Dipped Marshmallows

Chocolate dipped marshmallows are a really quick and easy dessert to make, especially for little ones. They cost next to nothing to make, and there are very few ingredients.

Ingredients:

Soft fluffy Marshmallows

chocolate for melting

Seeds, chopped nuts, sprinkles, or whatever you fancy

Place some baking parchment on a tray. Melt your chocolate over a pan of hot water, or in the microwave. Pierce the marshmallows with your cake pop sticks and dip them into the chocolate. Let the excess drop of the marshmallows and either roll them in the sprinkles or scatter the sprinkles from above onto the marshmallows.

Place upside down onto the parchment and put them into the fridge until they are set!

The candy sprinkles are great for kids, but I liked the cranberries and seeds! 

I love this little japanese plate I found in a charity shop. It has a pretty little scene with a house and garden, and the wonderful pearly orange sky and blue ground.

Quick Strawberry and toffee flan

Here is a pudding i've made lots of times before. It requires very little time or effort which is very handy if you need a pudding in a hurry, and is a favourite of my Grandad.

Ingredients:

1 Ready made flan (or homemade)

Fresh fruit. I chose strawberries

1 pint double cream

1 tablespoon icing sugar

a jam of your choice

Spread a thick layer of jam onto your flan dish. This helps take the edge of as it can sometimes be a little dry! Whip your cream along with the icing sugar until your have a thick but not overwhipped consistency. Spread this on to of the jammy flan. Chop your strawberries and scatter them over the cream. If your using raspberries or blueberries you dont have to chop them just sprinkle them all over!

I topped mine off with a few sprigs of mint that we had growing in the garden.

For the sauce:

80g light brown sugar

40g dark brown sugar

200ml double cream

60g unsalted butter

1 tbsp golden syrup

Melt the butter in the pan, add the sugar and syrup. Careful not to burn the butter. Keep stirring the mixture for a few minutes and then add the cream. And it's done! 

Pour over the flan or over your individual slices, depending on what you prefer :)

I used Lidl's Morello Cherry jam.

 The mint adds a little contrast to the red strawberries. This is a great dish if your having an unexpected friend over for tea or for just making something a little special for a weekday meal!