Port trifle

Trifle time, I always make trifle at this time of year. I used raspberry jelly, trifle sponges and fresh black cherries. I added a bit of port to the jelly liquid (reduced the amount of boiling water by the same amount). Then a layer of strawberry blancmange and whipped cream on top. Blancmange is like flavoured custard. I used to be able to get chocolate, raspberry, vanilla and strawberry blancmange powder made by a company called pierce and duff, but over the last couple of years I’ve only been able to get the strawberry one in a plastic packet. It seems a shame, but I’m obviously an old fashioned cook. Anyway I have just had a portion of this delicious dessert. X

My treat, Irish coffee

Coffee with sweetener, cream and whisky.

I don’t take sugar, which makes it harder to float the cream on top of this drink. The whisky is only a single measure of a blended scotch. The coffee is a decaffeinated instant coffee. If I had some in I would eat a sweet mince pie with it. It makes me feel like Christmas is on the way. I remember when I was first allowed one of these on a family trip to an Indian restaurant.

I sometimes have it without alcohol, it’s not always what I want to drink, but this is a treat. I think as the weather has got colder I’ve started to have more comfort food. I must watch my weight.

Cream

Time for cream to celebrate, on mince pies, trifle and pud. With brandy added or sugar, it’s got to make it good.

On chocolate hot, or a steaming pot of coffee with some whisky. Cream is such a delightful treat, when it’s single, double of whisk-ed.

Add a bit to soups and sauces, give a drop to fruit and berries, savour its flavour in cocktails too. It all depends what you do!

Peters Tavern, Hanley

Goulash

We went to the city centre of Stoke-on-Trent today, its called Hanley. We were recommended to try Peters Tavern which is a Hungarian restaurant. My hubby and I thought we would try goulash. He had Hungarian goulash and I had a pork one with sauerkraut and cream. Both meals came with a very soft white bread (perhaps sourdough?). They were very tasty. I’m afraid I can’t remember what mine was called, but was lovely. Nice friendly atmosphere there too.

Scones

Our tea at Westport lake cafe was coffee and scones with jam and clotted cream.

I put jam on first, then cream on top. Some people do it the other way round (cream first) how?

Scones are pronounced scownes rhymes with owns or scons, rhymes with ones. It depends what part of the country you live in… For a small country we have a lot of differences in accents!

Strawberries and cream

Looking for comfort food, I’ve got strawberries in the fridge but no cream. I’m going to get some tomorrow. I want something fresh and summery to remind me summer is going to arrive, that picnics might happen again. That I can visit the park again with friends one day. That life can be restored.. All that in a bowl of strawberries and cream….

Half made trifle

Made another trifle today, I used sugar free jelly (not jam) which I added blueberries to with a small amount of port. Then topped with strawberry blancmange. Now it needs a topping of whipped cream… Yum!

I think it’s the cold weather and boredom that has drawn me to making my favourite dessert. The trick is to let the jelly cool and set before you add the topping of blancmange, and to let that cool before you add it to the jelly so it doesn’t melt it. Plus I add slightly less liquid to each bit so I know it will thicken properly.

Tasty.

Trifle time

It turned out very tasty and fruity. I use sugar free jelly and blancmange, but the amount of fruit I put in was very naughty.

As I whipped the cream I was a bit enthusiastic with the hand whisk and some od it went over my Christmas jumper! At least we were not going out so I can slob around in my pyjamas and dressing gown.

By the way instead of sherry I used fortified British wine that was very fruity.

Cheers everyone!

Just making a trifle

I usually make a trifle at Christmas, but I’m doing it for New Years Eve and Day this time (so it will be a two year old trifle!).

This is only the start, but it looked so pretty. I’ve put a pint of sugar free rasperry jelly (made up with half a pint if boiling water and a quarter of a pint of cold water and a quarter of a pint if sherry. (jelly is not the American version of jam, but is it called jello). I added chopped strawberries and whole blackberries to the liquid. Any slightly mouldy ones are going on the bird feeding table tomorrow, they have been washed and are back in the fridge.

Tomorrow I will add strawberry blancmange (a type of flavoured custard), as I don’t like custard which some people use. I make that up with a pint of milk and sweetener ( I avoid putting sugar in). Finally I whip double cream, (heavy cream?) about three quarters of a pint till it makes stiff peaks. I might add spare blackberries for decoration. I might take a photo tommorow when it’s finished. X