Summer is cordially invited....

Summer, it is now officially autumn and you are cordially invited to go home now. It is 37 degrees Celsius (98 Fahrenheit) as I write this. I wish I could be one of those people that thrive in the heat, mostly due to the fact their well tanned athletic bodies are suitably attired in summer skimpies but I'm not.  The closest image I can conjure up, being a food blog, for me in Summer is pork crackling, yes oh so tasty but not very happy. I think it is just because it is so horribly uncomfortable, you dry off from the shower, get your clothes and you're wet again. Plus I burn, you think you need to watch toffee because it burns in a second, I can go to the cloths line and back and get burnt.
The happiest summer I every spent was in Rome, well their winter,our summer. AB would tell me about the 40 degree days and I would simply put another log on the fire,and think about the snow, bliss.

Casa mia in a Roma, It looks like I was actually doing home work (i compiti) Bravo!

 

I'm sorry to all the summer lovers, I promise to patiently listen to all your whinging about  how freezing you are, while just pass you some warm soup and bread. 
Try this cordial to keep you cool during this trying time

Don't just use them as decoration

Lime Cordial

Ingredients

• 4 litres of water
• 1.5 cup of sugar
• 12 limes
• 1 tablespoon of citric acid (optional)

Method

• Add water and sugar and citric acid to a saucepan
• Zest all the limes and add to the pan
• Stir to dissolve sugar and simmer just below boiling for about 30 minutes.
• Add the juice of all the fruit, strained to avoid pips.
• Leave to cool
• Store cordial in bottles, mine is usually go in an week.
• I used some lemonade instead of water to dilute it with some fizz. 

 Lighting changes the colour

Orange, Lemon and Lime Cordial

This is a budget saving recipe for those horrible days of summer where you just pray for some snow. Summer and I have never been friends.
This cordial is beyond easy, it really is just heating water, everyone can do that..I hope!
There is a real joy in the DIY homemade, you can create a gem with the stuff you have in the fridge.

Orange, Lemon and Lime Cordial

Ingredients

• 2 litres of water
• 1 cup of sugar
• 4 oranges
• 1 lemon
• 1 lime
• 1 tablespoon of citric acid (optional)

Method

• Add water and sugar and citric acid to a saucepan
• Zest all the fruit and add to the pan
• Stir to dissolve sugar and simmer just below boiling for about 30 minutes.
• Add the juice of all the fruit, strained to avoid pips.
• Leave to cool
• Strain cordial into bottles.( I didn't strain this one as the zest is ultra soft)

To use just dilute with water to your preference, weak vs strong. Or serve in a jug with more slices of fruit and some mint. (mint not pictured blame summer!!)

A splash of vodka and ice could achieve a delightful beverage for responsible adults only

You say gelato I say gelati

My love affair with gelato started on my first trip to Rome and a dish of banana gelato. I had ordered lemon but either the waiter was a little hard of hearing or my Italian wasn’t what it is today, but I ended up with banana. Prior to this my experience of  banana ice-cream was that hideous artificial yellow chemical enhanced iced confection that has never been next to a real banana let alone be made of any.  In one Italian mouthful my world changed, banana, and very little else, real banana.

There are so many variations of the ice cream gelato base recipe; you just need to go with one that works for your tastes. Cream, no cream, whole eggs, just yolks, and the amount of sugar can vary by the cup load.

Christmas was at our house a couple of years ago so for dessert I did a gelato bar. This gave me plenty of practice to find the base I liked, as well as experimental flavours, the highlight was meat lovers!

Lemon lime and bitters gelato

·         6 egg yolks

·         ½ cups sugar

·         3 cups of milk

·         ½ cup lemon lime and bitters butter

Method

·         In a heavy base saucepan add eggs, milk, sugar, and whisk.

·         Keep stirring over a low heat until the custard thickening enough to coat the back of a spoon.

·         Be careful not to overcook it or it will curdle.

·         Pass through a sieve and either chill on ice or in the fridge overnight.

·         Put into ice cream machine as per manufactures instructions

·         Add the lemon lime and bitters butter

·         And churn

Serve with blueberries or just as it is.

Lemon lime and bitters butter (say that 3 times drunk)

·         Juice of 2 lemons

·         Juice and zest of 1 lime

·         2 eggs

·         ½ cup sugar

·         100g chilled unsalted butter, chopped rough.

·         5-10 ml Angostura bitters (about 3-4 bottle shakes)

Method

·         Add all except the bitters to a saucepan and stir over a low-medium heat.

·         Once the curd is at the thickness required take it off the heat and add the bitters.

·         Cool before adding to ice-cream.

It can also be used for toast or as cake filling. I’m not sure how long it will last, it’s never survived overnight in my house