Gruyere Biscuits

The ultimate party food, to compliment champagne or prosecco. The saltiness paired with the fruitiness of the wine, is a match made in heaven. Plus, they're super easy, and quick to make. They're incredibly moreish, and suit to most people's tastes. They're not complicated, and there isn't too many ingredients to remember: just make these, and buy some M&S canapes, stock up on alcohol (which from my experience, is the only thing anyone actually cares about), then that's every single Christmas, and New Year party sorted.

I would recommend at least doubling these, if not tripling these, because you'll find they disappear very quickly. I left them out for 30 mins, and they were all gone by the time i got back, and there were only 2 other people at home (I'm pretty sure a cheese biscuit eating fairy came!!).These can also be made with Parmesan, and its super easy to make different flavoured ones. Finely chopped up rosemary or thyme, would work well, or sprinkle with a pinch of paprika for a bit of heat. The dough can be made well ahead, and kept in the fridge or frozen for later use. The baked biscuit will keep well, in an airtight container for up to a week.

Ingredients
75g plain flour
75g cold butter
75g Gruyere cheese
salt and pepper

1. rub the butter and flour together, until it resembles breadcrumbs
2. add the cheese, and gently knead to form a dough
3. wrap, and chill for 10 mins in the fridge
4. meanwhile preheat the oven to 200c.
5. place the dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll out quite thin, and cut out approx 5cm rounds using a cutter (or glass)
6. bake for 10mins (leave room for the biscuits to spread)
7. once golden around the edges, remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle with salt and pepper
8. leave to cool completely before serving.

Ginger and Lime Drizzle Cake

 If you've been reading my blog for a while, then you know i love a drizzle cake, or any cake that contains some form of citrus fruit. Oh, and that I'm not very good at doing seasonal baking, but here you have a combination, with the freshness of the lime, and the warmth from the ginger, so is great if you want a light and fresher alternative to a Christmas cake or ginger cake, to serve at Christmas; handy if you have a warm weather Christmas. And as promised more Christmas food is coming super soon.

Fresh and citrus cakes always perk me up, and I love making them when the suns shining, but to be honest when its grey and miserable, and considering its the 1st of December, nothing has quote hit the spot, like my filo pastry mince pies and may, or may not, have had two yesterday(just eating my mums and sisters for them, since they can't, obviously). 

I personally love coconut, and thought it added something different, but if you don't like coconut, replace it with ground almond, or if your allergic just replace with more plain flour. I also had an extra lime, so added the zest the the drizzle mixture, as i think the speckles of green look pretty. If your serving it for someone special, top with chopped crystallised ginger for an extra ginger hit.

 Ingredients


200g butter
175g caster sugar
4 limes
3 large eggs
200g plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 heaped tsp ground ginger
50g dessicated coconut
4 balls of stem ginger, chopped
2 tbsp milk
35g granulated sugar
3 tbsp stem ginger syrup

1. preheat the oven to 180°/gas 4, and line and grease a loaf tin 
2. beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy
3. gradually add the eggs, beating well after each addition.add in the zest of the limes
4. gently fold in the sifted flour, ginger and baking powder, along with the coconut and stem ginger.
5. add in the juice of 2 limes and the milk. spoon the mixture into a prepared tin (don't worry if the mixture looks slightly curdled mine did this and was absolutely fine).
6. bake for 1hr or until golden and a skewer inserted comes out clean
7. meanwhile mix the juice of the remaining 2 limes, granulated sugar and the ginger syrup
8. once the cake has cooked immediately spoon over the drizzle. cool fully in the tin