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WHAT TEA WAS MADE FOR Blueberry scones
PURE LUXURY Chocolate soured cream cake,
Blueberry scones
THE TECHNIQUE
Baking with soured milk
See p15
MAKES 18. HANDS-ON TIME 25 MIN, OVEN TIME 15 MIN
MAKE AHEAD
These are best eaten on the day they’re made. If you do make a day ahead, store in an airtight container, then warm in a low oven to refresh. Freeze, well wrapped in cling film, for up to 3 months.
FOOD TEAM’S TIP
When cutting out the scones, don’t twist the cutter at all or the scones won’t rise evenly.
• 250ml whole milk
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 500g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
• 4 tsp baking powder
• 40g caster sugar
• 120g unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
• 1 medium free-range egg, beaten
• 150g blueberries
YOU’LL ALSO NEED…
• 6cm fluted cutter
1 Mix the milk and lemon juice in a mixing bowl, then set aside at room temperature for 15 minutes. You’ll see a few curds appear as the lemon will make the milk separate – that’s what you’re aiming for. Heat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas 6.
2 Put the flour, baking powder, sugar and butter in a food processor with a pinch of salt and pulse until it resembles large breadcrumbs. Tip the mixture into a large mixing bowl. (Alternatively, rub the mixture together with your fingertips in the bowl.)
3 Mix the beaten egg into the soured milk, then stir half of it into the flour and butter mixture using a table knife. Add more soured milk mixture until the flour mix clumps into a dough (you’ll only need about three quarters of the milk mix, but keep it to hand). Stir in the blueberries.
4 Form the mixture into a ball (don’t overwork) on a lightly floured surface, then roll out to 3cm thick – it doesn’t matter if a few blueberries burst. Cut out 18 circles with the fluted cutter (see tip), rerolling the dough as needed, then put onto 2 baking sheets lined with non-stick baking paper.
5 Brush the top of each scone with the leftover soured milk and egg mixture, then bake for 15 minutes or until golden and risen. Leave to cool. Serve warm with jam and cream, if you like.
PER SCONE 179kcals, 6.6g fat (4g saturated), 3.8g protein, 25.3g carbs (3.7g sugars), 0.4g salt, 1.2g fibre
Chocolate soured cream cake
THE TECHNIQUE
Baking with soured milk
See p15
SERVES 12-14. HANDS-ON TIME 40 MIN, OVEN TIME 30 MIN, PLUS COOLING
MAKE AHEAD
Make the sponges up to 24 hours ahead and wrap well in cling film. Or freeze for up to 1 month. Leftovers will keep in an airtight tin, or wrapped well in cling film, for 3-4 days.
FOOD TEAM’S TIP
You could also use 2 x 20cm cake tins, but check the sponges after 20 minutes in the oven as the mix is spread more thinly and will cook faster.
• 175g unsalted butter, softened
• 200g golden caster sugar
• 3 medium free-range eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla paste
• 100g dark chocolate, melted (see step 5 for the method)
• 200g self-raising flour