Baking

Marshmallow root Brownies

125 g butter

40 g marshmallow root powder

200 g rapadura sugar

50 g self-raising flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1 teaspoon ginger (optional)

75g Chopped walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 180 oC . Line an 8 inch square cake tin with parchment. Melt the butter and stir in the marshmallow powder. Beat the eggs and sugar together, then add the butter and marshmallow root mixture to it Fold in the flour and spices. Stir in the nuts. Spoon into the cake tin and bake for about 40 minutes until cooked. Allow to cool in the tin then cut into squares

Dandelion and burdock flapjacks

150 g porridge oats

100 g butter or olive oil

3 tablespoons agave syrup or honey

50 g raisins optional

50 g hazelnuts chopped optional

3 tablespoons mixed seeds otional

Dessetspoon ground dandelion root

Dessertspoon ground burdock root

Heat oven to 180 oC. Melt butter and agave together. Mix in dry ingredients and press into a baking tray. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool and cut into squares.

Queen cakes with calendula petals

125 g butter or vegetable spread

125 g sugar (rappadura is best)

125 g spelt flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

½ cup fresh calendula petals

Cream butter and sugar together, whisk in beaten eggs and then fold in the combined baking powder and flour. Stir in vanilla essence and petals.

Spoon into paper cases and bake at 180 oC for 18-20 minutes.

Fennel and cheese straws

100g strong white or wholegrain flour

50g butter or olive oil

50g mature cheese (cheddar, pecorino or similar)

1 egg yolk (optional)

¼ teaspoon mustard powder, ground black pepper or cayenne powder (optional)

Salt to taste

2-3 teaspoons crushed fennel seeds

Mix flour, salt to taste and cayenne (mustard or black pepper) together in a bowl. Rub through fat with fingertips lightly until it looks like bread crumbs. Use a light tough and cool hand if possible. Add the finely grated cheese and stir through the egg yolk. Add enough cold water to make a stiff dough, lightly knead. Leave to sit in the fridge or a cool place for 20 minutes. Roll out the dough as thinly as possible and cut into strips 7-8cm long and 1.5 cm wide. Strips can be twisted or left flat. Arrange on a greased baking tray, sprinkle with a little olive oil and fennel seeds. Bake at 20 oC for about 12 minutes or until golden. Cool on a wire rack. Can be stored in an airtight container for about a week.

Lavender shortbread

100g butter or vegetable spread

50g sugar

175 g self raising flour

2-3 teaspoons lavender flowers, according to taste

Cream the butter and sugar together. Mix in flour and lavender then knead into a smooth dough. Roll out the dough and cut into biscuits with a cutter. Place on an oiled baking sheet and bake at 230oC for 10-12 minutes.

Alternatively use 1.5 teaspoons lavender flowers and 2 teaspoons or rosemary leaves, finely chopped, or used 3 teaspoons rosemary leaves without the lavender.