Catching up as usual

Firstly I will start with a recipe - I wanted to have a go at making coconut ice, really to make for presents. So I searched around for recipes and there seemed to be two main types, boiling sugar and water/milk, or just making it cold with condensed milk...so after a lot of searching I found a recipe on believe it or not it was on cbc forum and had been posted by Jake. So here is her recipe:

Coconut Ice

Makes about 50

2 1/2 floz milk
2 1/2 floz water
1lb granulated sugar
4oz dessicated coconut
1/2oz butter
1/2 teasp vanilla essence
pink food colouring

Pour milk and water into a pan and bring to the boil
Add sugar and butter, heat slowly, stirring until sugar dissolves and butter melts
Bring to the boil. Cover pan and boil gently for 2 mins.
Uncover and continue to boil, stirring occasionally for 7-10 mins or until a little of the mixture, dropped into a cup of cold water forms a soft ball when rolled gently between thumb and finger. Temp on a sugar thermometer should read 116C or 240F
Remove from heat, add coconut and vanilla.
Beat briskly until mixture is thick and glossy.
Pour half into an 18cm (7inch) square tin lined with greaseproof paper.
Quickly colour the remainder pale pink and spread over white layer.
Leave to cool until firm and cut into squares

I have to say I only made 20 squares so not sure why that was - Owen tested it and he said it was nice. It was a bit crumbly on the edges, and I did have to work quite quickly with it...I have wrapped it up and am going to see if it sells on the Ampthill Country Market stall tomorrow.

Talking of the Country Market I have done a little web site for them - to try and raise our profile as we really need some new members....Ampthill Country Market


I made some flapjacks last week and decided to package them differently as flapjack bites - well if M&S can do it....anyway they seemed quite popular. I could do with finding a supplier for good price 'sweet bags'.

I will start a new post for the rest of my catch up.....