I should point out, readers, that I do not drink alcohol. However, this was found and hails from a time long, long ago. Should auld acquaintance, et al. Those who do drink – might enjoy this. I do the ‘mocktail’ version.

If you’d like to know more about the origins of ‘blue moons’ (and the mythology), then you should read the Bad Astronomer on the subject, at ‘2009 says goodbye with a non-blue lunar eclipse‘.

Ingredients (serves two to three)

1 dose of vodka  – substitute bitter lemon soda or lime soda  for mocktail
1 / 4 of a lemon juice
2-3 drops of triple sec – substitute orange zest
2-3 drops Blue Curacao liqueur – substitute splash of blueberry juice, blackberry juice or even blue food colouring
champagne – substitute soda water.

Shaker, ice and flutes.

Method:

Mix all ingredients except champagne / soda water in a shaker with ice; put in flute glass and fill remainder with champagne

Very basic recipe, that I usually throw together this time of the year before the inevitable family gatherings. Feel free to get more ornate with it!

Ingredients (serves 10)

1 x 85g pkt Aeroplane quick-set dark cherry or strawberry jelly
1 x packet of 8 small jam rollettes, dice into into 1cm-thick round slices
1 x small punnet of fresh strawberries (washed, hulled and halved)
2 x 450g frozen berry mix (I used McCain Season’s Choice Blueberries and Raspberries)
500ml (2 cups) vanilla custard
250ml (1 cup) thickened cream, whipped
1 x Kit Kat bar (four fingers)

Two bowls – one large (about 28cm diameter) and two small mixing bowls (one for jelly, one for the cream). Blender (for cream whipping), rolling pin (to crush Kit Kat) and large spoon.

Method

Chop up rollettes into 1cm rounds, cover the base of the large bowl and run half-way up the sides. Prepare the jelly as per packet instructions in smaller bowl; crush and crumble two fingers of the Kit Kat and sprinkle into jelly. Place jelly in refrigerator for about an hour to set.

When jelly is set, spoon it over the rollettes in the large bowl. Top with custard and berries, leaving a few berries for decoration on top.

Spoon whipped cream over the trifle and top with remaining berries. Crush second half of Kit Kat and sprinkle on top to finish. Cool in fridge until served.