Pud

DIAMOND JUBILEE STRAWBERRY CRUMBLE CRUNCH

I found this Heston recipie on the Waitrose website and it's delish! I have made it on several occasions and it it simple and tasty. As we have a glut of Goosberries on the allotment I have bunged them in this particular offering and it works equally as well as the strawberries suggested in the original.

Ingredients:

For the crumble -

50g golden caster sugar

65g ground almonds (I use corn meal as Himself is allergic)

50g plain flour

Pinch of salt

50g unsealed butter

For the strawberry compote -

400g chopped strawberries

120g fruit sugar

20ml vodka (optional)

Juice of 1 lemon

1 tsp rose water

20ml elderflower cordial

For the marbled cream - 

160ml whipping cream

400g natural bio yoghurt

To serve - 

60g meringue pieces

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 169*C / Gas mark 3

2. To make crumble place caster sugar, almonds, flour and salt in food processor and pulse a couple of times to mix through. Add butter and pulse until lumps of dough are formed (works just as well rubbed in by hand) spread crumble on lined baking tray and cook for 20-30 mins until golden brown. Remove and allow to cool

3. Put strawberries and jam sugar in a bowl ad leave for 15 mins. Add vodka if using and lemon juice. Put in pan over medium heat , bring to the boil and allow to cook for 6 mins or until the fruit has broken down and formed a syrup. Place in a bowl of iced water to cool, add the rosewater and cordial, stir to combine.

4. For the marbled cream, whip cream to medium peaks, fold in the yoghurt and add 2 tbsp of the compote and fold thorough for the rippled effect.

5. To assemble place the compote in the bottom of the bowl, top with the marbled cream. Sprinkle with meringue pieces and crumble to finish.

To be honest I don't bother with the Rosewater or the vodka and I just leave the compote to cool naturally as we don't have a freezer. Also, this time I hadn't realised Himself had polished off the elderflower cordial until I was half way through preparing the ingredients so I used what what ever happened to be on the counter - in this instance it was Ribena! Basically, I ignore the recipe most of the time. For aesthetic purposes I prefer to serve it up in individual glasses as after the first serving out of the large bowl it begins to look like a hot mess - not that it sits around around long enough to notice of course! 

Hello Sweet Pea!

My first bunch of 'Kings High Scent' sweet peas, filling the room with the smell of summer as I type.

Painshill Park

Lovely, lovely Painshill Park in Cobham, Surrey. Created in the 18th century it takes you on a tranquil route choc full of lakes, vistas and follies.

The Gothic Temple 

The view from inside the folly across to Five Arch Bridge

The Ruined Abbey

Sat here for a little picnic then had a quick look in the walled garden as we had to get back to 'the boy'

We only did half of the walk as we were under a time constraint so we missed seeing the Crystal Grotto, Gothic Tower, Waterwheel and Hermatige. In short, more follies than you can shake a stick at!

Hatchlands Park

Just a gentle womble around Hatchlands, East Clandon, Surrey this week.

Due to the random opening hours of the house we stuck to the grounds and consoled ourselves afterwards with a cheese sandwich!

The approach to the house

The Temple near to the Ice House

The house as seen from the walk around the surrounding grounds 'Maintaining The Peep' (that's one for the Micky Flanagan fans)

A Little Posy

My cornflowers have just started to bloom so I proudly picked my first bunch this afternoon.

Summer in a vase!

Stinky Stuff

Man alive but I love TK Maxx. I know the jumble sale inspired layout and quality roulette is not for everyone but I have bought some fandabbiedozie stuff from them (and a croc of plop too sometimes, I must admit!) The most frustrating thing about this shop is that when you do stumble across a product that turns out to be a little gem it's practically impossible to repurchase. Having said that, I did manage to track down another of these candles by CIR, in the scent 'Bay'

They are currently on sale for £5.99 (originally £23) and although they don't burn quite as cleanly as Jo Malone candles (£39 eeek!) this fragrance is equally as effective in filling the room with it's lovely whiff. 

The Talkies

THEY DON'T MAKE EM LIKE THEY USED TO

Eeeeh, when I were lass we had none of this High School Musical nonsense. It was back to back honest to goodness 80's styled fantasy adventure. Disturbing, ridiculous, amusing and the ultimate in escapism. Here's my top 5 in no particular order.

Labyrinth

'You remind me of the babe!'

David Bowie in a pair of leggins that still haunt me to this day.

Ladyhawk

'Find her and the wolf who loves her'

Two lovers cursed to only glimpse each other at sunset, accompanied by man child Matthew Broderick.

The Dark Crystal

'Smells like gelfling, must be gelfling'

A procession of creatures each more horrifying than the next (even the goodies!)

The Never Ending Story

'Call my name Bastian, please!'

So the horse was named after a dubious effect in 80's home decor, I still cried when Artex drowned.

Legend

'I only wanted to touch one!'

The irritating female lead triggers a demonic shift in the balance of her world because she can't keep her bloody hands to herself. Also notable as the film that 'introduced' Tom Cruise.

The Princess Bride

'You killed my father, prepare to die!'

 Adventure, romance, a Spaniard, a giant and speech impediments...genius.