I've been a wee bit quiet here lately. I think we all get like this over Christmas. So many people to see and things to do. Excited children out for the summer holidays. Beautiful days to enjoy. It's a wonderful time of the year.
So instead of a big long post (well, it might be filled with pictures!) I thought I'd share some pictures of some of the Xmas treats I've made recently.....
Hand made chocolates / truffles
A friend of mine gave me this receipe a while ago and it's sooooo good. I get asked for the receipe whenever I make them, so here it is....
300ml cream
600g dark chocolate
50g unsalted butter
1. Bring cream to boil slowly in pot.
2. when boiled add chocolate and butter and leave to sit for 2 minutes
3. Stir gently with a spatula until smooth (you can add a tbs of alcohol at this stage if you wish).
4. pour into shallow dish, cover and regrigerate for 12 hours
5. Shape mixture into small balls (use a teaspoon), place on baking paper and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
6. Cover with melted chocolate and other toppings you love
A gingerbread star tree. I've wanted to make one of these for a few years and finally brought myself the cutters to make it easy. And it was easy. The hardest part is getting them all to bake so they don't burn. Lesson learnt. Put small ones together and larger ones in seperate times.
More gingerbread. This time in the shape of Xmas trees and biscuit sized stars.
The royal icing is so much fun to use and play with and is super simple. Both the gingerbread receipe and the royal icing receipe I found here. It's a great receipe and the gingerbread is not horrible and hard.
I also quickly made some Xmas puddings from good ole Mellowpuffs.....
When I went to the shops to buys the Mellowpuffs, all the normal ones were gone, everyone else must've had the same idea. Still, the double chocolate stripe worked just as well.
Again, very easy to make. Just top the Mellowpuff with melted white chocolate, some lollie leaves (spearmint ones are perfect), and add in some 'berries'. You can use jaffas, or any other small candies, the main thing is they are red.
The last few years the McClune's have had a 'Make or Bake' Xmas which means that you either make or bake your Xmas presents. So while I was in the baking mood that's what I did....
I brought a lovely serving platter (something to keep for after) then loaded it full of Xmas bark, Xmas puddings, and gingerbread. Wrapped it in some cellophane and done!
For Granny, just a little something to add to her owl collection... an owl biscuit container filled with Gingerbread....
And that was it. Now I just need to remake some stuff as I got the two Sues mixed up and gave to the wrong one. Talk about feeling like an idiot! LOL!
Anyway, that's it from me for the minute. Have a wonderful New Years Eve. And a very happy and safe 2014!!!