Blackberry marshmallows

Blackberry Marshmallows (makes about 500g)

Ingredients
455g (16 ounces) granulated sugar
1 tbsp liquid glucose (light corn syrup)
340ml (11.5 fluid ounces) water
9 sheets of gelatine
2 large egg whites
2 tsp vanilla extract
vegetable oil for greasing tin
125g (4.5 ounces) fresh blackberries, blended
1 tbsp sieved Icing sugar for dusting (powdered sugar)
1 tbsp sieved Cornflower for dusting (cornstarch)

Cooking instructions

1. Lightly oil a shallow baking tray, dust with icing sugar and cornflower.
2. Soak the gelatine in 140ml cold water.
3. Place the granulated sugar, glucose syrup and the remainder of the water in a heavy-based saucepan. Bring to the boil and continue cooking for about 12-15 mins until the temperature reaches 127 deg C (260 deg F) on a candy thermometer.
4. Add the soaked gelatine and water carefully to the pan of syrup when it is up to temperature.
5. Pour the syrup into a metal jug.
6. Beat the egg whites until stiff.
7. Continue to beat the egg whites with an electric whisk while pouring hot syrup from the jug. The mixture will become thick and shiny.
   
8. Add the vanilla extract and continue whisking for about 10 mins.
9. Add the blackberries and continue whisking until the mixture is stiff enough to hold its own shape.
10. Spoon mixture into tray and leave to set in fridge for at least an hour.
11. Dust work surface with icing sugar and cornflower and turn out marshmallow, cut into squares (easiest with cheese wire) and lightly roll in icing sugar & cornflower, leave to dry on a wire rack.
12. Store the marshmallows in an airtight container.

Packaging

You will need:
Cone wrapper
Double sided tape
Cellophane
Ribbon

1. Print cone wrapper (double click the "blackberry cone wrapper" below, which will open up in a separate window ready to print).
2. Cut around cone wrapper and along dotted lines.
3. Roll wrapper into a cone shape and, using tape, fix in shape.
4. Place a second piece of tape inside cone along one side and peel off backing.
5. Cut out cellophane (double click the "cellophane pattern" below, which will open up in a separate window ready to print. Note each straight line is 24cm long).
6. Roll cellophane into cone, place inside cone wrapper and fix in place.
7. Fill with candy.
8. Tie ribbon around the top.

My weekend in aqua and cream

I finally got my Varga girl framed and hung on the wall. I so love her!



I have been working on some pics for my contact page. The above pic is of my parents' old vintage telephone that I revamped and blogged about a while ago.



I have been dreaming of getting our Lambretta fixed! It's the same model as the miniature in the photo above.



I love the vintage feel of this ring from Aldo.




I bought some vanilla scented spheres for my glass bowl.



I treated myself to a mint macaroon at Selfridges!

Vintage blue

This week on Flickr Faves Sunday, I bring you a vintage blue palette with these gorgeous pics. Check back soon for some more of the most inspirational photographers on Flickr.

Some beautiful shots from my Flickr favourites (clockwise from top left):

• I love the beautiful frill neck faded floral dress in Untitled by .m a r i e
• The hanging bird cage in la la la by keico
• The chipped and battered gorgeous old letterbox on a derelict building by Jennie.Filer
• The scroll detail Necklace hanger by Craft & Creativity

Have a great week! x

Serena & Lily

I have just found these gorgeous storage bins from Serena & Lily. I love that the print is a glossy watertight coat: so many uses from storing your icy cold drinks at parties to dressing up your outdoor space with the window boxes.



I am also loving the pool blue colour of the wall and the fabric strands tied to the retro fan in the above pic. I think the fabric strands make it look so pretty.



The pale yellow and green bedding on the gorgeous daybed looks so fresh. I love the Moroccan pouffe and the low level lighting.



This duvet cover, with the embroidered peacocks on the bottom, is fantastic, as is the low chandelier. The white voile curtains and white polished floor keep it so clean and fresh.



I like the mix of prints on this bed set against the paneled walls which gives it a vintage touch.

Katya De Grunwald

The above photos are from Katya De Grunwald, an English photographer whose work has appeared in, amongst others, World of Interiors, Elle Decoration, Martha Stewart Living, and House & Garden. She takes the most beautiful photographs from interiors to fashion to the everyday.

I love the so pretty vintage looking pics that are subtly full of shine and texture. I especially love the quirkiness in the first photo.

Enjoy!

Rice DK Autumn/Winter 2009

The Rice DK Autumn/Winter 2009 catalogue is now up on their website and is full of beautiful images like those above. Danish designer house Rice DK "specializes in fair trade homewares with a great strong design and social ethic. Rice is fair trade certified to SA8000 and works closely with the communities that produce and manufacture its products."

I just love the fabric picture frames on the pink fridge and I so want to get their pale pink rolling pin in the last pic to match my kitchen baking utensils.

Available in the UK from Nettle Green.

Vintage Pink

This week on Flickr Faves Sunday, I bring you a vintage pink, with a touch of gold, colour palette, with these gorgeous pics. Check back soon for some more of the most inspirational photographers on Flickr.

Some beautiful shots from my Flickr favourites (clockwise from top left):

• I love the colour and texture of the yarn against the gold lettering in Bubblegum Tweed Recycled Re-spun by Flutter by Fibres.
• The gorgeous wallpaper in pretty in pink and blue at gcb by It's a chimmy simmy world
• The adorable felt cookies in Crafting 365, day 173 - pink teacups by Bugsandfishes by Lupin
  
• The beautiful texture in A . P L A C E by Miss K.B