A Skinny Fairtrade Latte in the Food Court of Life

This one is really simple and quick to do - and quick to post which is as well as today has suddenly turned busy!  The other two will follow later

You need:

1 bottle of sparkling grape juice drink

1 packet of frozen forest fruits (thawed)

3 tablespoons of agar flakes*

2 dessert spoons of sugar

A 2lb loaf tin

 

Put half a pint of grape juice in a saucepan, sprinkle on the agar flakes and heat according to instructions on the packet.  Add another half pint of grape juice and the sugar - it will foam up but that's fine.

Pour in enough liquid to cover the base of the tin to about 7mm/quarter inch and chill in freezer for 15 mins

Add the fruit to the tin

Slowly pour over the rest of the liquid, tapping the tin which apparently removes air bubbles

Leave in the fridge to set

Easy peasy!  Teetotal, vegetarian and vegan. It works about 50 kCal a serving, contains half a portion of your 5 a day and is excellent for 'men of a certain age' or as a precaution for younger men because it is 'all things red'  Just how good is that?!

If you want to use alcohol (which will impact to a degree on setting) or gelatine then feel free.

ENJOY!  Oh, and you can drink the left over grape juice too!!

 

* Having made this dish and discovered how soft the set was when I turned it out, it may be better to use a little extra agar.

Almost at Advent 2 already - this year is hurtling to its conclusion and I, for one, feel as if I'm running to keep up.

Our second Advent lunch yesterday seemed to go well, again around 18 folk came and shared in the short reflection followed by a soup lunch.  Some were people who came last week, others were not, so overall it is probably nearer two dozen who have been involved so far.  The theme yesterday, of hospitality, was a good one and of course fits quite well with fellowship over soup and cheese.

Tomorrow is a 'progressive supper' (or 'super' as I typed first!) for which I am involved with desserts (or 'deserts' as I am wont to call them).  Having sifted few various boxes and uncovered my two favourite cook books, I am all set for a fun evening of preparing my offerings...

A raspberry cheesecake

A vegan forest fruit terrine (an experiment - I hope it works!!)

My signature triple chocolate mousse, which is an adaptation of recipe from Prima magazine about 15 years ago.  Dear oh my, I am turning into my mother/grandmother as I carefully smooth the yellowing paper to remind myself what is involved.

Again a bit of an experiment as this time I move from merely using Fairtrade chocolate to using Maya Gold and Divine orange milk chocolate to add a hint of seasonal flavours.

 

I am looking forward to an enjoyable evening of food and friendship, which will also help to raise funds towards the redevelopment of our Gathering Place, in turn enabling us to extend the hospitality of God to even more people in the years ahead.

PS for foodie followers, if the recipes turn out well, I may even post them for you!

Posting here today... then trying to practice what I preach!