If you’ve been reading this blog for more than about five minutes, you’ll notice I bake intermittently, but often. (As I live alone, I don’t dare have a regular baking day or I’d eat all the results practically before they came out of the oven.)
Last weekend, my parents were over helping me to build (ok, ok, Dad was building) a shelter for my soon-to-arrive barbecue, and during a coffee break, Mum casually dropped into conversation that my great-grandfather and great-grandmother ran a bakery of their own from the 1920s to the 1950s.
Why this particular morsel of information has never come up before, I don’t know – but it would appear that Fred’s Bakery was the family business until it was sold sometime in the fifties.
This, to me, provides a perfect explanation for why I bake when I’m sad, and why my baking usually turns out relatively well; why it’s perfectly normal for me to have memorised several recipes which I can bake at a moment’s notice, even in a kitchen I’ve never used before; and why I’m so fiercely determined to work for myself – my family have had their own businesses for nearly a hundred years!
Leftover roast chicken from one accidental “chuck it and chance it” lunch (approx 1/2 chicken, but you can adapt to your own preferences)
Most of a pot of Elmlea single – you can use actual single cream, I just didn’t have any
Salt & pepper
a glug of olive oil
A random amount of sweetcorn – I like lots in mine, so it was at least equal to the chicken, but is up to you
Pastry, preferably readymade as it’s quicker. I use shortcrust, but this also works well as individual small pies with puff pastry lids
A couple of tablespoons of dried tarragon, or, much preferable, a decent handful of fresh, chopped
Two teaspoons of nutmeg
1 cup of cider. or wine. or apple juice if you’d prefer no alcohol
—
Method
Pull all the chicken off the carcass and shred into small pieces. If using raw chicken, chop into small pieces.
Heat some olive oil in a large frying pan, and add the chicken. Cook till no longer pink in the middle (if using raw pierces) or heated through (if using cooked chicken)
Pour in the cream, closely followed by the cider or apple juice.
Add the tarragon, nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste, and stir well.
Chuck in the sweetcorn, and when it’s all heated through, take off the heat and spoon into pie dish(es). I completely forgot to blind bake the bottom of the pie and it actually turned out ok!
Add the pastry lid and any decorations – I’m going with “rustic charm” rather than “slightly wonky heart”… you can brush with beaten egg or milk, whichever is closest, for a shine.
Bake for half an hour or so at 180 degrees ish – till it’s all nicely golden brown.
When it’s finished, serve with chips or mash, and peas… or just on its own as a rather lovely work lunch.
*my apologies for the single photo – it was all eaten before I had a chance to photograph a slice!!
Put on your Rocky and Balls apron… (a housewarming present from Hannah – isn’t it fabulous?!)
Mix cake as normal (175g of everything, 3 eggs, chuck in some baking powder and vanilla essence. Never fails). Stir in proper gel colouring and marvel at the vivid hues.
Attempt to layer different colours into cake tins without throwing at each other, the table or the giant rubber duck which was trying to be involved.
Bake for 15-20 minutes,turn out and let cool.
Ice with white buttercream, honeycomb pieces and as much edible glitter as you fancy. Marvel again at the pretty colours – and enjoy!
The colouring I’m using by Wilton, and now I’ve finally got my hands on some, I’ll never go back to liquid colouring! This would also be great for icing as it won’t dilute the icing to get a richer colour.
Can see these being great fun at Halloween… or for a patriotic cake!
A weekend of pure magic is over… and I’m looking back and sighing with happiness at every moment of it.
On Friday, The Night Circus arrived at Tea and Sympathy, my favourite place in Colchester. The dress code was black and white and circus-appropriate, with a red accent for the reveurs – those who had read the book. (And if you’ve read it, you’ll know why!) For those that haven’t had the pleasure, the theme was around the book The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern.
My red accents were my sequined shoes, scarlet lipstick and a peek of a red bra… 🙂
I don’t think I’ve ever felt more thoroughly myself, though my outfit wasn’t entirely appropriate for the multi storey car park where we put the cars when we arrived… lol. But I’ve always been fascinated by the circus – my burlesque name is a tribute to my obsession with Enid Blyton’s circus stories!
I arrived with Gabby and Chris, after the quickest house tour in the history of the world, and we wandered in a haze of happiness through the shop, up and down the tiny, twisting staircase, to hidden rooms, magic and wonder at every turn…
There were fire dancers, burlesque from Miss Fanny Darling, magicians, fortune tellers and some cocktails, which I’m told were lethal… I declined to sample them, as I quite fancied getting home without getting arrested!
Here’s Gabby and Chris, looking like they belong with the Cirque…
Miss Fanny Darling as the Raven…
And the incredible fire dancing duo (I have plans for a skirt just like that one… I LOVE IT!)
I’ll leave you with the video of the fire dancers – a little taste of the most magical evening I’ve had in a long, long time! With thanks to Tea and Sympathy for making dreams reality 🙂
A week or so before I left my last job, one of the lovely ladies I worked with organised a beauty and pamper evening for us, which was run by make up artists from bareMinerals.
I have always been fairly dubious about the coverage of mineral foundations, and so was excited to have a chance to try it. The format of the evening was drinks and nibbles, followed by a demonstration we would follow along with, learning to use the products on ourselves. The artists who looked after us were from the Covent Garden branch of bareMinerals – Alex, Natalie, Maridelle and Lauren. They were all lovely, really helpful and generally fab to have around.
Set up and ready to go:
Being a brush addict, this was an exciting place setting…
The skincare range was also provided for us to use, test and try out.
For each step of the make-under (cleansing, moisturising, priming, foundation and then eyes, cheeks, contouring, lips), Alex demonstrated on Kim at the head of the table and we all followed suit, assisted by the bareMinerals girls.
Here’s me all smiley after having been colour matched for foundation –
Natalie and Charlotte applying eyeliner…]
Decision time for Mandy and Tracey, and some expert assistance for Yemisi…A happy Becky and me, showing off our entertainingly different skintones…
And the finished products! Me in my original liquid lipstick, and when I discovered the red one – which I have since bought, I LOVE it!
And with Kim who organised it (blonde) Tracey (short dark hair) and Alex our make up artist on far right:
It was a great night, the products were fantastic (and I will try to do a separate post on the glorious eyeliner and liquid lipstick I bought and have worn every day since), the girls were knowledgeable and helpful but not in any way pushy, and it’s all very reasonably priced. And all-natural, which is always good.
Coverage-wise, I was pleasantly surprised by the foundation – it felt light on my skin, but was easily buildable to cover problem areas. I’m not sure I’m a total convert as I do love my liquid, but would definitely consider buying one to try out on an everyday basis when my current stash runs out.
WordPress course at Elstree Studios, where I learned a lot, watched Leona Lewis perform and got to sit in the sun for a bit. Excellent.
Unexpected dinner with Naomi and many many fizzily exciting plans for the future (watch Project Pin Up for updates)
Skating with Caroline on Tuesday and accidentally covering 8.5 miles
Picking up my beautiful new bike
Boudoir shoot with Emily by the fabulous Grace Gelder on Saturday – fabulous experience, which I never thought I’d be brave enough for. I will not be sharing most of the photos, haha!
Brunch with my parents on Sunday.
Mum buying me some fabric (so it doesn’t count for 100 days!) to make a pannier for the back of said new bike.
Bad things –
The state of my flat – I cannot get on top of it!
Spinning Poppy in some absolutely horrific rain today – which shook me enough to scupper my plans to drive over and see Louise Craftyguider. Large sulk, requiring large amounts of chocolate to soothe.
Semi-migraine on Friday – was dizzy and nauseous, but able to walk (just) – this is a new type of headache and I’m now on alert for triggers
Realising I have a craft fair exactly a week today and nowhere near the amount of stock I’d like to have (I know, stop blogging, start making). Come visit me – I’ll be at Bikes & Barges (including the Maldon Motor Show) in Maldon next Sunday 🙂
So more good than bad, but enough bad to make me think a bit. Have also had some rather profound conversations this week and realised yet again how lucky I am to be surrounded by the best friends and family in the known universe.
I have mostly listened to: Candyman by Christina Aguilera (new burlesque routine, I’ve been practising)
Mostly read – The secret life of a slummy mummy, The $100 Startup and flicked through Fifty Shades of Grey (I refuse to link to it, it has enough publicity). I’m not that impressed with the latter so far – stilted writing, overdone and not especially erotic sex scenes… perhaps the people making the fuss have never read erotic fiction before?! $100 Startup, however, is an absolute must read.
So there you go – a not terribly exciting update, because my head is full of other things (namely, am I ever going to be able to drive in the rain again without freaking out, and eeeeeeeeeee new top secret venture!).
Well, I call it a run – I intended for it to be a walk, but felt so good when I was out there that I jogged a fair way too. Which for someone who hasn’t done very much in the way of structured exercise since I stopped riding a couple of years ago, is not bad going!
It’s not exactly a 5k, but I said I was going to make small changes, and actually pushing myself out of the house on a frosty winter evening instead of curling up in bed with a magazine as I had planned is something I’m very proud of! (and I have no intention of running a 5k ever!)
Stats? Haven’t a clue – went from my house, down to Asda, across the roundabouts, over the railway bridge and back up the other side. I’ll try and work it out but I reckon maybe just over a mile?
Here’s the route I took, using the brilliant (and newly found) walkjogrun.net to plot it:
1.4 miles / 2.2530816 km
Created 01.17.12 by guest
Walk/jog
I definitely need some more sensible clothes though – my jogging bottoms are too short and my trainers are not built for running – I’ll have to dig out my old ones and/or buy new ones in the States maybe!
Sadly not mine… But i spent much of yesterday packing 100 of these custom-embossed lovelies into envelopes ready for a promotional mailout…
They came in such lovely packages too… I adore brown paper and stamps!
And here is the top of the envelope pile… You can just see the Moleskines peeping out!
Moleskine Press (moleskinepress.co.uk), who I found entirely by accident, have been fab – accommodating to our needs and deadline, and last minute changes.. and the quality is lovely. Their story is on their website… They rescued some old printing presses and are using them for customising Moleskines… I think it’s wonderful, bringing them back to life.
I'm Carla, a quirky thirtysomething with a penchant for unicorns and glitter. I believe in magic and make-believe, and the gorgeous rebellion of making your life absolutely your own. And I'm a proud multipod!
Proud to be both girly and geeky, when I’m not writing, photographing or daydreaming, you can find me dancing burlesque, riding my bicycle Bluebell, growing herbs and collecting typewriters.
2020 Things
Things I want to do in 2020. Partly from my Daydreams To Do list and also from my general goals for the year.
~ Steampunk events
~ experiment with film cameras
~ walk more
~ explore Colchester
~ beach time
~ kitty portraits
~ western riding
~ spa days
~ silversmithing
~ learn to make bath bombs
~ recreate Lush's Angel's Delight soap fragrance
~ work in sterling silver
~ build a catio
~ handwritten letters
~ photobook of the house project, the cats, Poppy & Dad
~ print my own photos
