BriansBash: A RIGHT ROYAL RECIPE!

Beautiful Shortbread

We were talking recently about a good recipe for Scottish Shortbread, which just happens to be one of my favorites. It only took 2 seconds for me to suggest a recipe given to our family by a lovely Scots woman named Esmae, who had emigrated to NZ some 40 years ago.

Esmae suggested we remember her name by repeating "Es mae hat on my heid" and she and husband Jim and their Daughters hailed from Aberdeenshire and had emigrated to New Zealand.. Jim was a great boss and friend and we got along well, especially with my own Scots heritage being the catalyst for many interesting conversations. They both had lovely Scots accents and unlike some of my Glaswegian friends were easily understood!

Balmoral Castle

One day I was hanging up a new calendar in my office and it just happened to be a lovely scenic annual from a famous Scottish whisky distillery who we represented in New Zealand. The first photo was of Balmoral Castle and Jim excitedly commented "Och! That's the gardens I used to work on back home!" and it transpired that while Jim was busy working on the flower beds, Esmae was a skilled cook, who worked in the kitchens. They apparently had a cottage on the estate and had enjoyed the years they worked for the Royal Family and spoke about the many interesting things that had happened, (without of course divulging any scandal!)

The O'Brien shortbread stamp

When I spoke to Esmae one evening at a function, she said that as we had been discussing our favourite baking delights in an earlier conversation, would we like Her Majesty, The Queen Mother's favourite shortbread recipe. "I certainly would" I exclaimed delightedly and sure enough, three days later, a handwritten recipe was delivered to my desk with her compliments. Lyn has been baking this delicious recipe ever since and after I resigned from the company and bought a Coffee Lounge/Lunch Bar, it became a firm favourite of our customers. To enhance the finished product, we were given as a present a wooden stamp in the shape of a Scottish Thistle and this made the final baked delight look just so perfect!

Here is the Recipe that was so loved by the Late Queen Mother (who lived to 101 years of age) .. Surely a recommendation in it's own right!

HM THE LATE QUEEN MOTHER'S PERSONAL FAVOURITE SHORTBREAD RECIPE

8oz Butter (227g)

4oz Caster Sugar (113g)

10oz flour (275g)

2oz corn flour (56.70g)

Pinch of salt

METHOD

Cream butter and sugar well, add sifted dry ingredients. Knead well, roll out fairly thick (1/2" - 3/4"), cut into pieces, place on cold, greased trays, prick with fork and bake 20 mins at 160c.