Botanical Bleed and Soap Sweat

I have watched my soaps 'evolve' over the last few weeks.  I was quite impressed that making soap went without a hitch apart from tiny bubbles appearing on the surface.  About a week after un-moulding my soaps I noticed a brown colour around the mint leaves.  After doing a bit of investigation, I found out that it is known as botanical bleed, where the oils from the plant material leach out into the soap.  It is totally harmless but does kind of spoil the look.  Then a couple of days ago I was surprised to see my bars of soap sweating!  Yes!  Soaps do sweat when they have a high quantity of glycerin or are exposed to humidity.

4 things I have learnt about making melt and mould soap

• To prevent air bubbles, avoid overheating or over stirring the mixture and gently pour into mould popping any visible bubbles that remain on the surface.

• When using dried botanicals, make a tea with them first to draw out the oils and discard the liquid.  Some therapeutic properties of the plant will be lost but it will make for a more attractive bar of soap.

• Once the soaps have set, shrink wrap in plastic using cling film and a heat gun to provide a tight seal.  This should prevent the soap from sweating.

• Perseverance (my word of the year) is much needed!

Magical March

..............and as if by magic the boiler was repaired and heat and hot water was restored.  It is amazing what a little faith and positivity can do! 

*the reason it was quick was because we only needed to have it repaired and not replaced at the present time! 

Condemned

March has not started out on a good note.  Yesterday the gas boiler packed up meaning we have no central heating or hot water.  A man from the National Grid came around in the evening and condemned the boiler and cut off the gas supply to make things safe for us.  He gave us an electric plate to cook from and a fan heater to tide us over until we can get things fixed.  The earliest the boiler can be replaced is next weekend.  I can' t wash any clothes as I don't have a means to dry them.  I used to dry clothes on or near the radiator and I don't have a tumble dryer.

Despite this set back I am remaining upbeat.  Thank goodness the boiler decided to wait until March to pack up instead of the midst of winter.  The sun is shining and I have a pile of ironing to contend with.  At least the ironing will keep me warm!

Have a good week!

Friday Sweet Treat No. 2

The last time I posted a Friday sweet treat was back in November 2010!  You can see the post  here
Well, today I thought it was time to post another treat so I had a go at making Brigadeiros (Brazilian sweets) for the first time.  There are many recipes for Brigadeiros on the internet but I made mine as follows:
 
1 can condensed milk
4 tbsp Green and Black's organic cocoa powder
1 tbsp butter

Blend ingredients together in a small saucepan with a wooden spoon.  Keep stirring over a low heat until the 'sauce' thickens and you can see the bottom of the pan when you drag the spoon through the centre of the mixture.  Pour into a heatproof dish, allow to cool and then place in the fridge.

When the mixture is cold.  Rub butter into your hands and roll teaspoons of mixture into your hands to form small balls.  Roll the balls into topping of your choice.  I used chocolate strands, caramel curls and hundreds and thousands.  Place the sweets into small (petit four) cases and allow to set in fridge.  These are so easy to make.  Give it a go!

Another sweet treat for you, if you are not fussed about the chocolate kind;  Gizmo would like to wish you all a happy weekend.  Let's hope the sun shines so we can get out in the garden! x

Savoury Muffins

Three posts in three days!  I am on a roll!  Yesterday I made these tasty cheese, spring onion and courgette muffins and adapted the recipe slightly from this book here.  I can't recommend this book enough.  It has really sparked my imagination and I have made many of the items within.  It is not just a book that looks good on the coffee table, it is one that you will use again and again.

One of the things I have yet to make is the flavoured sugars using perlagonium leaves, and in anticipation of doing this, I have already put in my order for some scented leaf perlagoniums including ones that smell of roses, lemon, apple mint and peach!  They won't arrive until April but I am so excited about receiving them.

The weather has returned true to type here now (grey and raining and blowing a gale!) but surprisingly I am in an upbeat frame of mind.  It must be the burst of sunshine we got yesterday or perhaps the prospect of receiving exciting goodies in the post.  Have a lovely Tuesday! x

*Just discovered a wonderful blog called Clover Clogg.  Please do go and visit.  I don't think you will be disappointed!  Just click on the link below.

 Clover Clogg

Soap Stack

I have ticked off another task on my intentions list for 2014.  I have made soap.  I didn't do it from scratch - I already did that when I went on a soap making class, and to do it at home would of meant quite a costly outlay for all the equipment. (May do it one day though).  I look upon using melt and pour soap the same way as chefs would use ready made filo pastry instead of making it from scratch so that is what I used.

Melt and pour soap is the safe way of making soap.  You can still be inventive with the ingredients you add and the moulds that you use.  I made peppermint soap using dried peppermint leaves and peppermint essential oil.  The end result is a subtle fragrant soap that will be great for hand washing after a busy day in the garden.

I am excited to think of all the different soaps I can make including lemon with lemon zest, lavender and oatmeal, and rose with rose petals, ah yes, rose.

Many more things to make and do.  It feels good to keep busy and productive.

The sun has just come out.  I think this is going to be a good week. x

Stack of Splats

Using up store cupboard ingredients and some quince jelly that was in the fridge, I made a stack of 30 jam splats!  High in fat and melt in the mouth but simple to make and very moreish!

You can find the recipe here  I do think that this batch were better than the last though - these are much crumblier and less overworked.  Happy baking!