Sunday 6 February 2011

CHEESE & PANCETTA SCONE ROUND RECIPE


Here is the recipe for the Cheese & Pancetta Scone Round, as promised. You will need:
  • 2 cups of self-raising flour, sifted

  • 40g of butter, cut into small pieces

  • 1 cup of grated Cheddar cheese (I used mature, half-fat one)

  • 70g of pancetta cubes

  • 1/2 cup of milk

  • 1/2 cup of water

  • cayenne pepper

Preheat the oven to hot (220C/ 200C fan). Place the flour in a bowl. Add the butter and rub in with fingertips, just like when making scones. Stir in half of the cheese and all of the pancetta. In a separate jug, combine milk and water. Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture. Pour in the liquid all at once, reserving 1 teaspoon.

Mix to a soft dough. Turn onto a floured surface and knead lightly. Press or roll out to form a 20cm round. Place it on a greased baking tray. Using a floured knife cut two thirds of the way through to make 8 wedges. Glaze with the remaining liquid. Sprinkle with the remaining grated cheese and a little cayenne pepper. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until scones sound hollow when tapped.

Dead easy and delicious. Try it :)

Saturday 5 February 2011

ON REMAKES... AGAIN...


Everyone knows I'm not a big fan of remakes. It's been a long time since 1969 and a remake of the classic "True Grit", although unecessary, didn't come as upsetting news. Still, having a soft spot for the original and having seen it with my dad at least a dozen times, I felt I didn't want to see the new version. However, I'm not an obtuse person, or at least I try not to be, and I really like the work of the Coen brothers... 'It could be an eye opener, you stubborn ass', I told to myself... Fortunately or unfortunately, I have to conclude that the remake doesn't have a patch (haha) on the original and my opinion on remakes remains unchanged... For a more thourough analysis check this article from the Guardian.