St. Andrew was a fisherman who, along with his brother Peter, became disciples of Jesus Christ. Andrew was crucified by the Romans on a X-shaped cross in Greece, and the Saltire is known as St. Andrew’s cross.
While probably most recognizable as the patron saint of Scotland, he is also the patron saint of Greece, Barbados, Russia, and Romania, a surprise to me.
If you’re a fishmonger, singer, spinster, maiden, old maid, or a woman wishing to become a mother, St. Andrew is your man. He’s also handy with gout and sore throats, though I haven’t unearthed why…
Enjoy St. Andrew’s Day with this Scottish Shortbread recipe from my cookbook, Our World At Your Table. Guess they’re making these in Barbados today, too. They’re simply good and an all-time favorite.
Ingredients
6 oz plain flour
2 oz caster sugar
1 oz icing sugar
2 oz rice flour
5 oz butter
pinch of sea salt
Steps
Preheat oven to 140°C (280°F or Gas mark 2).
In a mixing bowl, cream together the sugars and the butter.
Sift in the flours and salt: work by hand to a stiff dough.
Roll out the dough to ½ inch thickness.
Shape into a round or into ‘fingers’ and prick with a fork.
Bake in the oven until light golden brown, around 30 – 40 minutes.
Our World at Your Table 