Raspberry And Earl Grey Jellies

Serves 6
Takes about 1 hour to make, plus setting

Ingredients

• 450g ripe raspberries (or good quality frozen ones)
• 150g caster sugar
• 4 sheets leaf gelatine
• 3 bellevue Earl Grey tea bags
• juice of ½ lemon
• double cream, to serve

Method

1. Mash the raspberries and sugar to a juicy pulp. Set aside for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, so the sugar dissolves. Rub through a sieve.
2. Half-fill a bowl with cold water, and lay the gelatine in it to soften. Drop the tea bags into a measuring jug and pour in enough boiling water to come up to the 300ml mark. Leave for a few minutes to brew but while it’s hot remove the tea bags.
3. Scoop the gelatine out of its bath, squeeze out excess water and stir into the steaming tea. Now add the lemon juice and pour in the raspberry liquid. Pour into 6 x 120ml moulds or champagne flutes or small wine glasses. Leave to cool, then put in the fridge to set for 5-6 hours.
4. Turn out the jellies on to serving plates, or serve in champagne flutes or glasses.

Pancakes

Ingredients

• 100g of Flour (plain)
• Pinch of salt
• 1 egg
• 300ml of milk
• Oil to grease frying pan
• Gourmet Mulling Syrup
• (Ice cream or fruit optional)

Method

1. Sift flour and salt into a mixing bowl, whisk in egg and milk until smooth. Set aside for one hour.
2. Gently heat a lightly greased frying pan.
3. Pour the batter into a jug for easier pouring.
4. Pour about three table spoons worth of batter (or your preferred amount) into the pan and tilt pan to spread evenly. When edges are golden lift edges with a knife and flip pancake over to cook other side.

Place pancakes onto plates and drizzle with Selsley Herb & Spice Co Gourmet Mulling Syrup. Ice cream or fruit can also be added.

Grandma's Oatmeal Biscuits / Cookies

Simply the best 'cookies' you will taste anywhere. Whilst we cannot guarantee that consuming quantities of these will lead you to lose inches off you waist, we can guarantee you will earn brownie points with the rest of your family.

Ingredients

• 8oz (225g) of butter
• 8 oz (225g) of brown sugar
• 8oz (225g) of granulated sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 6 oz (175g) of plain flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 10 oz (300g) Organic Pertwood Porridge Oats
• Chopped nuts, raisins, chocolate chunks (to taste - but we advise adding them all)

Method

1. Pre-heat oven to 350oF/175oC.
2. Cream butter and sugars.
3. Add vanilla and egg, followed by dry ingredients.
4. Drop by small teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheet.
5. Bake for 8-9 minutes until very light golden colour.

Chai Spiced Tea Bread

Ingredients

• 225g luxury dried fruit
• 50g glace cherries, halved
• 50g ready to eat dried apricots, roughly chopped
• 100g soft brown sugar
• 4tbsp Drink Me Spiced Chai
• 100ml boiling water
• 25g blanched almonds, chopped
• 225g self raising fl our 3 large eggs, beaten

Method

1. In a bowl combine the dried fruit, cherries, apricots, and sugar.
2. In a jug mix the Spiced Chai with a little of the boiling water to dissolve it then stir in the remainder of the boiling water.
3. Pour the Spiced Chai mixture over the fruit mix, stir thoroughly then cover and leave for 2 hours.
4. Preheat the oven to 160c/325f/gas mark 3 and line a 900g (2lb) loaf tin.
5. In a clean bowl combine the almonds and flour. Then make a well in the centre and stir in the fruit and Spiced Chai mixture.
6. Add the beaten eggs and stir until well mixed. Spoon the mixture into the loaf tin and smooth over the surface.
7. Cook on the middle shelf in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes or until well risen and golden (and a skewer when inserted into the centre comes out clean.)
8. Remove from the oven and leave to cool for 5 minutes in the tin before turning out.

To serve, cut into slices when completely cool.

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At Real Food Direct, we have such a variety of Christmas food hampers that you'll find the perfect gift for everyone, even the kids. The Father Christmas Present Sack is packed full of festive treats like candy canes and a reindeer tin. For that someone special, the simple but luxurious Champagne & Chocolate Hamper contains a bottle of the finest Champagne and a pack of delicious truffles. And for the true foodie, why not try the Organic Christmas Hamper? Brimming with goodies like organic spelt & oat crackers, clotted cream fudge and even a bottle of organic white wine.

For a more personal touch, you can choose your own products from the website and have them packed in a traditional wicker hamper. And don't forget, we can wrap it too. Just make sure you order before midday on Tuesday 22nd December so we can deliver in time for Christmas. And don't worry, all our hampers contain high quality products sourced from independent World and European sources. When you buy from Real Food Direct, you are buying from a completely independent award winning company.

Please visit the website and consider giving Christmas food hampers to your friends and family this Christmas.

About Real Food Direct
Real Food Direct acts as a vital link in the chain between specialist food producers and the customer. Through just one website, the customer can access a wide range of high quality delicatessen products and have them delivered to their door for a small carriage charge. The product range is also available to those in the food trade from the sister company Cotswold Fayre.

Contact Details
For further information on Real Food Direct and its products please contact MD Paul Hargreaves, Real Food Direct, Units 9-11, Manor Farm, Peppard Common, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 5LA.

Tel: +44 (0)844 2477777 Email: sales@realfooddirect.com