Triple Chocolate Muffins

These are definitely a favourite in our house, and so easy to make. I use the same recipe, taken from the book on mentioned in this post and I've never known them not to turn out well. Having said that, I'm sure the next time I make them will prove the exception to the rule!

 

 

Really quick to make and bake, and delicious to eat!

 



Lemon Meringue Pie

So, for the first time ever yesterday I made a lemon meringue pie. I've always loved this pud, and when hubby worked in London, from time to time he would return home with a slice of this most delectable goody from Borough Market's Konditer and Cook. Frankly, none I've eaten has ever beaten theirs.

Yesterday, we were visiting friends and I was bringing pud. Lemon meringue pie is a favourite of theirs too, so I thought I'd be brave and have a go! Not perhaps the best idea to experiment when you're taking it somewhere but there we are. I launched in regardless - and this was the result!

 

 

I didn't think it looked too bad for a first attempt. It probably could have done with a little extra cooling time but having not started it until the afternoon, and it being a bit of a fiddly dish, I didn't have time so there was a little juice running out when we cut into it, but apart from that, it was a success! Seconds were even asked for so I was over the moon.

 

The recipe I used was this one from Good Food. I was looking for an easy one and in the midst of my searching, one from the Good To Know website suggested using a pre bought base and a jar of lemon curd. Yes, I suppose that is easy, but frankly if you're buying all that, you may as well just buy the whole pie premade! Anyway, this Good Food one had a lot of good reviews and it wasn't difficult, so if you're thinking of having a go, I'd recommend the recipe.

 

And sorry there aren't any pictures of when we cut into it, but with three kids and three adults waiting on it, there wasn't much chance of that so you'll just have to take my word on it looking, and tasting really rather yum!

I was thinking of trying it again, and maybe using a lemon and lime mix instead of just lemons next time. Anyone got any other ideas or suggestions?

Recycling For Wrapping Presents

As part of my best friend's Christmas present, we got her an 'Experience' voucher. As you probably know, you can have this sent to you in a gift box type thing, which you pay extra for or you can just have it emailed. I chose the latter, thinking that I had plenty of supplies to do something pretty with it.

I printed out the email on some heavyweight paper and then went rummaging. It was then I came across some packaging my husband had brought home for me, in case I was able to use it for something (yes, he is well trained!).

So, from a boring plastic envelope, the piece became transformed, with the help of some washi tape and flowers, and a little bling into this...

 

The flap where the flower is lifts up and the documentation, telling her about her (hopefully fun!) experience is inside. She thought it was absolutely lovely so that made my day, and it was also nice to give something that looked pretty, rather than just handing over a piece of paper. And all of it was with supplies I already had to hand, plus the base packaging which otherwise would have been tossed in the bin!

 

I hope you like the result too, and may help you look at discarded packaging in a new light. If anyone else has done anything like this, I'd love to see it :) Please leave a link in the comments.

 

Love, Maxi