Easy lemon curd

As you know I love to cook, I’m just not all that good at it. Since I’ve finished studying though I’ve made it my mission to get good. I’m going to cook lots of yummy things, try new recipes and see which go down well in the Murphy household.

This lemon curd recipe was a big winner. I love Masterchef and wasn’t entirely impressed to see the format of Australian Masterchef earlier in the year. Weird eliminations, tasks and masterclasses? Nah… However by week 3 I was hooked. It is so much better than the UK Masterchef series, in which everyone cooks scallops with black pudding on a bed of minted crushed peas; or lamb because Gregg likes it, but not salmon because John doesn’t like it. (Incidentally, it was only in around series 4/5 that my husband realised he was called John Torode, not Jonty Road). I miss it loads and am trying to find the cables that hook my laptop to our TV so I can stream the Celebrity series & series 2 which is currently showing in Oz. I’ve also ordered the winner’s cookbook (I won’t say who in case anyone’s following the series on Good Food now & doesn’t know) from Amazon. I am so excited!!!

This recipe was given by Gary in the masterclass following Julie’s cupcake win. He was doing a take on the Lemon Diva cupcakes with lemon curd, lemon syrup and lemon cream. This seemed so easy it would be rude not to try it!

3 eggs

2 egg yolks

3/4 cup caster sugar

125g unsalted butter, cubed

Finely grated zest of 1 lemon (I used 3 as they were quite small & it was perfect, not too lemon but with a good kick)

Juice of 3 lemons (another reason why I used 3 for the zest!)

Throw it all in a bowl & bung in the microwave on half power for around 7/8 minutes, or until it thickens up. Stir at LEAST every minute.

How easy is that?! Well, for me not that easy. I don’t understand my microwave, couldn’t work out half power so put it on full for 4 mins, stirring every 30 seconds. It turned out lovely! There were some white bits in it, which is where I presume the heat was so high it slightly scrambled some of the eggs, but hey, no one’s perfect! It was definitely edible, Sam and I ate a jar in a week and the jar I took into work went in 2 days!

Next time I think I’ll do it on the hob – Gary said that was fine too and Gary knows EVERYTHING – so I can control the heat better. I’m also going to try orange curd, lime curd and citrus curd (all 3 together). You know what you’ll be getting for a present at Christmas now, right? 🙂

Mmm...delicious

The Aussie Masterchef judge - George, Matt & Gary (I love them)

This is a post for Magic Mummy, AKA Superwoman (seriously, how does she have time to raise 2 gorgeous children, run a home, do crafts, bake, be a wife, work full time AND write a wonderful blog? I am in awe) who asked for recipes like mother used to make. Well, sorry Mum but this is nothing like you used to make. Burnt toast, microwaved beans and teas from the chippy were the norm if my Dad wasn’t around to cook that night. She’s so bad at cooking she totally melted the microwave proof bowl and potato hash she was microwaving for Sam at the weekend. It was almost impressive.