We’ve tried various shortcrust pastry recipes over the years with varying degrees of success. This has to be the best so far.
The flour mix makes 1kg, so you won’t need all of it unless you are cooking of 20 folk. But it will keep well in a sealed box.
Gluten Free Flour Mix:-
Ingredients:-
700g of White Rice Flour
200g of Potato Flour
100g of Tapioca Flour
Method:-
(1) Mix everything together.
(2) Store what you don’t need in an air tight box.
Pastry Mix
Ingredients:-
225g of Gluten free Flour Mix (See above)
A pinch of Baking Powder (Gluten free)
1 Tsp of Xanthan Gum
2 Pinches of Salt
110g of Margarine
1 Medium Egg, beaten
Cold Water
Method:-
(1) In a large bowl add the Flour mix, Baking Powder, Xanthan Gum and Salt.
(2) Rub in the Margarine until it resembles breadcrumbs.
(3) Stir in the Egg.
Add the Water a little at a time and knead thoroughly until soft.
(4) Roll out and use.
We're not really doing Christmas this year. We don't have the money to buy lavish presents, which would probably not be appreciated. Also it seems perverse knowing , as we do, that folk are out there living homeless and often dying.
We have bought gifts for Sue's daughters and my nephew and sent cards to our nearest family and friends. We are however celebrating the fact that we have a roof over our heads and we're not in a tent in The Ings worrying about the rising water level.
We are doing everything we can to help the homeless and the charities and groups who are supporting them. Mostly we do this in the background and as much as possible out of sight.
So this Christmas we would like to invite our friends to make a donation. 1p would be great, a few more pence would be even better. But please don't feel obliged. All proceeds go directly to The Salvation Army and a select group of homeless charities. If it wasn't for the work and assistance of The Salvation Arm we would still be in a tent and Sue would most likely be dead. Without her I'd be dead anyway.....