Still Time For Success - Issue #46

Hey there, Food Lovers!

A warm welcome to all our newest subscribers! I hope this message finds you navigating the holiday rush with ease and savouring the small joys of creating delicious and beautiful food.

This week has been a weird and wonderful mix of culinary creations for me, resulting in some last-minute ice-cream sauces for Christmas gifts, a venture into lavender sugar scrub making, and a session of smoking garlic salt - of which we totally burnt the first batch! That's an odd conglomeration of kitchen concoctions, but everything is falling into place, however weird and wonderful.

Stay tuned for our upcoming video next week, where I'll be sharing tips for creating a delectable fresh fruit platter. It's a hassle-free option for 'bring a plate' occasions. It's quick, looks amazing and is a wonderful deviation from all the sweet treats at this time of year.

In this newsletter I've also included a link to a previous video on effective party planning. It's packed with invaluable tips which will ensure your Christmas Day is a great success. Take a look if you haven't already.

Wishing you all a fantastic week!

In this issue:

• What’s in the pipeline? - Fruit Platter
• Last minute gifts - Delicious Homemade Sauces
• Video throwback - Party Planning

What's in the Pipeline?

Making a fruit platter is seriously one of my favourite things. It doesn't matter what size platter you're making or which seasonal fruit is available, you have a canvas for creativity. You can whip up a beautiful, one-of-a-kind creation every single time.

I've got a video coming next week with some great tips to help you achieve great results every time. We'll not only make a stunning fruit platter, but also spice things up with a simple melon flower garnish. It's all about getting creative and having fun while you give it a go. Practise makes perfect.

Last Minute Gifts - A Few Delicious Homemade Sauces

There's truly something special about a homemade gift, isn't there? It carries a touch of thoughtfulness and effort that the recipient appreciates. Do you know what the best part is? It doesn't have to be complicated or overly time-consuming - sometimes, all you need are some funky jars, and you're 90% of the way to creating a fabulous edible gift.

I recently went hunting for some jars and stumbled upon these. I thought they'd be perfect for a dessert sauce assortment. So I bought a few to try out. When I got home I whipped some 5 minute sauces:

• A decadent chocolate sauce
• A luscious strawberry coulis
• And a rich peanut butter caramel sauce

Don't you agree that these make for fantastic Christmas gifts? The sauces can effortlessly elevate a variety of treats, be it poured over ice cream, pancakes, or any sweet indulgence. They are so simple, yet the end result looks so much more sophisticated. The recipes are below.

All it took was a few quirky jars, some basic ingredients, and a touch of time. Sometimes, the most delightful gifts come from the heart, and this is a perfect example. Happy gifting!

Chocolate Pouring Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1 cup white sugar
• A pinch of salt
• 1/2 cup cold water
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla essence

Method:

• Whisk cocoa powder and sugar together in a small saucepan.
• Add the salt and water
• Bring to the boil over a medium heat, stirring occasionally.
• Reduce to a simmer, stirring constantly for about 30 seconds.
• Remove from the heat, and leave to cool. The sauce will thicken a little as it cools.
• Once cool, stir in the vanilla essence and pour into a glass jar or bottle.
• Refrigerate until needed. Can be warmed to serve.

Strawberry Coulis

Ingredients:

• 500g (1 lb) fresh or frozen strawberries, stalk removed
• 100g (3 1/2 oz) icing sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice, optional
• 1/2 cup cold water
• A pinch of salt

Method:

• Put all the ingredients into a medium sized saucepan.
• Slowly bring to the boil over a medium heat.
• Leave it to simmer and reduce, stirring occasionally until the syrup has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon.
• Cool slightly, then blitz together.
• Either strain and bottle or bottle as is for a more textured sauce.
• Refrigerate until needed.

Peanut Butter Caramel Sauce

Ingredients:

• 60g (2 oz) butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• Pinch of salt
• 1/3 cup crunchy peanut butter

Method:

• Put the butter, brown sugar, white sugar, cream and salt into a small pot.
• Gently bring to the boil, then simmer for 2 minutes, whisking continuously.
• Whisk in the peanut butter and stir for another minute or so.
• Use straight away, or bottle and refrigerate until needed.

Video Throwback - Party Planning

If the thought of hosting Christmas dinner is getting a bit much, check out our Party Planning video. It's focussed on a finger food party, but there are so many tips that will come in handy no matter what type of party or dinner you're planning.

Some tips to consider:

• Is your menu workable? Do you have enough oven space for the things you need to cook in the oven? Do you have enough stovetop space for stovetop items etc?
• Is there anything you can prepare ahead of time?
• Make a work plan so you can methodically work though it without having to remember everything. Work backwards from the time you would like to serve your meal to figure out what needs to be done at the last minute to be at its best, and what can be done earlier on.
• The more organised you are the more enjoyable the day will be 😄

Happy cooking,
Taryn