love those cupcakes

Filling in the gap

A three day drive through England, France and most of Spain wasn't top of my list of fun activities but with a couple of nights in pet friendly hotels and a comfortable seat  (admittedly less comfortable after 6 hours straight driving)  in the over filled car it wasn't so bad.  The Boo, I would have to say, behaved impeccably and proved himself the perfect uncomplaining travel companion. Having never been one for reading whilst travelling by road I wasn't anticipating digging into the stache of books I'd packed but once we hit the quieter (and straighter) motorways of France and Spain I just sat back (the mister did all the driving) and enjoyed a couple of novels which certainly helped pass the time.  

Our stay in Spain was puntuated by reading the remainder of the book pile plus a few extras (a couple of books deserve a post of their own), some gentle pottering (me) and odd jobbing around the house (him, though the services of Boris  had to be secured to tidy up our palm tree which is now taller than the house), a lot of eating (including the obligatory churros y chocolate and now I really do need to lose some weight), a little shopping (we came across a shop selling hand carved Pinochios of various sizes) and a fair bit of quaffing of the red stuff. 

Elaborate Semana Santa processions were in evidence over Easter, culminating locally in the Burial of the Sardine (yes, I did wonder if I'd heard that right) celebration with its strange mix of decorated floats each depicting the sardine and a Greek god, scantily clad Brazilian dance groups, Sardinero torch bearers in their tall, pointy hats and the throwing of thousands of toys to the crowds lining the streets before finally setting fire to the sardine. (No pictures, unfortunately.)

In his wisdom, the mister decided to drive home via a different route (up the left hand side of the map) with an overnight stay in Millau in the Mid Pyrenees, a town with an impressive viaduct and surrounded by the most stunning scenery. It was a pity we didn't have time to explore, especially the caves where the Roquefort is matured. Maybe next time.

En route to Calais the following day, the sat nav warned of stationary traffic ahead and advised a detour which we decided to take. Progress from then on was incredibly slow as we stopped/started through endless sets of traffic lights, hopeful of re-joining the motorway at some point. 

Him:  I wasn't expecting to be diverted through towns.

Me:   Which seem to be getting bigger and busier.

Him:  I have no idea where we are.

Me:   Well, this road's called Avenue Victor Hugo. 

Him:  There's the Arc de Triomphe.

So it was.

Dead ahead.

Ever tried driving around Paris on a busy, rainy afternoon?

Thought not.

 

Easy Sunday

Breakfast pancakes.

 

Flowery gifts.

A delicious late lunch with perfectly chilled Prosecco, courtesy of the kitchen pixies who also washed up and tidied the kitchen afterwards.

Lounging with the papers, the latest novel and a box of chocolate gingers.

As my dad used to say, peel me another grape.

Miscellany

• New arrivals, spotted earlier today in a field close to home.

 

• Cheese and fruit scones, baked yesterday and tested whilst still warm.

• Camellia, planted in the garden late last year and covered in buds.

• New novel, purchased in a real book shop (Waterstones, the only one left in town).

• Boo, catching up on the latest news from Crufts.

 

New Year's Eve

When I was growing up, New Year's Eve night was spent, along with a couple of cousins, at my grandma and Aunty M's little house, waiting for my mum and dad and other relatives to return from their celebrations in the cocktail lounge at a hotel in town.  One of my uncles, a railway porter and the only dark haired family member, was always first footer, after which the Christmas cake would be cut, served always with white Stilton cheese and accompanied by glasses of whisky for the men and sherry for the ladies.  Then everyone trooped out to let in the new year at my aunts' houses in the same terraced street as grandma's, often by way of a conga, which we kids just loved. 

I remember one New Year's Eve when I was about six, everyone congregated on the nearby marketplace, all facing the parish church.  As the clock struck midnight, a figure dressed in a white robe appeared at the top of the church, between the two steeples, waving to the crowd.  I learned many years later he was a returning missionary.  On the night itself I was convinced we'd seen God!

Tonight will be just the three of us and a bottle of the fizzy stuff.  (We had this particularly yummy one last night as the Girlie is returning home to Manchester today and no, we haven't won the lottery!) 

As 2011 trickles away, I'd like to raise my virtual glass and wish you all a happy and healthy New Year.  See you in 2012.

This, that and the other

On the way home after a meeting at the seaside the other day (and I really do question my decision to take on a couple of big pieces of consultancy work which are proving to be very restricting), I spotted these chaps (what is it about donkeys that always makes me want to cry?) relaxing after their summer of giving children rides along the beach.

Seeing them reminded me of my early days as a trainee social worker when the then purveyor of the donkey rides used to farm his donkeys out during the winter months to anyone who would have them.  Visiting a family in a part of town with now long gone streets of two up two down terraced houses,  I was greeted at the door by one of the children with "Come and see what we've got".  They'd taken one of them in.  Literally.  The donkey was living inside the house with them all.

Close to home, I stopped again (brazenly ignoring the "Private track.  Keep out." sign) to snap this view of my favourite local landmark looking hazy in this most unseasonal weather.

Whilst I was out doing my consultancy thing, the mister had been busy adding glass panels to a little garden project.  Remember this "before" picture of the bottom of the garden, when the old fencing was being taken down?

Here's what that corner looks like now.

The grassed area has been re-turfed, the wee summerhouse is in place and just needs some final tweaking (and a table and chairs for inside), and the shrubs and trees are recovering from some, it has to be said, brutal hacking.  Oh yes, and the adirondack chair has finally been painted and given its first airing.  After languishing in the garage for three years.

Progress, methinks.

At long last.

Better late than never giveaway

Out and about with the Gorgeous Girlie for a bit of shopping (cushions and books) in Helmsley yesterday, I spotted this.

There are plenty of recipes inside to tempt, like this one,

and this one,

with a  larger scale baking project if you're feeling particularly ambitious.  Or patriotic.

So I bought it.  Not for me, as I was lucky enough to be given two cupcake books earlier in the week.  For you.  Well, one of you.  As a belated thank you (I'd intended to have a giveaway in August when this blog had its birthday) for your visits and comments over the last four years.

If you'd like the book (I know cupcakes aren't everyone's cup of tea though it does include other recipes), just leave a comment on this post and I'll do the name out of the hat thingy on Sunday 9th October.

 

Better late than never

Last week was National Cupcake Week and, to celebrate, the good people at New Holland Publishers very kindly sent me a couple of their excellent cupcake books.

There are lots of recipes I want to try from both (some are available on the publisher's website along with the books themselves), and this one immediately took my fancy as we're all fans of both peanut butter and chocolate here.

I didn't have any chocolate coated peanuts for decoration but I did have half a bag of salted peanuts and most of a bar of G&B's 70% chocolate (who's been nibbling?), which I chopped and sprinkled on the finished cakes.

So, a week late but extremely yummy nonetheless. Moist chocolate sponge topped with a swirl of not too sweet icing made with cream cheese, smooth peanut butter, butter and icing sugar .

I'm thinking banana and salt caramel ones next.

Or maybe pistachio, rosewater and grenadine.

Suffolk, September

It started with a dog welcoming cottage, perfectly situated on the edge of the estate of a long lost country house, with farmland and forest all around, onion scented breezes and a view of a distant castle.   Shingle beaches, so different from those at home, were a short drive away and made for satisfyingly crunchy walks with the Boo.  Chocolate box pretty pink thatched cottages lined the narrow lanes we explored.  Hedgerows provided the richest of pickings and my first (yes, really) encounter with sloes.  Grapes were admired, wines were tasted and our stocks replenished during a vineyard visit.   A nearby farm provided honey and jam and the best apple juice ever tasted.  Most days included a walk to the village to buy fresh baked seeded bread, Suffolk Gold cheese and crisp locally grown apples.  Daily treats of giant cappuccinos, sitting in the sun at the outdoor tables of the little cafe, served with generous slices of Victoria sandwich and battenburg, and an eagerly welcomed handful of dog biscuits.  Relishing the food, wine and live music at a vegetarian eatery.  A final evening walk, through row upon row of sunflowers just about ripe for harvesting. A blissful week. Well, apart from the afternoon Boo decided to chase an in flight gamebird.  Barking at full volume.  Running at full pelt.  Until he was a rust coloured blob in the distance. (He did come back.  Eventually).

 

 

This and that

• New recipe

I've seen pictures of blondies but have never tried them. So with the planned spot of gardening put on hold due to rain and general laziness, I opted to make these, adding chopped chocolate and walnuts.  I tried one as they were cooling and, whilst the texture was fine with the right amount of squidginess, I think they're missing something tastewise.  Maybe dark  chocolate (I used milk) would do the trick.

• New read

I don't read half as much as I used to (I'm still working my way through Winter's Tale which is taking so long I keep forgetting who some of the characters are) but probably still buy as many books.  This was a recommended read somewhere, and years ago I did enjoy the author's Hideous Kinky, so it's now in the to be read pile, along with the rest.   The blurb on the back promises sun-scorched hillsides in Tuscany and an intoxicating journey of self discovery.  Just don't expect a review anytime soon.

• New yarn

For a baby sized cardi and beret.  I can't make a start as the pattern hasn't arrived yet. 

• New rose

It isn't really a new rose, I think we've had it for two years, but I wanted to stick with the theme! There's very little colour in the garden at the moment, with all of the chopping and digging out that's been going on, so, even rain spattered, these blooms are a welcome sight from the kitchen window.

 

**************************************

Thanks for your comments on the previous post.  I'd have to say it's quite a scary step, this going down the voluntary severance route, and I worry wonder about the impact of giving up a (very comfortable) salary and how I'll adjust to not having a job which occupies so much of my time.  I have visions of not being able to join in the discussions when I meet up with my still employed friends because all I can offer is what happened on the latest episode of Deal Or No Deal and that I've knit the back of a sweater!  Maybe you can give a gentle nudge if it seems I'm losing the plot.

 

May treats

Soft boiled egg and home baked bread soldiers to dip in.  I don't often have this  but sometimes it just hits the spot when a change from breakfast muesli is required.

A vegetarian recipe book.  Menus here have become a tad predictable and need a shake up.

A new lippy.  My desert island essential, can't-do-without makeup item.  I buy lots though I'm not particularly brand loyal.  This one is a sort of beigey pink colour, lighter than the photograph suggests.

 

Something to watch. We somehow missed this when it was on the telly recently.

Something to wear. A new favourite. 

A week's holiday in Northumberland.  With the Mister.  And the Boo.

Back soon.