Strawberry Lemon Curd

Oh boy do I love Strawberry time.

Picking the strawberries in the field by the peck full and filling little bowls right out my front door.

The whole experience is so much fun.

Some of my most fond memories are picking strawberries with mama friends and our little ones. We chat about the different farms and the things we love about each.

And then there are the recipes associated with Strawberries.

We made Strawberry Lemonade, Strawberry Kefir, Strawberry cake and Pie, shared Shortcakes with berries and cream with friends and of course our favorite dessert of all time: Lemon curd with the addition of strawberries.

Strawberry lemon curd is really quite magical.

You could use it as frosting, pie or cake filling, place in a little tart with a berry on top, or as we love our curd with a big scoop of vanilla yogurt.

Excuse me, but I must go have a little taste before I continue...

 

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In the picture above the following are shown: Strawberry lemonade, Strawberry Kefir and the Strawberry Lemon curd on the right.

This Curd has 2 tablespoons of cream cheese in place of butter.

Adapted from my earlier post on Lemon Tarts:

You can get very fancy with lemon curd.  I think I have actually followed 5 different recipes with different variations of egg, egg yolk, sugar, butter plus some...  But really these essential ingredients are all you need to get a creamy thick lemony treat.  I like to think it is good for us too because the eggs add protein and the lemon is cleansing. The butter and sugar just make it extraordinary.
Some people strain their curd.  I love it so much I don't mind a little zest or occasional egg clump, but if you want perfection strain it while still warm.

I have made many different carriers to hold lemon curd.  Pie crust, white cake, yogurt. For party tarts I made a tart crust and cut them with a flower shape. 

Strawberry Lemon Curd: Makes one pint and easily doubled
2 eggs (if you have yolks left over use them or any combination of yolk and white)

2 egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
4 tbls. butter

2 tbls. cream cheese
zest and juice from two very juicy organic lemons (about 1/2 cup but 1/4 cup would do)
1/3 cup strained Strawberry puree (straining is optional)

1. Put about 3/4 cup of strawberries in the blender. Pour mixture into a colander and let the juice drain.

2. Whisk eggs and sugar in small heavy pot.  Add lemon, zest, and strawberry puree.  Whisk over low heat. Do not let the mixture boil or your eggs will curdle and you will definitely need to strain it.  When it starts to thicken add cold butter and cream cheese in chunks. Whisk over heat.  Stir two minutes more or until thickened.  Transfer to glass container with lid.  Cover and refrigerate.

3. Enjoy.  It will last over a week in the fridge.

Shelter

A day a week ago, it was 85 degrees. In early May it can be hard to adapt to the heat.  All the plants burgeon forth and we hope that as they shoot from the ground into bud that a frost with not quelch them.

On this day, after quite a bit of work in the yard we were hot, sticky and a bit bothered.  I thought a drive in the air conditioned car, to get another can of paint might be the kind of rest we needed.

At Home depot the boys were really pretty awesome.  They stayed close, watched the gentleman mix the paint, played a bit on the tractors and helped be pick out a few more seeds for the garden. I was pretty pleased until check out time.  They wanted every flashlight, Cheeto, and candy in the isle.  I have learned to choose my battles and the little chaps were hungry and we walked away with a small can of pringles for each boy.

Knowing Papa had just cleaned the interior of the car we sought shelter to eat said treat.  We were on a black top island, in the heat, standing beside a hot car.  Then my eldest said, "Can we go hang out in one of the little sheds where it is cool and shady to eat?"   They were not what we expected.  Shade yes, but hot and void of air.  We walked to the end of the row and to our great satisfaction the play fort had a little picnic table below just for us.

We sat at the table and devoured pringles silently.

I began to think of shelter.  Just a few pieces of wood above us and a sweet little table brought us much peace.

I instantly felt humbled by the simplicity.

The constant turmoil I put my self through was evaluated.

How much is enough.

I cannot begin to describe how my mind works to improve our shelter.  I draw sketches, rearrange furniture, create plans for the yard, and paint.  I spend a great deal of time wanting to change our home and even more perusing listings on new homes, and yet what we have is enough.

We spent a weekend at my parents new home.  My sister made a comment that it is strange being in a new home with most of the same furniture and pictures of our childhood.  I agreed.  It is home in a different place.

When we left my hometown my boys asked if I could please drive by Grandma and Grandpa's old house.  I drove past the front and then through the alley in the back and we slowly took it in.  I am sure we each had different memories flow through us.  I guarantee they were good ones.  And those memories are so special.

It is probably why the saying "HOME is Where the Heart is" remains popular.

A roof, food, family, and love is a Home.  Way more than a temporary shelter.

1-2-3-4 Dairy Free Cake Two Ways

This cake was inspired by my sister. Her nursling does not take to dairy and soy.  I wanted to create a dessert my sister could enjoy that was both decadent and dairy free.  This cake turned out beautifully and the recipe was made and tested again while we were together.

 

1-2-3-4 Dairy Free Cake Prepared Two ways

1. Mix

1/4 cup coconut oil (melted and cooled)

3 eggs

1/4 cup applesauce

2. Add

3/4  cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

3. Add

3/4 cup coconut milk (I used canned)

4. Gradually Add and mix on high for 3 minutes.

3tsp. baking powder

2 cups flour

Pour into desired greased pans.  I usually grease with coconut oil.

In the first picture I used 5 small 6" cake pans and had enough batter to make two more small loaf pan cakes.  In the second picture I used two 8" cake pans.

Bake 350 degrees for 18-25 minutes.

* I used coconut cream in both icing recipes.  The first recipe is more of a butter cream and I wanted a coconut flavor.  I blended the solid form of coconut cream/ butter with the melted coconut oil before continuing the recipe.  In the second recipe I used the coconut cream from the top of the can of coconut milk and it makes a silky ganache style icing. Either one should work.

Vanilla Coconut Icing:

1/4 cup melted coconut oil

1 tbls. firm coconut cream/butter from jar*

1tsp. vanilla.

6 cups powdered sugar

1-3 tsp. Coconut milk

Blend Coconut oil and cream. With mixer beat in 1 cup of powdered sugar, then vanilla.  Continue adding powdered sugar and mix well.  Add 1tsp. coconut milk and mix.  If needed add more coconut milk until a thick buttercream consistency is reached.

Wait for the cake to cool completely before icing. Refrigerate 30 minutes to set up.

If the weather is warm keep refrigerated until just before serving.

Chocolate Icing:

2tbs coconut cream from can*

4 cups powdered sugar

1 tbs cocoa powder

Add all ingredients and mix on high for 3-5 minutes until a glossy icing is formed.

Wait until cake is completely cool before icing. Refrigerate 30 minutes to set up.

If weather is warm refrigerate until just before serving.

Yummy bites

I love an easy recipe that can be whipped up in the food processor.

We have the large flaked coconut in our cupboard.  My boys really do not like the texture of it. Therefore I chopped the coconut in the food processor until it was almost creamy before adding the other ingredients.

You will get different consistency depending on how long you process and whether you process each ingredient together or separately.

Orange Cranberry Coconut Bites

1/2 cup dates

1/2 cup walnuts

1/2 cup mixture of cranberries, prunes, raisins.

1 cup coconut

1tbs. orange juice

2tsp. orange zest. Preferably organic

dash salt

Optional:

powdered sugar and more orange zest for rolling

or maple syrup and orange zest as a glaze.

1. Add first four ingredients to the food processor with chopping blade. Turn on high until everything is chopped very fine and resembles course sand. See note above if you would like finer coconut.

2. Add orange zest, salt and orange juice. Pulse until it comes together.

3. Take spoon and gather a heaping teaspoon of mixture and roll into a ball.  If it is too sticky chill for 10 minutes.  If it does not stick together pulse longer or add a little more juice.

4. Roll balls. Makes 12-18 depending on size. They are good alone but we have also rolled in powdered sugar with zest and poured a glaze on top.

They freeze well and can be refrigerated to extend shelf life.

Lemon Tarts

I think Lemon curd may be one of the most wonderful foods on earth.
I do not really need an excuse to make it. My 4 1/2 year old will eat a half batch mixed with whole milk yogurt and ask for more.  He loves it as much as I do.
You can get very fancy with lemon curd.  I think I have actually followed 5 different recipes with different variations of egg, egg yolk, sugar, butter plus some...  But really these essential ingredients are all you need to get a creamy thick lemony treat.  I like to think it is good for us too because the eggs add protein and the lemon is cleansing. The butter and sugar just make it extraordinary.
Some people strain their curd.  I love it so much I don't mind a little zest or occasional egg clump, but if you want perfection strain it while still warm.

I have made many different carriers to hold lemon curd.  Pie crust, white cake, yogurt. For party tarts I made a tart crust and cut them with a flower shape.  Recipe follows.

Lemon Curd: Easily doubled
2 eggs (if you have yolks left over use them or any combination of yolk and white)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 stick butter
zest and juice from two very juicy organic lemons (about 1/2 cup but 1/4 cup would do)

Whisk eggs and sugar in small heavy pot.  Add lemon and zest.  Whisk over low heat. Do not let boil or your egg will curdle and you will definitely need to strain it.  When starts to thicken add cold butter in chunks. Whisk over heat.  Stir two minutes more or until thickened.  Transfer to glass container with lid.  Cover and refrigerate.

Crust:
1/3 cup lard (coconut oil or butter are fine too)
2/3 cup flour (any WW pastry, white whole wheat, all purpose)
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp vanilla or lemon extract (optional)
1 tbs. cold water

Mix lard, flour, and sugar with pastry blender until crumbly.  Add other ingredients in order.  Mixing after each addition.  If dough gets too sticky add more flour.  You may need to add 1/3 cup more flour. Roll out 1/8 inch and cut flowers or circles.  Place in a lightly greased (I love the Coconut oil spray at Trader Joe's) mini muffin tin. Press bottom of flower flat on bottom of tin carefully so your crust does not crack.
Bake 350F for 8-10 minutes.
You want them to start to brown but not dry out entirely.
Let cool a few minutes in tin. Then take the point of a butter knife and push out onto a plate.

Fill with lemon curd.
Top with whipping cream or a slice strawberry if available.

Traveling Companions

We flew to Florida to spend a week with Nana.  It took; One adult, two children, 4 planes, and 6 airports to get us to Nana and home again.  Nervousness is something I am often not. But this made me nervous.
I won't even dwell on my fears, but my boys had ID tags around their necks, an emergency vomit bag at my side, and plenty of fun imaginative things in their backpacks.

A few days before the trip I found little matchbox size boxes and made little friends to play with on the journey.

Instructions and a pattern for the little bear and bunny are below. But, I wanted to share with you the travelling companions that were used most on our trip.

They were the mousy friends that are always in the hands and imagination of my little guys.

On several occasions my boys entertained themselves with their mousy friends.  I'll tell you about them.

With ten fingers they have great flexibility to create anywhere from 1- 10 mice at any given time.  The mice talk to each other, to brothers, and to anyone who will listen.  They run across a table to reach and play and they eat crumbs.

We ate out a few times and each time the mousy freinds were there to play along.

I must give credit where credit is due.  My husband probably planted themousy friends into the boys imagination.  He is quite imaginative himself and from the time our boys were able to giggle they had a friend nestled in their Papa's hand.  The doggie friend (within Papa's hand and imagination) engaged them, talked to them, told them stories, and he was always available.  They love their doggie friend!  Somewhere in the last yearthe mousy friends were created and the boys have friends to play with whenever they are needed.

After a long trip to Theatre of the Sea, we went to the World Wide Sports center and the boys saw a toy with two kayaks, a man, and all of his gear to go fishing.  I asked if they were willing to use their own money to buy it.  They were and it was the best $12 toy we have ever purchased.  We took the toy out to the patio restaurant and the boys, the boats, and the mousy friends played at the table while Nana and Mama enjoyed the late afternoon sun, happy hour specials, and conversation uninterrupted.

On one of our last nights we went to an old favorite restaurant, Herbies. At Herbies you eat wonderful fish sandwichs, conch chowder, and craft beer at long shellacked picnic tables.

The table beside us seated two couples who were willing to chat with two little boys.  They discussed the mussels on their plate, the parade earlier in the day, and the point of our origins.  Whenthe mousy freinds came out to say Hello, these jovial older men were a little stumped. They were on their way out so a friendly smile and goodbye was the transition and no little people had their feelings hurt.  But of course it made me think.

It made me think of the generation of little people who need to create.  Who need to use their imagination.  Who need to play.  Of Course it is easy to put a device into a child's hand at a restaurant. I'll admit I did it recently to end a brotherly dispute at the end of a very long day.  But really my boys are much happier if they are given the freedom to live into their imagination.  It meets them, blesses them, and works on their soul in a way other things can not.  Currently, while I write this, they are playing with little plastic insects who all have names and are in a complicated society that only little imaginations can create.

If you have an iPhone, this picture should print to size. The pattern should be the size to fit in a small size match box. But you can also make a sleeping bag any size to hold the friends.

Cut bear and bunny in wool felt. Blanket can be made with any cotton cut with pinking shears. A bowl of porridge was made from an acorn cap, clear tacky glue, and lavender.

Building a Hanging Quilt rack

I really enjoy working with wood.

I have very few tools.  You really don't need that many as long as they are working.

I really like the look of old quilts on old ladders. I also know what would happen on a daily basis if I displayed an old ladder in my living room.  It would be stripped of its quilts and climbed continuously.  I decided to make a hanging rack and take the temptation of climbing away.

A few lovely quilts that were created by my great grandmothers are in different stages of cleaning and mending. I look forward to the day they can all be displayed. I started creating this months ago so we have an easily accessed storage place in our living room to use them.

Materials Used:

9ft. piece of Alder wood (I cut pieces off for another use and this piece was used as a toy car ramp for my boys for awhile)  I cut 2 pieces that are each 33" long. And one piece at 17 1/2".

2,  3/4" dowels that were 36" long ( I cut with my tree loppers) to 18" long for 4 pieces.

3/4" drill bit

6 screws at least 2" long.

Drill bit same size of screws to pre-drill on brace piece and in wall

wood glue

sandpaper

measuring tape or level

wood clamps

This is pretty easy to make but some Math needs to be done along the way. And as straight as cuts as possible.  You can see in the finished pictures that my middle brace of wood did not have a straight cut.  I wasn't bothered because when covered in quilts it will not show. 

1. Cut all your pieces to your desired length.  You could easily make this longer but it would need another brace to hold the weight of quilts.

2. Measure 3" down from top and make a pencil mark 1" in from front.  This will be your first drill hole. Then continue 8" down and 1" in until you have 4 drill marks.

3. This is the trickiest part:  You want to drill all of the holes the same depth (1/4") so when you put the piece together your dowels will be held in the holes and the side pieces will attach to the brace evenly.

If your side brace is 17 1/2" and your dowels are 18" wide you have 1/4" on each side for this.

The easiest way to measure is place a mark 1/4" up from the bottom of a dowel and put it in each hole to measure.  Be careful and stop to measure before you make it too deep.

4. Sand all of your pieces well.  Wipe with a damp cloth.  

5. Drill two holes in each side piece and in brace so the brace is about 5" down from the top.

Attach one side piece to the middle brace with screws.

6. Apply wood glue to holes on one side. Place dowels. Then add glue to end of dowels and place other side piece on top.  This is a bit tricky.  When all are in place put wood clamps on to hold firm.

7. Place screws into other side piece into the middle brace.

8. Now make two marks in your back brace for hanging.  Find the center and measure 8" to each side of that and make a mark.  This is where you will drill a hole to mount the piece on the wall.  They are measured 16" apart so that you can put each screw into a stud.  (all studs should be 16" apart, if not adjust to your home).

9. Finish with Stain or Paint. 

(At this point I hung it on the wall and waited.  I was planning to paint.  I was not sure if I wanted to stain or paint the wood.  Months later we decided on the wall color with white trim. Therefore I painted the rack white to match the trim.)

10. Hang quilts and enjoy how easily they can be used and put away.

Before painting

Taking a break after painting quilt rack and shelves.

With Blue walls and White rack

Beautiful Words

I have a friend who is a talented musician with a beautiful singing voice. I put her demo CD in our car a few weeks ago and we have listened to her songs on journeys here and there.  My boys starting asking what she looks like.
Does she have chubby cheeks?
Is her skin dark or light?
How old is she?
I relayed their questions to the musician and joked that maybe my boys have an image of Billy Holiday in their minds.  I think this was a compliment to the musical artist who is a young beautiful light skinned woman with a deep heart.
I'd like to surmise that the beauty and inquisition she has for life is reflected in her music and this is the energy we pick up on.  Children are so perceptive...

And then I started to think about words.
Positive words to write in a Valentine.  Beautiful words to inspire my space.
I wrote some down. I framed some.
It felt good.

Live, Laugh, Love

I need a lot of positive reminders. You can ask any of my family members. I can slide off the cliff pretty quickly to the realm of doom. Start me talking about modern day agriculture or education and you might think doomsday is near.  This is all the more reason I need to create reminders of beauty and love.

Many days my mind is filled with a list of things to accomplish.  Sometimes I notice my boys have been playing together for most of it only hearing my words when I need to be mediator. 

I must remind myself to take time for these two little people in my life.  To speak or sing to them with love, positivity, and to help transform our energy.

Positivity is so important and sometimes so hard to maintain.
Everyone wants to be in a positive space. Everyone wants to be loved unconditionally.

I am reminded of the work of Masaru Emoto.  He published the pictures of his work with water crystals.  He has frozen and observed water crystals from all over the world under a range of conditions.  He has taken "ugly water", said a prayer, and transformed it.

He recorded the effects of single words like: Love, Peace, Beautiful, Evil and the effects are seen in the frozen water crystal.  To see more check out the website.

http://www.masaru-emoto.net/english/water-crystal.html

Considering that our bodies are made up of mostly water we could surmise that we create beauty within, when we speak, write, and sing, kind words to each other.

It is amazing to me to see the effects of just one word.  Some of my favorite words are displayed around my house to remind me to say them to myself and to others.  It is so easy to do, but so underdone.

Feel free to use these ideas.  Copy the words, if you wish.  Display, say, and give them to your loved ones and friends. Share them, because we, the people and children of the world, continually need positive energy around and within us... 

I wrote this as a reminder to share with my little family.

Making bath bursts

A great Gift:

Recipe:

1/2 cup Citric Acid (I have found the best price at Mustard Seed in bulk)

1/2 cup Baking Soda

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/4 cup oil (almond, Castor, or olive)

6-12 drops essential oil. (my favorites are lavender and sweet orange)

1. Add dry ingredients. Mix.

2. Add oil and essential oil. Mix until you have a dough. Add food coloring if you wish.

3. Press into silicone molds. Dry over night.

4. Take out of molds carefully and store in an open container until ready to use.

Then fill bath and equally distribute to little ones.

Warning: 

Store out of bathroom.  Your children will love them so much that they will want to use all of them in one luxurious bath.

Valentine Immunity Lollipops

My first born did not have much sugar until he was three years old. And then I desperately needed to potty train and introduced M&M's.  Our pediatrician gave the boys their first lollipop, a dum dum at age 4 and 2. I have been trying to create a healthy replacement without artificial colors and flavors for 2 years. I am finally happy with the results.

Lessons I've learned from many batches:

*Use a wooden spoon

*Let the temperature rise gradually.  I tried making candy and lollipops without a candy thermometer and I burnt the batches each time. You can buy a candy thermometer for $2.00-$5.00 at most grocery stores.

* Take off of the heat right before candy thermomoter reaches 302 degrees. If it goes past 302 you will have a slightly burnt taste and they will easily crack.

* Molding is made easy with powdered sugar molds.  Use any flat shape and press it into the powdered sugar.  You will have a dusting of powdered sugar on your lollipops, but I think it is pretty.

* Sugar or Honey are essential to lollipops. I've tried to cook down Elderberry syrup, but too much makes a burnt fruit taste.

*I like to think that I am adding vitamin C and some of the benefits of Elderberry in the lollipops, but really there is only a minute amount of immunity without the essential oil.

*Pomegranite juice made a light orange lollipop, adding Elderberry to the pomegranite made pretty red hearts. Cherry juice alone makes a dark Cabernet.

Valentine Immunity Drops
Recipe:

3/4 cup white sugar
1 tbs. local honey
2 tbs. pomegranite juice, elderberry syrup, or cherry juice ( any combination for desired color)
3 drops Onguard essential oil (Doterra's immunity builder), optional

Combine all ingredients, except essential oil, in a heavy bottomed pot.

Stir constantly with a wooden spoon while watching thermometer.

Turn off heat at 300F. Add Onguard essential oil(optional). Stir. With wide spoon, fill molds. Work quickly.

One recipe makes about 15 lollipops.  I often make 8 lollipops and fill my ravioli maker (sprayed with coconut oil) with the rest for little lozenges.

Let cool at room temperature, if you have little people tripping over you to get one, place in freezer for 10 minutes.

Soak pan and utensils in hot soapy water. Wait until thermometer has cooled a bit before adding to soapy water or you may cause undue stress to the glass.

Enjoy lollipops made by you.