One of my favourite summer traditions in my family is Portmeirion Sunday. Portmeirion, for those not in the know, is an incongruous Italianate village in the depths of North Wales, created by Clough Williams-Ellis for reasons I’ve never fully understood. And really, it doesn’t matter why, because it looks like this: It was the setting … Continue reading »
A confession. I didn’t get to try any of these. Neither did the husband. But the daughter and her grandparents were very enthusiastic about them… The daughter has been to the seaside with her Nain and Pops this last week, since we came home on Monday, and these are the cakes I made for them to enjoy while … Continue reading »
It’s wild and grey and threatening out there today, a hint that summer’s already waning and autumn’s on its way in. Doesn’t bode well for the Daughter’s trip to the seaside with Nain and Pops next week, but it is the perfect weather to hole up and do some comfort baking. I was in the … Continue reading »
Life’s been unexpectedly busy lately, but in a really good way. We’ve all been having so much fun, getting out and seeing people and doing things, that there hasn’t been much time for baking. So when we did manage a quiet day at home, just me and the daughter, neither of us had much energy … Continue reading »
In case you hadn’t noticed, Olympic fever is running riot in the UK. I’m not generally a sporty person, unless it’s Wales playing rugby, or Wimbledon. But somehow I’m finding myself watching all kinds of obscure sports all evening, and having the live text feed running on my computer when I’m working. Just as well … Continue reading »
With An A to Z of Love officially released tomorrow (although it is already on sale at certain online retailers) it seems very appropriate that I’m in Wales this week, enjoying some unexpected summer sunshine, and celebrating with my family. I’ll have a proper release post up tomorrow, and from the following Monday I’ll be … Continue reading »
26 bakes, and in only just over six months. I’m definitely getting there… Following on from the success of her Grape Cake, the Daughter announced that this week, she wanted Apple Cake. Which was fortunate, since on our last trip to the library, I’d spotted this book, just waiting for me on the recently returned rack: … Continue reading »
I’d planned to make these cupcakes today, as they’re actually called Independence Day Cranberry and Maple Cupcakes in the book I nabbed them from, but as you can see, mine are more pink, white and cream than red, white and blue. Still, once I read this review of Room for Love from Long and Short … Continue reading »
We’re supposed to have thunderstorms today, but so far it’s still just close and hot and uncomfortable. I figured the Daughter would probably just want to dash about in the garden this afternoon, maybe take a walk to the park. But no. When I picked her up from nursery after lunch she announced that she’d … Continue reading »
One of the advantages of my 52 bakes challenge is that I’ve become utterly shameless in begging people for their cake recipes. As I approach the halfway mark, I’m desperate for new and exciting recipes to try. I realised, looking back over the archive, that I’d not yet made a coffee cake. This was swiftly … Continue reading »
