MAKING SUET FOR BIRDS RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 220°C/425°F/Gas 7. To make the savoury filling, put the onion and oil in a frying pan over a medium heat for 2-3 mins, until the onion is soft and golden. Stir in the pork and sage and cook gently for 5 mins, stirring often. Peel, core and chop the apple and add it to the pork mix along with the Worcestershire sauce. Cook for a further 5 mins, then stir in the peas, season to taste and leave to cool.
• To make the sweet filling, peel and chop the apples, then place in a mixing bowl and stir in the dates, orange rind, sultanas and sugar.
• To make the pastry, mix the flour, salt, suet and chopped butter into a course breadcrumb-like consistency. Mix in about 125ml water and the beaten egg to form a smooth dough and knead for a minute. Roll the pastry on a floured surface to about ½cm thick and cut into two rectangles about 15cm (6in) long by 8cm (3in) wide, then brush the edge of the long end with beaten egg.
• On one side of each pastry rectangle, put half of the savoury filling, and on the other put half of the sweet filling. Roll the pastry over the filling to form a sausage roll shape, and press the centre lightly so that the dividing strip sticks to the top. Push the edges together, brush with beaten egg and sprinkle the sweet half with sugar. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 mins, then lower the heat to 190°C/375°F/Gas 5 and bake for a further 25 mins. Serve hot or cold.

Steps:

• You will need a candy thermometer for this recipe.
• 1. Stir together the sugar, water and vinegar in a heavy saucepan. Clip on candy thermometer and don’t let it touch the bottom of the cooking pan.
• 2. Heat the sugar syrup until the candy thermometer reaches the hard ball stage or 260-265 degrees. Don’t stir while it is cooking.
• 3. Slowly pour the syrup onto a buttered surface like a large cutting board. Be very careful — this is a molten mass of hot syrup. DO NOT scrape bowl. Just let whatever candy comes out, come out. Allow candy to cool for a few minutes.
• 4. As soon as the syrup is slightly cooled, scrape it into a large ball. If you are going to add any flavorings like vanilla or peppermint, now is the time to do this. Flip the ball of candy over several times using some sort of scraper like a candy scraper.
• 5. When it is cool enough to handle, gather the ball of candy into your well-greased hands and pull the candy using both hands until you have reached as far as you can. Fold the pulled part over and repeat. Do this for about 4-5 minutes or until the candy is getting stiff and has turned a beautiful white color.
• 6. Once this happens, pull out a long rope of candy about 1/2" thick. You can twist this if you want a twisted look for your candy. Lay it out on waxed paper to cool.
• 7. When it has thoroughly cooled, break it into 1 1/2 ” pieces. Wrap each piece of candy in waxed paper and store in airtight container. If candy is sticky, store it in the refrigerator.