Sweet Treats

I am a little behind with blogging at the moment, but I am slowing getting around to visit you all.  Nothing wrong, just life seems to be taking over.  Although Gerard has been having some nasty side effects from some drugs he takes.  He has now under the consultants advice stopped taking one of his RA injections and consequently is having a flare up.  Rest and healthy eating is the order of the day.  In fairness we do eat healthily most of the time.  We do have a tendency to have treats when we have visitors and we have had several visitors of the weekend.  Homemade desserts are the best, yum!

We have an abundance of eggs at the moment so I made meringue, so that I could add strawberries and fresh whipped cream to make eton mess.

I also made a strawberry tart with a homemade custard base, using more eggs.

Topping it off with a strawberry flavoured jelly.

Finally an orange cake topped off with butter cream icing and jellied orange.  The perfect addition for afternoon tea.

I have started to use the liners for my baking, so much easier than greasing baking trays.  I am all for an easy life these days.  I have spent a lot of time in the kitchen this weekend jam making and replenishing the empty glass bottles with basil oil.  Apricots were cheap in the supermarket this week and I managed to get some yellow sticker strawberries, making the jam much more cost effective.

Already to be labelled up.  Finally the rain has stopped so I am ever hopeful that I may be able to get out in a few hours and mow the lawn.  I also intend to pick some more herbs ready for drying.  I have an abundance of mint which will be useful for mint sauce.  The roof on the outbuilding is almost finished so next we are going to replace the windows and get the door put back on.  Once the structure is sound we will be able to make plans for the interior and build the raised beds.  It is slow progress but we are thankful progress is being made.  What are you working on?

As always I thank you for your visit and your uplifting comments.

See you soon.

Time In The Kitchen

I have had quite a productive weekend, preparing preserves for the store cupboard.  A taste of Summer in those Winter months.  Some simple oils that also double up as a little gift for friends and neighbours.  The familiar well tried and tested chilli oil and a new addition scallion or also known as spring onion oil.  I used the Good Food recipe available on google.

I have had some raspberries soaking in vinegar for several days and finally strained and bottled the raspberry vinegar.  This is a wonderful addition to a salad, at any time of the year.

I did manage to get some reduced/yellow sticker strawberries whilst out and about.  The strawberries were covered in sugar and left overnight to macerate.  Boiled for 20 minutes with some lemon juice and hey presto strawberry jam.

Five jars ready for the cupboard, I am a great fan of jam on toast.

I plan to harvest some of the herbs that I have been growing over the next few days and hanging them to dry ready for Winter stews and casseroles.  

Our neighbour has brought down some of his sheep to the field right next to our back door.  We have had some fun watching them watching us.  Mickey(our dog) goes right up to the fence for a look but soon becomes disinterested and never barks at them.

A lovely way to get the grass cut.  I love to look out of my window and see the lambs.

How did you spend your weekend?

See you soon.