Dark and White Glitter Chocolate Truffles

I got this recipe from the wonderful ladies over at A Beautiful Mess blog, adapted it a bit, and now I'm ready for christmas, albeit in a bit of a chocolate coma.

 

 

(I had to make sure they were ok!)

 

All packaged and ready to go!

Another little trip...

We had a lovely little trip to the homeland, celebrated birthdays and un-birthdays and generally had a super time.

 

 

Family time is the best time!

Merry un-birthday party

Snorkelling with style!

 

Beautiful Quarr Abbey

Homemade Hand-picked Jam

You can't get much more home made than this jam - I made it with the strawberries and blackcurrants that we picked, and kind of made it up as I went along - here's how: 

You will need:

300g Blackcurrants

780g Strawberries

2lb Sugar

3tbs Lemon Juice

Knob of butter

Put the blackcurrants in a little water in a pan and bring to the boil. boil until they have reduce into a pulp.

Put the strawberries in a pan with the lemon juice and heat for about 20 mins until they have gone soft, stir regularly.

Take both pans off the heat when they are ready and put both contents into one pan and add the sugar. Stir until all the sugar is totally dissolved.

Place back on the heat and bring to the boil for about 20 minutes (check at 15). Make sure the jam has set properly (you can see how to do this here) and pop into some jars.

You can get creative with some nice labels, and you can decorate the top with some nice fabric.

Make sure you write the date on, the jam can last for about a year if jars are properly steralized.

There's not much better than jam on toast me thinks!

I-think-I'm-actually-going-to-die-a-chocolaty-Death By Chocolate Cupcakes

My friend Gemma is a bit poorly and really needed some help today, so I took some time out of my hectic bank holiday schedule to aide her in some serious chocolate cupcake making.

It was essential in order for her to start on the long road to recovery.

I bought a couple home for Him and Mother (she's visiting tomorrow)...but alas, they were too good...I cant move I am so full. But it's Easter, and gorging ones self on copious amounts of chocolate is that right thing to do. Right?

Can you look at these and not want chocolate?!

Gemma got the recipe from here. (we used twirl bites instead of dark chocolate chunks)

I hope you all had a lovely Easter and indulged in some chocolaty goodness.



Homemade Pizza.

This was my first attempt at making dough, and it worked!

Watching it rise was so exciting (how sad am I!!??) I just assumed it probably wouldn't work.

You can get the recipe I used for the pizza base here.

It tasted yummy...I'm in a bit of a carb coma now though!

3 Good Things.

• Watching the sunrise (see photos below!)...so beautiful it almost justifies getting up at the crack of dawn.
• Picking up our little pussy cat from the cattery after nearly 2 whole weeks! I was so excited to see her, although she was obviously VERY annoyed with me. She has also learnt a new mieow at the cattery and was very vocal, showing it off all the way home!
• Cooking up a yummy winter warmer dinner...mmmm...(the new year diet can start tomorrow!).