December thoughts and your emergency dessert kit … the orange meringue “pie”

For the orange version you may want to try the Clementine Curd from M&S. Your recipe is the same as the lemon. If you want to add alcohol then you can try any of the orange liqueurs – Cointreau, Grand Marnier or Triple Sec to name but three!

If you are a Cointreau fan there's a Cointreau Noir – the original liqueur with Cognac and a Blood Orange version too.

If you're not bothered about Clementine Curd then use orange curd – Waitrose make an excellent product.

If you wanted to extend your emergency dessert kit then serve either version with a side scoop of vanilla ice cream – home-made, straight from your freezer.

You can scale this dessert up or down to suit your family and guests and taking into account the size of glasses you're using.

If you don't own shot or shooter glasses you could rummage around in the depths of your cupboards trying to locate those Martini glasses you know are in there somewhere. They would do nicely.

There's no skill required for these emergency desserts and the other bonus is that the ingredients are in your pantry ready for whenever the festive mood takes you!

A Spring treat

Last September we talked a lot about the Autumn fruit harvest – in my case damsons. From that harvest came damson vodka. You don't need an Autumn harvest to make a fruit vodka. If you're interested check out the vodka label on the blog – it gives you complete recipes for the roasted damsons to the vodka and a recipe using frozen fruit too.

Leave your liqueur alone for three months if you can – you'll be glad you gave it a chance to mature a little – the longer the better.

I said back then – purely in the interests of quality control you understand - that there will be a tasting later on in the year and full and frank feedback given! In one word – wow – in another - it certainly hits the spot – take it easy!

They look pretty, me thinks – a nice idea for a gift.

If “shots” are your thing then enjoy neat!

If they aren't then have a shot on the side of a dessert indulgence of your choice.

Tip a shot of the cherry liqueur over frozen cherries and serve with ice cream.

Thank you Rockwright!