Recipe of the Month

Show your love this Valentine's Day with these delicious Macarons.

Makes 30 macarons

For the Macarons

200g icing sugar 110g ground almond flour 3 medium egg whites 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 70g granulated sugar Food colouring as desired

For the filling

25g unsalted butter, room temperature 110g double cream 120g dark chocolate, finely chopped 75g raspberry jam

Method

Place the ground almonds and icing sugar and half a teaspoon of salt into the bowl of a food processor and pulse about 12 times until the mixtue appears fully combined. Sieve the mixture carefully into a large bowl, making sure that any mixture remaining in the seive is disgarded.

In another bowl take the egg whites and the other half teaspoon of salt and mix (using a hand mixer) until soft peaks form. Slowly add the granulated sugar and continue to whisk until stiff peaks form, you should be able to invert the bowl without your ingredients falling out. If your mixture is ready beat in the vanilla extract and food colouring. Mix your almond flour mixture in about three parts to the beaten eggs. Gently, using a spatula fold in the mixture. Continue adding the almond flour mixture carefully until it forms a batter. it should fall in a thick ribbon from the spatula. The ribbon should also fade back into the batter within about 30 secs – if it doesn’t, fold a few more times.

Heat oven to 170C/150C fan/gas 3-4. Line three baking sheets with baking parchment. Transfer the batter to a piping bag fitted with a large round nozzle. Hold the bag vertically to the tray, with the nozzle about 1cm from it. Pipe rounds about 2.5cm in diameter onto the prepared baking sheets. Leave to rest for 30 mins, or until the macarons have developed a skin.

Bake the macarons for 17 minutes, until the feet are wellrisen and the macarons don’t stick to the parchment paper. Transfer the macarons to a wire rack to cool completely before filling.

For the filling, place the cream in a small saucepan and the chocolate in a bowl. Bring the cream just to the boil and pour over the chocolate. Leave to stand for a few mins, then stir until combined. Add the butter and stir until smooth, leave to cool and thicken. Place the filling mixture into a piping bag with a smaller nozzle and gently pipe the edge of half the macarons. Fill the centre with rasberry jam and sandwich with another macaron shell.

Pop the finished macarons in an airtight container for 24 hours to rest for the best results, enjoy!

Cuppacheeno C A F E

@ West Meon Village Shop

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Tucked behind the village shop you will find the cosiest little cafe. Homemade cakes, cooked breakfast, homemade soups, lunches, delicious coffees & more!

The cafe courtyard has a sheltered seating area, there is also a 'shed' which seats up to 12 people.

The perfect spot for a catch up with friends, stop for a bite to eat, while enjoying the wonderful walks around the area. we have bike racks in the courtyard too! No need to book! We look forward to seeing you soon... Openingtimes 7 days a week 9am-3pm

Find us on

Cupcake Express

Cupcake Express have loads of valentines goodies available for delivery to your door this Valentines!

Boxes of 12 or 24 cupcakes, Children’s Valentines Cupcake Decorating Boxes and Decadent Chocolate Cake snd Cookie Dipping Sharing Box for an indugent treat for you and your Valentine!

High Street, West Meon GU321LJ 01730 829310

Call 07794 618142 to book your delivery to your home or why not surprise your Valentine at work!

FREE VALENTINES ROSE

FREE DELIVERY for orders taken over £20 in a 3 mile radius

For every couple on Valentine's Day

Free Starter with all dining in (from Sun - Thurs throughout February)

(offer excludes all King Prawn dishes)

Bank Street Bishop's Waltham Hampshire SO32 1AN Opening Times Monday - Sunday: 12pm - 2:30pm; 5pm - 11pm Tel: 01489 894 684 Tel: 01489 893 348 www.walthamtandoori.com E thewalthamtandoori

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THE CROWN INN

BISHOP'S WALTHAM

THE CROWN INN The Crown is located in Bishop’s Waltham, close to local attractions such as the Bishop’s Waltham Palace just four minutes away on foot. You can also reach us by train - the nearest train station is 3.5 miles away. We have our own gravel car park directly opposite the inn which makes us a great place to hold your meetings, be it for business or pleasure.

At The Crown, we take full advantage of the abundant quality products found here in Hampshire. Our menu combines sumptuous Great British classics with

sophisticated palates. Try out our Owton’s steak, which we serve with delicious watercress & pickled shallot salad. And bring the whole family along - we have a children’s menu that includes yummy treats such as our special chocolate brownie.

It’s always a pleasure to catch up with friends after a long week, and at The Crown, you get to do just that over a glass of exceptional ale. Fuller’s is renowned for outstanding caskconditioned ales such as our original award-winning London Pride, which we have on tap. Rather have a glass of wine? SUMPTOUS FOOD

No problem! We have a whole collection of exclusive wines - red and white - for you to sip on as the conversation flows.

Undoubtedly one of the best accommodation options in Bishop’s Waltham, we treat our guests to some little luxuries such as the plush Egyptian cotton linen you’ll find spread neatly on a comfy spring mattress when you check in. You get the best deal when you book a stay in one of our beautiful bedrooms directly. Because we love having you over, we make it really easy for you to extend your stay using our Sunday special. Finally, our excellent location makes it easy to explore the countryside as we are close to a number of Hampshire attractions - the Bishop’s Waltham Palace ruins are just behind the pub!

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t: 01489 893350 e: crown.bishopswaltham@fullers.co.uk w: crowninnbishopswaltham.co.uk The Crown Inn, The Square, Bishop's Waltham, SO32 1AF