Birthday Boy Shakespeare

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Today's birthday boy is William Shakespeare and he just turned 450 years old!!!
William Shakespeare is probably the most famous playwright, poet and actor of all times in the English language. In honour of this great bard's 'name day' I present to you a delicious dessert from Shakespearean times.
The Shrewsbury cake, which is a classic English dessert named after Shrewsbury county in England, is actually a kind of cookie and is known today as Shrewsbury Biscuits. Easy to make with the correct balance of flavours these cookies are mildly sweet and very buttery.

 "Do you think because you are virtuous, that there shall be no more cakes and ale?", says Shakespeare. Who are we to stop this birthday party? Bake on!! ^_^

 SHREWSBURY CAKES

 Ingredients:

 Flour                                500 g
Sugar                                250 g
Butter                              250 g
Eggs                                  2 nos
Salt                                   5 g
Cinnamon Powder            3 g
Nutmeg powder               5 g
Lemon Zest                      3 nos
Rosewater                       10 ml
Water                              As Required

 Method:
  • Sift salt, cinnamon powder and nutmeg into the flour.
  • Mix castor sugar with the flour.
  • Chop up butter and mix with the flour-sugar mixture to form a shortcrust dough.
  • Beat eggs, lemon zest and rosewater together.
  • Add the egg mixture to the shortcrust dough to bind.
  • Sprinkle chilled water onto the dough if more liquid is required to form a tight dough.
  • Roll out dough to 1/2 inch thickness and cut into circles.
  • Place on a baking tray and bake at 150*C for 20 minutes.
  • Cool and serve.
Shrewsbury Cakes

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