ENGLISH MUM: never knowingly undercatered

Apr

Cheese Bread Wedges

Filed under: Breads, Diary, Photos, Recipes, Starters, soups and nibbles, Suppers — English Mum @ 1:53 pm

What is it about Heinz tinned soups? They’re actually pretty disgusting - I mean, how do they get that gelatinous texture? It doesn’t bear thinking about. And the mushroom flavour, which is #1’s preferred choice, is frankly revolting. Too creamy, oddly grey in colour and, well, mushrooms don’t really taste like that, do they. And then there’s the tomato flavour. It’s bloody orange, for goodness sake. If there’s a power cut you could just crack one open and bingo - you’d all be able to see by the luminous orange glow emanating from the tin. But hey, on a lazy Saturday afternoon, sometimes only a tin of soup will do (I favour Baxter’s curried vegetable and lentil one personally) and I often whip up these little beauties, which are actually more scone than bread, to dunk in a revoltingly bad mannered way, into the bowl.

8 oz self raising flour

1 1/2 oz butter

4 oz cheese

1 egg

1/4 pint milk

So put your flour into a bowl, season generously with salt and pepper, then rub in the butter just like you would for, say, a crumble or whatever until it looks breadcrumby. Grate the cheese and stir into the flour mixture with a fork until well blended (you don’t want big lumps of cheese). Then measure out your milk in a jug, add the egg and whisk until combined. Pour slowly into the floury cheesy mixture, mixing until it just comes together and makes a soft dough. You can reserve any leftover egg/milk mixture to brush onto the top before baking.

So tip it out and give it a gentle knead just until it comes together in a nice ball. Flatten it out until it’s about 2″ thick and vaguely circular and then just divide it into six or eight wedges. Brush with the leftover milky mixture and bake at 200 degrees for about 15 minutes. Eat warm with your weirdly gelatinous soup, or with a nice salad, or with cheese and pickle…mmmmmmm…

By the way, if you’re having a posh dinner party, these are amazing made with, say, half and half cheddar and parmesan and a sprinkle of chopped rosemary, or with snipped chives and a teaspoon of mustard, or any other flavourings you can think of. Chopped sundried tomato and fresh basil would be lovely with a fresh tomato salad. Much easier than baking bread rolls and with a lovely soft texture.

21 Comments »

Oh and thank you, J, for my beautiful Le Creuset salt pig, nestling in the background there and adding just a hint of je ne sais quoi into the photograph.

Comment by englishmuminireland — April 12, 2008 @ 1:55 pm
These look yummy… I do something similar with about 10 times the butter. Yours looks like a much healthier alternative! Um yes, salt pig super cool. Need to get me one of those… the Maldon box leaks everywhere!

Comment by Deborah — April 12, 2008 @ 3:29 pm
I love tomato soup, Heinz or Campbells. Yes it is utterly fake, but I still love it, and the rest of the family do too, so I rarely get enough. We are going to make some carrot and parsnip soup with a dash of curry tomorrow, I might try your wedges to go with.

Comment by Thriftcriminal — April 12, 2008 @ 3:51 pm
Deborah: When we moved I found my recently opened box of Maldon all scattered at the bottom of one of the boxes - I could have cried. There’s nothing more satisfying than scrunching a little pinch over things is there?! It’s fab innit. It came from the Le Creuset shop at…er…an outlet village somewhere near Kildare. J??

Thrifty: In Lidl they do packs of 4 and I’m always buying them. I know, it’s weirdly addictive isnt it. Your soup sounds yummy. Might turn you into a food blogger yet! Remember me if you get the urge to write out the recipe!

Comment by englishmuminireland — April 12, 2008 @ 4:08 pm
They sound great,i only eat tuna fish sandwiches with Campbells tomato soup but i think i will try your recipe.I found a candle in the Dollar store, a Campbells can of tomato soup candle,it was nasty smelling!

Comment by june in florida — April 12, 2008 @ 4:41 pm
There’s an outlet called ‘The Village’ near Kildare - they’ve got a Le Creuset shop - is it that one? Had to be dragged out of there. I just have a homing instinct for cookware shops…

Theses scones look delicious and good for soup on cold days

Comment by wee jen — April 12, 2008 @ 6:14 pm
June: #2 favours the ham and cheese sandwich (but then that’s all he ever eats anyway). Ooh, I like tuna with TONS of mayo, chopped tomato and shredded basil. Yum.

I had a creme brulee candle once. It made everyone feel sick every time I lit it x

Wee One: Yeh, that’ll be the one. Wish I was nearer, I’d loiter on their doorstep before opening time to get in first.

Comment by englishmuminireland — April 13, 2008 @ 11:06 am
Tuna mayo, finely chopped onion, not too much though, and lots of lettuce yum. perhaps I will try the bread scones…feel a bit of baking coming on in this weather.

Comment by Natalie — April 13, 2008 @ 12:39 pm
Nats: Ooh yes, or rocket. I once read (think it was Nigel Slater) that when rubbing in flour and butter you should lift your fingers up really high to get lots of air in. This means that I shower flour and butter all round the kitchen but hey, I feel really professional!

Comment by englishmuminireland — April 13, 2008 @ 1:18 pm
Thanks for sharing your recipe! I love baking and those look so yum!

Comment by SleepyJane — April 14, 2008 @ 7:47 am
Kildare shopping Village. Genuine Le Creuset for half nowt’.

And yes, EM, you’re on the ‘pink please’ mailing list…

Have actually made that bread and it’s bloody good. Bringing some in for the undeserving hordes at work; I’ll let you know how I get on…

Comment by Jennynib — April 14, 2008 @ 1:47 pm
Sleepy: You’re very welcome.

J: Oooh pink Le Creuset - be still my beating heart…

Please don’t poison anyone. I take no responsibility for stodged up workmates with stomach cramps lol xx

Comment by englishmuminireland — April 14, 2008 @ 8:24 pm
Aaaaah … cruel, cruel woman! Look at that cheese bread!!! Now I need to make some. And eat it with BUTTER!!!! Gah!

My Dad hated all things tomato, except Heinz tomato soup, which he adored. Says something about it’s similarity to actual tomato, does it not? Oh, but I love it too, as it happens, even though Covent Garden soups are far superior. Or should that be souperior?

Comment by Jay — April 16, 2008 @ 9:44 am
Jay: Oooh they were lovely all warm and oozy and buttery…sorry! I like those Covent Garden ones too, but homemade is deffo best x

Comment by englishmuminireland — April 16, 2008 @ 2:45 pm
Made my mouth water!

Comment by Medbh — April 24, 2008 @ 10:56 pm
Medbh: Glad you stopped by! Yeah, I’m a bit addicted to these little babies. They’re very handy when you’ve had a couple of glasses of wine and have the munchies for something savoury too. Or is that just me?! xx

Comment by englishmuminireland — April 25, 2008 @ 8:14 am
Right, I’ve had a bash at these and they’re in the oven and smelling gorgeous now - will let you know how they turn out!

Comment by elly parker — June 24, 2008 @ 7:55 pm
Yummy - they went down a storm with the hubbie, he’s already requested 2 to take in for lunch tomorrow!

Comment by elly parker — June 24, 2008 @ 10:25 pm
Elly: Ooh, I’m so glad you gave them a go. I reckon they’d be yum with parmesan for a posh dinner party - although I suppose you’d have to make them into a more sophisticated shape

Comment by englishmuminireland — June 25, 2008 @ 8:54 am
[...] also begun to get my head around my new kitchen and wanted to try a new recipe. I found these Cheesy Bread Wedges courtesy of English Mum in Ireland and thought they would be perfect to sate my savoury/carb [...]

Pingback by » Random bits… ellybabes: Mad ramblings whenever I feel like it…. — June 27, 2008 @ 9:46 am
OK - that looks delicious, and I have made something very similar but without the egg.

But why can’t I make proper Irish soda bread, no matter how I try? What’s the secret? Please tell me! I’m so tired of buying that carboardy Rankin stuff!!

Comment by Jay — August 25, 2008 @ 9:35 pm