A ball of my Mum's pastry

Mum’s All-Purpose Pastry

This recipe makes enough pastry for about 6 average pies. Freeze the excess for later.

I especially like to use it to make treacle tart and apple pie :)

Ingredients

2kg or 4lb 6oz self-raising flour. Whilst plain flour makes a traditional pastry, my Mum always used self raising, which makes this her unique pastry even if she used to be annoyed when it turned out cakey :)

1kg or 2lb 3oz butter or margarine

6 Eggs, with a little water

For Sweet Pastry

2 cups white sugar

For Savoury Pastry

3tsp salt

Method

Rub sugar (or salt), flour and margarine together until it feels like bread-crumbs.

Add egg water and mix gently until combined.

This pastry can be used for:

Treacle Tart. Fill the base of the pie with corn-flakes and treacle, make a grid design on top with pastry “sausages” bake in a moderate oven (190 degrees C or 325 degrees F) until pastry is browned slightly.

Jam Tart. Fill the base of the tart with jam, make a grid design on top with pastry “sausages” bake in a moderate oven until pastry is browned slightly.

Apple Pie. Blind bake the base of the pie, fill with cooked apple and cover with a pastry “lid”.
Bake in a moderate oven until pastry is browned slightly.

Ecstasy cornflake slice

Ecstasy

Ecstasy is a crisp, sweet slice perfect for cake stalls or special occasions.

Originally published by the Country Women’s Association in 1937. Their recipe book is still in print so you can still buy copy! The Country Women’s Association Cook Book. Seventy years in the kitchen.

Ingredients

2 cups of cornflakes

1 cup of sugar

1 1/4 cups of dessicated coconut

1 cup of melted butter, vegetable shortening or coconut oil (please note: I haven’t tested the coconut oil but I suspect it would be nicer than the vegetable oil for a vegan or dairy free version)

1 teaspoon baking powder

A pinch of salt

A couple of drops of almond essence

Method

Grease a 20 cm or 8″ cake tin and line with baking paper.

Preheat your oven to 180 degrees C or 350 degrees F.

Mix all of the ingredients together.

Pour into the cake tin and press down firmly all over.

Bake for 15 – 20 minutes or until slightly golden on top.

Slice while hot.

Put in the fridge to set.

Nom yourself silly and don’t forget to call the dentist to make an appointment…