The Little People

I tried to post this a few days ago but the bloggy gremlins had got in the way and being a Nupwup (my best new word) I of course hadn't saved the preview. You live and learn or at least that's what I'm supposed to do ... so here goes....

At Christmas I was given a beautiful present of this couple here...

I spent several days pondering on how exactly it would be best to use them as they came with no instructions or recipes. I could see that getting the dough out of the moulds could be a little tricky... and so I oiled them with oil meant for chopping boards and let it dry and repeated the process 5 or 6 times..

I used a gingerbread recipe from an old Good Housekeeping book that I've used lots of times before... a bit of mess was created here...

And Hey presto this young lady was created....

I must admit I still had serious doubts that all the detail would be kept whilst she cooked...
But I was proved wrong... A couple of couples......

They turned out well but a bit of a phaff.... Maybe Ill make some more when Ive got plenty of time and even more patience.
The snow has just started here and i must go and get something hot and tasty for the tea....

If You Go Down To The Woods Today...

If you go down to the woods today you're in for a big surprise... Well when I say big what I really mean is not so big...Ok small.
We ventured out yesterday in that brief period when the rain had stopped and before it started again to get a bit of fresh air. I was getting stir crazy and felt I hadn't been out for ages apart from going to work or for mountains of shopping.
So.. we donned our boots and several layers and went to the local Nature Reserve. Now obviously we are not the first people to have done this and A Blog From A Dog has been there before but perhaps not recently.

This is the plan of the area and as you can see it has morphed from being the "King's Moor" to being several tracks of land woven between Carlisle's industrial best. When I say tracks what I actually mean in some cases are paths about 2 meters in width lacing their way between Parcel Force and Wiseman's Dairy Depot.

At one point we could almost stretch from one side of the reserve to the other....

The Narrows

On closer inspection though we did find a few bits and bobs....

Signposts poking through the undergrowth..

Jewish Ear Fungi they looked quite dry and velvety considering the weather..

Nestled between a couple of dead branches...

A Bracket Fungus dripped on by its host tree...

A bright spot on a very dreich landscape...

Looks quite pretty really amongst the wet leaves

We need to return when (read if ) it ever stops raining when the mud dries up a bit and we may see more than the view from the bench offers at the moment....

Hope everyone has had a good Christmas and settling in for the New Year...

I know I've been busy and its been ages but I didn't expect to find it so hard to return to the Blog... First of course I'd forgotten how to sign in and then needed help, then got frustrated and thought .. Oh just forget it all again. Then ... no I've been meaning to do this for ages and Ive got things to say and pictures, loads of pictures and so here goes....

I've been busy! Haven't we all? Well yes but somehow life took over. D went off to University after exams and stuff. There was the leaving ceremony and concert and exams.... Then he got appendicitis after only a couple of weeks which involved mad dashes to Manchester... K decided to join the Tanzanian link at school which is great and been going strong for 25 years but involves cake and Christmas puddings (100and counting ) and work. There's always work... Never mind the plunge has been taken and I have returned.
Thought I might start with a Restaurant review, well 2 actually...
I was down in London (for work) with some colleagues and we decided to take the plunge and go to a known celebrity restaurant. After much searching and calculating what we could actually afford we hit upon going to Maze. We had a fantastic time. The staff were friendly, helpful and not at all pushy. We had booked for the early evening Wine Flights menu but were persuaded by the Sommelier that we would be better off choosing wine from the menu. Avoiding the bottle at £2700 we did extremely well and had a very enjoyable evening. We were allowed to stay as long as we wanted (4 hours) and are still talking about the evening...

Beef and mashed potato like never before... small but fabulous!

Clementine Something ... Extremely tasty!

What else though ? it's not all about the food is it? Or am i missing something? It has to be about the whole experience.. we paid perhaps a bit more than we normally would especially coming from Cumbria. The portions were smaller although definitely plenty as we had 4 courses no it was something else that stuck in my mind and put my arm up my back to tell you all about it... The toilets!

I expected better! I was in a "posh" place! they were clean (isn) but nothing to write home about. ( why am I here?) I know i expected better. perhaps space is a premium but come on...

The following night a couple of us braved the Tube system and went to Marco Pierre White's Steak and Ale House at Liverpool Street. The place was completely different. The atmosphere loud and buzzing. The portions huge ( careful on the set price menu though as it doesn't include side dishes). The toilets mediocre. Cramped and only just tidy and clean. Had to sit on the loo with my foot holding the door shut. Surely this is a let down? can we not expect better when splashing out to go somewhere as a special treat?.... I think i might have to concentrate on a toilet review it's obviously closer to my heart that the food...

Mother's Day

Now I do know that this means different things to all of us. But part of me (possibly the OCD mean part) thinks it should be banned. Actually no I think it is great when you have small children and they get together with your husband / partner and create a nice day. Perhaps a small pressie and a card or two with breakfast in bed made by said adult. At the other end of the scale what better way to remember mum when you have left home, by actually getting a card and some flowers and getting them there on the right day.
What I am really winging about is the middle road... Teenage children who make breakfast in bed..... the kitchen looks like world war 3 happened and you are the only survivor. Or "I've made a cake and am making dinner tonight"... Translate as I've used every cooking utensil that you own, some of which may never be the same again. I'm just about to go to work but don't worry about the mess I'll sort it when I get back... Ahhhhh......
To be truthful breakfast was lovely including the daffodils "stolen" from the village green. Dinner will be fantastic.. the boy can cook but cleaning up lessons may be included in all Christmas stockings this year.

So what did I do to relax? made hot cross buns of course....

This has been a rather good weekend though.. The spring sunshine spurred K and I to take a trip to Silloth. It's about as far west as you can get here with views across the Solway to Scotland....

You have to go for the weird pictures as well of course...

And apart from this...

What most reminds you of Spring? For me rhubarb is up there with the best and as it was a last bake for the cafe Fiona Cairns provided the best recipe ever.. Rhubarb Crumble Cake...

It was really good and great fun whilst it lasted but the boys have gone their separate ways and so no more baking for me at least not for the moment. (Apart from at home that is).

The Big Cheese

I have been promising this post for a while. It has taken quite a bit of this time to actually sign in to my blog. (Obviously I have taken so long that things have been updated, changed modernised or otherwise interfered with)

Anyway, ages ago I went to the Good Food Show along with 3 friends. It was a fantastic day out. lots of food (of course) Lots of alcohol (just as well we had taken a taxi from the hotel....). AND the British Cheese Championships. I have never seen so much cheese in one place. The smell was .... interesting, some good some not so good and bearing in mind that the cheese had sat in the hall for quite a few days by this time, some just plain bad... No tasting was allowed in the interests of Health and Safety... makes you wonder how good the cheese actually was.

Some Were Vintage

Held in Tight

Some Wore Blankets

A Crust To Be Proud Of.

A Stilton Well Matured.

You Can't Tell A Cheese By Its Cover.

Here is something else that might make you wonder what exactly is beneath the cover....
Hopefully it won't be so long before I make it back again...

How Clean is your Fridge?

I'm sure most of you run a pretty tight ship,  with perhaps just a few lapses here and there...

Well i probably do as well until I get the phone call to say that Environmental Health are coming along to do my "initial check". Actually from my point of view it wasn't so initial... I had called them up last year knowing that I should register. better to get in there first before there were any problems and all that...

And so yesterday, after a full day at work I tackled the fridge.

Now I don't know about you but Christmas and New Year were not all that long ago and well let's just say that things mount up.. Like all the jars that never got quite finished. The small bits of cheese that are too good to throw away but never actually got eaten. don't forget the liquid cucumber that lurks about at the bottom or the jar of goose fat that may be from the Christmas before last. Oh and the sour dough starter... not sure about how they will feel as I am trying to keep the bacteria alive in the fridge.

Now its all gone.  We have the cleanest fridge north of the Watford gap and maybe south of it too. ( I didn't throw out the starter though I just put it elsewhere for the visit. I mean.. it's part of the family.)

And what happened after all that and the rest of the scrubbing and cleaning that I did? (Not that I was paranoid or anything, but you know....)

The woman came in, had a cup of coffee ( almost cheered then, thought it can't be too bad if she's prepared to have a drink. Or she has a cast iron stomach after years of practice.) Said mmm very clean, you obviously know what you are doing, we'll see you again, or maybe send a questionnaire in 3 years....... You can't win.

What else have I been up to?  Doing my Health and Hygiene certificate... common sense but there you go...Making cake, making cake and making cake....

Bit of Make Up Anyone?

Cherry Almond

A Racy Little Number

To Cheer You Up

Be back soon with the cheese story...........

The lead up....

It seems like such a long time ago that I posted on Like it or Lump it. The room is finished! ( well nearly, just a few minor bigots to do now). It was all a bit skin of the teeth as the painter put Dow his brush on Wednesday.
D, K and I rushed off to get a tree and what a brilliant one we found. Y was not really so impressed as it is huge. So far it has managed to fall over once, luckily no casualties found underneath but given the size of the tree it was probably a near miss.
As it was so late before we could put up said giant tree we decided to go for a smaller option in what has been christened the Mocha room. ( dining cum family lay about room). This one is a simple twiggy branch from the garden with a few blue lights and then only edible decs. Some cookies, a sprinkling of chocolate cones and of course the candy canes that K in particular loves. I suspect that small cousins may also like them a lot.
Back to the room. Thank you for all of your suggestions as to the colour scheme. In the end the colour kind of chose itself as we toned in with the new chair which arrived earlier in the week. The lower walls are an attractively named putty but above the picture rail and the radiators are (I think the word is) accented?
Anyway it all looks great and a million times better than the previous and very tired Magnolia woodchip.
I have sneaked down very early to write this and so will have to add the photos later. ( I'm on peeling duty for the sprouts and potatoes). D is determined to cook the Christmas dinner and so we have compromised a bit and said he can as long as he accepts some help as we have 9 people and a beautiful piece of venison courtisey of my dad and mum. Mmmmmmmm
Will be back soon as the chaos has subsided a bit.
Wishing each and every one of you a very happy Christmas xxxx

That Was The Week That Was

You know how some weeks seem a bit slow and others pack in soooo much that you really don't know how it actually all fitted? Well this has been one of those weeks...
I have baked (nothing new there I hear you shout)...
 140 shortbread foxes.
 1 Very large chocolate cake.
 1 Coconut cake that had better get out of here before I eat it. It smells too good.
 120 mini cup cakes in silver and purple (Birthday cake).

 6 Christmas Puddings wrapped and ready to go.
 6 small Christmas cakes also ready for dispatch.

I have shopped and bought 1 suit and 1 pair of trousers that not only fit D. (not easy when he's got a 28 inch waist and 34 inch legs and is VERY fussy).

I have been thrilled and excited about the same D getting an interview at Cambridge and about me passing my first practical exam, only 3 left to go now.

The painter has arrived.
The rug is chosen and ordered.
The chair is sitting in the shop ready for delivery.

The fire guard and companion set are sitting beside me as I write and the basket is on it's way.

Took this picture and just couldn't resist... choices choices....

have a good week..xx

A Few random Thoughts

Well... what a week this has been! My first bake for the local cafe bar. Now just keeping my fingers crossed that it was all ok... No complaints so far though so things looking up. Hummingbird Cupcakes like the one on the right (further down the bloggy bit) and a Brooklyn Blackout cake Very Chocolatey but with a few tweaks of the recipe very yummy as well. Thank you to Rachel for letting me know about books and mistakes.

A brilliant bonfire, fireworks and food with friends last weekend. I suppose it seems like a long time ago but here are one or two of the pictures taken during the evening......

The colours inside the fire were glorious...

The evening was a bit misty but I was determined to get a picture of the moon. So with LOTS of help from a professional this is what I came up with....

Of course having crossed the border there was a dram or two to be had (unluckily for me I was driving so had to miss this bit) and so some of the pictures became a little ... well ... different... How about "Fire through Fire Water"....

No bonfire night would be complete without a few toffee apples... The sticks are a bit odd because I had one of those I'm sure I have sticks somewhere moments... and didn't so improvised with clothes pegs of all things...

And lastly a huge sigh of relief as I found out today that I had passed at least one part of the dreaded physics exam... Yippee!
Hope all is well with you... back soon

Like it or Lump it Goes Live!

This has been in the pipeline for a wee while now. Lots of slithering, thinking and backtracking. BUT today has been take the plunge day, see how it goes and bite the bullet!

I have been asked to bake for one of the local coffee shops. It is a big step. So far all I have done is potter about and bake for friends and family but this is a whole new ball game.

Environmental health
Hygiene courses.... yes I know.. I'm a nurse and know when to wash my hands and that it's better to keep the cat out of the baking. I am supposed to know not to sneeze into the food and not to just scrape off the mould but now it has to be all official!

The tax man ... keeping the books will all be a challenge in itself. No more .... well it'll be about £20... no no I have to work it all out and look at profit margins and still being friends with people I do business with and having a good time as well....

I am very excited! And my first proper order isn't even due until next week. Now what kind of cupcakes will it be this time? ...

... And as for Cake of the Week well that is a whole world waiting to be explored....

Thought you might like to see the sea coming over the harbour wall at Wick in Caithness last week when I was up visiting with my mum. a stark contrast to the wind turbine picture (above) that was taken the very next day... The croft cottage in the last picture was  the house that was lived in by the crofter and family as well as the animals in many cases at the beginning of the last century..

I will be back soon to let you know about my first proper baking advent. (hopefully I will remember the pictures too).

Back on Line.

The madness has calmed down at last!

The exam is done. Ok I might have to do it all again but at the moment I am trying to think positive.

The University applications are in for no. 1 son. Not that I did any of this you have to understand it was just that it seemed to add to everything else that needed done.

No cake orders are imminent. More about this in the next post but I have to keep you in suspense for a wee while longer.

The school is just about to break up for 1/2 term  and we can all take a breather.

I am heading off up north to the very tip of Scotland with my mim to visit a friend whilst the rest head off to various destinations alone or in various combinations. It seems like the family holiday might be a thing of the past but perhaps an exciting destination over the summer may change all that again.
Last weekend Y and I headed off to the lakes. He wanted to go and see the cycle cross. I was much more drawn by a visit to Lakeland but joined him in the afternoon to see what it was all about......

The Lakeland scenery was, as usual spectacular.....

But.. a bit noisier than usual with lots of people of all ages out enjoying the sunshine as well as the racing....

The main race of the day was very competitive and that was just the photographers out to capture that special image. I narrowly missed being mown down getting this one...

It was  beautiful, warm autumn day with lots of crisp leaves to kick about.......

The thing that really pleased me most though was the fact that I didn't have to do any of the washing....

Enjoy the good weather while it lasts...