Ed. note: If you’re tuning in to the Royal Wedding early on Friday, you’re going to get hungry. Turns out the Morristown chapter of the Daughters of the British Empire has just the recipe for you: Empire Biscuits!
By Karen Innes-Mulhall
Empire Biscuits are a fitting tribute to any feast, but they are especially fitting this year. The Daughters of the British Empire ‘s J. Elliot Langstaff Chapter in Morristown recently baked these delicious biscuits as their signature bake item to commemorate the Royal Wedding.
They are believed to have derived from the Austrian Linzer Torte. However, the Empire Biscuit is smaller and is a traditional Scottish biscuit–round cookies sandwiched with jelly and topped off with a delicious icing and a cherry.
Why the Empire Biscuit, you may ask. Well, Kate Middleton and HRH Prince William met at University in St. Andrews, Scotland, so the “wee Empire Biscuit” certainly deserves to grace any “tea table” celebrating the Royal Wedding.
The Daughters of the British Empire have been around for almost a century, a common bond for women of British heritage living in the USA.
Members join together in fellowship, contribute significantly to the good of their local community and support four retirement homes for men and women established by the DBE. One home is located in each of the four districts of the Society.
Continuing into the 21st century, members have maintained an extraordinary standard of volunteer work spanning two world wars, the Depression and right up through the liberated ’80s and beyond. They have a history of which to be duly proud.
The American-based Society was founded in 1909 by Mrs. J. Elliot Langstaff, who, while visiting Montreal, Canada, became acquainted with the work of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire.
A charter chapter of the American organization was formed in New York on March 15, 1909. The organization grew rapidly. On April 14, 1920, the name National Society Daughters of the British Empire came into being. Now, as we say the rest is history.
DBE is a non-profit, non-political American organization and membership is extended by invitation to women residing in the U.S. who are of British or British Commonwealth heritage by birth, naturalization or proven ancestry.
Women whose husbands or whose husband’s parent(s) or grandparent(s) are of British or Commonwealth birth are also eligible for membership. Junior membership is available for eligible girls age 13 to 18 years of age.
The DBE J. Elliot Langstaff Chapter based in Morristown has over 30 active members who meet every month and arrange social activities to enhance and grow the membership, fundraising and friendship.
If you would like further information on the local DBE Chapter here in Morristown please contact me at: kim.innesmulhall AT googlemail DOT com (replacing the AT and DOT with their symbols).
EMPIRE BISCUITS
Oven Temperature 350F Yield: Approx. 18 cookies
½ lb. Butter, softened
½ cup fine sugar
2¼ cup flour
Cream butter and sugar together and gradually add flour. Knead into a ball of dough and roll out on a floured surface. Using a 2½ inch cutter, cut out cookies and place on lightly greased cookie tins. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until done but do not let them brown.
When cool, sandwich two cookies together with raspberry jam, then ice the top with confectioners sugar and water icing.
Decorate with cherry halves or sprinkles. This is a shortbread type cookie.
