parmesan biscuits

My mum has been making these for 20 years and they are a favourite in our house, especially at Christmas. They are very quick to make (if you get someone else to grate the Parmesan :) or use ready-grated Parmesan) and really delicious. We normally double the recipe ingredients and freeze any leftovers.

You can eat them on their own or with toppings (such as roasted pepper or smoked fish, if you eat fish) to turn them into party food. Give them a try!

You will need:

• Large bowl

• Small bowl

• Kitchen scales

• Measuring spoons

• Fork

• A cookie cutter (I use a 5cm round one)

• Cheese grater

• Baking tray

• Rolling pin

• Cooling rack

• Pastry brush

• Baking paper

• Cling film

• Bread board (or just make sure your worktop is clean)

• 85g plain flour (and a bit extra to flour the board or worktop)

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 60g finely grated Parmesan

• 1 large free-range egg

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 tablespoon milk (in a small bowl)

Then:

1. Preheat the oven to 190C/ gas 5.

2. Put baking paper on your baking tray and grease the paper with butter.

3. Finely grate the Parmesan.

4. Crack your egg into a small bowl and beat it with a fork until a bit frothy.

5. Put your flour into a large bowl.

6. Add the baking powder, salt, egg, Parmesan and oil.

7. Mix well to form a soft dough.

8. Sprinkle flour on your bread board or worktop.

9. Put the dough on the bread board/ worktop and shape into a ball.

10. Wrap the dough in cling film and chill it for 20 minutes in the fridge.

11. Take the dough out and remove the cling film.

12. Roll the dough to a thickness of about 3mm.

13. Cut into rounds with the cookie cutter.

14. Put the biscuits on the baking tray.

15. Brush each biscuit with a small amount of milk (this makes them nice and golden, when baked).

16. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes.

17. Gather up the cuttings and re-roll and cut them to make extra biscuits. (You may need an extra tray for them or just reuse your first tray, when it’s cooled down).

18. Once baked, carefully remove the biscuits from the baking sheet and let them cool down on the rack.

19. Enjoy on their own or with your favourite toppings!