Another Sunday and another Sunday lunch. This time we ventured further from home into Hampton. We ate our roast amongst old age hipsters.
Before venturing over the road to the Palace
We visited the gardens
The lakes, ponds and fountains
Royal/Real tennis court
Inside the Palace
And of course the maze
I know I’ve been a little quiet on the blog front but that doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten about it completely. I’ve still been out here and there taking pictures for the blog. With new motivation that’s hit me I’m going to try to put them up before it fades.
Right where do I start? Ok how about this. I changed phones recently so I’ll start with the photos on my old camera with the most recent first… Doughnuts.
It was a sunny day and my friends and I were out having a Sunday lunch in the sun. We wondered how we could make the most of what could possibly have been the last sunshine of the season. The answer was donutting in Aldershot.
It’s a great place for cheap lessons if you’re thinking of going skiing this winter and want to make the most of it. Here’s a link to it
I’m going to kill two birds with one stone here. Another thing that popped up in my photo cluster was this.
I found a great recipe for mini baked doughnuts. They’re healthy don’t you know. Well sort of and they are incredibly easy to make if you have a doughnut pan. I haven’t stopped making them since.
For 12 mini doughnuts you’ll need:
From here you can sugar them or ice them. I mixed the leftover browned butter to icing sugar and made a frosting to dip the tops of the doughnuts into. Sprinkled with chocolate while still a little wet et voila.
The first dry bright sunny Saturday of the year was glorious. It was not to be wasted indoors but spent out in the open with the option to seek shelter and hide when the sun inevitably faded. A giant glass house filled with fluttering butterflies at Wisley Gardens offered the best option. 
You know that moment when you turn up to an event and there’s someone there wearing the exact same outfit as you? It happened to me in the butterfly house…
I got my outfit from Topshop but I didn’t realise that Caterpillar does more than just steel-capped boots.
The butterflies will be around till 9 March 2014 so get down there asap although I’m reliably informed that they do return each year if you miss them.
Outside the sun was still shining.
It was a bit chilly outside compared to the hot and steamy butterfly house so I put on my military jacket (from H&M) and my aviators for the first time in 2014. 
Accessories in blue and gold…
If you ever do visit Wisley Gardens you must try this honey and nut tart in the restaurant. They really didn’t skimp on the nuts.
It was really awesomely good with a cup of tea…..
Normally when I tell you about something in the country it’s within half an hour’s drive from where I live on the Surrey/Hampshire border. I am about to make an exception to that untold rule because I really need to tell you about this fabulous stuff….
The package arrived by post… how great is that….? I don’t even have to leave the house for these delicious handmade delicacies. Inside I found a sexy black and gold box of chocolates and a letter.
I felt like I should be eating them in my boudoir sprawled out on my chaise longue as a very handsome man wafted me with a giant palm leaf. I don’t have any of those things so I settled for eating them at my dressing table with Justin Timberlake blaring from the ipod as I got ready for Valentine’s dinner with my mum (more on that later).
This little Italian is my favourite so far. White chocolate, pistachio and caramelised hazelnuts. I’m nuts about nuts. It’s like a macaroon in a truffle.
I couldn’t wait to try this one. I’m a sucker for afternoon tea whatever form it may take. A white chocolate truffle with an Earl Grey tea centre. It didn’t disappoint!
The chocolate ganache is made using water instead of cream which not only means they have fewer calories but I think it also gives the chocolate a great snap, similar to the snap when you bite into a chocolate covered ice cream lolly. It also really brings out the flavour and quality of the chocolate especially in the dark chocolate truffles…. which I indulged in next….
Ocean Daze was another spectacular truffle. As a kid did you ever have sweet chocolate and salty crisps in one mouthful? Well this is similar except more grown up. Fabulous. 
The Peruvian ginger is another favourite of mine. Spicy & dark.
Finally you really must try this one…
It really is what it says on the ‘tin’. 
I inhaled my chocolates within minutes but I’m already planning on getting my mum a box for Mother’s day with the flavours I haven’t tried yet. Hopefully she’ll share. If you’d like to try them too they are available from the very talented Miss Kerry Witt’s Pop Up every Saturday at Lymington Market or just pop her an email on her website to get them through the post.
It’s almost time for the Knit and Stitch It show at FIVE in Farnborough. I’m sure you can guess what it’s about but there’s more information here if you want to find out more.
Last year I visited with a couple of friends. In between dodging elderly crafting enthusiasts (slightly unfair comment as there were people of all ages attending) we managed to sit down at most of the crafting tables for little taster sessions. I tried my hand at decoupage, where I made a cupcake shaped coaster, very intricate lace-making but my favourite was making these cute owls.
Each one had its own personality depending on who had made it. I gave mine to my mum and even now it swings attached to her handbag. 
With the small entrance fee you get the option of buying craft magazine for a very reasonable one British pound. My issue came with pull out patterned paper and after seeing all the crafty shenanigans at the fair I was inspired to decoupage a wooden tea tray for the perfect breakfast in bed. Yet to start knitting my tea-cosy though.
It’s London Fashion Week!
Very soon all the magazines will be filled with who was on the FROW and what they were wearing. Well a few months ago I was lucky enough to be on the FROW too. It wasn’t quite the front row in London nor was it Paris or Milan. It was Frimley.
The event was organised by the KatCanDo charity, which you may remember also organised the baking tutorial by Jo Wheatley. The clothes were supplied by Travelling Trends who are experts in the charity fashion show field. The collection has a mixture of classic and fashionable lines to suit ladies of all ages, shapes and most sizes. The labels had all been cut out which turned into a bit of fun as we all still managed to shout out where they were from.
We were even encouraged to feel the clothes as the models walked past.
I’m looking through my phone pictures trying to find something to blog about that isn’t food related. In doing so I’ve noticed that I’ve been spending a lot of time in Woking these past few weeks. One of the reasons is that it’s close by and has a big-ish Topshop and an ice cream place called Creams which is food related so I shall stop there.
No Zara though. In amongst the usual high street names you’ll also find a hipster’s paradise. A one-stop shop for all your unusual brightly coloured novelty, sometimes practical, items. A little bit like an Ikea but without the flat packs all housed under one roof and with a Tiger on the door. They sell everything from home and kitchen ware….
to Sudoku toilet paper….
stationery and food.
There aren’t many stores in the UK so if you want something almost unique then you have to take a look for yourself. There’s something for everyone.
I was very pleasantly surprised this week so much so that I must tell you all about the little gem of a restaurant. Hidden away in the Mercure Bush Hotel in Farnham, Thackery’s is where decadence lives around these parts. With a carpeted floor, dark mahogany tables and plush wallpaper it was like being invited to a friend’s stately home for dinner but with better food.
I invited a few friends out with me (yes, it seems I have finally made some) so that we/I could taste as many things as possible on the menu in one sitting. The best way to do this is not to order the same thing as everyone else and hope that they will share at least one bite of their food. This is how I choose my friends. For example M was thinking about ordering the gravadlax except this is what I wanted so subtly pointed out the delights of the shepherds pie croquettes which I wanted to try.
Thankfully M is a sharer and so can confirm that the croquettes were amazing.
Next up: Calf’s Liver & coq au vin
Don’t worry I’m not always so dictatorial as I do let a burger slide in here and there.
Even though sometimes there is a rebel uprising….
which are quickly quashed by dessert especially when sent in by three.
I managed to sneak a taste of the light and tangy lemon meringue pie while M scoffed the other two. He tells me they were perfect and since once trained as a chef I’m inclined to believe him.
Apart from a couple of things I can only find in London (Diptyque candle and astronaut ice cream) I think I have finished my Christmas shopping. Thanks to Windsor high street.
In one fail swoop I managed to get (nearly) everything to fill a stocking or two. Plus I managed to find the perfect pitstop to refuel.
Now I don’t have to go to the cinema and pretend I want to watch a film to get my core sundaes.
I had this…. a hot choc shake. It had all the flavour of the chocolate fudge brownie ice cream (my fave) and it was hot. Perfect for the weather and delicious in every way.
As night fell, I waddled back to my car laden with my shopping bags. Good workout for the arms which I needed after my decadent hot chocolate.
It was Christmas Fair time at Ascot Racecourse again this weekend. As usual there were my favourite stands.
I swear these really are made totally of chocolate.
They are mouthfuls of gorgeous chewy melted cheese great eaten with guacamole, salsa etc and the best bit is, as they are made from cassava flour so are gluten free. They come in sweet versions too so do away with your regular fix of Pizza Express dough balls and order a box of these online or find them at various outlets in Oxford (see website for more details).
I recommend the feta balls swiftly followed by the fudge. Would be perfect served on a giant platter like the Ambassador does with the Ferrero Rocher.”Senhor, with these cheeseballs you are really spoiling us.” Great for the festive season.
No Longer in London 