Creamy Flan Recipe (Creme Caramel)

Another one of my French families recipes...

You will need
200 grams sugar
6 large eggs
3/4 ltr whole milk
fleur d'orange or a vanilla pod

This is a super super easy recipe but one that impresses most guests.

In a flan mould or thin oven proof dish melt 5 tablespoons of sugar with a dash of water to make the caramel. Once the sugar has caramelised, take it off the heat and tilt and rotate the mould to spread the caramel evenly around the outer walls and bottom.

In a bowl whisk together the remaining sugar, eggs and milk and then add either  a cap of fleur d'orange or the seeds of a fresh vanilla pod. You could just use a splash of vanilla essence if pods are hard to find but the seeds of the pod make the flan look really beautiful.

Pour into the mould and then place the mould into an ovenproof dish filled with water. Into the Oven at 180 degrees for around 45 minutes or until set but not coloured.

Take out and leave to cool. Now heat gently the outside of the mould over the gas on low and turn the whole thing upside down onto a plate and viola!!!

Homemade Stinging Nettle beer

Right, I'm jumping on the band wagon. Everyone seems to have gone brew crazy in the UK and I myself am partial to a drink or two when it takes my fancy. I have tried making my own wine and so I thought 'why not russle up a quick batch of beer'. We are doing alot of work on our property so there is no shortage of victims I can experiment on with what I make.

Here's the recipe I have tried out.

1.5 kilograms nettle heads
800g of sugar
8 litres of water
2 lemons, Juice and rind (no pith)
half a tsp of powdered ginger
5g brewers yeast

• Wash the nettle heads and then bring to the boil in 4 litres of the water.
• Strain the mix and squeeze out the water from the nettles which will no not sting keeping all water and throwing away nettles or... give to hens if you have any. Waste not want not.
• into the water goes the sugar and mix until its dissolved.
• Add the rest of the water and then in goes the yeast and lemon
• Leave for four days

Now you need to find bottles. I have used the spring attached ones like for grolch beer which are easy to find at the supermarket. Sterilize them before filling.

• After the four days are up, strain the mix (which should smell quite potent) through a cheesecloth (or clean tea towel) and pour into bottles. I have read that putting half a teaspoon at the bottom of the bottles will make the beer extra fizzy although I have also read that there is no point.
• Leave now for three weeks...

Right, well I don't need to wait long as my three weeks are nearly up so watch this space for the result...

My little Cupcake...

When given advice on what to buy for a newborn I was told that you could never have enough plain white baby grows. I bought soooooo many. Almost all of Evies other clothes are too fancy for a normal stay at home day so I save them for special occasions, but this leaves me with a dilema... how boring are those plain white babygrows!!! So... I  have set about making them cuter, more personal and fun. This is my first one, for my little cupcake...

Wine Time!!

Wahoooo its the day I've been looking forward to nearly as much as the new fabric delivery on its way. My wine making order has arrived. Have any of you been watching river cottage? They are always coming up with interesting beers, wines and champagne so I figured I would give it a try. There is nothing I love more than to have my friends over and to serve them up some of our own home brew in my garden.

I went to a brewing shop called Hops and Vines in the UK on my last visit and picked up this little 4.5ltr kit.The lovely lady in the shop said that it was fool proof and that you can make some truly unique wines with it. So I've given it a go. Apple and Mimosa flower wine. The reason for the Mimosa flower, I live in a forest of it.

Its not ready yet but because I enjoyed making it so much I decided I'm going to make more, hence my order, but this time, without the kit... we shall see where this leads...

Buttons Buttons Buttons!!!

Amazing!!!! My mother-in-laws button collection!

There is a really old beautiful wooden sewing box in one of the corridors in my partners parents house that I happened to look in for some pink thread when I came across an old box full of buttons. All kinds. Just the kind of thing I love. She has kindly said that I can help myself to them which has got my imagination running. Now all I need to do is decide what to make with these little treasures...

Royce the Bear

This isnt one of my creations but I wanted to share it with you as it is something I have decided to try out myself. This is Royce, he was a gift from my mum to Evie for her birhday. Her first teddy bear. The jumper was made by my God mother (God granny to Evie) Isnt it lovely! Because Evie is English/French she incorperated the french and english flags on the sleeves. Sooooo cute!

I have never knited before and its something  really want to try. Do you think you can learn from a book or website? Im going to give it a try...

Our Babies are our Inspiration

Sat in bed this morning with my honey and lemon (I'm sick) reading blogs and craft websites for inspiration I noticed one common factor. We are all inspired by our children. Its true, mostly everything I do is for Evie-Rose or inspired by her. I'm currently working on clothing projects as I don't feel there is enough 'range' sold in France. I'm all over making little embellishments to brighten up her wardrobe. I'm cooking up plans for toys, all sorts, its all I think about. It must be something which switches on after conceiving as I was certainly never this inspired before!

I'm just hoping a friend gets pregnant soon so I can shower them with homemade gifts!!!