:: It’s that time of year – How to prepare and cook artichokes
:: I’ve never had a butter tart, but this might be the one to start with
:: Fresh garlic and what to do with it. Love, love, love the use of the membranes. So clever!
:: Beautiful photos and a delicious sounding strawberry jam
:: We are absolutely going to try Joy’s white chocolate rose cake
Wishing you all a happy, healthy weekend!
Bake
xoxo
Having just moved house and not entirely stocked the kitchen, what else was I to make for visitors other than brownies? They are just so quick and simple and don’t require any pesky baking powder/soda.
My standard recipe comes from The Hummingbird Bakery cookbook (recipe online here) but for something a little more special I threw in a handful of frozen raspberries (if you can be bothered you can defrost them, I didn’t have time!) and white chocolate chunks.
Shake loves them and took some to work to “share” with colleagues, apparently 
So, my microwave oven monster successfully baked brownies. PHEW.
What should my next challenge be?
Bake
xoxo
My Friday nights usually look like this, with a Joy the Baker podcast soundtrack 
I swear he is better at tidying than I am…
So in love with these curls. Can’t bring myself to have them trimmed.
Trouble with a capital T
Making a birthday cake for Shake, courtesy of The Hummingbird Bakery
Missing his Mamie’s dog (also a dalmation)
Caramelized pears in honey about to be baked
I told you he was Trouble
Moving day!
Shake brought one cat home from France
Not impressed with the stair gate
If you follow us on twitter you’ll know we found out AFTER we moved in that the house doesn’t have an oven. Sob. Instead, we have a microwave/oven combination thing. This book needs to be studied. I am scared.
Bed yet to be constructed, but cookbooks organised. Priorities, people.
Normality and recipes will resume someday soon, I hope!!
Bake
xoxo
:: Recommend listening to this reunion interview with the pioneers of the Centre for Alternative Technology. Truly inspirational people, and what a fun time they made the 70s sound!
:: I’m also a huge fan of making not buying and will try this lemon curd someday soon. Maybe with some scones and clotted cream
:: Love this list of “unbelievable places”, even more justification for Japan being our dream destination.
:: What people eat in one week around the world. Not sure what to say about this.
:: Roasted strawberry salad sounds interesting. WARNING: EXPLICIT RECIPE.
:: Feta and mint croquettes, toddler friendly food!
:: Coffee: a brief history
:: Stunning Spring Follies from Mimi – I’d eat it all, pleeeeease.
:: Top 10 most annoying things at dinner parties. Do you agree?
:: A long (but worth it!) article on clothing and where it comes from, especially topical after the recent tragedy in Bangladesh.
:: Really enjoying this Spilled Milk series
We won’t have internet access until Tuesday at the earliest but I promise (myself!) that I’ll make more blog effort SOON.
Bake
xoxo
I have been useless this week – failed to charge 2 cameras properly and missed many photo opportunites out and about this weekend. Check us out on instagram for a few more snaps…
We inherited some train tracks and vehicles from the cousins this week, but think it may have been too soon!
They are better to chew on than play with…
More chewing (urgh more teeth!) but at least this time it’s in the sunshine
“Here mama, a flower”
Thrilled that I let him hold my mug. Confused that there was no coffee left inside
Spot the odd Ted out?
Godparents bought him a drum. Spent a fab weekend in London with them
Checking out the meerkats at Battersea Children’s Zoo (highly recommend!) just before camera died.
Shake is going to France this weekend to fetch our worldly goods and I will start moving us to our new home, busy busy…
Bake
xoxo
Shake made a broccoli pesto which was delicious – doesn’t photograph so well though.
Sunshine and blue sky, at last!
Not at all sorry for throwing his lunch on the floor. Argh!!
Carrot and ginger cake
Someone enjoyed the icing
National Trust was free this weekend, so we took 2/3 of our nephews out for the afternoon
Happy cows
Friendly faces?
Kiddie heaven. So nice to be outdoors all day for free
We really made the most of the free weekend and came here the following day
Contrasting floors – fancy tiles for the ladies of the house in their “kitchen”, stone floor for the cooks in the actual kitchen
Not too shabby
Bake
xoxo
:: Very excited about this trailer. Anyone else?
:: Early twenties vs late twenties. Oh so true…
:: Impressive macaroons
:: I’m going to need to buy extra bananas just to make this
:: These brownies look insanely good
We are out this weekend hoping to make the most of the National Trust being free
Bake
xoxo
One of our new baby groups is at this school. Last week Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman were there filming their new movie. Fancy!
Trying to recreate my beloved Pret Double berry muffins.
C got to grips with his cup this week
Chicken pie for my boys. Perfect for this miserable weather!
Daddy always knows how to make him laugh
Funny how changing high chairs has changed my days. No nasty plastic to scrub. Nowhere for little bits to get stuck. Amazing! Thanks ebay.
What do you mean don’t play with the records? It’s a gift, for you!
Shake made me pizza
It was delicious!
Still loving his lentil lasagne – recipe for you one day…
Bake
xoxo
:: Love hearing what’s in Luisa’s fridge. Cute sketch too!
:: The photos really tell you all. I’d love some bees one day.
:: Such a sweet story about cheese and love.
:: Helpful tips on how to save a £1. Small steps!
:: Perfect gratin dauphinois? I’d better give it a go.
:: Another take on healthy travel snacks. They look so pretty, too.
:: So excited for this years first asparagus! Will be trying some of these recipes as soon as I can.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
Bake
xoxo
p.s. how cute is Mr C? I couldn’t resist this photo Trouble maker…
It has been so bitterly cold, but on Easter Monday we dragged ourselves out for a visit to The Sustainability Centre. We love it here.
The beautiful Woodland Classroom designed and built by the amazing Ben Law
This is where once upon a time Shake proposed
Love the details around this place
Much needed hot drink after a chilly walk
The café has a lovely children’s area with wonderful toys. C was happily amused for quite a while
You can’t really see it, but there was snow falling…
C found his nanny’s stash of wool and dragged it all around. Oops – he knows Daddy is not amused!
Falling asleep during lunch, poor thing!
After visiting my Grandma we went out to this cute place – love the lightshades!
My perfect kind of meal – lots of things to dip and pick at (and share with C too!)
Ended the week with some yummy cookies
