Amelie's Almondine Biscuits

In my book  The Curious Curate and the Opera Singer Amelie Rouen (the famous Amaline) spends a little time at the vicarage in Harelton with Aiden and assists the housekeeper Mrs. Comfrey in making her own recipe for Almondine Biscuits. Here is my version of this recipe. I hope you like it!

Amelie’s Almondine Biscuits

Preheat the oven to 180C

  

100 grams of ground almonds

120 grams of sugar (this can be all white or half white and half dark brown sugar if you prefer a toastier flavor)

300 grams of plain flour

200 grams of salted butter

2 medium eggs

¼ teaspoon of nutmeg

For the topping:

50 grams of thinly sliced or slivered almonds

2 tablespoons of dark brown sugar

 

Cream together the butter and sugars until smooth and set aside

Mix the ground almonds, flour and nutmeg in a separate bowl

Beat the eggs and add slowly to the butter and sugar mixture stirring constantly until smooth

Add the dry ingredients a little at a time until a firm dough is formed

Roll out the dough on a floured surface and using a crinkled edged cutter cut the biscuits into rounds.

If you like a thicker softer biscuit roll out the dough to approximately 8-10mm, for thinner crisper biscuit rollout the dough to approx. 5mm

Place on a greased and lightly floured baking sheet.

Add the toppings before baking: Take the slivered/sliced almonds and sprinkle on top, or form a star, a fan, or any other shape you prefer in the center of the biscuit, then sprinkle lightly with a pinch of brown sugar.

Place in the center of the oven and bake for approximately 8 minutes until a light golden brown. If you are making thinner biscuits, your cooking time will be less so watch them carefully.

Slide them from the baking sheet onto a metal rack and allow to cool.

These will be particularly good with a cold glass of champagne at the New Year or any other time for an after dinner dessert.

The Curious Curate and the Opera Singer

Making Mulled Wine

 

Did you know mulled wine can be drunk at any time of year, though we most associate it with the holidays when our thoughts turn to warm spiced drinks and good food. Have you ever wondered how to make mulled wine? In my book The Curious Curate and the Opera Singer  mulled wine is featured in several scenes, so I thought I would share a recipe.

Making mulled wine is a very subjective thing, keep your personal tastes in mind before you begin. Do you like cinnamon, cloves, honey or star anise? You don't need to add any of the spices you don't care for.

Greeks and Romans spiced and heated their wines to keep warm in winter. I'm sure they merely did it to taste.

Begin with two bottles of dry red wine in a large saucepan.

Add one large whole thinly sliced orange or two small oranges, clementines or satsumas

Add the grated zest of an orange or lemon if you like tangy citrusy flavors

You can choose to add any fruits such as pitted cherries, pomegranite seeds, cranberries or sliced apples

Half a cup of brown sugar or honey

You can grate in a small amount of nutmeg to taste

Add two cinnamon sticks, four cloves and two star anise, choose only the ones you like.

(Keep aside several sticks of cinnamon to add to your glasses as a stirer)

Simmer the ingredients on low heat stirring occasionally for forty five minutes, never boil as it will cook off the alcohol.

You can add half a cup of brandy to the pot or a small glass of port to add richness at the end.

When the fruits have cooked to a softness turn off the heat.

At this point you can either sieve the mixture providing a smooth liquid and adding back a slice of orange and a fresh cinnamon stick to each cup, or you could serve it as is in heat proof glasses or mugs.

Good Luck!

Are you ready for Winter?

Winter is here at last! I'm not a big fan of summer, I love to bundle up and stay cosy in the crisp winter air, and I love snow. I'm not great at ice skating but I can stay upright...pretty much! But I love the idea of a Regency winter house party, complete with handsome rogues, heroines who know their own mind and a midnight jaunt or two onto the frozen ice as the romance of the holiday season takes hold.

Snowball fights, ice skating, a winter frost fair, a houseparty and a pair of eligible twin rogues, what more could anyone ask for? If you're in the mood for a winter romance, check out Twin Rogues in Winter.

Twin Rogues in Winter  US

Twin Rogues in Winter  UK

Twin Rogues in Winter  Canada

Twin Rogues in Winter  Australia