Happy Birthday Hunky

I've been waiting for a nice cool day to attempt my portugese egg tarts. Yesterday afternoon was perfect. Didn't it feel like London? It was all grey by 2pm. Anyway, I had made the egg mixture the night before with cream, eggs and vanilla pod. It was so delicious I wanted to just eat it on its own. I restrained and left the mixture to cool. Today, I watched the oven in horror. I think I made a grave error with the puff pastry as the oil from the pastry bubbled away, "deep-frying" my custard filling in the process! What the?! The recipe said I had to roll it up and flatten it out but I was told by a friend that you aren't suppose to roll out puff pastry. Sigh. Anyway, the result was soggy, oily pastry filled with delicious custard. What a shame. I tried to crisp up the pastry by putting them back into the oven again. It was a little better but I am too put off by the oil to eat the rest. Will definitely try it again rolling up the pastry this time.

I also baked a chocolate pavlova for Hunky's birthday. Sigh, if only sponge cakes were as easy to bake! I'd rather bake 10 pavlovas at one go than to make a sponge cake again. Click here for the recipe from The Domestic Goddess herself. I would advice for anyone attempting the recipe to reduce the sugar a little. It was just a little too sweet despite the cream and tart strawberries. I also only baked it for 40 minutes so the centre was like gooey marshmallow. Simply divine! I just had a slice for breakfast!

We had a small dinner at home for Hunky. Sis made beef wellington. She has made a vow to keep making it until she gets it as perfect as Gordon Ramsay's, much to Hunky's delight. I made my usual fabulous roast potatoes baked with bacon fat instead of the usual duck fat and buttered brussel sprouts with crispy bacon. We were all so full and happy that by 10:30, we were all ready to pass out. Ah, I had the best sleep ever!