Thank you Ma’am Hoop

Shepherd’s Pie

Homemade Toffee Apples

Ingredients

● 6 crisp eating (dessert) apples

● 400g golder caster sugar

● 100ml water

● 1 teaspoon lemon juice

● 4 tablespoons golden (light corn) syrup

Method

● Fill a large bowl with boiling water, add the apples and leave for a minute or so. This removes any wax they may have on the skins and helps the caramel adhere to the fruit. Dry well and remove the stalks. Push a thick wooden skewer about half way into each apple.

● Line a baking sheet with baking parchment.

● Place the sugar and water in a deep heavy-based saucepan and bring to the boil. Reduce to a simmer until the sugar has dissolved, brushing any undissolved crystals down the side of the pan using a pastry brush.

● Add the lemon juice and syrup, stir carefully, then return to the boil. Boil until the syrup reaches 150C on a sugar thermometer, or when a drop of the mixture forms a hard ball when dropped into cold water.

● One at a time, pick up each apple by the skewer and carefully turn it in the hot syrup mixture, coating the outside of the apple.

● Transfer the apples to the prepared baking sheet and leave to cool and harden. If liked sprinkle with chopped nuts or similar before the caramel is fully set.

A Stitcher’s Alphabet Part 9: S ( part one)

Sacred Monogram

The letters IHS or IHC in a beautiful decorative form are often used as a Christogram within the Christian church. Used in Latin since the seventh century, the first appearance of IHS in an English document dates from the fourteenth century.

The three letters stand for the first three letters of the name Jesus in Greec, IHSUS or IHCUC, the letters S or C being variations of the form, or for (Jesus Saviour of Men). The sacred monogram is frequently found in ecclesiastical embroidery

Sailor’s Palm

Also known as a thummel, this is a type of thimble traditionally used by sail makers or by anyone working with heavyweight or hard fabrics.

An indented metal circle is fastened into a leather strap which is worn on the dominant hand with the metal resting on the palm by the base of the thumb. The needle is pushed through with the weight of the hand rather than a finger.

Samplers