Strawberry Sandwiches

Ingredients

• 8 thin slices crusty white bread
• 2oz unsalted butter, softened
• 9oz strawberries
• 2 tbsp caster sugar (finer ground sugar)
• fresh ground black pepper (optional)

Directions

1. Lightly butter the bread. Hull the strawberries and slice fairly thickly (about 1/8in slices).
2. Arrange the strawberry slices on the bread as close together as possible without overlapping. Sprinkle lightly with caster sugar and add a few twists of black pepper if using.
3. Place a round of buttered bread on top to complete the sandwich and cut into halves or quarters.

Variation To make a summer tea-time treat into an indulgent pudding, spread the bread thickly with clotted cream (instead of the butter) and be a bit more generous with the caster sugar.

For a real treat at tea-time during the summer, serve these unusual fruity sandwiches – children will love them and served with a cup of Earl Grey adults will too!