Message in a bottle

Somehow in the midst of all the madness in my world at the moment something clicked back into place. Instead of thinking "it's too hard" and about all the reasons things can't be done I'm thinking and believing that anything is possible and it's time to make a start.

This is why I'm setting this Message in a bottle to find like minded people who want to join me in building something new. I have lots of ideas and perhaps some skills too, baking of course but an eye for nice things which somehow people like. Taking the odd good photo, making things and really generally being quite nice, occasionally even amusing I've been told. That's what I'm looking to build, a business, probably internet based bringing thing's that are a little bit different back to life whether it's clothing or furniture , photos or print. I have the ideas for great T shirt design for example, just not perhaps the drawing skills to make them come to life.

I know I've been a little vague, but that's perhaps the point. This bottle is set adrift to seek out my fellow dreamers who like me are tired of the corporate world and want to build a bright new future.

I can't promise success but if nothing else it'll be fun to find out just what happens and I figure whoever reads this message and smiles and thinks why the hell not should get in touch and let's see what happens.

Why not?

Making whoopie

Don't worry I haven't decided to take this blog in some dodgy direction it is indeed another tale of cake baking. I found whoopies rather more traumatic than I expected.

Coming soon

Lazy hazy strawberry days

One of the benefits of country life is the pure volume of farms, growing stuff, nice stuff and at the moment lots and lots of strawberries. I have some bushes of course planted when I was going through my "Good life" phase. They grew well this year and I'm sure that the birds enjoyed them. The birds it seems have some spooky sixth sense and know not only the precise moment of ripeness but also the precise moment to steal them before I manage to pick them. I've always been deeply suspicious of birds and it seems that I was copletely right to be.

In the absence of any produce from my own bushes it was off to a local strawberry fair to buy some, lots really and some very tasty Strawberry & Lavender Jam too. The strawberries were from Doddington Hall, where they have their own organic garden and grow very lovely if not completely perfectly shaped strawberries. Proper strawberries. That shine and are juicy. The best strawberries really.

Sunday was a lovely sunny day so time for strawberries with clotted cream and a chocolate dip (made from dark chocolate and double cream). There's something deliciously naughty about dunking strawberry's.

Of course I had to try some sort of baking involving strawberries and opted for strawberry & raspberry muffins. An experiment in strawberriness really. I made a couple with strawberry lavender jam hearts (a gorgeously gooey explosion when you bite in) and planted some dark chocolate chunks in a couple of others. Overall, very nice indeed, with clotted cream and ice cream. Especially good if still slightly warm.

Also looking at recipes for strawberry and balsamic ice cream, strawberry and pistacchio shortbread and strawberry shortcakes.

Here's to lazy, hazy strawberry days.

Elemania

Elemania hit London recently and I got the bug bigtime. Basically a herd of over 200 elephants have been sprinkled around the rather grey streets of the City, herded into park corners and shoehorned into shopfronts. There's a serious point of course, to highlight the plight of the Asian elephant which is now seriously endangered. It'd be sad if there were no more Nellie's to pack up their trunks or go trumpety trump so hopefully these guys will make a difference. I think they will because seems like it's a bunch of very nice people behind this little plan. Nice guys get to win sometimes right?

I've probably driven people mad with my ele of the day selections, hopefully though it made them smile when Dandyphant popped up on their screen, marauding through St Pancras or made them feel a little bit like, "ooh pass the chip cone with extra vinegar" as Fish and Chip Ele floated by.


Not to mention feeling a little bit mushy when Mr Stole My Heart or Tree of Love or Kisses on the Trunk rolled across their wall.




Oran (You Stole My Heart)by Adam Bridgland

Anway I had to go, to rush about and get over excited and take lots of pictures of lots of very bright and very silly ele's just because it made me smile. So a lightening tour of the City was undertaken with regular rest breaks of course generally involving Pimms or a nice glass of wine , oh and a quick lunch at the Pieminister - pie, mash , minty mushy peas and gravy - very tasty indeed. There were rosey eles', rainbow ele's, taxi's and policeman ele's. A James Bond ele and some flashy gold and shiny ele's.

Here's a little glimpse into my elemania tour:

My favourite? Well that's tricky, but I do have a soft spot for Cubeelephant by Andre Ritins whose hanging out near Tower Bridge, you can see me dancing with him in the collage pic, yep that's me the mad girl in red, who'd had a Pimm's and a glass of chardonnay and really didn't care if people thought I was silly because I'm not full of myself like some. Anyway I don't think people thought I was silly, I think they thought I was nice and sweet and maybe a bit mad, pretty accurate really.

Cubeelephant is sort of glittery, a party elephant, he needs some blue fairy lights and some colour change love hearts. He's a colourful curly wurly straws and cheese and pineapple on sticks, a cupcake happy garden party sort of elephant. I think he'd look rather nice in my garden, but I expect lots of girlies think that too, much richer girlies who probably have rich oligarchs in tow. Maybe they'd let me visit him though when they move him to their achingly gorgeous mansion in Kensington. I'd make the cupcakes and even bring some Pimms.

I also love Soju Tanaka's elephants The Illustrated Elephant and Whisper, covered in cuddly doodle characters who seem to giggle and dance. Here's his ele's below:





See, cute little guys.

Anyway I could go on and on about ele's as I said it's a real case of elemania for me. There's a link to their website here if you'd like more information and a map in case you also feel the need to pack up some cheese and pickle butties and have a day exploring . http://www.elephantparadelondon.org/

The whole herd will be on display together soon though at the Royal Chelsea Hospital at the end of June. I might go, let me know if you'd like to join me. We can have a Pimms and a Pie perhaps or even Afternoon Tea (now that's a whole entry in itself)

TTFN xx

Raspberry chocolate cupcakes

I've always loved raspberries and chocolate ever since my first Raspberry Ruffle which I think was bought at Woolworths in a pick and mix. Later of course came Raspberry Ruffle bars, which I still sometimes buy basically a raspberry flavoured coconut fondant cream, encased in chocolate. Very pink and girly really for a girl who liked wearing her dungarees and climbing trees and fixing cars with her dad. They cheer me up still, because it's like a Dr Who like Tardis moment when I get one, speeding back through time to Woolworth's to pick out some sweeties and always, always making sure there were ruffles.

I'd been wondering about raspberry and chocolate cupcake possibilities and decided to try some out and I must say they were very lovely indeed, Very sweet and gooey and yummy and somehow rather naughty cheeky little cakes. They're fantastic to make as only really need one saucepan. the icing here was lovely, but equally you could do a raspberry buttercream one which would be very girly indeed and decorate with icing flowers or chocolate stars. You can also pump some chocolate ganache into the raspberry for a cheeky chocolate surprise when the berry bursts in your mouth.

I love these cakes and would be happy to make the for anyone who'd like some. Just let me know and you can come and talk bobbins with the crazy cake girl and her creatures.

xxx

INGREDIENTS


FOR THE CUPCAKES:
125g soft unsalted butter
100g dark chocolate, broken into pieces
300g raspberry jam
150g caster sugar
pinch of salt
2 large eggs, beaten
150g self-raising flour
12-bun muffin tin and papers

FOR THE ICING:
100g dark chocolate
100ml double cream
Raspberries
Makes 12

METHOD

1.Preheat the oven to 180ºC/gas mark 4.

2.Put the butter in a heavy-bottomed pan on the heat to melt. When nearly completely melted, stir in the chocolate. Leave for a moment to begin softening, then take the pan off the heat and stir with a wooden spoon until the butter and chocolate are smooth and melted. Now add the raspberry jam, sugar, salt and eggs. Stir with a wooden spoon and when all is pretty well amalgamated stir in the flour.

3.Scrape and pour into the muffin papers in their tin and bake for 25 minutes. Cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes before turning out.

4.When the cupcakes are cool, break the chocolate for the icing into little pieces and add them to the cream in a saucepan. Bring to the boil, remove from the heat and then whisk – by hand or electrically – till thick and smooth. Ice the cupcakes, smoothing the tops with the back of a spoon, and stand a raspberry in the centre of each.

Cupcakes ready to eat in the garden:

Bring back Geoffrey!

Mr Galaxy I love you, really, seriously, I do. Bringing back Counters had made my year. I am happily munching some right now as I type. Counters you see were the stuff of happy childhood memories. I was you see an only child, which meant well possibly more annoying than one that can be distracted by having brothers or sisters to torture. So there were times when mum would need some downtime, which meant dad had to take me somewhere, anywhere, preferably out of earshot for the poor woman to have some peace. Quite often I'd get taken for a walk. Down through Butt Lane, past the canal and up the hill to a little shop. I loved this little shop, not because it was extraordinary in any way but because that was where Dad would buy me a bag of Counters. Counters made me very, very happy. For those of you who don't know what they are they are basically little discs of chocolatey gorgeousness. Naturist Minstrels essentially. Look, there they are below, yum, gorgeous, you know you want to go out and buy some right now. Go on, forget the diet, you'll burn off the calories with all the smiling anyway.



Have them with a cup of tea, like I'm doing now. All melty and lovely and just plain gorgeous.

I remember one day they disappeared, just stopped being there, that was a very dark day. I pouted a lot. I may even have had a little cry. I found that they were still there in Revels, but there were never enough of them and there were some well dodgy flavours in a Revels back which I wouldn't eat and then I'd get told off. I think i wrote in to you Mr Galaxy as a rather irate (but very polite enraged kiddy) appealing for their return. I didn't get a reply, I felt rather annoyed, but hey lets face it the letter was probably addressed to the boss at the place that makes my favourite sweets, so chances are Royal Mail are still processing it. Unless you received it and that's why you brought them back?

In the end I sought solace with Chocolate Buttons, which many of you will know have previously been hailed as my most favourite of chocolate treats. But Counters are back now and Counters henceforth it will be. I will be stockpiling then ready for next week.

There is just one thing though and this is an appeal really, to you Mr Galaxy. it's the packaging you see. It's very nice of course, very grown up. Which I imagine is what you think we want as we are all grown up now. But we don't, not really. I even canvassed opinion of some of my friends and we'd all quite like the old packets back. Big ones of course as we can eat lots more counters now we got all grown up but like they were, white with the pictures on.


So please,please,please, bring back Geoffrey Giraffe and make me a very happy girl.

Easter cake bake

I've always rather liked Easter, well what's not to like it's a festival that involves a lot of chocolate, similar to Christmas but more chocolatey and lets face it with much better weather.

My favourite memories of Easter are of trips to Wales with mum and dad. Escaping school and off down to our little holiday chalet in Wales. It was just a little wooden holiday chalet but it had the best view ever because perched on the hill it overlooked Llandulas bay and I'd sit there watching the waves and chomping on my chocolate eggs. Chocolate button eggs were always my favourite of course, (they still are) and I liked to break off a bit of egg and dunk it in my tea (I still do). It was even better eating eggs on the beach, especially if they were for pudding after chips with mushy peas and bread and butter and a bottle of fizzy Panda Pops. There's something wonderful about chips on the beach I think, even if its a bit cold and the wind is blowing or there's spots of rain nothing can ruin a lovely bag of chips with lots and lots of salt and vinegar. I can still remember sucking sticky chip fingers clean much to the horror of my mum, who had a constant supply of wet wipes on tap which she thought were far more appropriate for finger cleansing.

As ever I have wandered slightly off track so back to the present day and the purpose of this entry. As an Easter lover and a newly obsessed cake baker I decided to make an Easter cake. My initial thought were of course of chocolate, but having already recently cooked a chocolate birthday cake and the chilli chocolate cupcakes and the chocolate and banana loaf I was in danger of looking like a distinctly one trick pony. So I pondered and considered and pondered some more and decided to go with a lemon and raspberry Easter cake. As you can see from the picture, there had to be chocolate somewhere but I think the bunny looks quite happy there amongst a sprinkling of mini eggs.

This cake was baked to the tunes of the Arctic Monkeys followed by some Faithless followed by some Biffy Clyro. My favourite bit was juicing the lemons because suddenly I was in a happy haze of lemony loveliness transported to a Sicilian lemon grove smiling in the sun. I suppose you could use Cif if you absolutely have to but I doubt it would taste as nice, so go on, use the real lemons all six of them and maybe even a couple more just for the joy of juicing.

What does it taste like I hear you ask. Well, it's a lovely moist lemony sweetness with undertones of almond and creamy centre with a raspberry zing. The almondy taste reminds me of Battenburg cake, which was always my favourite and which I always liked to have with lemonade (yes I was a strange child) so again for me its a taste of childhood on a plate. Hopefully it will be enjoyed by all after Easter lunch tomorrow. Though will have to explain why there is a couple of slices missing (I think he may actually be on slice 4 now) but well guess he can't be blamed for tucking in.

I hope if you try it and like it you'll drop me a message to let me know, I'd like that. Happy Easter to everyone x

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients
• 300g caster sugar
• 350g butter, softened
• 2 tsp almond essence
• 6 medium eggs, beaten
• 150g ground almonds
• 300g self-raising flour
• grated zest of 4 lemons
• 6 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• Mini eggs to decorate
•
• For the drizzle
• 150g icing sugar
• 3-4 tbsp lemon juice
•
• For the filling
• 300ml double cream
• 150g lemon curd
• 200g raspberries
•
• For the icing
• 300g royal icing sugar
• 3 tbsp lemon juice
• yellow food colour
Method
1.Preheat the oven to 180˚C/350˚F/Gas 4. Grease and flour 2 x 20cm (8in) cake tins.

2.Beat the sugar, butter and almond extract together until pale and fluffy. Gradually add the egg, then fold in the ground almonds, flour, lemon zest and juice.

3.Spoon into the tins, smooth the top and bake for 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.

4.Make the drizzle by mixing the icing sugar and lemon juice together. When the cake comes out of the oven, turn out onto a cooling rack set over a plate. Prick all over with the skewer and drizzle with the syrup. Set aside to cool.

5.Whip the cream and fold in the lemon curd. Set one cake on a plate, level the top if necessary and spoon over the cream. Sprinkle with the raspberries and set the other cake half on top. Set aside. I liked doing this bit, but be careful not to add too much cream and raspberries as it can get very squelchy when you pop on the top

This would be too much raspberries and cream by the way!

6.To make the icing, mix the lemon juice and icing sugar until it’s a spoonable consistency, but still quite paste-like. Use a few drops of the yellow colour to make a pastel-yellow shade and spoon the icing evenly over the cake, allowing it to drip down and coat the sides. Run a spoon or pallet knife around the sides to neaten and evenly distribute the icing.

7. Decorate with anything lovely you want to. I went for a rather lovely chocolate bunny and some mini eggs.

The House that Al built

well Al & Nige & Si & Chris the Plumb & Little Chris & Barry & Gibbo & John & architect John & Daz the scaff. Oh yes and of course me, I was tea girl. Al was right of course, I should never have doubted, not even for a second because as he said it is indeed "reet". In fact I think it's really rather fabulous thanks very much.

When bought the cottage had damp (which literally seeped out of the walls and left interesting black mould patterns), rotten windows, some extremely interesting cracks (which let in even more interesting gusts of wind) and was powered by one little coal boiler which was rather childlike and required constant feeding with coal to omit any heat at all. I promptly lovingly christened it the hovel. It was not unknown in Winter for me to retire to bed with a woolly jumper over my pyjamas and a nice warm pair of woolly bed socks. I know, the glamour of it all, but what is a girl to do when she can see her own breath in the cold and has icicles on her window?

I embraced it of course as a "Design Project" as I'm a girl who likes to muck in and get involved. I'm the sort of girl who likes to get her hands dirty and doesn't really care if she has paint in her hair rather than the sort of girl who has to dress up like Tweetie Pie at Ascot and ponce about at the Opera. I'm quite capable of doing some plastering and tiling to and planned to actually. Al got lucky really, doctors orders not to do too much so I couldn't be quite as hands on as I had planned. Though that didn't stop me from doing all the painting and decorating even though I got a severe telling off about it all.

Hovel no more though. Oh no, now I have my house with my very, very funky kitchen which is the heart of any home.Here it is below complete with cosey corner for Scruffbag to cuddle down in and my chilli pepper lights which nestle in the corner. The back wall is still left white, ready to hang a selction of pictures, who says you can't have a gallery in your kitchen? I intend to anyway.



It's lovely with the sun streaming through the french doors, Scruffbag loves to sunbathe there, flat out on the floor as we have breakfast with the Sunday papers, head raised only to clear her bowl of any sausage thats offered. The plan is to complete a walled garden behind it with a collection of herb pots and maybe some fruit trees trained across the walls, but thats a work in progress.

And yes, I do cook, well bake mainly, a few of my recent efforts are on here of course, the chilli chocolate cake, the banana cupcakes with blueberry icing and of course Scruff's favourite brownies. I'm planning to make something for Easter of course, not quite decided yet between another chocolate extravaganza complete with chocolate bunnies or a raspberry and lemon cake with lemon icing and a sprinkling of mini eggs.

I also have a really rather lovely en suite bathroom complete with luxury double ended bath complete with bath pillows. Then there's the showerroom, with a very lovely walk in shower with the biggest shower hear we could find, just like my own little waterfall on tap. All very boutique hotel stylee even if I do say so myself. The picture below was taken before the finishing touches were complete buy hey gives you the general idea.



The bathroom is simply perfect for a big deep bubble bath, surrounded by candles, I'm still on the hunt for some suitable accessories for the ultimate bathing environment but love hunting for them in the most unexpected places. The old bath, which is a rather weighty cast iron one is another project, planned to be made into a pond possibly for fish, though Cooper is possibly untrustworthy in the fish department so that may need to be considered.

Finally the sanctuary of a new bedroom, with dual aspect its a very sunny room. Although I'm not a bimbo glamour girl type I quite like having my little dressing table, though I couldn't resist adding some blue fairly lights just to make it a little bit more funky.



At the moment it sort of feels like someone asked me to house sit a proper grown up house, silly but I do expect them to walk in and ask what I'm doing there, like some modern day Goldilocks.

Anyway, there we go. It isn't easy living on a build especially when you're a bit poorly like I have been but it's a job done great. For all the unfortunate mini digger incidents and mishaps along the way Al is the best builder ever as far as I'm concerned.

Well off now, really do need to decide what type of Easter cake to make, stop by sometime, there's always a kettle ready to boil, or a glass of wine ready to pour and cake to be eaten and laughs to be had. You can laugh at me dancing in the kitchen with the dog if you like or you might even find yourself wanting to join in.

TTFN
xx

Daffodil Days

Well seems that Spring has finally arrived and suddenly the hills are filled with lovely yellow daffodils. Daffodils always make me smile, they seem like someone simply sprinkled the fields with sunshine. I have them in the garden of course planted by me. One of my best presents ever forget diamonds or designer watches boxes of bulbs make me very happy especially one Christmas when someone bought me simply loads, snowdrops, daffodils, lovely scented hyacinths, spring in a box and every year when I look out of the window it makes me happy. The ones in the picture are from my garden and then actually have a lovely sunny smell which brightens up breakfast.

So here's to sitting in the kitchen in the sun, with scrambled eggs,potato farls, baked beans,fried cherry tomatoes that pop all over the plate, lovely buttery toast and freshly squeezed orange juice. Here's to sitting with the Sunday papers as Scruffbag snores in her corner and the coffee bubbles. And always, always to daffodil days where somehow life just seems smilier and brighter.

Chilli Chocolate Cake

To celebrate the kitchen finally being finished and of course with it being Valentine's weekend I decided to bake something fabulous. Well I think it is anyway and Country Boy seems rather pleased with it because chilli chocolate is one of his most favourite things. It's sweet and a bit gooey and has a lovely little spicy kick. Perfect with a great big dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

So if you're a chocolate fan, who likes a bit of spice or just to create a cake that looks a bit funky I promise you won't be disappointed. I hope you make it and love it, if you do, let me know.

Recipe:

Ingredients

CAKE:
250g Unsalted Butter
300g Caster Sugar
100g Plain Flour
100g Self-Raising Flour
4 Eggs
300g Dark Chocolate ( I used a mixture of Chilli Chocolate , 70% & 90% cocoa)
1-3 Red Chillies (depends on your preference – I used 3)

ICING:
200g Dark Chocolate (I used half Chilli chocolate & half dark)
200ml Double Cream

Method
1. Heat an oven to 160°C/Gas 3 (140°C if a fan oven)
2. Grease with butter a 20cm (approx) cake tin. (use springform if preferred)
3. Using an electric/classic whisk, add the butter/margarine to a mixing bowl together with the sugar. Whisk till light and fluffy.
4. Beat in the eggs one at a time, take care not to let the mixture seperate. If it does seperate, add a bit of flour.
5. Melt the chocolate
6. Once cool, add the chocolate to the mixture and mix in.
7. Add the remaining flour to the mixture and stir till smooth.
8. If you are using fresh chilli/es finely chop them, and either add to mixture. Stir till smooth.
10. Pour the cake mixture into the greased cake tin.
11. Bake for just over 1 hours or till fully cooked. Mine took 1 hour 10 approx.

Check by poking a knife or stick in, and if clean it is cooked. It should be risen and have a slight crust.

12. Take out the cake, and let it cool for 10 minutes, before taking out of the tin. Then leave to cool for another 10 minutes on a wire rack.
13. The cake could be eaten now, or if you want to ice it, proceed with the instructions, or choose your own icing choice.

14. To make Chocolate cream, simply:
Melt the chocolate as before, and mix together with the cream, and then cool until thickened. Cut the cake in half, ice, then put back together and ice all over. Add a Chilli or two for decoration of course. I decided on one in the end, pure & simple.

bring back Bagpuss

just a quick entry. Was recently looking for art work for my very white kitchen wall and stumbled on this, a bright orange poster poem which pretty much captures my childhood. Made me smile. I think it would look good on the kitchen wall and will make me smile as I eat my purple porridge (just add blueberries). Yes I know I'm still a big kid, don't care. Life's to short to pretend your someone you aren't don't you agree?

So here's to orange things and Bagpuss and pretending to be Batman with your coat hood over your head, just like we did when we were six.

Sweet and Tender hooligan

"He was a sweet and tender hooligan, hooligan
And he swore that he'll never,ever do it again
And of course he won't (on not until the next time)"

The opening lines from a sweet little ditty by The Smiths, which pretty much sums up Cooper, (the cat one) at the moment. Me and Cooper are having major relationship issues right now. I may even have dramatically announced "It's so over" as I locked him in his bedroom after this particular incident.

Why? I hear you ponder (well probably not but hey). Well imagine the scenario, it's just past midnight, I a happily heading for bed, giving Scruff her final pat of the night, when I spy through the door the little green eyes of Cooper. So I let him in, as you do and he scampers in quite pleased with himself and clearly on a mission to break into the cupboard under the stairs.

And thats when I noticed, the little friend he'd brought home with him, the one dangling from his little catty fangs, by its tail. The truth well and truly dawned, the little git had pounced on some poor little mouse. Oh my god, just what a girl needs.

Initially I rather bizarrely attempted to reason with Cooper to release Mousie, it was like some bizarre hostage negotiation. Didn't last long though as Cooper (petulent teenager that he now appears to be) shot me a glance of "As if" and then raced off up the stairs, mouse still being dangled. I off course was in hot pursuit, still reading him the riot act of why bringing home uninvited guests was just not on frankly. I caught him of course at the top of the stairs. he was endeavouring to flick mouse from paw to paw, truly a psychopath I swear it. No match for e though, oh no, I was on a mission to save mousie. What followed was much more shouting and attempts to grab Cooper who kept shooting me glances of "And you think you are who exactly?". In the end and its embarrasing to admit it, I threw a toilet roll at aforementioned psychopathic cat. Well in his general vicinity not actually with the intention of belting him with it, that would be just mean. And no, I didn't run to the bathroom to get it, it was just on the landing (I don't know why OK). Anyway it had the desired effect and Cooper retreated a couple of stairs down, from where I grabbed him and dispatched him to his bedroom aka the dining room. Cooper in protest mewed very loudly. Scruffbag, knowing this was pretty serious stayed in her basket, snout hidden under blanket.

The mouse, well by some miracle the rather dishevelled, damp looking mouse, which was shivering in the corner was still alive. Dazed but alive. So off I went, found a sheet of newspaper for mouse to clamber on and took him to the veg patch. Thankfully it was dark so the neighbours were spared the site of me in my pyjamas. Mouse still a bit dazed was fine, had a bit of a sit and a think, presumably about its near death experience and then pondered which way was home.

I went off to watch telly with Scruffbag, well a girl can't sleep after high drama like this not with any amount of Ovaltine. Scruff emerged from her basket to be supportive, ie stick her chin on me and look mournful (not sure why she thinks that solves everything but she does). And what of Cooper, well he was still miaowing in protest from his room, presumably something about the infringement of his rights to chase mice.

I'd like to say he swore that he'd never ever do it again, but he didn't. In fact next morning when he was released fro his room instead of his usual run to his bowl, he wanted to be let out to look for his mouse. No chance.

Here he is, oh yes, doesn't look like a psychotic serial killer does he? Well don't be fooled. Cooper Ezekiel Beelzebub Ronnie Reggie Psycho (his show name) is not to be trusted around birds, mice. Oh yes and if the latest report from Big Al and Nige are true, squirrels. He has apparently graduated to squirrel chasing.



Oh yes and in case you're not convinced this incident is a repeat offence, the week before there was also a mouse dangling incident, he merrily taunted me with that one as I carried the shopping in from the car. There was also the decapitated one, I found on the doorstep, I swear its a miracle I'm not in therapy.

Oh and for those unfamiliar with English wildlife, here's the poor victim (well a lookalike even I wouldn't make the poor thing pose for photos after its trauma).



I imagine, just as the in the song I imagine Cooper would make some plea in mitigation of "he was old and he would have died anyway". And yes I know he is a cat and its his nature etc, but surely after all these years he'd have some respect for my lentil choming sensibilities, surely?

Cosy Country Evenings

Snow in the countryside is lovely, very picturesque, even my limited photographic skills can turn up some pretty little snaps. The downside of the snow in the country however, is you realise just how rural it is because they don't send gritter trucks down insignificant little country lanes, so they rapidly turn into ice rinks. In the midst of the snow the whole place ground to a complete halt at one point all the roads out were blocked by broken down or abandoned cars and even the very smug four by four owners were finding it a challenge (it got easier when some kindly soul told them they would fair better if the turned the traction control off , I know I should have but it was fun to watch them turn purple as they wheel spinned - naughty me).

Still I had the essentials in luckily (coal, wood, cheese, wine, chocolate and pet food) so pretty much no major problem. As you can see Scruffbag was happy with her spot by the roaring fire, something very cosy about a coal fire especially one with a handful of lovely pine cones burning on it, all dancing orange flames and crackling as it devours the logs. Scruffbag as you can see loves her place by the fire though she doesn't mind sharing with Cooper or indeed me, just so long as she gets the best spot!.

So fire sorted,and warmed through by a gooey mug of hot chocolate (drop in a chunk of chilli chocolate for a spicy kick is my tip) thoughts turn to the perfect winter comfort food. Unsurprisngly for me this is of course of cheesy origins, Welsh Rarebit (posh cheese on toast basically) and I though I'd share my favourite recipe for it, just in case anyone feels the need for a cosy country evening of their own (recipe below). It might not be exactly up there on any "most sophosticated things in the world to eat ever" but I must admit I think it's quite often the simplest things that are the tastiest. As for the perfect accompaniement well a nice large glass of red wine for me every time, I love red wine, sadly it doesn't like me, but hey not likely to stop me enjoying it is it so long as I remember to take anti histamines beforehand!. My favourites are a nice Montepulciano or a fruity Rioja which always seem to be the perfect accompaniements to milder cheeses, delectably fruity without being overpowering. It's best eaten huddled round the fire, watching the flames, usually best to shut Cooper out though he can be as ruthless in the pursuit of cheese as he is in pursuit of sparrow).

So there we go, a cosy country evening, away from the snow and the cold. Not very exciting I know, but very me.


Welsh Rarebit



Serves 4-6

Ingredients:
4 Fl oz Milk
2oz Plain Flour
400g grated Farmhouse Cheddar
6oz fresh white breadcrumbs
120ml Ale, Guinness or Cider (personally the Irish in me screams Guiness every time, but OP works OK too)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
1 heaped teaspoon dry English mustard powder
1 whole egg
1 egg yolk
Freshly ground black pepper

Method:

1.Heat the milk, add the flour and bring to the boil and allow to slightly thicken.

2.Over a low heat add grated cheese. Stir until melted, then add breadcrumbs, mustard powder, Worcestershire Sauce and beer. Cook until the mixture starts to leave the side of the saucepan.
Note: The rarebit mixture should retain its shape and not run too much

3.Take the pan off the heat and allow to cool

4.Put in food processor (or just give it a good old beat with a whisk it won’t know) and add the eggs with the motor running – for about 1 minute. Add pepper to taste

5. Allow the mixture to cool

6. Slice and put on toasted foccacia (or a good thick chunk of crusty white bread) and place under hot grill until browned and golden

7. I like mine with some roasted vine tomatoes on top and some pickle or brown sauce. Its also nice with some pan fried field mushrooms especially those you’ve picked yourself.


Hope some of you try it and like it and think hey life's good xx

Snowball anyone?

Decided to start a new little section, on cocktails, because cocktails are something that I have a fondness for (don't tell my doctor sshhh). Given the rather wintery weather we currently have I thought I'd start with the Snowball.

This was my first ever, ever cocktail, beloved of Christmas time in our house my surprisingly progressive mother was happy to let me have a Snowball, just a little one, oh yes and a Babycham of course on special occassions.

Later when I worked behind the bar at the local Working Mens club I became the queen of the Snowball as it was a drink much loved by my Bingo playing ladies so I got a lot of practice, though apparently I had a natural flair for it.

The Snowball reappeared again when I went home to break news of my engagement (or rather when Country Boy went to seek permission from my dad to marry me). We also went to see the lovely Joan & Edwin (sadly Edwin was taken from us earlier this year) and they decided a celebratory drink was in order. So guess what , even though it was only 10am wheeled out the Advocaat and whipped up some Snowballs. Not sure Country Boy would be a fan under normal circumstances but well, sort of compulsory I guess, given my dad had said yes, so he was sort of stuck with me for life. He certainly seemed pleasantly smiley happy after a rather large glass or maybe it was two, not quite sure.

I still like to ask for a Snowball whenever I can, especially if I'm in some achingly trendy bar where the clientele are sipping champagne and all act as though they are fresh from the pages of Vogue (though actually they're accountants).

It's amazing whenever I do because once one is unleashed there's often a ripple effect and suddenly everyone wants one. It's a sure fire way to find the truly nice, cool people in the place from the pretentious wannabe's who probably spend their
entire live's pretending to be someone they aren't.

So, join me people in Snowball madness as I propose a toast to being yourself, to liking things because you do not because they're cool and to health and happiness for all those I love. Oh yes and of course:

Slainte go saol agat,
Bean ar do mhian agat.
Leanbh gach blian agat,
is solas na bhflaitheas tareis antsail seo agat.


Ingredients
1 1/2 oz Advocaat

4 cubes Ice

1 slice Lemon

10 oz (Cold) Lemonade

1 splash of lime

Directions

Place one ice cube in the glass and add 1 1/2 oz of Advocaat. Add a splash of lime juice. Fill up the glass with lemonade and decorate with a slice of lime and glace cherries on a cocktail stick. Serve at once.

Translation of the Gaelic above for those who do not share my Irish blood:
Health for life to you, A wife of your choice to you, Land without rent to you, A child every year to you, And the light of heaven after this world for you.

Total whiteout

OK so I thought they were exaggerating when they predicted a major snowstorm, but looks like the weather guys actually got it right. I noticed it had snowed overnight purely because Cooper did a double take and headed back to his chair rather than investigate opportunities for bird munching. Then it actually started to snow and that was about six hours ago and yes indeed it is still going.

I have happy memories of snowdays from childhood, we'd often get sent home from school because the boiler would break down or blow up or because there was a strike or something. We didn't really care why, just loved being able to escape school and make our way home, which took a very long time as there would of course be a snowball fight or a snowman to build or someone who lived nearby would have just got a "dead good sledge". When home, it'd be Jamie and his Magic Torch or Chorlton & the Wheelies on the telly and I'd be quite happily left to my own devices with some hot milk or hot chocolate and an Animal Bar - I loved animal bars, do they still even make them?. We haven't really had lots and lots of snow, not like when i was a child, but I suspect that maybe that snow drift wasn't really six foot deep then, it just seemed bigger as I was quite little.

But today we have lots of snow. Sadly I don't live near my childhood friends, if I did I suspect we would still be having snowball fights and stealing the kiddies sledges for a go, so I have to make do with Scruffbag to be be my snowday adventures amigo.

Scruffbag as I have said before loves snow, she loves to chase snowballs and still always seems surprised when they explode on impact and just aren't there. Equally, she really loves burying her nose in it, although I'm sure that's pretty chilly. Generally everything about snow, oh except snowmen. Snowmen she thinks are deeply suspect and not to be trusted or indeed passed. (I learned this after spending 20 minutes wondering why she was refusing to follow me up her favourite lane one day - sadly in the end snowman had to be sacrificed in the interests of us going anywhere, she liked it lots when snowman was pushed over and lay defeated on the ground). here she is anyway, enjoying the snow as I said:



So walkies today was very exciting for Scruff and indeed for me because we were the first to venture out to the lane (pictured above) and so we had pure, virgin snow all for us to make footprints in. There's something very exciting about that don't you think? Reminded me of being four and being very excited about snow and snowmen and being able to wear my red wellies in it lots. (Though apparently I liked to wear my red wellies everywhere and in any weather condition at all. I even once insisted on wearing them to the outdoor swimming pool at a local park). I still like wellies, sadly my red ones split rather dramatically, overuse I suspect. You will be pleased to know I no longer insist on wearing them to the swimming pool, mainly because I suspect they have policies about that sort of thing).

Anyway as ever I have wandered off point, I do that, I suspect you have noticed. Off we stomped anyway happy in our snowy wonderland, even I will admit that the countryside can look rather quaint shrouded in snow. So I duly showed my love, by leaving a little heart for my fellow dog walkers to enjoy :



I think this shot shows just how much snow there actually was, it was certainly interesting clambering over the style with this lot on it !



Overall, it was lovely, snow glistening on the trees, a neverending mass of white covering the top fields and an amazing stillness and quiet about everything. (probably because the birds were hiding).

So now we're back, started up the coal fire early as it is minus 6 or something crazy and I'll probably have a mug of hot chocolate and make some buttery toast. Scruffbag is happily snoring on a cushion which she really shouldn't have, but she looks cute so I'm letting her get away with it (sssh don't tell).

So here's to snow days, because they are actually really quite lovely.