New tools....

I've acquired a new kitchen (which had a condo attached to it) and therefore expect to be doing quite a bitter cooking...

When I got to the office this morning there was a huge surprise on my desk:

Big Prezzie from the Office!

Which turned into this:

WOW!!!

How cool is that?!?! House warming gift from the office. Now, I'm not well versed enough in kitchenware but my learned cooking colleagues are all drooling... so I'm taking that as a great sign!!

Lots of fun ahead!!

Lemon Squares

Well after my first attempt at lemon squares (see below) I was rather disappointed. I've been rather busy with other things, so cooking took it's comfortable place on the back burner. However, so 'other things' coming to a head (see Orkney Adventures soon for more..) I decided to take a weekend to visit family and cooking happened!  So it was high time to try again.

I was given the recipe from a friend, who found it online. When I figure out what website, I'll post the link.

Lemon Squares

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
2 cups flour

4 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup flour
2 lemons, juiced

Method:
Pre-heat oven to 350 F

Base: blend together softened butter, 2 cups of flour and 1/2 cup sugar. Press into bottom of an ungreased 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake for 15 - 20 minutes until firm and golden.

Lemon layer:  while the base is baking, whisk together 1 1/2 cups sugar and 1/4 cup flour, then whisk in the eggs and lemon juice. When base is ready, pour lemon mixture over base. Bake for an additional 20 minutes.

Optional: whisk in some lemon zest. Could also sift some icing sugar on top when fully cool.  Also an option = making lime bars - same recipe but with lime juice.

Reception:
HUGE HIT!!! They were devoured!  I enjoyed them and found them better on the second day. I am contemplating making them again with slightly less sugar in the lemon layer - to test out the tartness levels. But this recipe is definitely a hit. 

Lemon Squares!

Blackberry jam

bucket o'berries

Picking the berries

Spent the last long weekend of summer with my aunt and uncle on Vancouver Island. On one of the days we want blackberry picking! Rather fun! When we got back to the house we decided to make jam! A fairly easy process and hopefully delicious! (haven't samples the results just yet...)

You need the following ratios:
500g of fresh blackberries
1 1/2 cups of sugar
1/4 cup water (not necessary is plump berries).

We used 2000g of berries.

sugar & berries

Method:

rolling boil & pops

Put berries and sugar in a very large/high edged pot. Stir and slowly heat until the sugar is totally dissolved. Turn to boil for approx 30 minutes. BEWARE- this can very quickly boil over and create a dangerous and sticky mess so watch carefully.

After about 30 minutes it should look quite dark and have a rolling boil with a bit of a popping sound to it. Test firmness on a cool plate.

Pour into clean jars- they should be warmed up to prevent shattering.

Pro tip: use a Han blender to reduce the size of the fruit for smooth spreading.

Seal jars and enjoy as you like!

The finished product