provided me with the relishes listed for the purposes of this revie. All opinions, views, content, recipes and photography are my own. I was not paid to write this review post, please see my Disclosure Policy.