You're like Paris in April and May

Pretty Kitchen

Coming into my sunshiny kitchen every morning makes me happy

Recipe - Lemon Tart

Let's get things kicked off with a sunshiny recipe :)

Low calorie lemon tart :) Only 186 calories a slice!
Ingredient

For the pastry

• 50g butter , cut in pieces
• 140g plain flour
• 1 tbsp icing sugar
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 medium egg yolk

For the filling

• 3 medium eggs , plus 2 medium egg whites
• 140g icing sugar , plus extra for dusting
• 2 tbsp finely grated lemon zest (about 4 lemons)
• 125ml lemon juice (from 4-5 lemons)
• 200ml tub half-fat crème fraîche

Method to the madness

Rub the butter into the flour until the mix looks like fine breadcrumbs. Stir in the icing sugar, then make a well and stir in the oil, egg yolk and 1 tbsp cold water until dough comes together and gather into a ball. On a lightly floured surface, roll out so it fits a 23 x 2cm loose-bottom flan tin/dish. Ease the pastry into the tin. Press the pastry into the flutes so it sits slightly above the edge and trim the excess. Lightly prick the pastry base with a fork,  then chill for about 10 mins. Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5.

While it’s chilling make the filling! Beat the eggs and egg whites together with a wooden spoon until well mixed. Sift the icing sugar into a bowl, then gradually beat in the eggs. If the mix is at all lumpy, simply beat with a wire whisk. Stir in the lemon zest and the juice. Leave to stand so the lemon flavour can develop.

Line the pastry case with baking parchment and baking beans and bake blind for 15 mins or until well set. Carefully lift out the beans and paper, then bake the pastry case for another 3-5 mins until the base is cooked and pale golden. 

Strain the lemon mixture through a sieve. Beat the crème fraîche in a medium bowl until smooth, then slowly stir in the lemon mix until well blended. Transfer to a jug, then carefully pour two thirds into the warm pastry case. Place in the oven with the oven shelf half out, pour in the rest of the filling, then carefully slide the shelf back in. Reduce the heat to 150C/130C fan/gas 2. Bake for 25-30 mins until barely set with a slight wobble in the middle. Cool for about 1 hr, then serve with a light dusting of icing sugar. Best eaten the same day - yes, all of it!

xxx

Fresh as a daisy

There is always something nice about starting a shiny new blog.

In this case though it is something of a challenge to leave behind my other blog on tumblr which I have been updating with my heart and soul for the last 3 years. I am having a few problems with the features on tumblr – you can’t comment on your posts and you can’t easily access old posts which means that you have to click like mad to get to old posts. I am hoping that I will love this one just as much as my old one!

But I’m not one to start something on a downer so welcome to my blog! I started blogging about 3 years ago and gradually it over took my diary writing and now I write all manner of things on my blog. I find it soothing to know that there is a record of my life somewhere out there, and I hope that the things I post about are helpful and provide some fun into a dull day.

For the most part my blog will be filled with recipes, London and my life in general as I skip along into my late twenties.  A little bit of background information is always required: My name is Cara, I am 25 and live with my boyfriend of 3 years and our cat of 9 months in the East of London. I moved to London 2 years ago and I wish I did more on a daily basis. I am in Business Development but wish I was in PR or Events. I am also a Open University student studying English Literature part time – I am currently in my 4^th year, with 2 more years to go before I receive my degree. It has been going on for so long I feel that I will never reach the end!

I am a social network-aholic. I like cheese in unhealthy amounts. I hardly ever wear make-up. I wish I had never given up horse-riding. I giggle a lot.  I can’t stand to be alone for longer than a few hours. I always dreamed of travelling but responsibilities won out. I can never find anything to wear. My life is a bit like candyfloss, full of happiness, sugar and air. How profound.

This is my life....