Microwave Lemon Curd

Zest & Juice of 2- 3 lemons, organic unwaxed are best.
4 oz unsalted butter cut into smallish pieces.
2 eggs
8oz sugar

Method
Beat the eggs in a large microwave safe bowl then zest the lemon onto the beaten eggs and add the butter.
Cut the zested lemons in half, squeeze the juice and add to the egg mixture.
Cook on HIGH for 1 minute. Remove and whisk.
Cook for another minute, remove and whisk.
Repeat this process a few times until the liquid will coat the back of wooden spoon - DO NOT OVERCOOK - the eggs will curdle.
Remember the curd will thicken as it cools.
Carefully pour your curd into clean, warm jam jars, then cover with wax discs and cellophane. Allow the jars to cool, then store in the fridge until needed. Remember this is not a true preserve and has a short shelf life.
Enjoy!

Angels in St. Mary's Church, North Somercotes

Aren't these wonderful? They were made entirely from paper by Martyn Pidgen in 2009 for The Christmas Tree Festival at St. Mary's church, North Somercotes.

This I would keep

Another Grace Noll Cowell poem I like;

This would I keep forever in my heart
Among the things the ruthless years may leave:
The glad excitement, wonder, and delight
Of Christmas Eve;
This would I hold untarnished through the years,
Although the roads I take may lead me far:
The radiant molten glory of the light
From one white star.
And oh, to keep the breathlessness, the thrill,
The heart's swift running out to meet surprise,
Never to lose entirely the light
Of childhood from my eyes;
Never to lose the Christmas morning joy,
And never the quick bright eagerness to give -
God, someway let my spirit keep the shine
Of Christmas while I live.

I Have Found Such Joy

I have found such joy in simple things;
A plain, clean room, a nut-brown loaf of bread,
A cup of milk, a kettle as it sings,
The shelter of a roof above my head,
And in a leaf-laced square along the floor,
Where yellow sunlight glimmers through the door.
I have found such joy in things that fill
My quiet days: a curtain's blowing grace,
A potted plant upon my window sill,
A rose, fresh-cut and placed within a vase;
A table cleared, a lamp beside a chair,
And books I long have loved beside me there.
Oh, I have found such joys I wish I might
Tell every woman who goes seeking far
For some elusive, feverish delight,
That very close to home the great joys are:
The elemental things- old as the race,
Yet never, through the ages, commonplace.
~ Grace Noll Crowell

The Ideal Kitchen

Browsing through an old magazine the other day I saw an article entitled 'Your Ideal Kitchen', it certainly would not be my ideal kitchen.

All stainless steel and glass, half a lemon on a chopping board and three tall vases of grass lined up on the window ledge, it looked more like an operating theatre than a kitchen.

Although delighted with my new kitchen I can't help but recall childhood baking days in Nanna Boyne’s kitchen where knees were kissed, bandages and lemonade dispensed. Warm and inviting, a painted dresser stood just inside the door from the hall. The best china kept safe behind it's glazed doors though mum says the cats used to have their kittens in the lower cupboard!

There was a big black solid fuel range in the fireplace, which, although no longer used for cooking, was fed all day to keep the kitchen warm and the water hot.

Nan was a dab hand at cakes and pies. There would always be a fruit cake in the tin and apple pies would appear as if by magic. She never measured anything except by eye and it seemed an iresistable aroma always filled the house and drifted invitingly down the garden.

I spent many childhood hours at her kitchen table shelling peas or, hands washed, her oversized apron tied around me, I would cheerfully cut stars and animals from scraps of pastry and bake for poor Daddy.

Cats will always pick the warmest spot!

Were's the cat? That's easy on a winters day, just look in the warmest spot. In the evening that's on the sofa in front of the woodburning stove or during the day on our bed, catching a ray of sunshire through the windows.

It's a sunny day today and the seeds I sowed on valentines day are starting to show. I've moved them to the window ledge where they will get more light but now Poppy's sitting on top. If you look closely you can see her thumbs!

Fruity Brown Sauce Recipe

When I ran a B&B, this was my most requested recipe!

1 kg rhubarb
1 kg demerara sugar
500ml red wine vinegar
500g onions red if poss.
1 med. cooking apple
150g sultanas
75g dried cherries or cranberries
2 long red chillies, deseeded
2 cloves garlic
30g minced fresh ginger
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 “ paprika
1 “ salt



Roughly chop the rhubarb, onions & apple, by hand or in the food processor. Finely chop or crush the garlic, chillies and ginger.
Tip all the ingredients into your preserving pan, bring to the boil then turn down to a glugging simmer for about 45 mins after which everything should be a lumpy pulp. Liquidise in small batches ‘til smooth and pour into hot sterilised jars or bottles. Seal and store as usual
Yield approx. 2.5 litres