WOW - The NZ gift fair - Auckland 2010

Ingrid and I managed to blag our way in to the NZ Gift fair - wow what an amazing set up! If you liked the food show multiply that x10! The effort people went to to promote their products was unbelievable...

We were lucky to meet Helen from Livewires Publishing, what an inspiration. A real bubbly and motivated lady that has faith in our cards - Thank you so much - we are so grateful!

There was everything there from cards, baby gear, home furnishing, kitchen stuff, art work, stationery, bath products and general gifty stuff - there are a lot of talented people in out world! Competition for us yet inspiring at the same time!

We also met the team at Affirmations who were very generous in offering their time to catch up this Saturday. They produce cards with inspirational messages. Ingrid and I are looking forward to sharing our cards with you and learning from your experience in the business...

After the gift fair we popped into IVY in Kingsland for a chat, vino and a bite.

It was a perfect and surprising Sunday afternoon!

Vanessa

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One of the delights of life is eating with friends, second to that is talking about eating. And, for an unsurpassed double whammy, there is talking about eating while you are eating with friends. —Laurie Colwin

Photoshoot for new range

Photos taken whilst collecting lemons for the lemon curd and lemon meringue pie...

So after a busy day of work and looking after baby Rhys, Ingrid and I enjoyed our usual Friday night family night.

However the following day was our big shoot and neither of us had prepared any food!
So after baths, stories, battles and bed, we both hit the kitchen for a night of cooking.
I LOVE cooking but after a busy day and time ticking on - it was the last thing I felt like doing! Positive thoughts and self motivation directed me in the right direction...

Meringues again for our prize winner, lemon curd made with home grown lemons from next door, lemon meringue pie as well as crepes was the hit list for the evening.

Disaster numero uno - the meringues. What was I thinking. I know better than to rush! I didn't whip the egg whites enough and wasn't pedantic and careful enough when adding the sugar so ended up with a mixture that didn't hold its own when pipped and had sugar crystals through it. I cooked it anyway knowing it wasn't right and plodded on to the lemon curd.

I love real zesty lemon curd, its so creamy, delicious and has a homely old-fashioned nostalgic feel to it. Its the second time I have cooked it and both times perfect!

All it takes is a bit of time stirring over a double boiler. Perfect solution to waiting out the stirring time - hook up the lap top and watch TV on demand - yeahhha lemon curd and the mentalist - PERFECT combination!

Check out the recipe below and give it ago - delicious on crepes, toast, ice cream or just spooned straight from the fridge to your mouth!!!!

Lemon curd my way...

3 large eggs
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon lemon zest

3/4 cup white sugar

60 grams butter

In a double boiler or microwave (bowl on top of a pan with boiling water) melt the butter.

Mix everything together in a bowl and add to the butter - mix well.

Put back onto the double boiler and stir pretty much constantly until the mixture thickens. This may take about 15 mins, if nothing seems to be happening turn up the heat. Keep stirring...

When thick, pour in to containers, cool and refrigerate.

Remember - it will thicken further in the fridge.

Tip - Taste Taste Taste - add more sugar or lemon depending on your tastes.

If life throws you a lemon - make lemonade.

Joan Collins

Photoshoot - hopefully the last in our backyard studio!

Come back soon -the post of our last photo shoot in all its glory, dramas and hiccups will be revealed...

In the meantime the pics will give you a taster

Vanessa