The warmth and sweet smell of Spring is in the air.
The blossom trees are resounding with the buzz of busy bees.
And for me, over the last few weeks I’ve been a little bit like one of those industrious little creatures, gathering the nectar and making the honey.
I have been gathering ideas, then sourcing ingredients, then making a series of desserts for a course that my husband (AKA Quality Controller) and I were facilitating.

It was a marriage course. 9 couples attended a series of 7 sessions, once a week.
Our aim was to make the setting in the church hall as romantic and intimate as possible, with dimmed lights, linen table cloths, candles, menu of the night, coloured serviettes and flowers, and suitable music. (I am somewhat kicking myself for not taking more photos, but blogging about this was not then in my thinking). The couples watched a teaching DVD and discussed issues privately with each other.

And being a marriage course, I tried to link the dessert and flowers with the topic of the night.

1.
“Strong Foundations”  Sticky Date Pudding with toffee sauce and dollop cream; (idea of favourite classic, reliable goodness)
Purple Orchids, symbolizing beauty and strength
Lilac serviettes

2.
“The Art of Communication”  Leatherwood honey panna cotta, saffron oranges, cardamon sugar biscuits; (idea of words sweet like honey or slightly acidic with a need for sweetening…a bit special and spiced.)
Alstroemeria, symbolizing friendship and devotion
Burgundy serviettes

3.
“Resolving Conflict” Chilli Chocolate Brownies with Passionfruit ice cream and passionfruit coulis; (What better way to symbolize this topic than with the fire of chilli and the soothing coolness of passionfruit ice cream, with a hint of passion. Works really well.)
Red and Orange Gerberas, symbolizing beauty and innocence
Orange serviettes

4.
“The Power of Forgiveness”  Blueberry Croissant “Bread and Butter” Pudding with orange and blueberry sauce and cream. (Sort of a comfort, homely dessert with a twist)
Blue Iris symbolizing courage, faith and hope
Dark Blue serviettes

5.
“Family Back grounds” Fruit salad–strawberries, pineapple, mangoes, watermelon, kiwi fruit, oranges–with lime sorbet and coconut ice cream. Echoing the idea that families are often a real mix.
Rannunculus were used really because of the mixed colours as the “official” symbolism didn’t apply.

6.
“Good Sex”  Ooh La La Chocolate Dessert Quartet: flour-less chocolate Torte, chocolate mousse topped with chocolate Pop Rocks, raspberry and rose water jelly, chocolate wafers, cream. This decadent, evocative dessert plate was so much fun to prepare and seeing the couples discover the sexy crackling pop rocks brought out the Heston Blumenthal in me (satisfaction at seeing my aim realized).
Red roses, symbolizing passion and love.
Red serviettes
Red foil covered chocolate hearts.

7.
“Love In Action” Lemon tart, raspberries, lemon cream. (Just smacks of all things loving and serving)
Pale pink roses with lime tinged outer petals, symbolizing grace and elegance.
Couldn’t find pale pink serviettes the right size so used yellow. Looked great.

All this sweet goodness was a means to an end
– the enriching of some marriage relationships. For the sake of Love.