Black & White Photography Project Week 56

When life gives you lemons make...lemon curd in my case this week. I love how the shadow and light and dark looks in this picture, obviously it' looks better in colour with the bright yellow lemons.

Silent Sunday

Home Made Advent Calendar

Last year we had one of the fabulous Playmobil Advent Calendars and although the box was still useable it wouldn't have been a great idea as the doors would have been open.

So I decided to make one at home to put the pieces from last years in, I got my daughter involved and together we produced an effective and pretty advent calendar.

All you need is some brown envelopes, stickers, some little pegs a few lengths of string and a silver/gold pen.

It's all very simple really, place a sticker on the envelope and then right your number underneath, 1 through to 24 should do it ;)

Once you have done them all, fill with your desired contents as I mentioned ours is Playmobil but it could be sweets or other treats. How about a wooden village, if you can't find a small one then just go for bigger envelopes.

Then string up your thread, I chose this pretty green one as it is festive, then attach your envelopes using the little pegs.

Once you have done that it should look a little something like this.

Hope you like this idea, it's very simple and you can get the kids to help you do the stickers and then put your own contents in.

Homemade Lemon Curd

I am always on the look out for ways of using up things that are almost or past their best, so when some lemons in the fruit bowl were looking a little worse for wear I decided to make them into lemon curd.

I have used this recipe before so knew it was good and with it being a microwave recipe it is super simple too.

All you need are a couple of lemons, sugar, eggs and butter et voila simple lemon curd.

You can spread it on toast or like me sandwich between two Victoria sponges and add a lemon glacé icing to the top for a gorgeous lemon drizzle cake.

Would love to hear any other left over or use up recipes you may have.

Homemade Christmas

So I know this is early, but I am busy so am trying to plan ahead. This year I have decided to try and make a few home made gifts for Christmas.

The first thing is we have loads of apples from the garden, so I was going to make some spiced apple chutney for everyone. I have been saving my pretty Bonne Maman jars to fill and label.

Next I have seen a few of these sort of things in the shops and online so I thought about giving it a go myself.

Hot chocolate spoons, a wooden spoon with chocolate on the bottom to put into hot milk along with some marshmallows. These ones are great although I am sure the chocolate is nothing like what I will use.

I also do a mean chocolate fudge so I was thinking of including this too.

Wrapped up nicely in some cellophane and Christmas ribbons I think this should make a nice little hamper. Would love to know what you think and if anyone has any other ideas? Maybe include some recent pics of the kids?

Favourite Recipe Friday - Lemonade

My gran bless her always gives me random bits of fruit, mostly because she's bought them on offer and can't use them.

Usually lemons, so I tend to make them into lemonade or use them in lemon drizzle cake.

Today is about lemonade a perfect addition to the jubilee celebrations.

Ingredients:

2 Medium/Large Lemons (juiced roughly 120ml and one long strip of zest, no pith)
75g Caster Sugar
510ml Cold Sparkling Water

Method:

Place the sugar in a pan with three tablespoons of water and the lemon zest.

Heat and stir until the sugar has dissolved and it is bubbling slightly, let simmer for a minute for the lemon to infuse the syrup.

Add the lemon juice and bring to the boil, let it simmer for two minutes.

Pour into your desired serving jug and leave to cool, cover with a tea towel (stops any flies).

Once cooled add the sparkling water to the lemon mix.

Serve over ice and enjoy.

Perfect for picnics too, or if you just need to use up some lemons!

Favourite Recipe Friday -Snowball Truffles

If you follow me on twitter you may have seen me get excited about this recipe, I love, love, love them, they are super simple and very yummy!

They would make the perfect present to give to friends or family who pop over at Christmas, if they last that long anyway!

Ingredients:

175g (6oz) plain chocolate (about 50% cocoa solids is best; any higher and the truffles may taste bitter)
150ml (5fl oz) extra thick double cream
25g (1oz) unsalted butter
2 tablespoon Irish Cream, Grand Marnier or Brandy (you could leave this out if you are giving to children but with plain chocolate these are normally an adult only treat)
1 tablespoon crème friache
40g (1 1/2 oz) icing sugar
Petit four paper cases

Method:

1. Break the chocolate into pieces and put into the bowl of a food processor. Whiz for about 30 seconds or until the chocoalte is very finely chopped.

2. Put the cream, butter and liqueur into a small pan and bring to the boil. Switch on the processor and with the motor still running add the hot cream mixture to the chopped chocolate. Blend until evenly mixed.

3. Spoon the chocolate mixture into a bowl and stir in the crème fraiche. Cool, cover with clingfilm and leave in the fridge overnight to thicken.

4. Arrange the petit four cases on a tray. Sieve the icing sugar onto a baking sheet lined with greaseproof paper (foil is fine too if you don't have greaseproof). Drop teaspoons of the chocolate mixture onto the icing sugar and roll to cover. (You can roll them into a ball first before rolling on the icing sugar, either in your hands or on the worktop if they are cold enough just be careful not to handle too much as they will melt). Use two forks to lift and drop them carefully into the paper cases.

5. To gift wrap, pack each truffle in it's paper case into a decorative box. Tie a pretty ribbon around the lid ad cover the box. Label with storage instructions and an eat by date. The truffles can be kept in the fridge in an airtight container for up to one week.

And hey presto, home made gift, or a treat if you don't want to give away :)