Banstead Horticultural Society, Summer show, 26th July

I entered a decorated straw hat and some orange flavoured shortbread fingers into the Summer flower show at Banstead Community Hall yesterday and was lucky enough to get a 2nd place for both. It was a really well attended show, lots of exhibits and lots of people coming along to chat with friends over a cup of tea and piece of cake. I did a shift in the Tea room for a couple of hours which was full on, lovely to see so many people appreciating all the wonderful blooms and produce.

The hat I decorated I bought from a charity shop, I removed the original voile trim and added a band of cream and taupe cotton crocheted ribbon. I then decorated the brim and crown of the hat with a selection of crocheted and knitted flowers and some jewelled bee charms.

The shortbread recipe I used was from a Mary Berry book, it includes semolina in the mix to give bite to the shortbread and also orange zest to add to the flavour. After chilling the shortbread mix which I had put in a flat baking tin I then sprinkled it with demerara sugar before baking. Once cooked I cooled the shortbread for about 10 mins before cutting it into fingers and then finishing the cooling on a wire tray. The orange gave a lovely flavour to the shortbread.