~Lemon Curd recipe~

As promised to my lovely colleague J - here is my lemon curd recipe for her son C to have a go at making!  It's a tangy little number - I've tried a few different permutations and quantities and find this one is more lemony and less eggy than some recipes! It's especially delicious on toast, in the middle of blueberry muffins, or used to sandwich a sponge cake together. It makes 2 small jars and lasts about 2 weeks (or it would if you didn't snaffle it all v. quickly!)

RECIPE
Grate 3 unwaxed lemons finely (just the yellow zest layer) then cut them in half and squeeze out the juice. Add the zest and the sieved juice to a bowl over a pan of hot water on the hob.

Weigh 8oz (200g) caster sugar and 4oz (100g) butter...

Add it to the juice/zest in the bowl, turn on the heat and cook slowly, stirring with a balloon whisk until the sugar is melted and doesn't feel 'gritty' any more...(about 5-10 minutes)

Then add 2 beaten eggs to the mixture, whisking and mixing all the time (you do not want lemony scrambled eggs - so do not leave the kitchen at this stage!) I whisk it all the time at first, and then every minute or so...it takes about 20-30 minutes until it thickens up. (Don't overcook it as it thickens when it cools, too).
Pour into jars (sterilised in dishwasher or oven @ 160 degrees for 10 minutes.) Store in the fridge.

~Time for Tea - March event~

So sorry for my prolonged absence - virus and problems with the PC, the screen took to switching itself off until it finally went *kaput* today.  We have no pennies to replace it sadly, it's an ancient 8 years in PC land, so OH has frugally rigged up a TV as a new display screen.
 Hope everyone is well - it will take me some time to catch up with my favourite blogs; but thankfully it's the Easter hols! Spring cleaning and sorting out cupboards and wardrobes beckons...
My tea event last weekend (24th March) went very well, 8 guests attended, 7 ladies and 1 gent, including some lovely ladies met via Twitter, Clandestine Cake Club and Blogland (you know who you are - thankyou for the lovely company!)
The menu had an Easter and Spring theme...

Welcome drinks - Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb, Orange & Ginger Cordial (Country Cordials, Hovingham)

Sandwiches - Fountain's Gold cheese with Caramelised Onion & Rhubarb Chutney (Bracken Hill Fine Foods, York)

Jo's Special Cucumber sandwiches

Savouries - Homemade spicy sausage rolls

Cakes - Lemon Layer Cake with homemade lemon curd

and passion fruit cream

Fruit scones, clotted cream & homemade red berry jam

Chocolate macaroons

Mini simnel cakes

Unlimited tea and coffee  



Mini-Simnel cakes - with 5 balls of marzipan as I couldn't fit 11 on!



Amaretti Chocolate macaroons



All that was left of the lemon layer cake decorated with crystallised primroses

 I am now having a break in my tea events until September when it will be an informal gathering for Macmillan fundraising - date to follow if you'd like to attend.
I have lots of exciting things to share over the next week, including swapping my car for a bigger engine/diesel model that - yay!- is able, and hopefully will very soon, be towing a caravan!Hurrah! Lots of vintage finds too to share, and some projects I have managed to get finished!

~50s Night - some photos~

A good night was had by all! No wonder I'm tired when we walked the 2 miles home, getting in (ahem) when the birdies were tweeting! We were let down by our Hair & Beauty students, and after an unsuccessful Twitter appeal I asked my lovely Mum if she would step into the hairdresser breach!
As you know, I don't 'do' personal photos, but hopefully I am unidentifiable in this...
How unattractive is this shot of me in my rollers (Babyliss £17 from Argos)

New heated rollers aren't a patch on old ones...here are my friend C's 1970s Carmens which had better grip...

Mum was thorough with the authentic (painful) rollering and backcombing - thankyou Mum, sterling job!
This is friend B's hair from the back...

C's hair - finished (below) looked really lovely.

My hair from the back...

and the side...

My main course went really well  - I cooked Beef (skirt) in 2 bottles of Theakson's Old Peculier Ale with thyme, parsnip, swede and mushrooms, served with glazed carrots, piped duchess potatoes (Smash) and baked leek and spring greens. All washed down with Brandy & Babycham (a delicious revelation) and Crabbies ginger beer.

~Time for Tea - Feb event~

Yesterday's afternoon tea theme was Berries, Cherries and love, in honour of Valentine's Day. 6 ladies (and one baby nephew) sat down to tea at 2pm, following a welcome drink of homemade pink lemonade.

The table theme was red, with gingham and roses cloths, matching vintage china and table gifts of mini-heart candles. Have used a photo of the table setting for my new header - I used L's swanky camera and did a bit of editing with special effects. Her camera is tons better than mine!

I was ably assisted by daughter L and best friend J in the tea-making and serving of the cakey delights...

I made some mini-bunting for the cherry and almond cake.  The double choc brownies with macadamia nuts were lovely.  My favourites were the homemade jammie dodgers, which turned out really well and were yummy. I added some custard powder to the mix, which made them a lovely yellow colour.  I sieved homemade raspberry jam for the filling.

Next event is in March, with a Spring themed menu (yet to be decided on!).
Some of my guests brought me a thoughtful gift of rhubarb from the Rhubarb Festival in Wakefield, which Anne at Marmalade and Catmint posted about yesterday. A bunch of Oldroyd's rhubarb tied with green ribbon - more attractive and delicious than flowers I think!

I'll be making a crumble with it on Monday morning. Thankfully I've got a day off on Monday to catch up with domestic stuff that has accumulated over the last busy week.

~Vintage Fair at Rivers Meet Craft Cafe~

Bbbrrr, it's been a cold weekend here in Yorkshire, the snow has lingered due to the low temperatures.  It was minus 5 on my garden thermometer yesterday morning - and I have to confess I stayed in my PJs and watched a dramatisation of Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca starring Charles Dance & Emilia Fox.  I hardly ever do that, so it was a nice treat.
 I loved the feathery ice pattern on the conservatory window on Saturday morning...

Today I went along with Anne from Marmalade & Catmint, and my lovely Mum,  to a Valentine Craft & Vintage Fair here...

Rivers Meet Craft Cafe in Methley, near Leeds.   I remember this building as a pub a few years ago - it was given a new lease of life as a craft and foodie haven when it was reopened by Joanne and Richard as Rivers Meet in Autumn 2011.  It's open 7 days a week for food, and the in-house craft shop has some fantastic fabrics and beads too. There are also sewing, quilting and other craft classes, along with a book group. See other blogs here and here for foodie reviews and more lovely photos of this unique place, which, judging by today's busy cafe, is obviously a very popular hub of the community.

I caught up with Margaret again from Ready Planted  (@MaggyAnne on Twitter) whose stall looked very pretty and Spring-like.  I bought some Hellebores and Mum treated me to my first daffodils of the year at 50p a bunch.

Margaret's son paints the bespoke signs, they really are the nicest I've come across - his contact details are on the sign on the right under 'For Quotes and Orders' ...I'm looking forward to welcoming Margaret to my March afternoon tea event too.

A cup of tea and a slice of cake on pretty vintage china in the cafe ...

Now to more purchases...

Some East of India ribbon and labels from Chicken Shed Gifts who also have an online shop. 

  Some more ribbons and a handmade ditsy corsage from Twisted Vintage, who open their shop in Whitwood, Castleford, next month.

This cute wooden mini bunting from Twisted Vintage...

A couple of fat quarters of this pretty faux patchwork cotton lawn.  I might recover my piano (sewing) stool with this during half-term...Anne bought some fat quarters too, I'm sure she will post about them too - we both had cameras in-hand to take some snaps!

I may be back there for a half-term breakfast treat with the kids this week!

~Time for Tea - Jan event~

Six ladies sat down to tea today, for a lovely afternoon where we all tried (hard) to forget about diets just for a couple of hours...
Thankyou to all who attended and of course J for her help and donning her trusty apron again! Guests included Anne from Marmalade & Catmint blog, who has taken some photos and posted on her blog too here... Thankyou for the tulips Anne, seen on my new header, and also the wine encased in a cosy garter-stitched jumper!
The table was set with a red and green theme, using some of my favourite china and linens, including this Woods ware green cup and saucer.  Thankyou to Teapigs tea for their support too - guests took some teabags home too, along with polka dot packets of veggie seeds and leftover cake.

The theme was 'Comfort Food', so I had to include my favourite nostalgic treat - Battenburg!

Also a very rich Brownie Cake...

I ended up substituting Yorkshire Fountain's Gold cheese for Swaledale, also from Yorkshire and still as tasty with the green tomato chutney.

Looking forward to February's event - time to get my thinking cap on!

~Catching Up, Baking & Charity Shop Karma~

After a busy here-there-and everywhere week, I have a day off to bake tomorrow in preparation for Saturday's afternoon tea. Just making some teacakes now, so can't stay long...
A quick blog catch-up and say hello (and thankyou xx) to new followers of my blog.  Also thanks for great comments - I'm still losing comments that I try and leave, frustrating to say the very least, but I am keeping up to date reading all your blogs. A message to Jan on the lovely blog Stand and Stare about the perils of crochet... I agree with Scarlet that YouTube is good for tutorials, also VideoJug, just search the name of the stitch such as 'treble crochet'.  I have given up (shame) as I find my crochet inadequacies far too difficult to face! Knitting for me!  My attempt at a granny square ends up as a tight tension circle, which my small dog could wear as a beanie hat. Let me know how you get on Jan, and I might feel more inspired to have another go!
After some disappointing charity shop visits, which we all have had recently,  I had a good day yesterday.  I visited the deli/cheesemongers/cafe  Love Cheese on Gillygate in York (@LoveCheeseYork on Twitter) to buy some local cheese and noticed a charity shop next door...   Of course I went in.
I got this Laura Ashley cardigan for a reasonable £3.50.

 Charity shop Karma I believe, as I coveted it earlier this year in the actual shop and couldn't afford it.  It's part of their nostalgic 'Archive' collection which is ....'a range of dresses, shirts and cardigans using prints from a bygone era. Beautiful bird, butterfly and floral prints reference this season’s passion for Botanicals, with delicate vines, sprigs and roses'
So chuffed with it.  It's a tad too large but never mind. So I'll pass my good fortune on, and inform you of the lovely things in the RSPCA charity shop on Gillygate, York. Highly recommended and Happy Thrifting!

~Secret Dining Tearooms & Supperclubs~

 Time For Tea @ Lavender Attic, my pop-up tearoom is taking place on

 Saturday Jan 21st 2pm - theme Comfort Food

also Saturday Feb 25th 2pm

and Sat 24th March 2pm

I seat 8 at each event. For availablility and tickets (£12) visit the supperclub website here or click on the link on my blog sidebar.

You can attend as a lone diner, or in pairs or groups; all that's needed is a willingness and desire to meet and chat with fellow guests and enjoy sandwiches, savoury treats and cakes.  I create a lovely relaxed and nostalgic atmosphere with vintage china and linen, fairy lights, bunting and music.  

As I've written before, I'm a member of http://www.supperclubfangroup.ning.com/ where you can locate all the secret supperclubs and tearooms around the UK and beyond. This growing phenomenon is a fab way to eat excellent food for a reasonable price if you are at least a bit adventurous and like meeting people, and having a nosey at other peoples houses!  People that attend are usually like-minded foodies who are secret-dining their way around Yorkshire and beyond. The OH and I attended Dinner at The Manor in Leeds prior to Christmas for a Delia-Christmas food night, which was our first supperclub visit, and turned out to be a real treat. We bumped into Jini, who I'd met previously at Clandestine Cake Club. I never got round to writing about it before Christmas, but there's a good review of the evening and photographs of the food, which was delicious, (especially the broccoli soup and the pheasant terrine!) on Jini's blog - The Munchy Medic. Jini also explains a bit more about how supperclubs operate.
Tonight the OH and I are zipping over to York for an Italian-inspired meal at The Tin Duck Supperclub including beef shin ragu with homemade pappardelle and plum and almond tart with vanilla mascarpone cream. I promise I will take my camera and write about our evening. I am driving but the OH will be taking a nice bottle of wine to enjoy.

~Christmas Foodie Treats~

Just wanted to share a couple of my favourite foodie treats that I bought today for Christmas. I visited Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, where I love the Little Delicatessen, which stocks deli food, local produce and local brewery ales (Sam Smiths & John Smiths breweries are in Tadcaster).

This is so gorgeous if like me, you love cherries...

Organic cherry fruit beer.

I bought a few bottles as Christmas day table gifts. How lovely is the artwork on the label too?

And Tracklements Chilli Jam....

Despite making my own Chilli Jam, this was the first one I ever bought years ago, and it remains top of my list. See Tracklements range here. Here it is in front of my Kitsch kitchen Christmas tree, and yes I have already had a spoonful! Hopefully there'll be some left for Christmas Day!

The Little Delicatessen

3 High St

TADCASTER

LS249AP

United Kingdom

Tel: 01937 833244