Aila's Shortcake

Aila Alice Beetham Kennedy was my mother-in-law. She was a determined, selfish, bloody minded, stroppy  old bag. She was also a fantastic story teller - though the stories were not the sort you could tell the vicar - and not because Aila would've already done that. She was funny, generous and often very kind. She described herself as a good plain cook when actually she made the best roast dinners I have ever tasted, and this fantastic shortcake. I miss her still.

AILA'S SHORTCAKE
125g butter
125g sugar
1 egg
225g plain flour
1tsp baking powder

Cream butter and sugar. Beat in the egg. Beat (slowly - you don't want to be covered in the stuff) in the flour and baking powder.
Press half the mixture into a tin lined with baking paper.
Spread with jam, apple, rhubarb, peaches - whatever.
Press the other half of the mixture out onto another sheet of baking paper, invert over the pie filling and peel off the paper.
Sprinkle the top with sugar
Bake for about 1/2 and hour until golden.

This shortcake is tender and the dough very forgiving. If you tear it, just bung it on anyway - it somehow sqwuoodges itself around in the oven and comes out perfect. Everybody will demand the recipe.