By Katie Delafield, Rural Surveyor, Bidwells St Albans

A delightful summer pudding perfect for entertaining

Serves 10

INGREDIENTS

350g plain flour

225g butter

110g caster sugar

Pinch salt

1 large punnet strawberries

1 pint double cream

METHOD

Cut out three 25cm circles of greaseproof paper and place onto baking tins.

Cream the butter and caster sugar until pale and fluffy. Stir in the sieved flour, knead and then form into a ball and rest for around 20 minutes. Divide the mixture into three balls and roll out thinly into three circles. Place onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 160°C or gas mark 3 for at least 30 minutes until crisp and light brown. Cut one circle into 10 triangles to form the top layer of the shortcake. Leave to cool.

Just before serving, whisk the double cream and sieve in a sprinkling of icing sugar. Pipe a rosette of cream onto each triangle and then place a whole strawberry on each rosette to decorate. Chop the remaining strawberries and mix into the remaining cream.

Place one of the complete circles onto a serving plate and spread over half of the strawberries and cream. Repeat again for the middle layer and then arrange the triangles on top to form a circle and complete the shortcake.

Make me, Eat Me! by Bidwells can be bought from Bidwells St Albans, 45 Grosvenor Road, or online for £10 http://www.bidwells.co.uk/recipe-book/ All proceeds to charity including the Pepper Foundation