Figolli

Figolli, Figolla
Maltese Figolla (Almond Biscuit)

Now this is a biscuit that my Mum would make every Easter (and I found it in a recipe book called The Almond Biscuit). Its a sweet biscuit baked for Easter celebrations. But who wants to wait till Easter.
Typically a pastry figure filled with ground almond (or almond meal) mixture, covered with royal and glace icing.
I found large biscuit shape cutters in a tiny shop in Bowral, NSW. Tradionally the biscuits are three times the size of the bisuits I baked in this picture. I find the smaller size is more easier to handle for one person to eat and you dont need to share. I finished my biscuits with a tiny chocolate egg in the centre.

 Figolli 2010

PASTRY

• 
  
  800g Self Raising Flour
• 
  
  225g Castor Sugar
• 
  
  340g Butter
• 
  
  3 Eggs
• 
  
  1 Grated Lemon Peel
• 
  
  1tsp Vanilla Essence 
• 
  
  Pinch of salt

FILLING  

• 
  
  170g Pure or Substitute Ground Almonds
• 
  
  170g Castor Sugar
• 
  
  100g Pure Icing Sugar
• 
  
  1/2 Grated Lemon Peel
• 
  
  1tsp Vanilla Essence
• 
  
  1 Egg

GLACE ICING (to decorate to the top of the biscuit)

• 
  
  2 Egg whites
• 
  
  400g Soft Icing Mixture (Confectioners sugar)
• 
  
  Half Lemon (Freshly Squeezed)

ROYAL ICING (to decorate the edges of the biscuit)

• 2 large (60 grams) egg whites
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 3 cups (330 grams) pure icing sugar

Making the Pastry

(Use your hands) Sieve the flour in a bowl and mix the flour, vanilla, sugar, butter, salt and lemon peel together. Then, add the eggs (one at a time) and mix until a smooth dough is obtained. If need be, add some water.

Making the Filling Mix:

In a seperate bowl Mix all ingredients together until a smooth paste is obtained.


To do the Biscuit:

Roll the dough on a floured surface with a rolling pin. (about 1cm thick)
Cut 2 identical shapes with your biscuit cutter. Spread the filling on one shape (about 1 cm thick), and place the second shape on top just like a sandwhich.
(Optional - Spread the filling around the shape but keep it 1/2cm away from the egdes, so that you can press down the top layer of pastry (with a fork) onto the bottom layer to close the gap, brush the edges with milk to soften.

Cook in a preheated oven 170º C for about 20 minutes. Leave to cool before decorating.
You ahould get 8 to 10 large cookies out of this pastry mix. (as shown in my pic)

For Decoration:

Beat the egg whites in a bowl and add lemon juice. Then add the sieved icing sugar to the egg mixture until a smooth icing is obtained. Pour a drop or two of your preferred food colouring and mix until the desired colour is obtained. Spread this icing on the top of the biscuit to decorate.
 
Use Royal icing to decorate the edges (in white). I use my piping bag.

Icing Sugar Notes:
Pure Icing Sugar sets harder, therefore used for Royal Icing.
Soft Icing Mixture - or powdered or confectioners' sugar. Is used for Glace Icing. Much softer. Soft Icing Mixture contains added starch

 

Figolli 2013

Wicking Bed (my new vege patch)

I have been reading up on Wicking Beds. Self watering vege patch, with a water reservoir built beneath the soil, which due to "capillary action"  allows the roots of your veges to feed off when required. Like dipping a tissue in a glass of water (watch the water rise)

Here is my step by step.
Firstly - the cost does add up. It looks simple, but it is time consuming.
All Materials were bought from Bunnings and my local landscaping supplier.

Materials below are for a  600mm high, 2.4m long by 1.2m wide bed.
Approx 600mm total depth, 300mm soil and 300mm for the water reservoir

9 x 2.4m long Cherry wood sleepers (200mm width) $14each at Bunnigs
Builders plastic
Geotextile material to seperate the blue metal to the soil
1 tonne of Blue metal (or similar) $70 a tonne (equivalant to 1 trailer)
8 x 30Litre  bags of Organic compost (2 bags for $12 @ Flower Power)
8 x 30 Litre good potting mix ($varies)
2m length, 90mm PVC pipe (drill holes in the pipe)
2 x 90mm PVC caps
1 x 90mm elbow
1m x 90mm PVC pipe (this is your pipe to fill water into)
300mm length 90mm PVC pipe for you overflow
90mm Bracket

Step 1 - Build your box
Set out your timber box,2.4m x 1.2m x 600mm high, and line with builders plastic.(fix with staple gun)
Ground must be level before you lay your plastic.

Step 2
Add a layer of Blue metal, 50mm high, then lay your slotted pipe on top.

Step 3
At 250mm high, install your overflow pipe to the side of the box.

Lay the balance of the box,  to about 300mm high with blue metal.

Step 4
Lay your geotextile material on top of the blue metal, to seperate the soil.
Lay the organic compost.

 Step 5
 Lay the soil

 Step 6
 I havent as yet, but I would also put a layer of straw, or mulch on top prior to planting.
 Plant away. (17th March)