Diet cheat day at Kew Village Market.

Every first Sunday of the month Kew Village closes off it's stunning streets and becomes a bustling market with a multitude of different stalls selling cheeses, breads, vegetables and meats to chocolates, jewellery, soaps and other incredible crafts. This was the first Sunday of 2014 so we'd had it in our calendar for a while as a "must visit" and the weather couldn't have been more perfect, crisp and sunny. There were pushchairs, dogs, paper coffee cups and basket bikes in abundance, creating a very French market feel, the place just buzzed. 

Everything was very reasonably priced with fresh loaves of bread from £1.20 and packs of fat organic sausages from £4. We made our way around stocking up on some delicious must haves for a diet cheat day. 

There were tasters in abundance - some of my favourite, of course, being Ildiko's chocolate. Dark, milk and white chocolate, infused with some delicious flavours, these really were special and I couldn't help myself. 

Every stall was so individual to the next, there was no shouting or jeering customers over, it was just relaxed, friendly and very vibrant. There was a real sense of community, which was understandable given how unique Kew Village appears to be. 

Even Pizza Express had a beautiful and endearing facade.

As the market stalls began to shut down, we made our way back to the station ready to head home.  

I really cant speak highly enough of this bubble of West London beauty.If you want to visit Kew Village then the next Market will be held on Sunday 2nd March with a list of stalls here. 

I hope you all had great weekends.

Emi x 

Homemade Christmas in a box.

This week was my final one before Christmas and I wanted to make the guys I work with a special treat to go with their Christmas cards. Last year I made homemade truffles which went down extremely well, so this year I wanted to do something that would hopefully be equally as popular but due to limited time something that was quick and easy too. 

I bought some bright red flat pack boxes from a local craft store to display them in and set to my chocolaty task. 

What you need:
300g Milk / Dark chocolate
100g shelled pistachios
70g dried cranberries
100g White chocolate
3 Crunchie bars

Equipment: 
A high sided baking tray about 13cm / 23cm. 
(So long as it's square / rectangular it doesn't really matter!)
Foil or greaseproof paper

The method:

• Break all the chocolate up and put to the side (milk and white in separate bowls)
• Place the milk/dark chocolate pieces in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of water. Heat the water to boiling, then remove from the heat and allow the chocolate to melt slowly- stirring from time to time

• While the chocolate's still melting line the tin with grease proof paper or tin foil
• When the chocolate has melted, stir in the pistachios, crunchie and cranberries
• Pour in to the lined tin and allow to cool in the fridge

Whilst my chocolate was cooling in the fridge I set up my flat pack gift boxes and lined them all with a square of foil.
 

• Melt the white chocolate in the same way in a separate bowl
• When the milk/dark chocolate has almost set (but be sure not to let it set completely, or the top layer of chocolate will not stick to the milk/dark chocolate)

• Pour the white chocolate over the top to make a second layer. Try to manoeuvre it by picking the tray up and tipping it from side to side rather than using a spatular to try and even it out as (my mistake) it can mix with any chocolate that hasn't quite cooled.

• Add to the top any last bits of crunchie. 
• Place in the fridge for a few hours until completely set 

• Cut into bite-size squares/ rectangles and enjoy! 

I placed a few chocolates each in to the individual boxes and then used some blue ribbon I found to complete the decoration. 

... and fortunately they went down extremely well, most boxes had been polished off before 9:30am!

Have you made any homemade treats for friends/ family this Christmas?

5 days to go! 

Emi x