As Valentine’s Day is next month I thought I’d share my list of date ideas with you. There’s also a .pdf checklist for you to save at the end of this post. 🙂 Date ideas. Trip to a car boot sale. Go to the cinema and see the next film. Game or two of bowing. Play 20 Questions. Go hiking or for a long walk. Go to a museum. Take…
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Chicken pesto pasta
Tonight I made chicken and pesto pasta for dinner. Funnily my first time using chicken with pasta! I don’t know why I haven’t cooked this before, it’s great as a quick and easy meal for two or make extra for lunch at work. Yummy! Ingredients 200g pasta or spaghetti 200g chicken, chopped 100g of red pesto Black pepper to taste 80g grated mozzarella cheese Method Cook the pasta according to…
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Christmas cupcakes
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 🙂 For Christmas this year I’ve decided to bake Christmas cupcakes and a chocolate chip banana cake as we had some left over bananas to use up. For the Christmas cupcakes I used my “go to cupcake recipe” but added a chocolate sauce to the mixture to make gooey chocolate filled cupcakes. I decorated with red / pink icing and Christmas themed sprinkles…
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Mince pies
Last December, I baked a gingerbread house and mince pies for the Christmas period. I’ve yet to decide what I’ll be doing this year, yet, but wanted to share the mince pies I made last year. Since I forgot to! … Better late than never? You will need 500g pack sweet or dessert shortcrust pastry Plain flour, for dusting 300g mincemeat Milk, for glazing Method Pre heat oven to 200C/180C…
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Gifts for Bakers
Ever struggle with what to get for the baker in your life? If they’re anything like me they probably already have just about every baking related thing ever invented (slight exaggeration there!). How about a hamper full of stocking fillers like baking supplies or small items of bakeware? Or a novelty gift? I’d be happy to receive something like this and often ask for flavourings or piping nozzles in my…
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Chocolate Frosted Funfetti Cake with Jam Filling
Tomorrow is Ryan’s birthday (and Back to the Future day). Unfortunately, he’s working until 22.00pm so we decided to celebrate today. There was presents, singing and of course, cake… I baked a vanilla sponge cake with chocolate frosting. He loved it. 🙂 You will need For the cake: 4 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 20 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 cups granulated sugar 3 eggs 2…
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Back to the Future
October 2015 was the time Marty McFly travelled to the future in Back to the Future part 2. Specifically on October 21st, which also happens to be Ryan’s birthday. I was lucky enough to attend the official 30th anniversary of Back to the Future reunion at London Film and Comic con this year, there was a lot of Back to the Future merchandise around (hoverboards (they didn’t hover though, so…
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Hello Autumn
Autumn has always been my favourite season; leaves changing colour, cooler weather but not bitterly cold (although I’m sure that’ll be here soon I’m sure), Autumn activities such as Halloween and Bonfire Night etc. These are a few of my favourite things about Autumn and things I’m up to in the next few weeks. Sunsets During early Autumn, before the clocks go forward and the days get shorter, we see…
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Spaghetti bolognaise – classic
Quick and easy to make but really tasty. This recipe serves 4 but we had the left overs another night. Spaghetti bolognaise is one of my favourite meals. You will need 250g spaghetti 400g mince meat olive oil for frying 1 jar (500g) tomato pasta sauce (or make your own) Mixed herbs Grated cheese (optional) Method Cook the spaghetti according to packet directions, usually 10 minutes in a saucepan of…