White Chocolate and Lemon Curd Truffles

{And the art of balance}

It is only the start of January, but I have already started to feel the weight of work to be done over the next 12 months. I honestly do not know how to balance the work-life-study-blogging dynamic at this point in time. I think I just have to deal with each item, one thing at a time.

Speaking about the art of balance, have you read this post on Bakers Royale about "The cost of blogging"? A very honest read and it makes me reflect on my blogging experience in the past 5 years. Costs like camera gears, hosting, cookbooks can be estimated. But how about time? Somehow, somewhere, there need to be a balance. Kulsum and I were talking about a commitment of spending less time online, focusing more on our "real" life and enjoying other activities. I don't think I will quit blogging. It's part of my life that I want to keep. Hopefully I will be able to.

The recipe I am sharing today is a recent favourite. Lemon curd and white chocolate truffles. They are sweet, smooth with the lighter tangy note of citrus. A delightful after dinner bite.

White chocolate and lemon curd truffles

Making your own lemon curd is easy. I have used this recipe, but reduced the sugar a little bit. :)
I served the truffles "lollipop" style, but they do soften very quickly in warm weather. In such case, simply put them in small pretty paper cases.

Based on this recipe

Ingredients
100g white chocolate
1/4 cup home-made lemon curd
1/4 cup heavy cream
a tiny bit of orange blossom water (optional)

100g biscuit crumbs (I used my home-made biscuits and process it into finely ground in the food processor)

Method

Using a double boiler, melt the white chocolate.

Add in the lemon curd, heavy cream, orange blossom water and mix well to combine.

Place the above mixture in the freezer, and chill for 2-3 hours.

Take the mixture out of the freezer and shape into truffle-sized balls. Dust powdered sugar over your hands to stop the truffles melting around the edges.

 Coat the balls with the biscuit crumbs. Put them on a baking tray covered with baking paper. If you want to make lollipops, insert the sticks into the truffle balls. 

Place the whole thing in the freezer and chill overnight. Serve chill.  

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Simmered Soy Beans with ginger and soy sauce {Japanese inspired}

We ended last year on a quiet note. A much needed getaway, far from work and obligations. It wasn't far away but we stayed in a quiet, tranquil Japanese inn called Shizuka Ryokan near Daylesford.

 For a few days, we relaxed ourselves entirely. Bush walking, bathing in mineral water, wandering around in different stores. Most of the time, we were happy to read and reflect quietly in the room overlooking a private Japanese style garden.

 Food, we did indulge ourselves. Trips to the Lake House have not disappointed unlike its cousin the Wombat Hill cafe. But the meal I like the most is the Japanese style breakfast. Although the salmon seemed a bit heavy for morning meal, the meal itself was nourishing and comforting. I love miso soup for the morning with rice. A few salad dishes were healthy and wholesome. Such a great start for the day.

 Coming back, renewed, I continue that simplicity philosophy in food preparation. I remember a really nice, simple soy bean dish simmered in sweet soy sauce I had a while back. Traditionally, black beans are used, and it is a Japanese New Year dish called Kuromame. The version I made has an additional warm tone of ginger. 

The beans are sweet, savoury and have that wholesome 'al-dente' bite to each piece. This is a kind of small dish you can offer in everyday Asian style meal. Serve it as you would serve pickles I say. The following recipe makes quite a bit, and we have enjoyed it for a few days.

I am sending this recipe to a lovely blogging event called My Legume Love Affair. It was started by my friend Susan of the Well-seasoned Cook. This month host is  Claire of Chez Cayenne .

Simmered Soy Beans with ginger and soy sauce
based on a recipe here. This dish has a long cooking time, but it's really simple to make. 


150g dried soy beans (or black beans)
½ cup sugar
2 tablespoons light soy sauce
A pinch of salt
A piece of thumb-size ginger, cut into three large pieces

Wash the beans and soak them in warm water for 3-4 hours.

Drain and simmer the beans in a pot with a lot of water and the pieces of ginger until cooked through (2-3 hours). The beans should be soft with a bite.

Now add the seasoning and continue to simmer with the lowest heat possible until most of the liquid evaporates (1-2 hours). Check the beans – you don't want them to be mushy but wholesome and 'al dente'.

Serve at room temperature. Store in an air-tight container for around 4-5 days.

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