Summer Berry Trifle

  Have you ever seen a grown woman swoon over a spoonful of trifle. Well yes, I have! Because this recipe is a real 'doozey'.
  Trifles can be a little boring - think the old days when money was a little tight and your lovely Mum had to compromise by using raspberry jam and fruit salad when making the family trifle (it also had to go a long way). And that was the way I thought you should make a trifle until I 'saw the light' and made this one. Yes, raspberries can be a little pricey at Christmas time but that only adds to the luxury of the dish. It gives us a good reason to grow our own raspberries don't you think.
  There is no jam or fruit salad in this delicious bowl of loveliness! Just lots of gorgeous fresh summer berries, custard, (slightly) sherry drenched sponge and cream. And it is so simple to make!
  I thought with the additional sugar the dish may be a bit sickly sweet, but it isn't. 
  It looks pretty and tastes divine, a definite winner. Having made two over the holidays it is now in my Christmas repertoire.
   Like me, the other recipients of the trifle were also in raptures - which is fine with me - I like to make people happy and it means another empty bowl to take home!

Summer Berry Trifle – Fiona Smith - Cuisine magazine Issue # 149

Sponge cake – make your own or use a large square Ernest Adams plain sponge - it is perfect for this

For the fruit

125g sugar

60ml water

2 sheets leaf gelatine (or 1 ½ tsp powdered)

3 cups raspberries

3 cups of strawberries hulled and halved (or quartered if large)

Place the sugar and water in a saucepan. Heat for a few minutes until the sugar dissolves.

Remove from the heat.

Place the gelatine in cold water for 5 mins to soften. If using sheets squeeze out the excess water then stir into the sugar liquid. If using powdered gelatine, sprinkle it over the liquid and wait for it to soften then stir in. Stir in the berries then allow mixture to cool.

To assemble

Sherry to taste

300ml cream, whipped

500ml of custard

Cut the sponge into large cubes. Arrange half the cubes in a large glass bowl then sprinkle with sherry. Top with half the fruit mix and some syrup, then half the custard. Repeat in layers then top with cream.

Serves about 6 - 10 people depending on serve size.

P.S Because I love blueberries I thought I might use blueberries instead of raspberries next time. They might bleed a bit, but worth a try I think.

My layers were not so perfect but still look pretty good

I made the mistake of adding a layer of cream on top of the custard, but it seemed to add to the gorgeousness

Tossed flaked almonds as a garnish on top

Unbaked Christmas cake

I love collecting recipes, especially those from friends with a bit of a personal story.
I have made many, many friends through my volunteering. Said friends have a habit of enjoying a morning tea break or lunch time together. Around the table (as you can imagine) we talk about all sorts of things and invariably we end up talking about food and recipes.
This recipe came from one of those friends. I will not embarrass her by naming her, lets just call her B.
She is an amazing woman, always ready for a challenge. Inspirational, caring, kind, interesting and fun to volunteer with. She is in her latter years but her energy and enthusiasm for life would shame many people half her age.
I have printed the email when she sent the recipe and will always treasure a couple of personal comments she included in her message.
Unbaked Christmas cake ( from B's repertoire)

Place in a large saucepan -

250g butter

1 cup sugar and melt

Add to this hot mixture 2 beaten eggs – remove from stove

Add two packets of crushed (not too small)  malt biscuits. Add 1 tsp of Rum, brandy, almond lemon or vanilla essence.

Add 3 cups of mixed dried fruit such as currants, sultanas, raisins, papaya (lovely for colour), cherries, peel, ginger and cut up brazil nuts.

Press mixture immediately into a large flat baking tin and cover with slivered almonds and put in fridge to set.

Cut into small pieces and place in an airtight container and keep in fridge.

Keeps well, excellent to have on hand to serve with coffee etc. at Christmas time. It is nice and sweet so a little goes a long way.

 

Bliss balls - chocolate and cranberry - gluten free

Until recently I had never heard of a Bliss Ball  (I don't get out much!) On the Healthy page of the Sunday Star Times, I came across this nice gluten free, healthy option and really liked the look of them.
I have since seen Bliss Balls displayed on a couple of cafe counters! And if you go on line you will find many varieties of this little treat. But I have found this recipe the most versatile as it is sugar free (sort of), dairy and gluten free. Ideal to have around at Christmas for your family and friends who avoid all of the above.
You will see from this recipe it contains a large amount of dried fruit. There is your sugar, but in my book that doesn't really count as real sugar.
I hope you like them.

Choc-Cranberry Bliss Balls

Sunday Star Times –  Niki Bezzant

Makes about 12 balls

1 tbsp no added sugar or salt peanut butter

½ c dates

2 tbsp cocoa

½ sultanas

½ c cranberries

½ natural almonds

Chop dates into smaller pieces. Process all the ingredients with 2tbsp warm water, scoop out even amounts and roll into balls. I used a lovely Martha Stewart scoop I purchased in the US a couple of years ago. It is perfect for the job as the handle has a spring that slides a lever that pushes the mixture out. (if you get what I mean).

If desired you could roll in chocolate hail or coconut but they are equally nice without a coating.

I double the recipe too, as they keep well in an airtight tin.

Post Christmas

The day turned out to be perfect in the end. In fact, the nicest day in a while in Welly. The sun shone while a breeze gently washed our garden setting. The 'inside' Christmas table lay idle. Instead we made our way down to the deck in our garden and wiled away 5 hours of eating, drinking and enjoying (an often) lively conversation and each others company.
It was a seafood themed lunch and as part of the menu I made individual smoked salmon terrines. They were a triumph and definitely a dish to make again. I didn't pour the chilli sauce over the terrine, but served it to one side. (The recipe can be found here http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/8359/smoked-salmon-and-avocado-terrines

The baked salmon was also fabulous! I took the 'salmon by its fins' and baked it to perfection in our kettle BBQ. The salmon stuffing ended up as a mixture from Jamie Oliver and a 'tried and true' recipe from my friend Deb. The lemon, herbs and thinly sliced fennel made a delicious side dish for the salmon, along with Oamaru Jersey Benny potatoes and fresh French beans.
Our guests made the desserts, a gorgeous berry terrine (by Delia Smith http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/cuisine/european/english/a-terrine-of-summer-fruits.html).
It was a joy to photograph and eat - served with runny cream and yoghurt!

along with a wonderful nutty Christmas pudding, generously drizzled with runny cream.

This post is purposely full of adjectives. While we missed having our families with us, we all agreed it really was, 'one out of the box'. One of those magic summer days we will always remember!

My seaside themed Christmas

I have been having some fun over the past few days as I put my beach themed Christmas together. Although we can see a lot of the ocean from our house, we live on a hill some distance from an actual beach. Don't get me wrong, I love our view and never tire looking at it but it would be nice to own a place right by the sea.
I have always fancied myself having a beach house, a place to escape to over the summer, where I could invite all my family and friends to visit and where I could chill out while my man goes fishing every day to catch our dinner. Mmmmmm.....
I do have quite a few lovely memories of visiting such places. Not at the house right on the beach but a place close to the beach with the sound of the sea gently washing onto the shore (in Fiji). And one lovely holiday at a typical elderly Kiwi bach very close to a lake, in fact about 10 paces from the water's edge. I slept in what was the converted boat shed complete with big soft bed enveloped by a much needed mosquito net. A truly magic, quiet, relaxing holiday near Rotorua. In more recent years, a lovely weekend away to a beach house on the Kapiti Coast (mostly spent inside due to the inclement weather), idly away the time reading, playing board games sipping on some superb wines.
As of today I have not achieved the dream of actually owning a beach house but I can certainly keep on dreaming!
To help with my beach themed Christmas, I decided to make some decorations, to (hopefully) help create the right ambience for our Christmas day seafood lunch.
I searched the internet for ideas and made up a few myself. A trip down to the beach at Owhiro Bay later, you can see the results. A good friend of mine helped (in a huge way - thank you Julia!) by lending me her Christmas beach themed decorations. Have a look at what else they can offer at Christmas Treesy Peasy. https://www.facebook.com/ChristmasTreesyPeasy
I should probably go and buy a proper 'live' Christmas tree, but my little retro (1970's) tree has so many memories for me I couldn't really leave it in its box!
Looking at the final result, my general feeling was that I needed my much more talented artistic daughter Becky to help me!
But every time I look at my efforts I have a little chuckle..... it's the small things that can make us happy....

Made by Becky

Made by Becky

Made by Becky

Have a merry Christmas everyone!

   

Christmas time - what it means to me

I have been trying to feel a little more 'Christmassy' and having just returned from a week in Christchurch - I think the feeling has finally kicked in.
In more recent years I have thought of the Christmas season as more of a time for sharing, a time to feel grateful and a time to reflect. This week was no different, as I had the opportunity to spend time with my southern family and friends. And, yes often this time was spent over fabulous food and a glass of wine or two.
One such friend gave me a beautiful Christmas note about our lasting friendship, a friendship that has not been dulled by distance or time. We met over thirty five years ago. Over that time we have each experienced times of great stress, sadness and change (some of it our own making!). And now, over lunch (with that behind us), updating each other and sharing news on how proud we are of our families, our past and current achievements (in work, study and the community) and our current contentment in our homes and life in general.
I think as you get older 'things' don't seem to mean so much to you. Don't get me wrong - I like nice baubles and receiving presents (and quaffing great wine) - but I would give them away in a blink of an eye if I had to chose between 'things' and my relationships with family and friends.
Actually I think I am becoming a bit of a bore with Christmas shopping. I don't really enjoy it as much as I used to. For me it just seems so jolly commercial and the malls so over whelming.
Recently my daughter came up with a new way for the grandchildren to receive a family gift in 2014. A special voucher for one on one 'date' with an Aunt or Uncle to do something fun and inexpensive like making a tree hut, spending time in the garden, or exploring the sea shore for treasures or making a dress up outfit for a special occasion. I really like that idea, it should be encouraged.
Where I can, I would much prefer to make my own gifts. Which is what I have done again this year... grapefruit marmalade, Christmas cakes, a Ginger Loaf and Christmas mince pies. (A thought -  next year I might even have a go at making my own Christmas mince).
My sewing machine has also been kept busy making little girls dresses, swimming bags and the latest grandchild received his special Nana Santa sack.
In the past I made mini Pecan pies and Christmas mince pies too, using short crust pastry. But last week I decided to bake them in my sponge kisses tin using puff pastry. A nice change and a huge hit. I just have to remember to grease the tins a bit more - the failed ones were 'dug out', quickly cooled and eaten by moi!
There is one little luxury I adore at Christmas. The season is short but they are sure to get me in a Christmassy mood. And they always remind me of my mother who also adored them. Cherries! They have to be those big fat dark, dark, juicy crimson ones. It just so happened we found them this week in a cherry orchard stall while travelling back from Christchurch. Only half of them made it home to Welly! Popped in the fridge, they are nicely chilled and the perfect snack to enjoy on a warm summers day. A kilogram just about does it for me until next year!

help yourself straight out of the tin

 

Marlborough cherries - yum!

Christmas goings on

Christmas day in Christchurch was a winner.
I love the tradition of my Christmas, usually a church service in the morning (with lots of carol singing) then the main meal of the day to look forward to.
This year we all sat outside at long tables and in spite of the cloud overhead I ended up with a very bad dose of sunburn, I forgot about the intensity of the sun here. 
Fourteen adults and eight children from a number of families shared a typical kiwi Christmas mid-day meal. The tables looked lovely, beautiful Christmas paper used as runner on a white table cloth, simply decorated with candy canes and silver and red strings of beads. Our meal really traditional and delicious, our entertainment, typical - watching the children open their presents, squealing, tearing about, enjoying their new toys.

Due to the wind it was a little difficult to keep everything on the table but my dear daughter who just loves Christmas put her creativity to the max by decorating and creating a lovely Christmas table of treats for the children. The ice-cream trees were the final magic touch for dessert, I just loved them - so clever. To find out how to make the trees check out her wonderful blog http://beckypiesky.blogspot.co.nz/2012/12/icecream-christmas-trees.html

Unfortunately there were no icecream trees for the adults, but it reminded me how much I love 'goody goody gum drop' icecream, it is actually my favourite icecream, mental note to self - have two scoops in a cone sometime over the summer, whilst relaxing in the sun, gazing out to a blue Wellington harbour!
I kept my little dish of nibbles for drinks simple, the traditional almonds, raisins, cashew nuts and crystallised ginger. We have the same treats every year and I wouldn't have it any other way. My new addition of homemade Christmas truffles went down well,  they will become a regular from this year onwards.

Christmas truffles - as promised

This year we are celebrating Christmas with my family in Christchurch. It is the first time in years I will not have to cook or organise the day, a job my daughter and her hubby have taken on which is so nice. Our family has grown substantially over the last few years, so Christmas is a fun, busy, noisy time, tinged with a little sadness now that my dear mother is no longer with us..... she loved Christmas.
In true kiwi tradition everyone has been assigned a dish to bring on the day (we were told in October, good planning skills B) for the table, a great way of sharing the load and expense. My task is to make a fruit salad and little nibbles for drinks, tick.
I am so looking forward to the day, predictions are it will be a scorcher! 
It seems a bit of an overload to make truffles but this is a particularly nice and cute little recipe given to me by my friend Deb. Rich - yes, delicious - yes, lots of calories - yes - but who cares at this time of the the year. Take one Christmas pudding add a cake of melted dark chocolate and voila, little things of yumminess! They are really nice to have with coffee at the end of a meal (somehow you always find room) or to give as a gift to the host at a gathering.
I went on line to check the recipe's original creator and discovered many variations of the same recipe. I understand Nigella Lawson and Allison Holst have similar recipes but using different ingredients so my feeling is the recipe is not exclusive and we are free to play around with the flavours and call it our own. Some truffle recipes use fruit cake, with a little apricot jam or orange zest added and brandy instead of sherry.
Christmas Truffles 

1 biggish Plum Duff (just a supermarket one or you can use your left over pud from Christmas) – break up and soak in…

70ml sweet sherry ( use less liquid if it is a smaller Plum Duff) and mash mixture with a fork.

Add 150g dark chocolate – melted and 2tbsp of golden syrup. Mix all together in a large bowl and let it cool down a little in the fridge. When firm'ish, roll into balls and place on a tray lined with baking paper. 
Don't do what I did and try and make them in a hurry and roll them when the mixture was not firm enough. I had to redo them as they were not nice little balls, more like a blob!

Let's try that again shall we

Topping - gently melt 100g white chocolate buttons in a bowl in the microwave for about 40 seconds in 10 second bursts ( or melt using the double boiler method).

Using a teaspoon -drizzle the top, letting the white chocolate drip down the sides a little - decorate with bits of green and red glace cherries. 

Christmas truffle -  not a bad first effort after a poor start

To make them look even more special - place in Christmas themed mini cup cases

Makes about 25

Copied off the web to show what they should look like