Month: August 2013

30th Aug – National Toasted Marshmallow Day

Marsh
A BBQ with friends and family always seems to enlighten the spirits, drinking cocktails in the evening sun whilst your tea cooks will always be more appealing than the hustle and bustle of the kitchen. This autumn add a simple twist to your garden party. Toasted marshmallows are an easy solution for a dessert, adults and children love the novelty of toasting there very own mallows. 

BE CREATIVE

Toasted marshmallows don’t have to be served at the end of a stick, be creative by topping your cupcakes with them, drizzle them in chocolate, sandwich them within wafers or you could sweeten your juice by placing one on the top of your drink. 

Chocolate Mousse Recipe

Sephra Chocolate Mousse Recipe

Ingredients

2 cups Sephra Belgian Dark Chocolate
7 Egg Yolks
1/2 cup Golden syrup
2 cups cream
2 Tbsp. Vanilla Extract
A Pinch of Salt.
Yield: Eight 170g portions.

Preparation

Melt the chocolate in the microwave, stirring every 10 seconds.

In a large bowl, whip the egg yolks and salt together with an electric mixer until thick and pale yellow and then set aside.

In a small saucepan, bring corn syrup to a boil, then slowly pour into yolk mixture beating at medium speed. Once the mixture is added, increase to high speed and whip mixture until cool.

In a separate bowl, whisk the cream with the vanilla extract until it forms soft peaks.

Fold melted chocolate into yolk mixture, then gently fold in the cream mixture. Spoon or pipe mousse into wine glasses and refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.

Serving Suggestion: Alternate the mousse with layers of Sephra Belgian Dark Chocolate chips.

A twist: Flavour the mousse with mint or orange by substituting the vanilla extract with mint extract or by adding orange zest to the cream while whipping.

Relaxation Day

Coconut Dream Pie Recipe

National relaxation day has to be one of the best days of the year – giving you another great excuse to do absolutely nothing.

Life can be fast paced at times and we all need a day to unwind. Although a certain amount of stress is normal, stress can be overwhelming and too much of it can be extremely harmful to your physical and mental health.

One thing I would suggest you do on this day is to eat chocolate. Chocolate contains a mood-boosting chemical called Phenylethylamine (PEA), which is also produced in the brain when a person is in love. The hormones that are released can trigger feelings of euphoria and relaxation. Avoid all stressful activities today. Let your body heal, rest and relax.

Take care of yourself today. You deserve it – no matter what you choose to do.

Top ideas for relaxation day:
Have a picnic in a park.
Take a bubble bath.
Sit on the beach and watch the sea ebb.
Listen to southing relaxing music.
Fill the bird feeder and spend a day bird watching.
Spend the day in your PJs watching movies.
Use the day to take beautiful photos.
Take a long relaxing woodland walk.