I never use custard powder to make anything.

If I need to use custard, I buy the ready made cartons from the store. With that being said, I still managed to find a tub of custard powder in the pantry. Not sure who put it there or how it even got there, but it was there.

I was brave enough to look at the expiry date before I burst into a fit of laughter, my mother was a bit scared as to why I was laughing hysterically a windowless pantry by myself and at myself. When I could manage to contain myself I showed her the expiry date and she was shocked…. It had expired in 2011. 8 years ago and the tub was still sealed just like the day it was bought by the mysterious stranger.

I came across this recipe in the “Great British Bake off,” recipe book and the original recipe stated that it would be a custard creams biscuits and the two cookies would be sandwiched together with a layer of custard icing.

That was the plan

Then as the clock struck midnight, by dad got the 24 hours stomach virus and all plans of food was put on hold.

As most will tell  you, he couldn’t stomach anything. I tried making him mielies and beans lekker strong, he brought it back up again, complaining the tomatoe was making him nausea. All he could apparently eat was chicken noodle soup and toast… I did mention to him that I had the same stomach bug last week before my birthday and I still had to stand in front of the stove and bake my birthday cake… he was not hearing anything, he did make me go out and buy stomach cramps medicine, Imodium and flu tablets of which now thanks to the soup has not been touched. Men I tell you, such babies when they are sick.

But seeing as my mother and I were fine, I decided to carry on with making the biscuits, but I left out the filling, there just wasn’t enough time what with the big baby crying every time he felt a cramp. I just couldn’t risk the cream splitting.

All in all the biscuits were delicious, not bad for a custard biscuit, with a delicate hint of custard flavouring in them and a generous sifting of icing sugar to add a little more sweetness on the top.

My mother loved it, my brother loved them, he practically ate the entire plate, my dad, he could only manage a few nibbles.

Ingredients:

• 225g x cake flour, sifted.
• ½ x tsp baking powder, sifted.
• 50g x custard powder, sifted.
• 50g x icing sugar, sifted.
• Pinch of salt.
• 175g x butter,  chilled and cubed.
• 3 x tbsp. milk.
• 1 x tsp vanilla essence.

Method:

• In a bowl, mix together the cake flour, baking powder, custard powder, icing sugar and salt.
• Rub the butter in the flour mixture, until it resembles crumbs.
• Add the milk and vanilla essence.
• Knead lightly till the dough comes together and is nice and smooth.
• Shape into a ball and flatten to form a disc.
• Cover in clingwrap and pop into the fridge to chill for 20 minutes.
• Roll out onto a floured surface.
• Using a round cookie cutter, cut out rounds.
• Place on a greased baking tray.
• Pop into a preheated oven and bake at 180 degrees for 10 – 12 minutes.
• Allow to cool for 10 minutes on the baking tray before turning out onto a cooling rack and cooling completely.
• Dust generously with icing sugar….this is optional.