Thursday 26 February 2015

A Passion

Despite all good intentions to keep some balance in my life, things just seem busier than ever and just as I feel I'm on top of one thing something else comes along. The exhibition was well received last weekend and my workshops went well, but no sooner than I came home on Sunday and unloaded my car, I was planning the next class and desperately trying to finish the large commission that has been looming since the end of last year. Bags remain unpacked and there are no visible surfaces in my work room... It's crazy! And don't even get me started on family stuff! Usually when I feel under pressure I find solace in the kitchen and a couple of hours cooking or baking sorts my head out but I've not even being doing that lately. With less of us at home and less time to entertain, that means less of us around to consume the results so I haven't been bothering. I'll cook the evening meal but that's about it. But I miss being able to lose myself being creative in the kitchen.


But today I've taken some time out... I've done mending that has been sitting on my bedroom stool since December (one button and a hem and I've not even found time to do that... no kidding) whilst watching the Comic Relief Bake Off on i-player. And as I watched the lovely Martin Sheen produce a perfect Pavlova with passion fruit and lemon curd I remembered there were a couple of rather strange yellow passion fruit in the fridge. They came with the veg box and to be honest I didn't really know what to do with them... Strange things with gloopy insides that look like some sort of sea creature when emptied with peculiar little tentacles!
 

There was not enough to make a straight passion fruit curd so I combined them with lemons and made some passion fruit and lemon curd, fiddling a bit with a couple of recipes to get the results I wanted.


And here it is... Less than an hour of happily pottering in the kitchen and I've got two jars of the most sublime tasting curd. Which I can now use in some baking over the weekend when eldest son is coming to visit... Although I confess it does taste rather good straight off the spoon so I'm not sure it will last that long!
 

Should you feel the need for a little passion in your own life, this was my recipe:
 
Gina's Passionate Curd!
 
You will need: 2 large passion fruit and 2 large lemons, 200g caster sugar, 100g unsalted butter,
3 eggs (beaten) and a heaped tablespoon of cornflour (This really helps to stop the eggs scrambling!)
 
Method: Scoop out the insides of the passion fruit and press through a sieve, extracting all the juice. Throw away any pithy bits but reserve the seeds. Add the juice of the two lemons to the passion fruit juice. You should have between 200-250 ml. Add more of either juice to get the correct quantity. Stir the cornflour and sugar together in a large pan. Add all the remaining ingredients and whisk over a very low heat until the mixture thickens. Don't be tempted to turn the heat up or you will end up with fruit flavoured scrambled eggs! Pass the curd through a seive to remove any suspect eggy lumps. Stir in the passion fruit seeds and pour into jars. This does make quite a tart curd so feel free to increase the sugar if that is more to your taste.
 
This makes two generous jars plus a spoonful or two for tasting! The jars will keep in the fridge for a week or two.
 

And now I feel a little bit of balance has been restored, my passion for baking has been indulged.... And we've got something delicious to eat. Result!
 
Back to that commission now...

21 comments:

  1. Great news that you've done something that brings you 'inner peace' and yumminess! xx

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  2. Yummy! A spot of baking always makes things better :)

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  3. What a great way of using the fruit. I can't be trusted with a jar of lemon curd and don't even need a spoon!
    Hope you get time to relax a bit over the weekend.

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  4. I know what you mean about taking time out to get your head back together Gina. I've never thought of passion fruit curd and combined with the lemons it sounds fab!

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  5. Mmmmm! Passion Fruit and Lemon - what a great combination! Forget the pav - even though I love a pav!! - and just eat it off the spoon!!! Or on a thick slice of lovely bread1

    Whatever you do, I hope that it restores your sanity a little and that you can soon take some time for you.

    Hugs. xx

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  6. I like the combination of lemon and passion fruit, what a good idea. I am very fussy with curds because they sometimes taste too eggy but I would happily eat a spoonful of your creation. Maybe on sourdough bread. Hope this coming weekend is less hectic for you. x

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  7. I would have no hope of keeping that until the weekend. It would be eaten straight from the jar. Well done for even getting it into the jars.

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  8. It looks lovely Gina and I expect it tastes delicious too! :)
    V x

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  9. Yum, that certainly would mot last for many days in my fridge. Glad you had so much fun cooking and can now go back to other creating. Have a great weekend. Cheers

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  10. Definitely important to have balance in life - two spoons, one for each hand? I need more balance, and I need to make this curd!

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  11. Sounds like a perfect combination of flavours. I'm betting those jars have now been washed and dried and are waiting to be refilled with something equally yum.

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  12. Ok this sounds yummy, I love the bake off, I think I may have to have a go a making curd:)) I could imagine putting it in the middle of some lemon cupcakes??

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  13. Gina, that combination of passionfruit and lemon must taste fantastic. Adding the seeds back to the curds is a great touch, too. (If you do find time at the weekend, perhaps you could photograph the cake you're planning to bake?)

    I know what you mean about fitting everything you wish or need to do into a day or two or a week...or a month. I keep telling myself that it's a plus to have so many interests. And I do sleep very well!

    xo

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  14. Well done. I am just catching up with everyone after a shortish break in Devon.

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  15. I'm glad you've found a little 'me' time and have restored some balance. I had a little giggle at the jars of curd 'leeping' in the fridge. They must be as happy as you are that you made such delicious curd :-) ;-)

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  16. Glad you found some respite in the kitchen Gina. I have never used passion fruit in baking so this recipe looks manageable for me. Thanks for recipe.

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  17. Passionfruit curd is my idea of heaven. Glad you have restored your equilibrium.

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  18. Yum! It looks delicious Gina, and I'm trying not to imagine how divine it tastes given that that might send me on the 20 mile round trip to the 24/7 supermarket to buy passion fruit!

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  19. That looks so delicious and passion fruit is my absolute favorite! It can be hard to find around here, but I'll have to seek some out and give it a try. Beautiful photos too!

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