love those cupcakes

Sighting Brock

I glimpsed my first real badger today.  Sadly, it wasn't like the ones in the photograph but laid dead on a dual carriageway, another four legged victim of  a road traffic accident (I assume).  I hadn't realised there were badgers in this area but it was instantly recognisable.   It always upsets me to see the remains of what seem to be previously healthy animals at the side of roads and, unless it's my imagination, I seem to be seeing more and more.  Foxes, rabbits, squirrels, birds, hedgehogs, a deer and, of course, pet dogs and cats who have strayed have all been bumped off on local roads.  And  I don't even live in a rural area - far from it.  I don't know what the solution is.  There probably isn't one. 

What did the postman bring today?

I love getting stuff by post.  Not run of the mill stuff, like bills and circulars, but interesting-looking parcels.  Like this package wrapped in cupcake paper (how appropriate is that?) which was delivered today.

   It was from Colleen at Clothears.  She has opened an Etsy shop selling knitted baby bootees for a cancer charity. As a friend of mine (a much younger friend!) has recently had her first baby I bought a couple of pairs to add to some other stuff I've been collecting  for a "New Mummy" gift basket.  I love the little Andy Pandy Looby Loo pompoms.  Also included, though, were a tissue holder complete with a packet of tissues, a  cross stiched butterfly keyring and a bag of chocolate buttons.  Thanks so much, Colleen, for a lovely parcel of goodies.

 

The postman also brought a copy of this Margaret Forster book and a couple of books I need to read for work.

Now I wonder what will be delivered tomorrow?

I predict a diet, I predict a diet

My clothes are getting ever tighter (despite being two sizes bigger than they were 2 years ago)and I look and feel lumpy. Lumpy and frumpy.  It's not a pretty sight, believe me.  So I definitely do predict a diet, or rather sensible eating, starting tomorrow.  Until then, there are some treats to be devoured.  I made these raspberry and Belgian white chocolate muffins this morning using an Aynsley Harriott recipe and I'm working my way through them.  Well, most of them.  No-one else really gets a look in.

A jellicle evening

 

We went to the Theatre Royal in Newcastle last night to see the musical Cats.  I do enjoy musicals and this was the first time I'd seen this particular one.  (Yes, I know it's been around for a long long time).  It wouldn't rank in my top 5 but it's always good to see live theatre.  We don't go often enough I would have to say, and that may be something to do with our home town not having a proper theatre.  It used to.  I can remember my parents going regularly when I was little.  (And I made my debut there at the age of 3 when I was in a "baby troupe"!)  The building has been a club for many years and there has been an attempt by the local council recently to buy it back and return it to its former glory. Sadly, it didn't come to anything.

 

I had planned to make raspberry and white chocolate muffins this morning but I didn't have any raspberries or white chocolate.  So I made wholemeal cheese scones instead.

Out and about

St Pancras International isn't a railway station that's featured in my travels.  Until this last week, that is,  when I've had cause to use it twice.  My new job involves a bit of travelling with meetings in and around London on the agenda.  The station for trains to and from "up north", where I live, and the one I always associate with London, is Kings Cross, which is OK but nothing special. St Pancras is very close by and, as I'd learned about its transformation  courtesy of the Magpie Files,  I was curious to have a look round.  And I wasn't disappointed.    I started off with a quick tour taking in the clock (I do love clocks),

then the impressive bronze "The Meeting Place"

followed by Martin Jennings'  sculpture of poet Sir John Betjeman

Of course there are trains, lots of them, for travel within the UK and beyond.  But there are also plenty of eating places and, surprisingly, lovely little shops with lots more to come later in the year.  I had time to kill before one meeting so treated myself to breakfast of organic porridge with apple and honey at Peyton and Byrne

and ogled their cupcakes (I do need to perfect my piping.  These look gorgeous)).

I popped into Neal's Yard Remedies (I like their Frankincense moisturiser and I bought baby stuff to go into a New Mummy gift basket I'm putting together for a friend who's expecting baby number 1 any day)

but resisted buying flowers as I'd probably have arrived home with a bunch of stalks.

Alas, it was far too early in the day for a visit to the champagne bar.  Maybe next time.

Comfort and joy

 

This is another post about food (I do think about other things, honest) but I find at this time of year I have more interest in cooking/baking and I crave comfort food (or what we used to affectionately refer to as "stodge").  I think of freshly baked bread as comfort food and whilst I enjoy eating it I usually can't be bothered with all that kneading and proving.  I've used the recipe for this loaf for years and it never fails.  It's so easy and quick and, if you like your bread quite dense and moist, this is for you.  It's good for toasting, too. If you've never made bread before, this is a good recipe to start with.  It's from a Rose Elliot book, my own copy of which is very dog eared . (Actually, it's dog chewed - when he was a pup Zeb went to town on a whole shelf of my cookery books.  And the shelf itself).  Here's the recipe:

Makes 2 x 1lb. loaves or 1 x 2lb loaf (I make the larger one)

425 ml (3/4 pint) hand hot water                                 2 teaspoons sugar

1 tablespoon fast action dried yeast (1 sachet)             1 1/2 teaspoons salt

500g (1lb 2 oz) wholewheat flour (Dove Farm organic flour from Sainsbury's is lovely)

Kibbled wheat, sesame seeds, poppy seeds or whatever takes your fancy for the topping

Thoroughly grease two 1 lb loaf tins or one 2 lb tin with butter.  Put the flour, sugar, salt and yeast into a large mixing bowl and add the water.  Mix well to a smooth but sticky dough - it shouldn't be firm enough to knead so you may need to add a little more water.  Spoon the dough into the tin or tins.  Sprinkle on the topping of your choice (I used poppy seeds for the loaf in the photograph).  Cover lightly with greased cling film and place in a warm place for the dough to rise.  This will take about 30 minutes. Set the oven to 200C (400F, gas mark 6) after the dough has been rising for 15 minutes.  Bake the bread for about 30 minutes for the small loaves, 40 minutes for the large one.  (You'll need to reduce the temperature and baking time if using a fan assisted oven).  Turn out the loaf or loaves and leave to cool on a rack. Then slice, slather with butter and your choice of spreads.  Oh joy!

(Note to self:  buy a proper bread board).