Love Bakery Bakes

Farrow & Ball and the Many shades of Neutral

2012-03-08T07:20:00.001-08:00

Interior decorating has always been something that I have shied away from. I have always been a bit of a hint of from Dulux kind of girl. I did branch out with Love Bakery's colours and went for Chiffon White from Dulux (of course) and it was well received. So the last few months since I have been bakery free apart from starting to write my book and attending the rather wonderful Faber writing course I have been decorating my tiny cottage in Oxfordshire. I thought I had the colour of the walls all organised and duly placed a sample on the wall of Chiffon White. It looked horrid. Somehow in the shop it had worked but in the country it most certainly didn't. It was chilly, so chilly that it made me want to put my coat on. So I have ventured further afield and have discovered the delights of Farrow & Ball. Their range is amazing. Of course I have concentrated on the neutrals but their colours seem to suit my cottage and the finish is fabulous. I have chosen New White for my walls and for the wood work I am torn between Matchstick (safe choice) or Savage Ground (brave choice). I think Savage Ground might win (if I am brave).

New White

Matchstick

Savage Ground

Train Journeys

2012-03-08T01:11:00.000-08:00

The last couple of weeks has seen me travelling by train twice. Train travel is quite a rare occurrence for me as generally I like to drive but some distances are a bit too far and back in a day and of course I have to get home for nanny duties with Missy's puppies so there is no option of an overnight stay. I have discovered that I rather like the train. Yesterday's trip to Dorset and back allowed me to write my book and finish reading Mitford's The Pursuit of Love. As I work from home train journeys mean no distractions. No bills to pay, no food to buy and no phone calls to be made or received. Just me and my own company. I also loved the food trolley - there were my favourite shortbread biscuits! I am so easily pleased!

Cartier

2012-03-06T00:15:00.001-08:00

On Sunday evening I was settled quite happily on my sofa eating brie, drinking a vodka and tonic and watching tv. This is my routine most Sunday's as I like (many) grip harder onto the fast disappearing weekend. Then something quite extraordinary happened. I was taken on a journey with a panther across the globe. I was immersed into Cartier's world by their new advertisement called L'Odyssee. I followed the panther's journey via Paris, Russia, India, and back to Paris to meet up with Shalom Harlow looking exquisite in a Cartier red dress. Diamonds, Love bangles, watches, Panther bracelets all have starring roles in this glorious cinematic advertisement. The world of Cartier is a brave, magical and powerful place.

A New Dress - The Perfect Tonic

2012-03-02T04:43:00.001-08:00

I recently put on a stone in weight which is due, mainly, to my antidepressant tablets so I don't feel awful about it but it does mean that my body shape has changed a bit. I am no longer flat chested and along with my new attributes I have hips and a bit of a tummy. So a fresh approach is needed. One of my favourite shops is Whistles and this season their collection is super strong. My hand hovered over many a pretty piece but fell upon the Mila dress. It works for my body shape an absolute treat! A pretty knit dress with the nips and tucks in just the right place to flatter and accentuate. And deep joy it comes in a myriad of colours so repeat buying is definitely on the cards!

www.whistles.co.uk

Orange and Pomegranate Cake by Nigel Slater

2012-02-29T22:08:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was a very rare day indeed. I had the house entirely to myself so I pencilled in writing my blog and one for my client, writing my book, going out on my bicycle, a visit to the vet and some baking! I plummed for Nigel Slater's Orange and Pomegranate Cake recipe which I had ripped out (my copy of course) of last Sunday's Observer. As always Nigel Slater's recipes never fail and always work out wonderfully. I love the taste of Pomegranate and Blood Oranges and I have to say it was a delight to bake especially since it was warm enough to have the doors of my kitchen open. Spring is nearly here!

Orange and Pomegranate Cake

Serves 8-10

175g butter
175g caster sugar
3 large eggs
125g self raising flour
50g ground almonds
2 tsp ground orange zest (one large orange)

For the Syrup
The juice of two medium blood red oranges (or 6 tbsp of juice - Tropicana do a really good blood orange)
6 tbsp caster sugar
6 tbsp pomegranate juice

Line a 20x9x7cm deep loaf tin and put the oven on at 160. Using an electric whisk cream the butter and sugar together for 10 minutes. Then break the eggs into a bowl and gently whisk together and slowly bit by bit add to the butter/sugar mix. If there is any sign of curdling add a little bit of the flour. Sift the flour and almonds together into a bowl and slowly add to the butter/sugar/egg mix. Gently stir in the orange zest and spoon the mix into the loaf tin. Place in the oven for 45 minutes. Make the syrup whilst the cake is baking. Add the orange juice and the sugar. Stir together and then add the pomegranate juice. Once the cake is baked remove from the oven and put some holes into the cake with a skewer. Then spoon over the syrup into the holes. This is best done when the cake is still warm. Leave the cake to settle for a 5 minutes or so then place on a cooling rack. Nigel Slater suggests serving this with yoghurt. I have to say my family skipped the yoghurt bit so go choose your own path!

The last slice of cake!

Anya Hindmarch and London Fashion Week

2012-02-29T00:03:00.000-08:00

During London Fashion Week I keep a beady eye on all things fashion mostly through the internet. I love that the shows are live streamed which means I can pretend to be in the film September Issue and be Grace Coddington and live in the twilight world of "what if". One of my favourite shows (and no surprise here) was Anya Hindmarch's Autumn Winter 2012. Usually the bags are showcased in a presentation and this was Anya Hindmarch's first show. It presented the handbags and accessories that she has dreamt up and that I (amongst many) will be lusting over. The show was a magical spectacular. Bubbles, streamers, hands in boxes, conveyor belts all powered by Anya Hindmarch on a bicycle were tools used to create the vision and illustrate Anya Hindmarch's amazing imagination. Have a look for yourself I guarantee that this piece of prettiness will put a smile on your face and a bounce in your step.

Tapestry and Doing Something For Yourself

2012-02-28T08:29:00.001-08:00

As a child I was always fond of making things so now I am a grown up (sort of) I have to profess a love for tapestries. I really came upon them when I was living in Chicago and used to spend hours in a little shop called the City Stitcher which was a veritable treasure trove of goodies waiting to be stitched. Now back in London I have discovered Tapisserie on Walton Street which is a quite a grown up affair of a shop. The wondrous thing about Tapiserrie apart from the huge selection of canvasses are the classes that they hold there. I turned up a novice and the teachers very gently showed me how best to work on my tapestry and are on hand if there should be any moments of panic. In fact I sometimes used to find it quite hard to leave the shop as whilst I was there I felt so cocooned from reality that I never really wanted to go back outside. Tapestries are also a way for me of being in a room with my family but doing something for myself which is a gift when you are a parent! It might seem old fashioned but in this crazy busy world that we live in sometimes it is nice to do something slow.

My little ginger house which I made in Chicago under the guidance of the City Stitcher

Work in progress. This canvas is from Tapisserie

Check Out: Tapisserie, 54 Walton Street, London, SW3 1RB 0207 581 2715

Nancy Mitford and The Giggles

2012-02-27T11:12:00.000-08:00

Some books just remind me of tinkerly pianos. So delicate, so deft but the rhythm is there. You become so immersed in a world that you just don't want to ever leave it. Nancy Mitford can do this for me. She can also make me laugh out loud on the tube which is never really a good thing especially when people start to clear the carriage because they think you are bit more than eccentric. And the words eccentric, razor sharp and well drawn all are apt in the description of Nancy Mitford's books. She was born in London in 1904 to a wealthy upper class family and she and her five sisters became legendary and all for different reasons. Her books draw on her own life and evoke the elegant world of the Bright Young Things who seemed to dance around London in a twirl of socialness. Her razor sharp wit and acute observation skills leave her reader with no doubt about plot and character. It is all there to be enjoyed and savoured and most importantly to be lived in.

Nancy Mitford

The Complete Works of Nancy Mitford

The Faberge Big Egg Hunt

2012-02-21T10:31:00.000-08:00

Every Tuesday I make my merry way to my Faber & Faber course in Bloomsbury and as I feel that Tuesday is sort of my day for doing my thing I always manage a quick detour to Liberty's on the way home. I have a particular fondness for the ground floor especially the stationery department which happily is located next door to the handbag department. On leaving today clutching happily a couple of notecards (alas no handbag) I almost walked into a giant egg. It was a thing of wonder with a babushka dolly painted on the front and the plaque beneath read The Faberge Big Egg Hunt. Once home I googled immediately and discovered that over the next forty days and nights there are to be found across the streets of London over 200 dazzling eggs. Each egg has a keyword that competitors text to enter the competition with the grand prize being The Diamond Jubilee Egg valued at over £100,000. This has been organised by two highly innovative charities The Elephant Family and Action for Children. There is also to be an online auction to sell off the eggs. The aim is to raise over a million pounds which is urgently needed for both charities. So get cracking and find those eggs!

www.thebigegghunt.co.uk

Yippee It Is Shrove Tuesday!

2012-02-21T01:35:00.001-08:00

Today is Shrove Tuesday - Pancake Day. We celebrate Pancake Day here every week mostly on Sundays as my family love pancakes and I have become quite a fan of them myself. Everyone loves different toppings but what is crucial is to make a good pancake. I always use a recipe from Skye Gyngell's How I Cook book. Simple to do and tastes delicious. And whilst the batter is resting it gives you a good opportunity to forage through your cupboards for the lemons, sugar or if you live in our household - the nutella and golden syrup. And if you are feeling really like going for it then caramelising some sliced banana in butter and caster sugar makes for a fabulous topping.

Old Fashioned Pancakes (makes around 12)

250g plain flour
3 tsp baking powder
2 1/4 tbsp caster sugar
pinch of salt
2 organic free range eggs lightly beaten
500ml organic milk
75g unsalted butter melted (you will need a bit extra for melting in the frying pan)

Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a large bowl. Then stir in the sugar. Make a well in the centre and add the eggs, milk and melted butter. Stir well and combine to make a smooth batter. Put aside for 20 minutes.

Take a large non stick frying pan and place over a low heat. Put a nob of butter in and let it melt and when the pan is hot ladle a small amount of batter in the centre of the pan. Cook for about two minutes or until bubbles appear on the surface and using a spatula gently turn the pancake and cook for a further two minutes. The pancakes can be served immediately or if you want to serve the whole batch at the same time the pancakes are best placed on a plate in a warm oven on a low heat. Use greaseproof paper between each pancake so they don't all stick together! Happy Pancake Day!

Check Out: Skye Gyngell How I Cook

2012-02-20T09:02:00.000-08:00

I have mentioned on more than one occasion my love for pinboards and mood boards as tools for conveying creative ideas. So imagine my delight when on twitter I kept noticing posts about Pinterest. So being the nosy young lady that I am I googled and discovered something that made my heart leap with excitement. Pinterest is a cyber pinboard. Pictures from your own photos can be pinned on different boards with different themes and if you are clever enough and persevere enough there is the Pinterest button which allows you to pin a picture directly from other peoples images/websites. I noticed that Burberry have started using Pinterest already and I can see why. Have a look see if you get the chance.

Just pinterested the Del Rey bag from Mulberrry

http://pinterest.com/lovebakeryuk/

Poilane - My new favourite place

2012-02-17T00:06:00.000-08:00

I admit I am a francophile. I holiday in France and love to eat and dress like the French. So imagine my delight when a great friend of mine mentioned in passing that Poilane had opened a cafe on Cadogan Place. Cusine de Bar by Poilane is the bakery's first dining experience outside France. The restaurant is light and roomy and I particularly like the little one person benches (wifi is complimentary). Now onto the important bit the food. French dishes are served throughout the day. I saw a glorious selection of breakfast pastries whilst waiting for my lunch of tomato and mozzarella tartine. Afternoon tea is also served and you can take goodies away. The whole experience is a delight. Beautiful to look at, good service and fabulous food. Whenever I need a shot of Paris I now know where to go.

Just some of the delightful baked goods on sale

Wonderful communal table

I loved these seats for one

And this is perfect for that glass of wine and supper after work

Cuisine de Bar de Poilane, 39 Cadogan Gardens, SW3 2TB (020 3263 6019)

My Night with a Sewing Machine

2012-02-15T23:58:00.001-08:00

It is official. I can thread a sewing machine and this is thanks to the beauteous Arianna who runs Saturday Sewing Session in Chelsea. I met Arianna in my shop in the Kings Road when she was just setting up Saturday Sewing Session and we offered to provide mini cupcakes for her sessions on Saturdays. I thought the idea of setting up a company that showed people how to sew from scratch or improve their skills was a gem of an idea. I am glad to report that her business has gone from strength to strength. Housed in her charming studio just off Lots Road Arianna teaches people how to sew. All levels are welcome from the beginner (me) to those of you who want to improve your skills. I loved every minute of it. And came away from my two hour session having learnt how to thread a machine, how to thread a bobbin and I made a plastic bag holder too. I felt as pleased as punch. I also found it immensely therapeutic as I had to really concentrate on what I was doing so all my usual flutterbee mind activity had to wait til I had finished.

I made this plastic bag holder!

http://www.saturdaysewingsession.co.uk

Wallpaper - The Fear

2012-02-15T03:51:00.001-08:00

Although I love people's homes and how they decorate them I have always had a distinct phobia of colour in my own house. Always terrified that once the colour is chosen and painted onto the walls that I will hate it and will have to use the phrase "learn to live with it". So you can imagine the loved ones' surprise when I mentioned that I quite fancied the idea of using wallpaper at home. Now not everywhere you must understand. I am thinking along the lines of hallways and bathroom so really am only gingerly dipping my toe in the wallpaper pool. A quick trip to Cath Kidston and the choices were made. Slightly worried that I may have plunged in head first but what the heck after all I can "learn to live with it" if it goes horribly wrong!

White rose sprig for the bathroom

Antique rose for the hallways

The London Library

2012-02-14T10:53:00.000-08:00

For Christmas I was the lucky recipient of a year's membership to The London Library. Now I didn't drop hints for this but spent a lot of time bending loved ones' ears about how I didn't have time to write, read or generally any peace or quiet. Of course I could find that in my home but my nature means that every time I sit down to do something for myself I immediately remember the bill that hasn't been paid, or that I need to wash the football kit, or pick up something from the Post Office. This has been solved by The London Library. Admittedly today was my first visit as I did feel somewhat intimidated by the building of learning also added to the practical fact that my lovely pug, Missy, has given birth to two adorable puppies and needed me on hand to fetch, carry and water. So today with shoulders back I walked into The London Library and instantly never wanted to leave. Everywhere around me people were writing and reading in a veil of complete silence - what heaven this is! I managed to write 1000 words of my book and sit still for 2 hours which is also a miracle. Fabulous.

Making Something for Someone - cooking, sewing and Mollie Makes

2012-02-13T03:26:00.000-08:00

I love to make things I guess that is why I love cooking so much. It is really a lovely way of showing someone how much you care about them. If I say "I made this for you." the reaction from people is always one of some disbelief but ultimately it makes both of us feel great. I have never used a sewing machine but when I was little I loved making things from felt and scraps of fabric my mother and grandmother had dotted around the house. My grandmother had the most amazing sewing box made from walnut. It was sort of magical and every time I opened it there was something I hadn't seen last time - a glass bead, a thimble, a mother of pearl button. And off I would go with my new find and add it to a dress for my dolly or make a little purse. Anything pretty really. So this week on Wednesday evening I am off to Saturday Sewing Session to learn how to use a sewing machine and suddenly everywhere I look I see things I want to make. And this is where Mollie Makes comes in to my house. This magazine is a feast for the eyes and is all about living and loving handmade. If you get the chance please have a look at the magazine (they also write a blog) - I love it and I know my grandmother would have loved it too.

Pretty as a picture front cover

The layout of the magazine is so beautiful

Step by Step Guides

Check Out:

http://www.saturdaysewingsession.co.uk/

http://molliemakes.themakingspot.com/

Jonathan Saunders and Dresses

2012-02-08T23:26:00.000-08:00

Since I was very small I have always loved fashion. And have always been drawn to dresses but the stubborn Tomboy in me sometimes means I shy away from the "pretty". However resistance is futile when faced by Jonathan Saunders and his beautiful dresses. Pretty silhouettes with gorgeous prints they make the tomboy in me soften. I somehow think if I had the chance to wear this dress that I could be a different person - a more together, well read, well intentioned and hugely pretty person. What do you think?

[edit]

Love Bakery's Flickr Photos

The puppies have arrived!

2012-02-07T23:26:00.000-08:00

The puppies have arrived. Two of them. And mother nature certainly knows what she is doing when it comes to dogs and their instincts. This entire puppy moment has been quite a roller coaster for me as I never really wanted to have puppies born at home and was scared sick that something awful would happen to my gorgeous little pug, Missy, the mother to be. Well I should have not worried one bit and had a bit of faith. Missy did the whole thing herself and happily as I type I can hear the two little daugs (a mix of a daschund and a pug) happily singing a way together whilst having a lovely little wash from their mother. I will be posting pictures of the Daugs but for now here is a picture of their rather gorgeous mother - Missy.

The Clutterer Collector is Getting Organised

2012-02-07T00:14:00.000-08:00

I find it hard to settle to anything if everything seems to be in a mess. I am a clutterbug. I hate and love clutter at the same time. John Pawson is definitely not for me. However in order to write or have any kind of clear head my desk needs to have an element of order otherwise my teeth just go on edge and I get very grumpy. Recently I have been doing quite a bit of research on homewares and with the Soho House hotels being my favourite choice I found myself looking through their various websites at styling and furniture and I spied the desk above. Blackboard paint on the front so the titles of what is being hidden in the drawers can change from time to time and that lovely cool looking grey to help calm the frayed nerves. This could be an ideal choice for the clutterer collector.

Louis Vuitton Spring Summer 2012

2012-02-02T17:17:00.000-08:00

Every season there is "the" dress that seems to be just everywhere and that magazine editors adore. For me this Spring Summer 2012 one of the stand out collections is Louis Vuitton and the dresses are everywhere on and in the magazines. Alexa Chung is dressed like a little dolly in one of the dresses from the LV collection on the front cover of Elle March 2012. I am in love with the peter pan collar, the broderie anglaise, the ice cream colours and the whole picture of elegant, prettiness. This is certainly not boho! In the latest Louis Vuitton Candy Sweet campaign, LV designer, Marc Jacobs, commented, “The spirit of our Spring/Summer 2012 collection is reflected beautifully in this new ad campaign. All the tone and texture of the collection – the lightness, the prettiness, the broderie anglaise, the millefeuille layers of organza – are recreated in these wonderful images by Steven Meisel. It is all very soft and very sweet, yet at the same time very bold and very graphic.[...]The whole ambiance is very pretty, very special and very magical, and I’m sure it will look just delicious and fresh come the spring.” Like the little crocuses in my garden seeing these gorgeous dresses reminds me that Spring is just around the corner and for now to enjoy the cold and the cashmere as soon it will all be over.

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Breakfast At Tiffany's by Truman Capote

2012-02-02T00:31:00.000-08:00

I have always had an affection for all things Audrey Hepburn. I mean the woman is amazing - beautiful, intelligent, elegant and discreet all things that nowadays in Hollywood barely exist in modern day celebrity. So it is not unusual that I am drawn to Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote. I read this book an age ago probably in my late teens and most of it I have to say passed me by as I was still very much infatuated by the film version. At my writing course at Faber & Faber which I attend on Tuesdays there is much talk about books (surprise surprise) and somebody mentioned Breakfast at Tiffany's. I went straight down to John Sandoe's amazing bookshop and secured a copy. One serious bout of insomnia later I am now half way through the book. I absolutely LOVE it partly because of the wonderful plot but more probably because of the seamless way it is written and the language used. I mean who uses the words "licketysplit" or "top banana" anymore? Or describes someone as an "energetic octopus, he was shaking martinis, making introductions...". The upshot of me revisiting Breakfast at Tiffany's is sheer enjoyment of the book and also a burning desire to jump on a plane to New York and live Miss Golightly's life just for a day!

That Woman by Anne Sebba

2012-02-01T00:26:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was an amazing day and it was finished off to a tee with my invitation to listen to Anne Sebba talk about her book That Woman at The Hurlingham Club in Fulham. That Woman by Anne Sebba is a biography of Wallis Simpson. I spent some days over Christmas poring over it on my Kindle. It is such a well written book, well researched and with fresh information in the form of letters. Sebba paints a portrait of a woman, Wallis, who is trapped into a marriage with the future King. The book charts Wallis's life and gives a fresh perspective on a story that has been told many times before. Sebba tells the story beautifully. So last night I went to listen to Anne Sebba at the Hurlingham. She is a remarkable speaker and held a huge audience rapt. Sebba also explained that she is a footsteps biographer - I had no idea what this means - and she explained that in order to write her biographies she finds it incredibly useful to visit the places that her subject spent time in. I understand Justine Picardie does this too. This really appeals to me as I am just plain nosy! If you get the chance read That Woman and if you ever get the opportunity to listen to Anne Sebba please do - she is quite a woman.

The book cover

Anne Sebba - the Author

Vanna High Tops by Ash - the shoes of dreams

2012-01-30T23:07:00.000-08:00

Suddenly it has gone cold. Snappy cold. So on Sunday when I was having a little snoop along the Kings Road in my super cold R M Williams (beautiful boots, leg lengthening, zero warmth) I spied these cool little high tops. Now high tops are a pair of shoes that I didn't think would ever be represented in my wardrobe but these were irresistible. I won't show my age by talking about comfort (but boy oh boy heavenly to wear) but will happily point out the warmth factor - the inside is shearling. Immediate purchase because they were also in the sale with 50% off - as if I needed the excuse.

My Vanna High Tops

Check out: www.ashfootwear.co.uk

Anthology - Living with Substance and Style

2012-01-27T01:21:00.000-08:00

Always on the lookout for new magazines I was thrilled when I spotted Anthology in Anthropologie on Regent's Street. Anthology is written and produced in San Francisco by Anh-Ming Le and Meg Mateo Illasco and has been published for just over a year. Full of great articles, good photography and quirky illustrations it is a must for anyone who like me loves magazines that are not just choc-a-bloc with advertisements. The articles are life style based predominately around creative people and very much focussed on people who are doing it for themselves. This makes it sound a little bit worthy but it is not - it is fun and beautiful to look out. My favourite article in the latest edition is called Drawn-Out Decor and is about illustrator Bu Lago Millan who lives in Buenos Aires. The piece is about the illustrator's home but what made it stand out for me is that there are no photographs of her home as the editor commissioned her to draw her home instead. It is really magical.

Check out: Anthology Magazine www.anthologymag.com

Chicken Pie

2012-01-26T00:21:00.000-08:00

Chicken pie is a dish that I would consider old fashioned. I remember being fed it when I was a little girl especially at winter time, especially at times of crisis. An ultimate comfort food. It is also a recipe that when leafing through my cookery books I just keep on leafing past. Yesterday for some reason I paused over the chicken pie recipe in the beauteous Mrs Beeton's How to Cook and decided it was Wednesday's supper. The winter time box ticked (constant drizzle) and the crisis box ticked (I have a new computer and I seem to keep messing it up) I rolled up my sleeves, slung on my apron and got to work. I had most of the ingredients from food I had bought for the weekend and Sunday Roast - so a quick trip to the supermarket for chicken fillets (quick to cook), chicken stock (didn't have the time) and shortcrust pastry (because I am rubbish at it) and I was set to go. Preparation time really is minimal and rather easy but what makes this dish for me a winner is that it is a complete meal in one - all the vegetables are there, the meat, the pastry and the sauce. Very comforting indeed.

Chicken Pie

220g chicken fillets (a packet)

150g ham chopped into small chunks

15g unsalted butter (to fry off the mushrooms and leeks)

150g mushrooms chopped roughly if too large

2 medium leeks, cut into 1cm slices

200ml double cream

1 pot of chicken stock

1 packet of shortcrust pastry

22-25cm pie dish

Set the oven to 200. Fry off the chicken fillets for about 15 minutes - you want them cooked but not to turn to rubber. Put to one side to cool. Fry off the mushrooms in a bit of butter and then the leeks. Put the mushrooms and leeks in a large saucepan then add the stock, the cream and season to taste. Take the chicken fillets and pull apart to make large chunks then place in the cream mushroom mix along with the ham. Give the mix a good stir. Pop all the mix into a pie dish. Moisten the edges of the pie dish with water and place the shortcrust pastry on top and gently with fingertips attach to the rim of the dish. Cut a hole in the middle of the shortcrust pastry and brush the surface of the pastry with a little bit of cream. Put in the middle of the oven for 45 minutes. If the pastry starts to burn cover with a bit of foil. Serve hot from the oven.

Leeks, mushrooms, cream, ham, pastry and of course chicken make up this Chicken Pie

Check Out: Mrs Beeton's How To Cook by Isabella Beeton and Gerard Baker

Onion Gravy

2012-01-25T00:05:00.000-08:00

Gravy has always been a bit of a mystery to me. Some people get it just right and some people just make a gloopy mess. For a good many years I fell into the gloopy camp. My failure at gravy really stems from the fact that as a little girl I liked nothing better than making potions - a bit of water, a bit of my mother's talcum powder, some perfume, a few flowers that kind of thing. Of course to me the end product was a miracle - something rather wonderful and I could never really understand why my mother's nose would wrinkle in such a way as to say disgusting! And until recently my gravy making was sort of similar to this. A bit of stock, a bit of seasoning, a bit of flour, some herbs - really anything I had to hand. So now I love nothing better than following a good recipe and the results are really quite good (even I do say so myself). Last night I made onion gravy. Never having tried this before my concerns were that it would end up a gloopy mess. Well faith is what is needed and having followed Delia Smith's recipe to the letter the results were wonderful. So great that now I am thinking what else can I make to go with the Onion Gravy.

Onion Gravy

225g onions, peeled and sliced
2 tsps groundnut oil or other flavourless oil
1 tsp golden caster sugar
1 dessertspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp mustard powder
1 rounded dessertspoon plain flour
425ml vegetable stock from Marigold Swiss vegetable bouillon
salt and pepper

Put the oven to 220. Place the onions in a roasting tin and drop in a tsp of groundnut oil and the golden caster sugar and mix so the onions are even coated. Put in the oven for 15 minutes. Keep an eye on them as you don't want them to burn. Make up the stock adding to it the worcestershire sauce and mustard powder. Place the onions into a medium sized saucepan with the remaining tsp of oil add to this the flour and stir oven a medium heat with a wooden spoon. Now add the stock a little at a time. Switch the wooden spoon for a whisk and stir the stock into the onion mix till there is no stock left. Bring to simmering point and gentle simmer for 5 minutes.

Onion gravy poured over Toad in the Hole

Check out: Delia Smith's How To Cook Book One

Unexpected Arrival - The Daug

2012-01-24T10:22:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a bit of a day. Something rather unexpected happened. I took my rather gorgeous little pug, Missy, to the vet. She has grown rather tubby of late and I was concerned that something very untoward was happening. I explained my fears to the vet and to allay them it was decided that a scan would be a good idea. The good news is that there is nothing sinister to report but we are due two or maybe three little puppies in the very foreseeable future - around ten days time. It turns out that my daschund, Fritzi, isn't neutered as we thought so now we are awaiting the birth of Missy and Fritzi's offspring. I naturally was really upset however 24 hours later I am resigned to the fact and in a weird way I am kind of looking forward to the forthcoming arrivals. Apparently a mix of daschund and pug is called a Daug. Heaven help us!

The Daug Puppy

Illustrations

2012-01-18T22:42:00.000-08:00

Illustrations in magazines and books have always been a love of mine so I recently commissioned some for myself for a project that I am working on. The picture below is my particular favourite. She reminds me of a heroine in a Nancy Mitford novel. Brought up to look beautiful, quiet and reserved but underneath that serene exterior lies a brain as sharp as a whip and a steely nerve. I think I will call this illustration Nancy after the great author that I hold in such admiration.

Nancy

Vegetable Pilau Recipe from The Meat Free Monday Cookbook

2012-01-17T09:25:00.000-08:00

My love affair with the Meat Free Monday cookery book is gathering momentum. Somehow when I cook from this book I feel a bit worthy and smug at the same time - both traits of which I deplore in others. Add to this deciding to make, from the book, my own packed lunch - yes not bought - I now feel positively saint like. And to add to these attributes, it tastes delicious and is quick and easy to make.

Vegetable Pilau

1 finely chopping medium onion
1 crushed garlic clove
1 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tsps ground cardamom
1 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp ground cinnamon
100g cauliflower florets
50g sultanas
100g frozen peas
175g rinsed basmatic rice
300ml water

In a large saucepan soften the finely chopped medium onion and crushed garlic clove in a tablespoon corn oil, then add the ground cardamom, ground turmeric, ground cinnamon and fry for 1 minute. Break up the cauliflower florets into tiny pieces and add to the pan with the frozen peas and the sultanas. Stir for half a minute, then add the rinsed basmati rice and the water. Bring to the boil, stirring occasionally. Cover with a tight fitting lid and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir occasionally, adding a little more warm water during cooking if necessary. Serves 4.

Check Out: The Meat Free Monday Cookbook published by Kyle Books

Mood Boards

2012-01-12T23:10:00.000-08:00

I love using my computer and all my gadgets but this is balanced by my love of books, magazines and photographs. Sometimes I just need to be able to make the images tell the story. To explain. And that is why I love the mood board.

The mood board is a great communicator. Its sole occupation is to illustrate thoughts and ideas but more often the sentiment of what I am trying to communicate. Every month I go through my magazines - cutting out pictures and keeping them in my box file - a sort of clippings library (but not filed - that would be too organised). So when I want to try and explain something or brief someone on an idea I rummage through pulling out any image I think will help. It also helps me to develop my ideas as I often find that my original ideas morphs into a much improved one by the time I have finished cutting, placing and pasting (the fun bit). The two boards below were developed for a handbag course I did recently and I found that they really helped me nail the idea and sentiment of what I was hoping to design. The final two boards are from my recipe book and ideas that I was working up for "teatime" - in these two I used lots of different fabrics, ribbons and general bits and bobs to help pass on the sentiment that I was trying to explain.

A Mood Board to show handbag shapes

The customer I was hoping to sell my handbag design to

Riotous colours to show my thoughts on teatime

Fabric, ribbons, sketches, old photos are all used in my mood boards

Before I Go To Sleep by S J Watson

2012-01-12T10:37:00.000-08:00

Before I Go To Sleep is a literary thriller. The story focusses on a woman called Chrissie who has lost her memory. Chrissy is suffering from a severe form of amnesia meaning that every day she wakes up not knowing who she is - her brain can only retain memories for 24 hours. She doesn't even recognise who she is in the mirror. Under her medical care she begins to write a journal so she can remind herself of her past. Of course there is a narrow line between what she believes to be her memories and what she is making up to be her memories. The entire story is rooted in ordinary life - very domestic - which only adds to the terrifying steps that lead from the beginning to the end of the novel. I found myself completely caught up in the story and was on a mission to complete it. I really enjoyed it. This is S J Watson's first novel which gives all us budding novelists hope - the book is number one on the bestselling list and Ridley Scott's production company (Scott Free) have bought the rights to the book. It is a story well told. If you get the chance I would recommend locking yourself into your house, turning off the phone, switching off the computer and diving in head first into this gripping thriller.

Check Out: Before I Go To Sleep by S J Watson

Queens and Iron Ladies

2012-01-11T13:20:00.000-08:00

With talk of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and with the launch nationwide of The Iron Lady - the film about the formidable Margaret Thatcher - I began thinking handbags (seemed as good an excuse as any). Constructed handbags. Feminine handbags. More lady like than whimsical. So with this in mind I began my search and started with Prada. I think this little lady of a handbag covers all the bases. Constructed - tick. Feminine - tick. Ladylike - tick. Whimsical - no. Ability to transform an outfit - tick. Officially this bag is on my wish list.

Check out:
Prada 16-18 Old Bond Street London W1X 3DA 0207 647 5000
Prada online store - www.store.prada.com/en/UK

Bringing the Outdoors Inside

2012-01-11T09:54:00.000-08:00

Green shoots, spring scents, and the promise of growth was the picture that Petersham Nurseries presented to me this morning. Framed around this springtime sketch was all the wonderful furniture and accessories that makes this wondrous nursery a must visit for all those who love spring and nature. What really struck me was how perfect these natural resources looked inside their shop - the idea of bringing the outdoors inside. The promise that even my teeny tiny house in Clapham could be transformed into a garden that would be of such grandness that it would make my house burst at the seams with all that is glorious about nature!

Banana Bran Muffin

2012-01-10T09:50:00.000-08:00

With January well upon us I decided that I needed a bit of a pick me up especially around breakfast time. Now over Christmastime this would have meant a mince pie and brandy butter however January needs to be treated a little bit more auspiciously! What I hoped to find was something that Gwyneth Paltrow would happily eat and that I would happily eat too. After thumbing through The Meat Free Monday Cookbook I came upon this recipe. Do not be put off by the words bran flakes (as I was) - they genuinely add a little bit of chew to the whole muffin. I used two bananas instead of the recommended one as I am keen on their taste. The muffins were simple to make and just hit the spot between good and naughty! January breakfasts are organised!

Fabulous Fibre Muffins

100g bran flakes
25g sultanas
a pinch of salt
2 tsp baking powder
Organic egg (beaten)
50g butter
100g soft brown sugar
1 ripe mashed banana
200ml organic milk

Put the oven to 190 and line a 12 hole muffin tin with paper cases. In a bowl mix together the bran flakes, plain flour, sultanas, a pinch of salt and baking powder. In a separate bowl cream the butter and brown sugar. Add the egg and the mashed banana and keep beating. Then add the milk and keep beating til you have smooth batter. Stir in the bran flakes and flour mixture. Divide the batter equally amongst the muffin cases and bake in the oven for 30 minutes. Leave to cool on a wire rack.

Check out: The Meat Free Monday Cookbook published by Kyle Books

Friday's Recipe - Eccles Cakes

2012-01-06T03:32:00.000-08:00

I have always have a penchant for the Eccles Cake. I love the crystallised sugar on the top and the soft casing of puff pastry around succulent sultanas - it really is wonderful. Served warm with cream for a pudding or cool for an afternoon tea treat - the Eccles Cake really hits the spot. I found this recipe in the wonderful Mrs Beeton's How To Cook. I didn't make the puff pastry which I would normally buy straight from the chiller in the supermarket - I actually for this recipe used shortcrust pastry as that was all I had in the fridge last night. Tasted delicious!

Eccles Cakes

500g currants

125g unsalted butter

125g caster sugar, plus a little extra

zest of two lemons

500g puff pastry

1 egg white, beaten

granulated sugar, to sprinkle on top

a 10cm round pastry cutter

Put the oven on to 200c and line a baking sheet with non-stick baking paper. Pop the currants, butter, caster sugar and lemon zest in a small pan and place on a low heat. Stir continuously til the butter has melted and the currants are nicely coated. Take off the heat and leave to cool.

Scatter some flour onto your work surface and roll the puff pastry out to 3-4mm. Cut out 6-8 rounds using a cutter. Re-roll any trimmings if you need to. Divide the filling between the circles and dampen the edges of the pastry with a little water. Then with fingertips lightly seal together. Mix the beaten egg with the pinch of caster sugar and brush over the tops of the cakes then sprinkle them with lots of granulated sugar.

Bake for 20 minutes or until the cakes are brown and then turn the heat down to 140 for a further 15 minutes. Remove to cooling rack.

Bon appétit!

My Eccles Cake - all mine!

Tatler and the Eccles Cake

Check out: Mrs Beeton's How To Cook by Isabella Beeton and Gerard Baker

Velvet Slippers from Charlotte Olympia

2012-01-05T02:26:00.000-08:00

I love a bit of a velvet slipper. It makes me come over all Noel Coward. I usually buy mine from French Sole on the Kings Road and wear them to bits. French Sole's velvet slippers are well priced and last for an age. I spied these velvet slippers from Charlotte Olympia in this week's Grazia. A lot more expensive than French Sole's counterparts but so seriously cute. I am thinking - pretty dresses with little kitten velvet slippers. I am absolutely certain I have already spotted a pair on Miss Alexa Chung's tiny little feet and if they are good enough for Ms Chung then they are good enough for Ms Blears!

Check out:

Kitty Slipper Shoes £485.00

Charlotte Olympia

www.charlotteolympia.com

The Sartorialist

2012-01-04T09:17:00.000-08:00

Whenever I have a moment of "I don't know what to wear" or "I am really bored with all my clothes" I reach for my copy of The Sartorialist - a gift from a good friend of mine whose dress sense I always admired. The book is born from Scott Schuman's blog. Schuman - a self taught photographer - started his blog when he realised that there was a growing disconnect between what he saw in runways and in magazines and what people were wearing on the street. The book covers the streets of New York, Florence, London, Moscow and Milan showcasing the men and women that inspired Schuman and the many fashionable readers of his blog. Anyone aspiring to dress beautifully and in their own style would love a copy of this style bible. And to be photographed by Schuman for his blog would be a true validation that indeed you managed it! Be inspired. Dress savvy.

The gorgeous front cover

Carine Roitfeld shot in Paris - a fan of Scott Schuman's

It isn't about age it is all about style (New York)

One of my favourites - Eva - and taken pre Miss Alexa Chung

Check out:
www.Thesartorialist.com
The Satorialist by Scott Schuman published by Penguin

Thank You Notes from Kate Spade

2012-01-04T01:29:00.000-08:00

It must be one of the few times of the year when "Thank You" is on almost everyone's lips - I hope we have all been a little bit spoilt over the Christmas period. And although I love email nothing beats a bit of old fashioned stationery for when it comes to say "Thank You". I always try to find quite quirky stationery - something pretty, different and does the work for me so you can imagine my unrivalled delight when I spotted these wonderful notelets at Kate Spade. I love the little snail illustration - and seeing that sometimes I am quite late in sending my thank you's I think the idea of Snail Mail is rather apt. But as they say better late than never - I hope that all my thank you's enjoy their cards!

Check out:
Kate Spade, 2 Symons Street, London, SW3 2TJ
0207 259 0645

Mulberry Turns 40

2012-01-03T03:00:00.000-08:00

This year Mulberry and I had something more in common than handbags - our 40th birthday. It seems we were both born in the glorious year of 1971. To celebrate 40 years of their life Mulberry produced a beautiful book which I was lucky enough to be given a copy of. Rather than a dry, historical round-up of the brand the book gives a true glimpse into the world of Mulberry and their shenanigans over the last two years. I loved the way the book was presented - a bit like the party game "pass the parcel" with quite a few layers of paper each one with a little phrase hidden away - it all added to the excitement and believe me the book does not disappoint. It really is the most beautiful piece of eye candy in my house at the moment. Every page playing its part in telling and unravelling the life of Mulberry. Here are some of the images that I liked.

The first layer - a Mulberry handbag!

Second Layer - love the brown paper wrapping

Another layer!

Nearly there! Can see the front cover through the tissue.

The glorious front cover

This is one of my favourites - love mood boards

How to make an Alexa

A snowy picture of my beloved Babington House (close to Mulberry's HQ)

Marie Claire Fashion Shows Spring Summer 2012

2012-01-02T10:48:00.000-08:00

I pounced on the latest edition of Marie Claire Fashion Shows when I spied it in the Bluebird store in Chelsea (one of THE best places to buy fashion magazines). With my background in fashion PR I have never not been interested in fashion and this magazine means that although I was unable (unfortunately) to get to the shows in New York, London, Milan and Paris I can see absolutely all of them. I can see each of the ready-to-wear fashion shows of Spring/Summer 2012 without having to beg, borrow or even travel for my ticket. The magazine layout presents each show in alphabetical order with a short text describing each show to give you a clear understanding of the designer's creativity and then there are the three selected accessories. It is expensive (around £17.00) but is so worth it as now I am up to date with everything that is fashion Spring Summer 2012.

Panettone Bread and Butter Pudding

2012-01-02T06:23:00.000-08:00

I am sure like a lot of you we were given a panettone for Christmas. Our local, lovely italian restaurant gave us ours and we were grateful to receive it. I immediately thought - what am I going to do with it? And somewhere in the deep dark recesses of my mind I remembered a recipe from Delia Smith's Christmas recipe book which I had always promised to try - if I had a panettone to use up! So here it is and mighty delicious it is too. It really is a Christmassy version of our old English favourite made festive by the use of the panettone but also by the mulled wine and the rather large quantities of cream. Give it a try - it is worth it.

PS if like me you had no idea what a panettone is - it is a festive bread given by italians at Christmas time and originated in Milan.

Panettone Bread & Butter Pudding with Marsala

Just a quick note I had no Marsala so swapped it with a bottle of mulled wine I had in the kitchen ready to be used up.

400g panettone, cut thickly into round slices about 1.5cm thick
60g raisins
150ml Marsala (or mulled wine)
50g butter
20g whole candied peel, finely chopped
175ml milk
175ml double cream
60g golden caster sugar
the zest of 1 small lemon
4 eggs, beaten
1/2 whole nutmeg

1.5 litre baking dish, well buttered.

Put the raisins in a small saucepan with 50ml of the Marsala and bring to simmering point. Remove from the heat and put aside for 40 minutes leaving the raisins to soak up all the Marsala. Put the oven to 180c. Butter the slices of the panettone and cut each piece into quarters about 6cm. Arrange a single layer of the panettone in the bottom of the prepared dish, slightly overlapping them. Drain the raisins from the Marsala (making sure you keep the liquid) and then sprinkle half of the raisins over the panettone in the dish. Now arrange the remaining slices of panettone over the first layer - overlapping the panettone and sprinkle the remaining raisins over the top.

Take a large jug and measure into it the cream, milk, the remaining 100ml Marsala and the Marsala juices from the raisins. With a whisk mix into the creamy mixture, caster sugar, lemon zest, beaten eggs and candied peel. Pour the whole lot over the panettone and grate the nutmeg over the top. Bake in the middle of the oven for 50 minutes until the top is all crispy and pudding is set in the middle. Serve with chilled pouring cream.

Layers of Panettone buttered and placed in prepared, buttered dish

Panettone slices covered in the creamy mix with Marsala raisins

Set the timer for 50 minutes

Ready to serve, warm from the oven with chilled cream

Bon appétit.

Smythson Fashion Diary

2012-01-01T03:42:00.000-08:00

I am just going to say it out loud - I am a stationery junkie. I love all things stationery - paperclips, staples, rubbers, notelets, notepads - the list is endless of the little bits and pieces that I love. To this end I was always trying to pass on my addiction to people closest to me. Of course with the girls that I love it wasn't an issue it seems that all girls have a little bit of stationery love in their hearts whereas men have always proved a slightly trickier conversion. So I called in the big guys - Smythson. To me Smythson really is the apex of stationery. To have Smythson in your life a wondrous thing. So every year I bought my father the Sports Diary and duly sent it to Devon as his Christmas present. I kind of hoped that because it had the word Sport on the front and it was practical that he would grow to love it and he most certainly did. From that year on he requested it as his Christmas present. Sadly my father is no longer with us as he passed away last year. However I have decided to stay with tradition and found myself this year magically drawn to Smythson - it seems some habits just don't want to go away. I looked at the Sports Diary with a little smile on my face remembering my dad and I thought why not - why not buy a diary for yourself? A real treat. So as of today I keep all things "diaried" in my bright orange Smythson Fashion diary. And being the complete obsessive that I am I have also kept the cloth case so it doesn't get marked in my handbag ensuring its beauty remains in tact. So here is to 2012 and all the good things that are going to happen to us all.

My beautiful Smythson fashion diary

And its protective blue cloth

January Plans

2011-12-28T02:24:00.000-08:00

Today feels like the first normal day since Christmas. I have already started making plans for next year and most of it centres on my writing. I loved writing Love Bakery's recipe book alongside my great friend Sarah Best and with the response to my blog from all my lovely readers I have decided to polish my skills and concentrate further on the written word. This gives me an excuse to do two of my favourite things - reading and learning something new. So in January I start "How to write a Novel" course at the Faber Academy based in their offices in Bloomsbury. I attend a morning class once a week for three months and I can't wait. The course was recommended to me by the Elle Talent Contest and I am hoping that I can live up to my expectations! The Love Bakery cookery book is one of my proudest moments and walking into somewhere like Waterstones and seeing your book on their shelves is an amazing feeling. What has been even better are the comments about the book and how much people have genuinely enjoyed reading and baking from it. I am a lucky girl.

Amazon Kindle - my new toy

2011-12-27T04:57:00.000-08:00

I love gadgets of any kind. However I have always been deeply suspicious of the Kindle. I love books - physical books. I love the smell of bookshops, the fresh pages, the promise of the story to come - will I like it? will it convince me? will I remember it in a few days time? But I had a bit of an epiphany and it really is down to London Transport. Not much good happens on the tube - it really is a means to an end and I have been travelling by public transport quite a bit as I find driving in London quite a stressful experience. Increasingly (I am after all a very curious - read "nosy" - person) I have noticed that more and more people use a Kindle and suddenly for some strange reason I had a big, deep burning desire to have one - I wanted to own a Kindle. I wanted to be part of the Kindle gang. So here I am on 27th December a proud owner of an Amazon Kindle and I love it. I love that it is so light, I like the screensavers (of famous authors) but most of all I love that fact that I don't have to lug around hardback books in my beloved Mulberry handbag - and always living of fear of ruining it. I have made a promise to myself though that if I read a book that I love then I will buy it in the physical, hardbacked form. And my first book is That Woman: The Life of Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor by Anna Sebba. And yes I am really enjoying it!

My Kindle with its Orla Kiely case - love accessories

Jules Verne is gracing the screen saver at the moment

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T02:12:00.000-08:00

After a bumpy year I am now ready to start afresh. Love Bakery is now closed - that chapter of my life is now completed. I have learnt so many valuable lessons and made so many life time friendships. I would like to thank everyone who has shown me support and kindness especially my family. I hope everyone has the most amazing Christmas and loves every minute of being with the ones they love - after all isn't that what it is all about? Merry Christmas!

Goodbye Love Bakery

2011-12-23T01:03:00.001-08:00

Today is a day that I have been silently dreading. It has crept up on me over the last month and it is finally here. Today we close our doors at Love Bakery for the final time. Love Bakery has seen me and our Love Bakery team through some good and bad times - opening our doors for the first time on 15th March 2009, selling our first cupcake, working 24 hours straight (on many an occasion), writing a recipe book, my depression have all featured in this three year journey. However, sentimental as it may sound, what Love Bakery has brought me, our team and our customers is friendship - the type that last a lifetime. A lady who came in to order wedding cakes, became a friend and helped me write a recipe book. Her sister who then worked with us at the bakery - a person who could always laugh in adversity. Our lovely girls behind the counter who always gave more to the bakery than they needed making their jobs personal to us and themselves. Our Sunday boy who became literally part of my family - my son's greatest friend. And our engine - the kitchen - baking thousands of cupcakes, birthday cakes, wedding cakes, christenings - the list of celebrations that Love Bakery has been invited to bake for us is endless. Each one we undertook as if it was for someone special to us. That is what Love Bakery is about making it special. We will miss it but the friendships will be ours forever. Thank you.

Please keep an eye on what we are up to by following my blog www.lovebakerylondon.blogspot.com

Tea & Cake London by Zena Alkayat

2011-12-22T03:52:00.000-08:00

There are a few things more flattering in life than being written about in a book and this is what has happened to me and Love Bakery. We were recently featured in a book called Tea & Cake London by Zena Alkayat. This is a charming little book (I love little things) and is a comprehensive guide to the best places to enjoy tea and cake across the capital. Love Bakery is in amazing company with the likes of such tea and cake alumni as The Orangery in Kensington Gardens, The Berkeley (with its Pret-a-Porter tea - a personal favourite of mine) and Fortnum & Mason - the list goes on. There is also a whole collection in the book of what I would call "finds" - the places a little bit of the beaten track that only a true Londoner would know about having been told along the "tea & cake" grapevine. I strongly recommend this book not just because we are in it but also because if you like tea and cake then this will give you the perfect excuse to go try new places - and isn't that what it is all about? Here's to Tea & Cake!

Gorgeous Front Cover

Love Bakery's Review

Check Out:
Tea & Cake London by Zena Alkayat (Black Dog Publishing)

Santa Maria Novella

2011-12-21T03:40:00.000-08:00

I have always been incredibly nosy and to be honest I have always found other people's medicine cabinets fascinating - a bit like looking at other people's supermarket trollies or having a quick sideways glance at my neighbours in a restaurant and seeing what they have ordered - you get the idea. I always have a look to see what others have got just in case I need it or want it!

So yesterday when having a nose around Piccadilly Arcade I spied a shop that I haven't been in for years Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella. The original store is in Florence and if you ever get the chance I can't more strongly recommend going there - it is a sight to behold. What caught my eye in Piccadilly Circus were the pharmacy style glass cabinets and the products within. Needless to say I decided that I needed a little pre-Christmas spoiling (I always end up buying for myself when I am buying for others) and came away with these three products. I have soap, body cream and eau de cologne - all heavenly. So if you want to smell heavenly or indeed if you want your loved one to smell heavenly then I really recommend a quick stopover in their stores. You will not be disappointed!

The cabinets full of promise

The fabulously packaged soap

My goodies

Check out: Santa Maria Novella
www.santamarianovella.co.uk
1 Piccadilly Arcade London SW1Y 6NH
117 Walton Street London SW3 2HP

Luggage Labels and Gift Tags

2011-12-19T09:24:00.000-08:00

I am really big fan of luggage labels - they have a myriad of uses. I use them primarily as bookmarks and gift tags. The gorgeous bookshop Lutyens and Rubenstein give a printed luggage label to be used as a book mark with every book purchased - it even has a handy "please return to..." on the reverse.

Liberty has the most amazing stationery department and is always busy. They stock my favourite stationery brands such as Cavallini, Rifle, Moleskin and Chronicle Books. The last time I was there I bought these really cute butterfly gifts tags which are made by Cavallini. They look like luggage labels and have the added bonus of being covered in butterfly illustrations. The labels come in a tin which I have started to use for other bits and bobs such as postage stamps. Very useful and very beautiful - how good things should always be.

Butterfly gift tag tin and Lutyens & Rubenstein book mark

Beautiful butterfly

Love the "Please return to" on the reverse of Lutyens & Rubenstein book mark

The entire collection of Butterfly gift tags from Cavallini

Lutyens and Rubenstein Bookshop, Notting Hill

2011-12-19T02:27:00.000-08:00

I love books and I really love independent book shops. There is something wonderful for me about buying books - the promise of the fresh smelling new pages (nothing smells like a new book), the adventures that I am about to embark on and the promise that no matter what, this book won't let me down, it won't cancel at the last minute, get cold feet or find something better to do - it really is the perfect date!

One of my favourite independent bookshops is Lutyens and Rubenstein. Based on Kensington Park Road in Notting Hill it offers the perfect environment to buy books. The staff are really knowledgeable and I always get the feeling that this is a bookshop that only sells books that it likes which means when their staff recommend a book I know that they have read it, enjoyed it and are happy to pass on the recommendation. I visited the store last week and came away with Umberto Eco's The Prague Cemetery, Virginia Woolf's Mrs Dalloway and Margaret Drabble's Short Stories. I have already finished Mrs Dalloway and placed it on my bookshelf of read books so now it is onto Margaret Drabble's short stories. Perfect date material!

A gem of a bookshop

Lots of Christmas Titles

Sneaky peek through the window

Check Out: www.lutyensrubinstein.co.uk

21 Kensington Park Road

W11 2EU

020 77924855

HomeSense

2011-12-15T23:23:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I made my annual Christmas trip to visit my mother. We meet all through the year but the December visit is one of my favourites. We get to exchange gifts and inevitably talk Christmas's past and our hopes for Christmas's future. This time my mother threw in a wild card to my visit - a trip to HomeSense. It turns out HomeSense is the homefurnishings division of TK Maxx so you can imagine my excitement when my mother said "upstairs is all the kitchenwares". I scurried past Jan Constantine cushions and Emma Bridgewater mugs and scrambled up the stairs. And oh there was no sense of disappointment! Le Crueset nestled next to Jamie Oliver next to Tocca candles and so it went on - aisle after aisle! And the prices were amazing. I picked up a Le Crueset enamel citrus juicer for £7.99 the original price on the label stated it should have been £20.00. And there is also that part to shopping at HomeSense - the joy of a good bargain. All items have their original prices so you get to see how clever you've been in discovering your new acquisitions! My only advice - don't use a basket. I decided to buy only what I could safely carry in my own hands otherwise I fear I would have got completely carried away in all the excitement!

My Spoils - Le Crueset Citrus Juicer, Milk Jug for the Stove, and Roasting/Serving Dish to be used for my Panettone Bread And Butter Pudding

Check out: www.homesense.com

January 2012 Vogue

2011-12-14T23:14:00.000-08:00

I am a huge fan of Vogue and have bought a copy every month religiously since I was thirteen. Up to a few years ago I had kept all the copies in my loft but due to our lovely weather and my rubbish roof alas they are no longer.

When I bought January Vogue I had no inkling from the cover that there had been a few tweaks editorially. These subtle changes have made a huge difference to my favourite magazine somehow making it fresher and more in keeping with the way I like to read articles. There was lots to read and look at. I especially enjoyed the article on Frieze both editorially and pictorially and the photo shoot featuring Agness Deyn only confirmed me to why this magazine is still the best. Classic, well photographed, beautifully layed out with the right balance of more dash than cash and fashion daydreams - it just made me keep looking through it again and again. Fabulous!

Florence Welch graces the front cover of January Vogue 2012

Agness Deyn photographed by Patrick Demarchelier

Chanel No 5

2011-12-14T07:35:00.000-08:00

I don't know whether it is the time of year or that I am so in love with the advertisement featuring Audrey Tatou for Chanel No 5 but I have found myself hankering after my old favourite scent. I used to wear Chanel No 5 religiously but somewhere along the way I met up with Jo Malone, Yves St Laurent and Les Senteurs - just to mention a few - and I forgot all about how wearing Chanel No 5 made me feel. So when recently my daughter and I were having fun at the Chanel make-up counter in Harrods I found myself saying "I would like to buy a bottle of Chanel No 5 eau de toilette and a bottle of the bath gel too please."

Wearing Chanel No 5 makes me feel like a grown up. Like I have arrived. It makes me sit up straight and not put on the cardigan that has a little bit of cupcake smoodged on the sleeve. In short it makes me feel like a lady. The honey coloured perfume, the black and gold stopper and the beautiful scent all add to a faded, timeless glamour that I love. Welcome back!

Panic Buying - Hunter Snow Boots

2011-12-14T00:53:00.000-08:00

Some products when I see them send me into a bit of a panic. I just know that they are going to sell out. Of course I haven't budgeted for them because I have just spotted them. So out comes the budget sheet and a lot of "well if I don't do this" or "if we eat spaghetti for a week" - you get the gist. This happened to me this morning. I was looking through some of my favourite websites and there they were - Hunter Snow Boots. Now I am fan of Chanel but my budget definitely does not stretch to Chanel Snow Boots but it does to Hunter Snow Boots (called the Chatel). With the promise of snow, a £75.00 price tag, and the thought of how thin they would make my legs look, and that they are bound to sell out I found myself clicking the "Yes please" buttons. I am now awaiting delivery. As you can see from the picture they are totally gorgeous and being from Hunter are bound to do what is promised - to keep my feet warm and dry (and a little bit stylish).

Chatel Hunter Snow Boot

Check out: www.hunter-boot.com

Ligne Extreme 307 Or by Chanel

2011-12-13T05:54:00.000-08:00

Yesterday evening one of my dreams came true - I went make-up shopping with my daughter. My lovely girl is now 16 and is taller than me and more beautiful and more graceful than I ever hoped for. So last night the pair of us hit Harrods Cosmetic Hall and headed straight for the Chanel counter. We had so much fun and came away with some gorgeous products. One of our favourites which we will both be able to use, even though we have a 24 year age gap, is from the Chanel Christmas Range - Ligne Extreme in Or. This liquid eye liner is like liquid gold and can be used on the upper lid and beneath the eye. For me it brightens my eyes and adds a little bit of glamour. For my girl it illuminates her piercing blue eyes, framing them and bringing them totally alive. If you are feeling like you need a little bit of extra sparkle then we really recommend this product!

Missy and Violet and Depression

2011-12-13T05:16:00.000-08:00

Missy and Violet are my pugs. Missy is blonde and about 7 months old and Violet is black and about 9 months old. When they are not gnawing on my furniture or chewing my hair I absolutely love them. And they have been one of the best remedies for my depression. Unlike the tablets I take the pugs don't make me feel like "I should do better" or that I have failed by not being happy all the time. And the best adventures are the ones we have on the Clapham Common. To say the pugs have been trained would be an outright lie so everytime we venture out I am most relieved when all three of us return in tact with all our limbs!

Violet

Missy

Stick to The List

2011-12-12T09:33:00.000-08:00

This has to be the ultimate wish list - the Chanel Christmas wishlist 2011. To me this included everything I love in one place - stationery in the form of stickers and gloriously beautiful pieces from Chanel. The idea is to use the stickers to present your loved one with your ultimate list. And as the front cover says "Stick to The List" - if only ....

The front cover

Mini Cross-body classic flap bag in lambskin

Glass cabochon pendant necklace with matching earrings

Friday's Winter Berry Cupcakes

2011-12-09T09:09:00.000-08:00

We love Christmas at Love Bakery and wholeheartedly throw ourselves with gusto at the festive season. One of my favourite cupcakes ever is part of our Christmas range and is a sure fire bet to get anybody into the festive spirit. Nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and cranberries all have starring roles in this cupcake and will turn the Scrooge in your life into a warm, Christmas loving person! Fa la la la la!

Winter Berry Cupcakes
125g unsalted butter, room temperature
125g caster sugar
1.5tsp vanilla exract
2 free range eggs
125g self-raising flour
1/2tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
3 tbsp semi-skimmed milk
150g dried cranberries

For the Icing
60g unsalted butter (room temperature)
85g full-fat cream cheese
225g icing sugar, sifted
A pinch of ground cinnamon
A pinch of ground cloves

Preheat the oven to 180 and line the holes of the muffin tin with muffin cases. Add the butter, caster sugar and vanilla extract to the electric mixer and cream together for 7 minutes til light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one by one, and mix for 3 minutes. Mix the flour, baking powder and cinnamon together in a separate bowl, then add to the mixer and mix until incorporated. Add the milk and mix for a further minute, then add the cranberries and mix in with a tablespoon. Divide the mixture between the muffin cases and place in the oven for 25 minutes. Once baked remove the cupcakes and place on a wire rack. Leave to cool.

To make the frosting - cream the butter and cream cheese together in a mixer for 2 minutes. Add the icing sugar and beat til smooth. Add the cinnamon and cloves and mix to combine. Place in the refrigerator til ready to use.

Go mad with Christmassy glittery decorations!

Baking with the Larks

2011-12-06T22:28:00.000-08:00

Having tossed and turned since 3am I decided to give in and get up. Popping on Classic FM (I love Nick Bailey - the "up with the larks" presenter) I thumbed through my cookery books and decided to use a book that I haven't used before - The Art of French Baking by Ginette Mathiot (published by Phaidon). I tend to use new cookery books in the morning as I have more patience and time to actually read and digest the recipe before I start. One of the things I have learnt from my short time baking is that I have to read the recipe from beginning to end before I start and I like to measure all the ingredients before mixing anything. That way I know what I am doing, I know I have the tools to do it and more importantly the ingredients. And then with shoulders back, sleeves rolled up and a positive attitude I begin. Today I am baking Spice Cake. I liked the recipe because it involved no noisy equipment (always important when people are still asleep) and a few ingredients. It is also a good recipe if you are new to baking as it involves no specialist equipment and not a massively expensive ingredient list.

Spice Cake

Butter, for greasing
150g honey
60g caster sugar
100ml milk
2 egg yolks
250g plain flour
2 tsps baking powder
Spices and flavourings of your choice eg orange zest, cinammon or mixed spice (I used 2 tsps of ginger and 1 tsp nutmeg)

Loaf tin 21cm x 11cm

Put your oven on to 160 and grease the loaf tin and line the base with parchment paper. Combine the honey, caster sugar and milk in a pan and place over a low heat. Remove once all the ingredients are melted together - don't let the mixture come to the boil. Once the milk mixture has become luke warm pour half into a mixing bowl and whisk in the egg yolks. Combine the flour, baking powder and flavourings/spices and begin to gradually add to the milk/egg mixture alternating with the remaining milk. Pour into the loaf tin and place in the middle of the oven for 50 to 60 minutes. A piece of foil might need to be added to cover the loaf tin towards the end of the baking so it does not burn. Serve warm.

Check out: The Art of French Baking by Ginette Mathiot published by Phaidon

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Quick Fix Supper - Spaghetti and Aurora Sauce

2011-12-02T08:53:00.000-08:00

Becoming rather tired of eating bread, butter and honey I really craved something hot and tasty to eat so decided to try and re-create one of my favourite Italian dishes - Spaghetti Aurora. I first tried Spaghetti Aurora in a tiny Italian restaurant, Ziani's, which is tucked away in a little side street in Chelsea. For some reason I am almost always sat by a little serving hatch which serves as the communication space between the restaurant and the kitchen. So I have had plenty of opportunity to spy on what goes on behind the scenes. I have done my Aurora sauce the cheat's way - but I am very happy with the results and it certainly did the trick of warming me up and tasting delicious.

Aurora Sauce

1 tub of fresh tomato basil sauce
3 tbsps mascarpone
1 tbsp garlic paste
Seasoning (to taste)
a couple of handfuls of spaghetti

Firstly bring a pan of water to a boil and put in the spaghetti. Whilst the spaghetti is cooking pour your tomato basil sauce into a medium size saucepan and bring gently to a simmer. Then add 3 tbsps mascarpone - one tbsp at a time - and keep stirring til there is no sign of mascarpone and the sauce looks creamy. Then add 1 tbsp of garlic paste (this is optional) and stir through. Once the spaghetti is al dente - drain and place on a warmed plate. Spoon the Aurora sauce over the spaghetti and serve. Have a glass of wine - it is the weekend after all.

Cupcake Kits, Buckingham Palace and AA Milne

2011-12-01T06:12:00.000-08:00

Love Bakery is selling this adorable cupcake kit. As soon as I saw it I was immediately reminded of a poem from my childhood about Christopher Robin visiting Buckingham Palace with his friend Alice. The poem written by AA Milne in 1924 is gorgeous and is full of the whimsy and eccentricity that makes me smile. The poem was also recorded as a song during World War II - www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_Z5LpHuXVE.

Buckingham Palace
They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
Alice is marrying one of the guard.
"A soldier's life is terribly hard,"
Says Alice.

They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
We saw a guard in a sentry-box.
"One of the sergeants looks after their socks,"
Says Alice.

They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
We looked for the King but he never came.
"Well, God take care of him, all the same,"
Says Alice.

They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
They've great big parties inside the grounds.
"I wouldn't be King for a hundred pounds,"
Says Alice.

They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
A face looked out, but it wasn't the King's.
"He's much too busy a-signing things,"
Says Alice.

They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
"Do you think the King knows all about me?"
"Sure to, dear, but it's time for tea,"
Says Alice

Ginger Cake, Toothache and Bunnykins Plate

2011-11-30T08:07:00.000-08:00

The last few days have seen me hiding in my bed feeling very sorry for myself whilst nursing a very sore tooth. It has given me the chance though to catch up on my magazines and some baking. I love the magazine Country Homes and Interiors and decided to bake their Ginger Cake recipe. I thought it would be nice as it is almost the beginning of Advent and I needed a bit of cheering up. This recipe is very easy to make and the cake has just the right amount of ginger to make the taste buds tingle with its gentle heat whilst the treacle gives the cake a real depth. The perfect cake to nibble on whilst writing Christmas cards maybe?

Ginger Cake

200g black treacle
200g golden syrup
100g caster sugar
100g lightly salted butter
3 medium free range eggs
1 tbsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground mixed spice (I used nutmeg)
Finely grated zest of 1 orange
450g plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

28cm x 22cm tin

Firstly preheat the oven to 170. Grease and line the tin. In a large pan heat the treacle, golden syrup, caster sugar until the sugar dissolves. Bring the mixture to the boil and set aside for five minutes. Then beat in the eggs, spices and orange. Combine the flour, bicarbonate of soda and baking powder and sift into the mixture giving it a good stir. Pour the mixture into the tin. Bake in the middle of the oven for 35-40 minutes and leave to cool. Serve warm with a festive brandy cream (maybe).

Bunnykins Plate and Ginger Cake

New Employee at Love Bakery - Henry the Talking Gnome

2011-11-25T08:49:00.000-08:00

I hope this makes everyone smile. Henry the Gnome is our new employee at Love Bakery and is proving quite a hit with the ladies. By pressing his toe he will record a message and will play it back by pressing the love cushion he is holding. A perfect way of delivering a Christmas Wishlist to loved ones! Have a great weekend from Henry and Love Bakery!

Check out: Henry the Talking Gnome is stocked at Love Bakery for further details please call 0207 352 3191.

Sausage Rolls Recipe from Constance Spry's and Rosemary Hume's Cookery Book

2011-11-23T10:01:00.000-08:00

Tonight's food for my children needed planning as I am going out for the evening - I am hoping to see Wuthering Heights - so I flicked through the pages of my new cookery book by Constance Spry and found sausage rolls. Now I am rubbish at pastry so I skipped the bit about making flaky pastry and cycled down to my local Waitrose to procure puff pastry and of course sausagemeat. This recipe is a doddle to make and tastes fabulous. It would also be good if you are thinking of menus for Christmas as the sausage rolls can be made in advance and stored away for any festive snacking!

Sausage Rolls

1 packet puff pastry
1/2 red onion
a handful of flat leaf parsley
400g sausagemeat
Seasoning
1 free range egg (beaten)

Put your oven on at 200c. Take a baking sheet and grease lightly. Chop the red onion and parsley into fine chunks and place in a bowl with the sausagemeat. Combine well. Unwrap the puff pastry and with your hands mould the sausagement into a roll and place about 2 inches away from the edge of the pastry. Brush the egg down one side and fold over the other edge to meet it encasing the sausagemeat. Seal the edges. With a sharp knife cut into portions and place on the baking sheet. Repeat this until the sausagemeat runs out or there is no pastry left (whatever happens first!). Brush all the sausage rolls with the egg and place in the oven for 25-30 minutes. You should aim to make about 8-12 portions. Best served warm from the oven but equally delicious cold with salad. Bon Appetit.

Tomato Soup Recipe by Constance Spry and Rosemary Hume

2011-11-22T09:05:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was MeatFreeMonday in our house so I dived into my new cookery book - The Constance Spry Cookery Book. This book dates back to the 1950's and is a wondrous evocation of post war England. I chose to make Cream of Tomato Soup. I have never made soup from scratch so was somewhat concerned that it really wouldn't compete with Heinz's Tomato Soup which is one of my favourite foods. Well I need not have worried this topped Heinz and means that from now on I will not be eating soup as a convenience food but as something that I have lovingly made and will eat with due care.

Cream of Tomato Soup
450g ripe tomatoes or 1 small can of tomatoes
1-2oz onion
1-2oz carrot
1oz butter
1oz flour
1 pint vegetable stock
1 bay leaf
2 tsps sugar
1 pinch of nutmeg
3-4 tbsps cream

Wipe, slice and pip the tomatoes or use a can of tomatoes. Finely slice the onion and carrot. Melt the butter in a pan, add the onion and carrot, cover and allow to soften for 5-6 minutes. Take the pan off the heat and stir in the flour add the tomatoes, the vegetable stock, bay leaf, sugar, spice and seasoning. Bring it to the boil. Then simmer for 20-30 minutes. Pop into a blender or rub through a nylon sieve. Pop back into a fresh pan and reheat to a boil. Spoon into bowls adding a tbsp of creme fraiche. If you want to make it even more tomato(ee) add some tomoto puree and for a good measure of garlic puree. Bon appetit.

Hot soup on the stove

Hot soup in the bowl

Check Out: The Constance Spry Cookery Book by Constance Spry and Rosemary Hume

The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill

2011-11-21T23:23:00.000-08:00

I have just finished reading The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill. I devoured it. Susan Hill wrote The Woman In Black which I also loved. Hill has a way of creating a real atmosphere in her books as well as a momentum that keeps you wanting more. This book is the first book she has written in the Simon Serrailler series and I can't wait to read the next one. If you like crime novels and are not of a faint heart then this page turner is for you. The story is focussed around a series of women who go missing in a small town. The newest member of the CID in the town is placed in charge of the case: Freya Graffham has come straight from a loveless marriage to her new role as DS and love is the last thing on her mind until she meets Simon Serrailler - her boss. So there is mystery, crime and romance all in one novel. Magic.

Check Out: The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill

Accessories and Transformations

2011-11-21T09:20:00.000-08:00

Chloe's Stacey Brass Snake Cuff

This is a brass cuff from Chloe. I spied it on the Net a Porter site and fell instantly in lust. I am a real firm believer in accessories. Not only are they cheaper than the clothing from designers but can instantly (and I mean instantly) transform an outfit making it completely bang up to date. This little beauty is going on my wish list!

Check out: www.netaporter.com

Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park

2011-11-21T02:28:00.000-08:00

I took my walk on Sunday in Hyde Park Gardens and discovered that the Winter Wonderland has arrived. It is wonderful. I was feeling a little bit low but as soon as I walked in my spirits certainly began to lift and I left with a little bounce in my step. I guess it is a bit like when you go to an amazing concert or watch a fabulous piece of theatre it is all about the shared experience. Everyone at Winter Wonderland was having a great time and it was contagious. If you get the chance please go - it is fun!

Air Raids and Baking

2011-11-18T23:35:00.000-08:00

My mother tells the story of when my grandfather was in the RAF during the Second World War that my grandmother used to bake through the night in their little flat in South Kensington as she was so anxious she could not sleep. Thankfully there are no husbands in a war for a me or air raids to deal with but when I get anxious I bake. So this morning having tossed and turned all night I gave in. My Kitchenaid has heard all my secrets and worries as I talk to myself whilst mixing ingredients. And although my Kitchenaid is the most wondrous thing I am happy to say that it can't pass on my secrets - really it is the perfect best friend! So whilst I write this I am waiting to see how my first attempt at Mrs Beeton's Citrus Pound Cake will work out. A nod perhaps to the coming season of festivities - actually the first recipe I opened in the baking section of the book. Will keep you posted!

My Grandfather

Late Night Baking - Victoria Sponge

2011-11-11T00:47:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I can't sleep. My mind is whirling and can't settle and that is when I partake in a bit of late night baking! And last night was one of those evenings. So I reached for my new cookery book and decided to have a go at Mrs Beeton's Victoria Sponge Cake. What a wonderful recipe. Simple to do, minimal ingredients and a great result at the end. I also followed (for once) the instructions regarding oven temperature and kept it to a reasonably low 160 which meant today I have a lovely, not too dry Victoria Sponge. And to finish it off I have sandwiched it with Love Bakery's buttercream recipe and my very own homemade jam - raspberry and nectarine. How immensely satisfying!

Victoria Sponge

4 medium free range eggs

240g softened unsalted butter

240g caster sugar

240g self raising flour

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

3-4 tbsp jam (strawberry or raspberry)

Buttercream

125g unsalted butter at room temperature

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

250g icing sugar, sifted

1 tbsp semi skimmed milk

2 x20cm loose bottomed cake tins lined and greased

First put the oven to 160/gas mark three. Beat the butter til light and fluffy (be patient this helps the cake to be light) and then add the caster sugar mixing well. Lightly beat the vanilla extract into the eggs and then add the eggs 2 tbsps at a time to the butter mixture. Mix well. When two thirds of the egg mixture has been added sift in 1 tbsp of flour and stir. Add the remaining egg mixture. Then sift in the remaining flour and keep stirring until there are no lumps.

Split the mixture between the tins and place in the middle shelf of the oven for 25 - 30 minutes. The cakes should look evenly browned and firm to touch. Remove them from the oven and with a sharp knife run around the inside edge of each tin. Leave the cakes to cool in the tins for 10 minutes and then carefully turn them onto a cooling rack.

Whilst cooling make the buttercream. Cream the butter and vanilla extract together for a good 2 minutes til light and fluffy. Add the icing sugar and milk and mix for a further 2 minutes until well blended.

Once the cakes are completely cooled take the jam and spread over one of the bases. Then add the buttercream on top. Then carefully set the other cake (top side up) on top. Sprinkle with icing sugar.

Check out: Mrs Beeton How To Cook by Isabella Beeton and Gerard Baker

The Joys of Measuring Spoons

2011-11-11T00:17:00.000-08:00

Until I started Love Bakery three years ago I had never used measuring spoons preferring to use scales. However American recipes on the whole use spoons for measurement of both liquid and dry goods so I embraced the situation and went for it. I now love using them and collect them in all varieties. I found these in Anthropologie and could not resist. They always bring a smile to my face when I use them.

Chelsea Buns by Mrs Beeton

2011-11-10T09:26:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I treated myself to a new cookery book - Mrs Beeton How To Cook by Isabella Beeton and Gerard Baker. It promises 220 recipes for the modern kitchen. This really isn't a new cookery book but a 150th anniversary edition that included 220 recipes which have been updated for the modern kitchen. During the Victorian Era Mrs Beeton was our Delia Smith - a must have cookery writer whose books were on everyone's bookshelf. I decided to start by making Chelsea Buns which I have always wanted to do as there were a childhood favourite of mine. So with Alfie Boe serenading me I got started. Patience and preparation are needed in equal good measure for this recipe but if the instructions are followed then the results are totally wonderful. And I thought this delightful cupcake kit which is now selling at the shop would make a perfect little extra for a real London tea!

My wonderful new cook book

It's British Cupcake kit now selling at Love Bakery

My heavenly Chelsea Bun (even if I do say so myself)!

A Sort of Crumble (with no crumble)

2011-11-09T03:33:00.000-08:00

If you like the fruit in crumble which I do then this recipe is for you. Yummy, warming and great for the Autumn and a cinch to do. Try to get ripe plums or be patient and wait for them to ripen - it just makes the whole thing all the more delicious.

Grilled Plums with Blackberries, Mascarpone and Brown Sugar

6 large ripe plums
12 blackberries
a few drops vanilla extract
12 heaped tablespoons mascarpone
6 heaped tablespoons demerara sugar

Put your grill on. Take the plums and cut each in half and remove the stones. Place them in a ovenproof dish and put a blackberry in each half. Combine the mascarpone with the vanilla extract and spoon over the plums. Sprinkle with the demerara sugar and pop under the grill. Leave for a couple of minutes til the sugar caramelises. Serve warm!

Recipe from Nigel Slater's Real Food

Quilts, APC and Anthropologie

2011-11-08T09:13:00.000-08:00

I have been talking about getting a quilt for quite sometime. Somehow this time of year begs for it. Quilts remind me of cold wintry days snuggled at my Grandmother's house covered in a heavy quilt. But luckily for my bank balance I had yet to spy one that fulfilled my quilt dreams until this afternoon when I saw this!

I have for a long time been in love with Anthropologie's homeware collection. I have a few of their pretty as a picture aprons, some wonderful teacups and saucers but I think it might be time to come out of the kitchen and invest in this quilt for my sitting room. The quilt collection has been designed by Jessica Ogden of A.P.C. which makes me want them all the more - I mean A.P.C. and Anthro combined in one piece it is making it just too difficult to say no! So bring on the tea, the Miss Marple and the Quilt!

Violet and Missy - the Pugs in my Life

2011-11-04T09:22:00.000-07:00

Today has been a helluva of a day. Starting this morning with a fairy light failure at the shop which meant me removing over 500 twinkling lights or non twinkling more to the point from our shop window. And then replacing the entire lot with new twinkling lights. We then decided that we might as well change the window seeing that I was by this point covered in glittery twigs and whispy ghost stuff. I like to enjoy Christmas from 1st December so we have not done our Christmas window but instead have gone all Harry Potter. Looks great! Job done! By this stage though I was slightly losing the will to live. But I am home now. Sanity restored by Missy my little Pug - how can you feel pooped when looking at this simply adorable cute face! And her little friend Violet! Have a good weekend!

Time to Unpack - Cupcake Decoration Kits & Advent Calendars

2011-11-02T10:39:00.000-07:00

Today was all about unpacking our parcels that we have had to put on hold until after Halloween. It was fun. We now have packs of adorable cupcake kits from Meri Meri gracing our shelves for both boys and girls. Also we are stocking wonderful advent calenders from Clippy which I had great fun making today to show to our clients. A little bit different, really cute and great fun over Christmas. It is great to have so many fun and quirky things in the shop. We stocked up on our sweeties and realised how much had actually been sold over Halloween - need to get on to the re-ordering! It seems non stop at the moment and I am forever chasing my tail to keep up! And to add to the list today for some reason I decided to hang fairylights in my hallway which as I type are twinkling in red up my staircase - fabulous!

So much fun and really different!

A home for Love Bakery cupcakes

Love these!

And for the boys!

Happy Halloweens

2011-11-01T07:58:00.000-07:00

It just feels to me that Halloween kicks off the festive season. Our house is decked in swathes of ghostly webs, candlelit pumpkins and glittery bats which I will probably leave up for a good few weeks because I like the way it makes me feel. Last night we enjoyed a supper of pork sausages, mashed potato and peas - all warming fare and all rather traditional. I had to squeeze in a bit of baking into the evening so plummed for Chocolate and Salted Caramel Squares. I use the recipe from Harry Eastwood's Red Velvet and Chocolate Heartache - a fabulously wonderful cookery book which I strongly recommend.

Our Pumpkin

Chocolate and Salted Caramel Millionaire Slices

Ingredients

397g tin condensed milk

100g unsalted butter, melted

3 tbsp golden syrup

300g digestive biscuits

1 very small pinch of malden sea salt

150g dark cooking chocolate (tip top quality)

22cm square x 5cm deep brownie tin

Parchment paper

Plastic bag

Preheat the oven to 180c/gas mark 4. Take your tin lightly butter the base and cover with parchment/baking paper. To make the caramel place the tin of condensed milk in a medium saucepan and cover with boiling water til it has run over the top of the tin. Boil hard for an hour - keep topping up the water as the saucepan can't boil dry. Whilst the caramel is cooking put the butter and golden syrup in a heatproof dish and place in your oven for 5 minutes so they melt.

Now for the fun bit - the biscuit crushing. Put the biscuits in a plastic bag and with a rolling pin start bashing the biscuits - you don't want crumb you want almost dust - so go for it! Combine your melted butter, golden syrup with the crushed biscuits then tip into the brownie tin. Press the mix firmly with the palm of your hand to ensure it is evenly distributed then prick with a fork to let the air through whilst it is setting and crisping in the oven. Place in the oven for 20 minutes until golden and firm to the touch. Remove and set aside to cool.

After an hour remove your tin of condensed milk and then with great care open with a can opener. The contents will be beyond hot so please be careful and take it slow. Drop in the salt flakes and give a good stir. Pour the caramel over the set biscuit base and put in the freezer to set for 20 minutes.

Take the chocolate and place in bowl over a pan of simmering water. Make sure the base of the bowl does not sit in the water. Once the chocolate has melted pour over the set biscuit/caramel base and put back in the fridge. If you can bear it leave it over night to harden but if you are impatient (and hungry) leave for 20 minutes and then with a sharp knife cut into squares - you should get 12! And enjoy! Bon appetit!

Check out: Harry Eastwood Red Velvet & Chocolate Heartache
www.amazon.co.uk
www.booksforcooks.com

Friday's Recipe

2011-10-28T01:24:00.000-07:00

At this time of year I always find it is helpful to have some yummy bits of food in the house so that if it is pouring down with rain you don't have to get wet! I don't make my own pastry not because I think it is easier to buy ready prepared or any other sensible reason - I just can't do it. Whenever I try to make the pastry it either too dry or wet so I've taken it as a sign to go buy it ready prepared! This recipe is slightly time consuming but so worth it. I think it is perfect for the next few weeks coming up - Halloween and Bonfire night food.

Open Sausage Rolls

450g sausagemeat
1 medium egg (beaten)
1 tbsp sage
1 tsp nutmeg
2 bramley apples
1 tsp of caster sugar
2 tbsp sultanas
1 packet short crust pastry

Put your oven to 190. Chop and dice the two apples. Put aside two tablespoons of the apple with the remainder pop in a saucepan along with the nutmeg and caster sugar. Place on a low heat for 5 minutes - stir occasionally. Once off the heat stir in the sultanas and set aside to cool.

Take the sausagemeat and mix with the sage, egg and the reserved uncooked apple. Season well. Then butter and flour a 12 hole muffin tin. Line each base with a long strip of baking parchment that stands proud of the rims. This helps you to remove the sausage pies from the tin. With a 10cm round cutter cut 12 rounds of pastry and place each one in the muffin holes. Now it is time to place a tbsp of sausagemeat in each. Chill in fridge for 30 minutes. Bake for 10 minutes and then remove. Transfer to a preheated baking sheet. Top each of your little pies with a tbsp of the apple mix and place back in the oven for 20-25 minutes until golden. Beat eaten warm from the oven (ask my children)!

The last two (only baked last night!)

New Covent Garden Market

2011-10-28T00:49:00.000-07:00

I trundled down to New Covent Garden Market this morning intent on procuring supplies for my burgeoning floristry skills. I needed a good pair of scissors, some pearl topped pin heads, bind wire, silver swirly (very technical term) wire and of course some flowers. I was hoping to find some chinese lanterns and some blooms (large chrysanthemums) to give my house a feel of autumn and halloween. I got everything I wanted and hurried home to have a go. The wonderful thing about flowers that really they do all the hard work for you because they are so beautiful. Autumn - we are ready!

Chinese Lanterns in the hallway

Blooms and Oak Leaves throughout the house

The Joy Of Giving

2011-10-26T06:31:00.000-07:00

I really enjoy giving gifts to people and someone very special to me taught me that the best gifts are given not because its a birthday or a celebration of some kind but for a reason. Today I was lucky enough to give a present to a friend's daughter - a jumper. Now when I say jumper it is a little bit more special than that. It is the jumper that is worn by Sarah Lund in the TV series The Killing. I loved The Killing and whilst chatting with my friend's daughter I found out that she also really enjoyed it and like me loved the jumper. She is now about to start her round of interviews for the next step in what I am sure will be a hugely successful career and the jumper was a gift to keep her spirits up and remind her that some things are worth waiting and working for.

Check out: www.shop.gudrungudrun.com/traditional-line-women.aspx?gclid=CObIibO6hqwCFUoY4QodHyz99A

Beginnings and Endings

2011-10-20T23:59:00.000-07:00

This week has been a good week. Full of beginnings and endings but all good. I have loved my course at McQueen's and when I leave today I will really miss working in their space and with the team. It was lovely to spend five days in such a creative environment. I have learnt so much and I hope to be able to use my new skills at Love Bakery. So that is a good beginning.

This week my father's house sold and completed. A very weird feeling. I lost him just under a year ago and I miss him (a lot). To be honest our relationship was complicated but I knew he loved me and that was a great feeling. I was once told that grief is to be endured and I think that sums it up. You never really get over it but you get on with it. And that was the ending for this week. But as I said all good because it is positive.

And now I am thinking about next week and what that will bring - half term and Halloween. Let the fun begin!

Just beautiful

Halloween at Love Bakery

2011-10-18T09:46:00.000-07:00

It has finally got a bit chilly and at Love Bakery we are massive fans of Autumn and all things Halloween. Last week we put together our Halloween window and much hilarity was had by all including many passerbys. These windows are always a challenge and we try to hit the right note between damn right scary and fun. This year the kitchen have made two new celebration cakes and I think they illustrate scary and fun to a tee! As for me I am still picking glitter off my clothes, cobwebs out of my hair and removing twigs from my jumper - as I said it is always challenge but if people love the window and what we do it makes it so worth it.

Skeleton featured in our Edible Bonfire

Much more fun to eat than real pumpkin

Fingers anyone?

Day One at McQueen's

2011-10-17T10:15:00.000-07:00

I arrived full of impatience this morning at McQueen's because I couldn't waited to get started. McQueen's is a florist on Old Street and has a client list to die for - Bluebird, Vanity Fair, Louis Vuitton the list goes on. There were five students today (me included) and we were to be taught how to design and make a hand-tie. We were shown three hand-ties by our seriously charming teacher, Luis (11 years at McQueen's). He made it all look so effortless - believe me it is not. At one point I had a bit of a hissy fit and heard the words "there is no such thing as can't at McQueen's" - Luis is charming but firm! - so I soldiered on. Secretly I am happy with the results. Tomorrow is low table decorations! Cripes!

Sleepless in Seattle and The Language of Flowers

2011-10-13T07:23:00.000-07:00

Today I am baking along to the soundtrack from Sleepless in Seattle. I especially love the song Bye Bye Blackbird as it floods me with memories. It strikes me some music stays with you forever and that is the same for books. Some books drift by, you love them but you don't remember them and then there are the occasional books that hit you right between the eyes and become totally memorable - I have just finished reading one of those. The Language of Flowers written by Vanessa Diffenbaugh is a story about an orphan who is trying to find a home, a mother and a way of life that does not include emotional and physical cruelty. Along her journey she meets someone who teaches her the language of flowers. A beautifully written story (in the truest sense of the word), totally compelling, highly enjoyable and a book that I will remember always. Buy it!

Check Out: Amazon and Kindle

My Pashley

2011-10-12T00:08:00.000-07:00

Although I live in Central London I still like to think that I live in the countryside and surround myself with fresh flowers, home baking and writing however sometimes I have to venture out and break up this idyll. To get to work I travel by tube and love to walk from Sloane Square to the bakery. For short trips I use my beloved Pashley bicycle. I view this piece of kit as I imagine men would view their ideal car - I kind of hope it sums me up - an urbanite who loves the countryside. The Pashley gives me a sense of freedom and I often have little chats with my dad as I am cycling along as it was through his kindness that I am lucky enough to own this amazing machine. And it all adds to how I like to live my life.

My KitchenAid

2011-10-11T10:33:00.000-07:00

Today I feel like a domestic goddess. What has made this sudden transformation is the acquisition of a KitchenAid in raspberry pink. Violet and Missy (my pugs) stared in wonder as I unpacked the pink amazingness that is my KitchenAid. We have used the KitchenAid in the shop since we open in March 2009 but as yet I have never been able to really justify one just for me. Of course there will always be a place in my heart (and hands) for my hand held electric whisk as it has seen me thru good and bad times but at the moment it is ALL about the KitchenAid. Vanilla cupcakes are baking in my oven and I am toying with the idea of baking shortbread - it is amazing what a new toy can make you do after a long day at work!

Depression, Flapjacks and Bowie

2011-10-10T12:56:00.000-07:00

The soundtrack for baking tonight was David Bowie. "Put on your red shoes and dance away the blues" - love it. We spent the entire album going "I love that" or "this is my favourite". How do kids hear this kind of music nowadays with everything being thrown at them but some of the good stuff does get through. And the baking, well, that was flapjacks tonight which are being gobbled up whilst listening to China Girl. Organic oats mixed together with butter, molasses and honey from my friend's farm in Devon. Flapjacks, Bowie and a million calories - take that depression - it is time for you to vanish.

Flower Arranging

2011-10-06T07:01:00.000-07:00

I love flowers so a trip to New Covent Garden Market is always wonderful. Today I came home laden down with english hydrangeas, white hyacinths, large branch of snowberry and twigs painted black with red glitter (for Love Bakery's Halloween window). As soon as I got home I got straight to work. A little cut glass perfume bottle and two jam jars were the things that first caught my eye in my kitchen and put them to use immediately. And then this old crate was perfect for the hydrangeas. The house is now full of flowers which makes me so happy.

Hyacinths, snowberry and asters

Autumnal Hydrangeas

And tomorrow - well that is all about decorating Love Bakery for Halloween - sparkly twigs, black and orange tissue paper, cobwebs, spiders and of course cake!

Banana Bread

2011-10-05T00:39:00.000-07:00

I find myself always buying fruit for my family in the vain hope that someone will EAT it. Bananas are one of the biggest culprits of not being eaten and with my love of make do and mend I have found the ideal solution (like many others before me) - homemade banana bread. One of the joys of making this is that the bananas have to be so ripe that really they are only fit for the bin. I found this recipe in Skye Gyngell's book and I will definitely be adapting it for Love Bakery so we can start serving banana muffins for breakfast - served warm from the oven with a dollop of plain yogurt - breakfast perfection.

My breakfast this morning

Banana Bread

125g unsalted butter (plus a bit extra to grease the loaf tin)
250g plain flour (plus a bit extra to dust the loaf tin)
4 ripe bananas
few drops of lemon juice
300g golden caster sugar
2 organic free range eggs (large)
1/2tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
125ml whole milk
75g light muscovado sugar

Loaf tin (around 20cm x 10cm)

Put the oven at 190/gas mark 5. Butter and lightly flour the loaf tin and line the base with baking parchment. Mash the bananas and add a few drops of lemon juice. Beat the butter and caster sugar til light in colour and creamy. Beat the eggs one by one and then add the bananas and the vanilla extract. Sift the flour, salt, bicarb of soda and cinnamon together over the mixture. With a large metal spoon fold in carefully til fully combined. Finally fold in the milk. Spoon the mixture into the prepared loaf tin, gently spread level and sprinkle the muscovado sugar evenly over the surface. Bake in the middle shelf of the oven for 45 minutes or til a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Leave the banana bread to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool further.

Check out : Skye Gyngell How I Cook

Teatime at Love Bakery

2011-09-29T09:21:00.000-07:00

Every season I like to change the china in the shop - a bit like my wardrobe! Normally I go vintage but this year I found this wonderful collection at Peter Jones in Sloane Square. Delicate flowers and birdies adorn these pretty as a picture cups and saucers from Portmeirion. Our customers have given them a massive thumbs up and agree that drinking tea from bone china cups and saucers is the only way to enjoy their hot cuppa!

Check out: www.johnlewis.com/22389/Product.aspx

Giant Rollo Puddings

2011-09-28T09:45:00.000-07:00

My children know that I have made a special pudding when I cook them supper and it is only small which leaves them room to try my latest experiment/recipe! I must have been inspired by the retro sweets at Love Bakery as today was the day to bake giant chocolate rollos in super size tea cups. A dark chocolate sponge which hid a creamy, buttery caramel beneath. Both the kids loved it - my daughter ate all of hers til she felt physically ill and my son ate his til he was stopped by a sugar migraine. In my household that means a total success. Here they are...

Retro Sweets at Love Bakery

2011-09-27T10:43:00.000-07:00

Well today was all about sweeties. Love Bakery has always stocked retro sweets and today we had a re-stock. Candy lollipops, snot shots (bubblegum - rest assured) and my favourite for Halloween - Scream Eggs. Of course all the girls at Love Bakery had to do a tasting! It is a hard life but someone has to do it!

Toffee Apples and Burnt Saucepans

2011-09-26T08:36:00.000-07:00

In London today it is really warm but that didn't put me off my research for the shop. All I needed was caster sugar, english apples, lollipop sticks, glitter and a saucepan that was beyond its sell by date. The apples were popped onto the lollipop sticks whilst I heated the caster sugar til it caramelised. I then dipped each of the apples in the toffee and sprinkled bright yellow glitter all over them and all over me and placed them on a parchment to cool. My daughter and I have just eaten one - all in the name of research - absolutely delicious and the apple was still warm. Needless to say the pan is beyond repair but at least the apples were a success!

Celine

2011-09-22T11:53:00.000-07:00

I have a new want in my life and it is called Celine. Designed by Phoebe Philo anything Celine is perfect. From the mannish trousers to the exquisite tailoring of all their jackets. But once again it is the bags that I love. This bag below is on the wish list especially in this classic black.

Weddings, Union Jacks and Brave Clients

2011-09-21T09:41:00.000-07:00

We love a wedding at Love Bakery. Actually we adore them especially when we have brave clients. Bravery we find is often accompanied by eccentricity something we cherish at Love Bakery as it allows us to work our magic. We did quite a few weddings this summer and I love it when clients send me pics of their cakes and their big day. This is my favourite one from Summer 2011. The perfect combination of Love Bakery, a brave client and a magical very british wedding.

Mulberry, The Tillie and Laura Bailey

2011-09-20T03:58:00.000-07:00

Everything has gone Tillie-tastic at Mulberry for Autumn 2011. The Tillie - a gorgeous satchel style bag with beautiful gold hardware is so cool. The hardware is engraved so it looks like a leather buckle fastening. A beautiful example of how Mulberry turns something so ordinary into something iconically cool. As always it the simple idea that is genius.

The Tillie

If you look at the picture below you will spy Laura Bailey who is now Cultural Ambassador of the British Fashion Council. This photograph was taken yesterday at Mulberry's Spring Summer 2012 Runway Show. What a wonderful choice for Mulberry to have her sat on their front row. She really is an embodiment of their brand - english, beautiful, understated, cool, very much her own woman and look what is at her feet - a giant Tillie.

Laura Bailey sat at Mulberry Spring 2012 Show yesterday dressed in Mulberry's Scarf Dress with Bird Design

The Panic of Fashion Weeks

2011-09-19T08:16:00.000-07:00

Every fashion week sets me off in a little whirl of panic. How can I every year keep up with the new looks and directions that have inspired fashion designers around the globe and the honest answer is I can't. Age and budget are the two biggest obstacles but really it comes down to the fact that I have my own style and I like the way I dress. Yes I love fashion and I enjoy the whimsy of it all and I love using fashion to enhance my style. I find most of my budget goes on accessories - mostly handbags. This year though I have branched out and most of my budget has gone on a Louis Vuitton Leopard print scarf. Of course I have worked it out pound per wear, told myself my daughter will one day inherit it, etc - I have used all the arguments but the truth is I loved it and wanted it so I bought it! Who I am kidding I do love fashion!

Strong Women

2011-09-15T08:12:00.000-07:00

Today I seem to have been surrounded by strong women. Whilst eating breakfast this morning I read in September's Vogue about Jenna Lyons, president and executive creative director of the american label J Crew. She got a cool $1million dollar bonus for helping her brand to be the brand chosen by the Obama's as their label of choice. Then whilst in a meeting at Bluebird I spied Lorraine Pascale who is a force to be reckoned with - a shop, a book, a tv series and she was model too! Then this afternoon I went to my beloved Chelsea Cinema and watched the new adaptation of Jane Eyre who is a certainly a woman of our times with her grace, candour and determination. And finally I got home to find the Anthropologie Look Book on my doormat. Whilst looking through the beautiful images for some reason Laura Bailey popped into my head. Another wonderful woman - beautiful, intelligent and brave. These women are certainly role models that I can only hope to have the essence of.

Laura Bailey

Cherries and Tarantino

2011-09-14T07:20:00.000-07:00

Today I set myself the glorious task of making cherry jam. And it involved me buying a gadget. Something I am always happy to do. Today's gadget is a cherry stoner. A simple device to remove cherry stones. I really enjoyed myself and "destoned" whilst listening to Frank Sinatra crooning around my kitchen. My only helpful hint is to keep the cherry stoner low over a bowl whilst de stoning the cherries otherwise your kitchen could end up looking like something out a Tarantino film - like mine does as it is covered in splatter patterns of cherry juice. The cherries are now macerating with lemon juice, caster sugar and rose scented geranium leaves which have come straight from my garden - a fact that I am very proud of!

De-Stoned Cherries

Cherries, Caster Sugar, Lemon Juice and Rose Scented Geranium Leaves

Rose Scented Geranium Leaves

My Gorgeous Geranium

Roald Dahl, Radio Four and Home Made Jam

2011-09-13T01:03:00.000-07:00

Up with the lark this morning I am finishing off my peach and raspberry jam and as I write this the smell coming from the preserving pan is intoxicating. My mind is imagining earl grey tea, hot buttered toast and warm jam straight from the stove. My companion in this is Radio Four and this morning amongst all the news (always bad it seems) I suddenly heard Sophie Dahl's voice over the airwaves. Roald Dahl, her late grandfather, used to write from a little hut in his garden. This hut was sacred territory and he told his children that inside there lived wolves to make sure he was never disturbed. It seems the little hut is in some disrepair and seeing that Mr Dahl is a british treasure monies are being raised to preserve this little piece of magic. I would love a hut to write in. To disappear from the mundane and enter that magical world of the imagination where only wolves live! A place to go to eat hot buttered toast and to write to my heart's content.

Roald Dahl's Writing Hut

It all seems to be about peaches this morning!

Details of the Roald Dahl Museum: www.roalddahlmuseum.org/default.aspx

Love Bakery Bakes

Farrow & Ball and the Many shades of Neutral

Train Journeys

Cartier

A New Dress - The Perfect Tonic

Orange and Pomegranate Cake by Nigel Slater

Anya Hindmarch and London Fashion Week

Tapestry and Doing Something For Yourself

Nancy Mitford and The Giggles

The Faberge Big Egg Hunt

Yippee It Is Shrove Tuesday!

Pinterest

Poilane - My new favourite place

My Night with a Sewing Machine

Wallpaper - The Fear

The London Library

Making Something for Someone - cooking, sewing and Mollie Makes

Jonathan Saunders and Dresses

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The puppies have arrived!

The Clutterer Collector is Getting Organised

Louis Vuitton Spring Summer 2012

Breakfast At Tiffany's by Truman Capote

That Woman by Anne Sebba

Vanna High Tops by Ash - the shoes of dreams

Anthology - Living with Substance and Style

Chicken Pie

Onion Gravy

Unexpected Arrival - The Daug

Illustrations

Vegetable Pilau Recipe from The Meat Free Monday Cookbook

Mood Boards

Before I Go To Sleep by S J Watson

Queens and Iron Ladies

Bringing the Outdoors Inside

Banana Bran Muffin

Friday's Recipe - Eccles Cakes

Velvet Slippers from Charlotte Olympia

The Sartorialist

Thank You Notes from Kate Spade

Mulberry Turns 40

Marie Claire Fashion Shows Spring Summer 2012

Panettone Bread and Butter Pudding

Smythson Fashion Diary

January Plans

Amazon Kindle - my new toy

Merry Christmas

Goodbye Love Bakery

Tea & Cake London by Zena Alkayat

Santa Maria Novella

Luggage Labels and Gift Tags

Lutyens and Rubenstein Bookshop, Notting Hill

HomeSense

January 2012 Vogue

Chanel No 5

Panic Buying - Hunter Snow Boots

Ligne Extreme 307 Or by Chanel

Missy and Violet and Depression

Stick to The List

Friday's Winter Berry Cupcakes

Baking with the Larks

Quick Fix Supper - Spaghetti and Aurora Sauce

Cupcake Kits, Buckingham Palace and AA Milne

Ginger Cake, Toothache and Bunnykins Plate

New Employee at Love Bakery - Henry the Talking Gnome

Sausage Rolls Recipe from Constance Spry's and Rosemary Hume's Cookery Book

Tomato Soup Recipe by Constance Spry and Rosemary Hume

The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill

Accessories and Transformations

Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park

Air Raids and Baking

Late Night Baking - Victoria Sponge

The Joys of Measuring Spoons

Chelsea Buns by Mrs Beeton

A Sort of Crumble (with no crumble)

Quilts, APC and Anthropologie

Violet and Missy - the Pugs in my Life

Time to Unpack - Cupcake Decoration Kits & Advent Calendars

Happy Halloweens

Friday's Recipe

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