Tuesday delights

baking

painting

creating

listening

wearing

admiring

nature

sunshine

happy days to you

xx

Lemon Meringue Cupcakes

Ok,  So I came across this recipe whilst wasting away such precious hours on Pinterest from this gorgeous blog.  I would easily say this is one recipe that once made looks way more impressive than the time taken to make them!  All up - I'd say I spent 20 minutes at it, and that included baking time!   I love anything lemon but am not really a fan on meringue but gave it ago and wow-ee this packs a punch!  So going to whip these babies up when I next have dinner guests!!!


Here is what you need.... 


200g shortbread biscuits

3 eggs, separated
1 can sweetened condensed milk
zest and juice of 1 lemon
1/3 cup of caster sugar

This is what you do....

1. Preheat oven to 180C (350F). And line 12 holes of a muffin tray with papers.

2. Smash shortbread with a rolling pin in a bag or whizz in the food processor until you have coarse crumbs. Divide crumbs between the muffin trays.

3. Combine egg yolks, condensed milk, lemon juice and zest in a bowl and place on top of the crumb bases.

4. Whisk egg whites until stiff. Gradually add sugar and continue to beat for a few more minutes until the sugar is dissolved.

5. Spoon whites on top of the lemon filling.

6. Bake for 10 minutes or until the meringue is golden. Cool before serving.


And before you've had time to flick the kettle on and lick the remnants of condensed milk these babies will be done. 


xx

lemon tart

We had our very good friends over the other day for dinner and were remincing at how we met....

.....we were both new mothers (my boy around 6 months old and her little bundle was but a mere newborn!).

It was at an auction down the road as.... Hubby and I were thinking of renovating our small little art deco home but we weren't sure if we should sell up and buy something a little bigger...we went to check it out and so did Paula and Jay.

As mothers with young children do - we eye'd each other off, admired each other's babies and said our goodbyes.  Luckily we bumped into each other a few months later at the local library - quickly started chatting and swapped numbers!  That was over four years ago.  I don't know where I would be without my Kiwi neighbour who leaves me delectable goodies in my letterbox, or who I would chat to about newly found recipes, op shop finds or tantrumming toddlers and dinner dillema's. 

So with Hubby in charge of the bbq aspect of the meal, I was left to dessert as I had kindly requested that Paula make me this salsa!

So I made a lemon tart! And I thought I would share the recipe....

Ingredients:
Pastry:

2 cups flour
150g soft butter, diced
pinch salt
1 egg
1/4 cup caster sugar
plain flour for dusting

place the flour, butter and salt in a bowl and rub together until the mixture resembles fine breadcumbs.  Break the egg into a separate bowl, add caster sugar and mix lightly.  Add to the flour mixture and mix the until the pastry comes together.  Wrap in cling film and chill for 30 minutes.

Pre heat oven to 180 degrees.

Roll the pastry on a lightly floured board to 3mm thickness.  Line a 25cm flan tin with the pastry working your finger around the side of the tin to make sure the pastry is pushed down into the corners.  Trim off any excess with a knife.

Prick the base of the pastry shell with a fork and rest for 30 minutes. Line the pastry with baking paper, then add baking beans or rice.  Blind bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven.  Remove paper and weights and bake for another 5 minutes.

Lemon Tart

4 eggs
1 cup caster sugar
grated zest of 2 lemons
1/3 cup lemon juice
250g melted butter
1 1/4 ground almonds
and cream to serve

With oven preheated at 180 degrees....
Beat eggs and sugar until lighht and doubled in size - about 10 minutes!
Add lemon zest and juice, butter and almonds, then mix together gently.

Pour into blind-baked tart shell and bake in the oven for 40 minutes or until golden brown and set.

Serve and room temperature with cream.

xx

Friday loves {the man and some lemons}

A few loves that I'm having at the moment!

{image}

1.  Lemons - perfect time for lemons right about now, and when I go for walks around my neighbourhood I see lemon trees filled to the brim with gorgeous plump lemons.  Luckily I have a few friends and relatives with such delightful trees and take as many as I can grab!  They are my favourite colour and I love the taste I've been known to slice and eat!  Yum yum yum!

{lemon slice}

2. Lemon recipes...

Ok so some of my favourite things to do with lemons;
 * Drink lemon cordial with a slice of lemon
 * Drink tonic water (and maybe some gin) with several slices of lemon

 * Make this awesome lemon slice
 * Eat these amazing pancake lemon muffins (believe me - they taste exactly like pancakes with sugar and lemon!!)








3.  The man.... My man to be exact - He's very special of course but this week his business website went live.  Two years ago (when our second child was all of 3 months old) my husband quit his job to start his own business.  He worked from home for the first six months, at times things got tough, then he found a great office space (3 minutes from home *bliss*) and now works with his business partner and bestie Steve and they've employed two others.  Proud of you my love and saying it loud!!

happy friday
xx

ps - linking this with the always inspiring Maxabella and her grateful link