Tomato Ketchup

I've always wanted to make tomato ketchup so this was the week.  We had 4kg out the greenhouse so away we went.

I infused some white wine vinegar with pickling spices and left that while I prepped the tomatoes.

After toasting some mustard seeds we sweated some finely chopped onions and garlic then added the roughly chopped tomatoes. These were softened before adding a large dollop of tomato purée, demera sugar, vinegar and spices. 

This was simmered on a low heat for a couple of hours until the juice reduced and it thickened up. I blitzed the ketchup till smooth bit I didn't sieve to remove skins, seeds and spices. The result was somewhere between a relish and a ketchup. 

I bottled it I to sterilised jars as I didn't have bottles. Now some recipes said to sterilise the filled jars/bottles but some didn't so I didn't. We'll see how long it lasts. 

You can add chilli for heat, more vinegar or more sugar for taste.  We tried it next day with sausages and eggs, yum, and it was a hit!

Table Decoration

As a result of doing the advent wreath for the Army this year I was asked to make a table decoration for a friend there. I'd never done one like this before but was pretty pleased with my effort. I used oasis and stuck small branch tips in to fill it out and decorated.

I like it.

Advent Wreath

In past years I have made Christmas wreaths to raise a little money to pay for Christmas. I wasn't going to bother this year but was asked by the Officers at the Asalvation Army if I'd do the advent wreath so this is what I came up with.

Pig in Mud

I volunteered to make the cake for the joint 3rd birthday of our Ante Natal group again this year. Back to the trusty dome cakes and we had a pig in a muddy field. The field was chocolate fudge and the pig was vanilla fudge. 

Present Cake

My friend wanted something special for her 50th. This was it...

I started by making three layers for fudgy chocolate cake and icing in fudge icing. 

It was big!!

Then I covered with white fondant and cut circles from pink and purple to decorate and balls of the same colours to put around the bottom. 

Finally I rolled purple and laid pink on top for the ribbons and made the big bow seperately. Next time I'll know to make the loops for the bow a few days before so they harden properly before assembling. 

I dusted all the coloured elements with lustre powder. I was quite pleased for a first attempt. 

Ladybird Cake

Another dome cake. This time a ladybird for Mischief's second birthday. 

Beaded Earrings

Made these for a friends birthday last month. I'd've liked to have kept them for myself.