This Summer...Make Your Own Strawberry Ice Cream

Monday 20 July 2015



For the last six months I've been slowly getting obsessed with making ice cream. It started as an idea for Christmas day dessert, I made a simple vanilla no-churn recipe and it was delicious.



 By total chance I was given the MELT ice cream recipe book for Christmas too, so from that day on I've been late night experimenting  with chocolate-y, fruity and booze-y combos when the kitchen is family free.

It's been a great journey and I have been completely amazed how creative you can be. So as I sit here dreaming up some new non-churn recipes, here is one of our current favourite...strawberry ice cream with pick your own strawberries to involve your family and friends in the process too!



You Will Need -

200ml double cream
200ml of strawberries, hulled and chopped up. The riper the better
2 drops of vanilla essence
65grams of caster sugar
Seasonal fruit to decorate (we used raspberries)


Method

1. Take the strawberries and put them in a non-slip bowl with the sugar and vanilla essence and mash away until the bowl is a red fruit thick liquid in it.
2. Whip the cream until if forms soft peaks on the beaters and looks thick and glossy but be careful not to over whip it (yes you can do this too!).
3. Fold the cream and strawberry mixture together until it looks a pink creamy colour.
4. Place the ice cream in a freezable tub and pop in the freezer for at least four hours.

To serve take out the freezer and leave for ten minutes on the side to scoop it or use a scoop that's been standing in boiling water but be careful to use an over mit as it may be hot, hot, hot.


Decorate with sprinkles and fruit. To make a booze-y version add a tablespoon of your favourite tipple when mixing the cream and fruity mixture together. The ice cream will come out softer as the alcohol won't freeze. We like a homemade blackcurrant vodka in ours!

Bye for now,

Samantha

How We Planned Our Fabulous Places Stand

Friday 17 July 2015

So as a start up business, it great to get your application for an amazing Summer Market accepted. It's that email that pops into your inbox and makes you totally full of pride. That's how I felt when I got the big OK to have a stand at the Fabulous Places Summer Market in Derby on the 5th July.


I decided to go for a circular table option and build my stand with the vintage props I use at the parties to give people the feel they were actually at a Crafternoon tea ...lots of tea, cake and crafting materials and inspiration.


I used my old time mannequin (she's from a Laura Ashley window display!) and a vintage box I got for a fiver from a fete to make the height in the middle of the stand. All stands need a sight line and height does catch the eye. Think of a triangle in the middle and put your stall props around it.


We had plenty of spaces between the tables, this is the view from mine. This was great so we weren't too close to our neighbours and people could walk around the stand.


I put out samples of our treats and bakes for visitors to sample and our certificates to say we were the real thing. As a start up, I think it's important to show you have the right experience.


I had as many samples out on display and leaflets to let customers know what we did. I also did a special offer on the day. And as a result we have had a record response to our offer and lots of enquiries into next Easter.

Thank-you to everyone who came along. We celebrate our second birthday in a few weeks so this was hard work  was the icing on the cake, I am over the moon!

I still want to stay small and bespoke so more of the same is coming!

Samantha

My June Round Up

Wednesday 1 July 2015

June was a month full of vintage events, sunny days and lots of making. It was also a year on from me starting out on my catering journey serving afternoon tea and my blog anniversary too.

My favourite festival Eroica Britannia came back to Derbyshire full of retro fun and so much nostalgia is was crazy to fit it all in one showground. I loved it!


I also hosted a Father's day memory chalk board Crafternoon with a vintage tea.


And finally the Creative And Crafty Blogger Meet was here after six months of prep. I hope everyone who attended loved the day and goodie bags.


I have to say the best bit of the day was meeting all the lovely #ccbloggers again.


I printed this tote shopping bag as a birthday pressie.


And made Father's day cakes for Mr.S just how he likes them. A treat for the fella!


Today's been super hot and hooray for the summer sun...

How was your June?

Samantha x