Friday 16 May 2014

LEMON CURD

I looked out my Great Grandma's Be-Ro Recipe Book the other week to make Pancakes.  (See my PANCAKE BLOG).


I love cooking.  I love spending time in the kitchen creating and making and baking, and then eating.  Or at least I did. I find that cooking is one of those activities that I used to derive an immense amount of pleasure from, but that as my MS has progressed, I find that cooking, baking and pottering in the kitchen is one of those activities that I just don't seem to be able to muster either the energy or enthusiasm for. This is indeed a sad confession.  And not only the preparation and making; but even the eating, as I really have virtually no appetite for anything much at all.  That my MS has robbed me of my appetite, my appetite for food and to a lesser extent my appetite for life, I think is one of the saddest admissions of them all.


Anyway, I sat and nostalgically flicked through the old Be-Ro Recipe Book. Not a Recipe Book of glossy photos of delicious creations, but a reminder of tried and trusted and loved recipe.  I used to derive a huge amount of pleasure simply from perusing recipe books and from planning events and occasions when I could try recipes out. Flicking through Be-Ro I was reminded of this simple joy.  And in that moment I was reminded of the simple pleasure that I derived from baking and making. My enthusiasm returned.  I was reminded of the simple but absolute joy of making something delicious.





For me, this joy is multiplied a thousand times over if I know that I am making something for someone else, and that they will be pleased, thrilled or happy that I have spent my time making something for them, making something they can eat.  And that they will know that whatever it is that I have made has been made with love.


I decided to make Lemon Curd.  It was a no-brainer.  An obvious choice.
Lemon Curd really is for me a hugely evocative treat.  A simple pleasure, but steeped in the memory of making it with my Great Granny.  And I was reminded of the quotation: "Cooking is like Love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all."  I think anything that is cooked with Love always tastes that little bit better; it is like 'Love' is a magic, secret ingredient.  And for me, nothing is made with more Love than Lemon Curd, the Lemon Curd I made with my Great Granny, and so nothing is ever quite so delicious.
Lemon Curd really is very simple to make.  Only four ingredients are required:
  • 4 Lemons
  • 4 Eggs
  • 4 oz Butter
  • 1 lb Sugar
The method is pretty simple too.  Wash and dry the lemons, and grate the rind from each.  Then half the fruit and squeeze out all of the juice.  Add the juice, rind, sugar, butter and eggs into a bowl.  Place the bowl over a pan of water (kind of like a double sauce-pan or double-boiler).  Then just stir over a gentle heat with a wooden spoon until the sugar and butter are melted and it begins to thicken.


This is then spooned into Jars, or Tupper Ware containers to be posted out (to share the love) but it never usually lasts for long.


So, Lemon Curd on Hot Buttered Toast, with a Mug of Tea - in my 'Keep Calm and Love Benedict CUMBERBATCH' Mug.  What could be more glorious?

17 comments:

  1. Gosh, I haven't had lemon curd for years - I don't believe I've ever had home made. Of course I have a craving for it now..x

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    1. Wonder if I'll cause a Lemon Shortage, as everyone rushes to buy Lemons to make Lemon Curd. I've got a craving too x

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  2. O Hanya, we all remember the wonderful baking you used to do for all those Faculty meetings! It was fun when you made something wonderfully sticky and scrumptious - put a stop to much droning on as w
    e had our mouths full most of the time!! Yes, lemon curd is a great favourite. You could try orange or lime curd too - and why not pineapple...? J xx

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    1. I've always thought I'd like to try Orange Curd, bet it might taste like Marmalade, but without the bits.

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  3. So first you transport me back to my childhood the other week with the first appearance of the Be-Ro Cook Book and now it's return visit has reminded me of Saturday evenings as a kid & Lemon Curd sandwiches.

    *WellDoneYou* for another great blog.

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    1. It is FANTASTIC to hear that Lemon Curd is an evocative treat from childhood for others too. Thanks McFONTAINE x

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  4. I have had the pleasure and privilege of sampling Hanya's lemon curd. It is a special experience and, as with anything genuinely home-made, it's quite unlike anything you can buy. It was very quickly gone, but will never be forgotten.

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    1. Thank You John. I am simply going to have to make some more. The more I talk about it, the more I am starting to crave it. It is so simple but so evocative as something simple and comforting from my childhood. Hx

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  5. Darling Hanya, this was so lovely - it brought tears to my eyes for several reasons, and not just because I adore lemon curd: I went on a frenzy for it a year or so ago when I discovered you can make it in the pressure cooker. I haven't made any for a while but I can feel a citrus frenzy coming on after reading this.

    But also because, with your characteristic honesty you tell us about how that fucking MS has sometimes robbed you of your energy for cooking and thus deprived you of one of the many ways you naturally use your creativity to make gifts of love for others.

    Look forward to making lemon curd together next time I visit!

    David xxxx

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    1. Darling Boy, what a treat to make Lemon Curd with you, then to sit with more tea and toast than is possibly imaginable, and talk and chat and laugh. I look forward to it. Hx

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  6. I'm gonna have to make me some of that!

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    1. YAY! Give it a go. I'm sure you won't be disappointed. It is quick and easy, so doesn't impact too much on Fatigue x

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  7. Your new motto should be "When Life gives you lemons, make Lemon Curd!"

    Also, the bowl over a pan of boiling water is called a Bain Marie.

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    1. YAY. "When Life gives you lemons, make Lemon Curd!"

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    2. I thought people would think I was trying to be posh if I wrote Bain Marie, so I just said 'Double Boiler' x

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  8. Not made lemon curd for at least 20 years but this post has re-awoken the desire in me - our daughter hasn't ever had real lemon curd and it'll be a great use for some of our free range chickens' eggs. When u in the MS Therapy centre next I'll bring you some.

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    1. Glad you have been enthused to make some. I don't really go to the MS Therapy Centre as I haven't been driving for a few months, but I'll catch up with you x

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