Baking beauties tag

Hello chaps and chapesses!

You may be aware that I love to bake.  To explain to you exactly how and why I love to bake, I decided to take part in the Baking Beauties tag, after I found it on Laura and Michael's blog.

1. What is the first thing you remember baking?

I can remember making a Teisen Lap in a cookery class in my first year of high school.  I think it's a Welsh thing, it's basically a sponge with sultanas in, so you can't really go wrong.  It was my grandad's favourite, so he was Very Pleased Indeed when I brought it home from school.

2. What was the last thing you baked?

Graeme's birthday cake.  It was a chocolate sponge cake with chocolate buttercream in the middle.  I put buttercream all around the outside and on the top, and decorated it with Kit Kats and peanut butter M&Ms.  It went down a storm - whoever said the way to a man's heart is through his stomach was definitely on to something!

3. Something you've always wanted to bake?

I'd love to master the art of baking bread - I've tried it a few times and it's never been quite right.  I'll keep trying though - I refuse to be defeated by a bit of flour, water, salt and yeast!  Back in my cakey comfort zone, I'd like to try my hand at a Battenburg, as it's one of my all time favourites.

4. Tell us about a time you baked something and it went ridiculously wrong.

I've had a few mishaps in my baking life.  Like the time I made fairy cakes in paper cases but without a tin, and they all expanded outwards so they were more like fairy pebbles than fairy cakes.  Then there was the disastrous chocolate cake I made, that was dry and crumbly and tasteless and generally rubbish.  I blame the recipe for that one (I'm looking at you, Hairy Bikers!)

My most recent baking hiccup was when I was making the afore-mentioned birthday cake for Graeme's birthday.  I was a bit enthusiastic when creaming the butter and sugar, and this happened:

Don't beat your butter straight from the fridge, kids - warm it up a little bit first.  Wooden spoons aren't invincible.

5. Be honest.  Do you lick the spoon?

Not really.  I sometimes have a little bit, but I'd rather scrape every last bit of batter from the bowl and the spoon into the tin, so I get as much cake as possible.  I'm so ladylike.....

6. How often do you bake?

Not often enough.  I go through phases - sometimes it's a couple of times a week, sometimes a whole month goes by baking-free.  Those are sad months - I must make an effort to get my bake on more regularly.

7. What baking successes are you most proud of?

Last year I made a giant French fancy for Graeme's birthday.  It took over 5 hours and a kilo of butter - it was a beast.  That was pretty awesome.

8. Do you tidy up as you go along or leave one big mess until the end?

Tidying up distracts me from the task in hand, so I tend to let the mess build up, then have a quick tidy up while the cake's in the oven.  That's mainly to create space for more mess when I'm making the icing or buttercream later on.

9. Do you use recipe books or get them online?

Both.  I've got a few recipe books that are quite good, but if the baking fancy takes me I tend to look online for inspiration.  Once I've tried a recipe and decided I like it, I write it out in my recipe notebook, so I tend to refer back to that quite a lot, too.

10. Do you stick to the recipe or do you experiment a little?

When it comes to baking I don't have the natural flair some people have, so I always need to follow a recipe.  I experiment with meals and soups and things, but baking is an area where I feel like I need to follow instructions, otherwise very scary things happen.

11. Who are your favourite food bloggers?

I don't tend to read 'food blogs' as such, but the Caked Crusader is a firm favourite.  Her cherry bakewell recipe is to die for, and is so easy.

12. What is your favourite thing to bake?

Cake.  Fairy cakes, cupcakes, sandwich cakes, banana bread - anything that's sweet and calorific.  I just love cake.

Happy birthday to Toby

Hello chaps and chapesses!

I can't believe it's been a whole year since we brought Toby home from North Clwyd Animal Rescue to live with us.

On the day we met him, it was love at first sight. We'd met a few other dogs that day, who were all lovely in their own way, but when they brought Toby bounding down the path to meet us, I think Graeme and I both knew he was the pooch for us.   He was so excited and friendly, and so cute! People often ask us how old he is because he looks like a puppy.

Bringing him home was interesting. We let him hop into the boot of Graeme's car, and in the time it took us to shut the boot and walk the three steps to the front of the car, Toby had jumped over and was sitting in pride of place in the drivers seat. That pretty much set the tone for life with Toby - he's cute and cheeky, and will always try to push his luck, but he's ultimately a good egg.

Over the last year he's learned to swim and to chase sticks, but not to bring them back.  He's also grasped that if he's a good boy, he can come to sit on the mat in front of the fire and warm his belly to his heart's content.

Happy birthday Tobes - here's to many more jolly years!

Vintage Sunday

Hello chaps and chapesses!

Last Sunday I spent a jolly afternoon with my pal Alycia, wandering around the Vintage Village in Stockport.  Once a month, the market hall is filled with stalls selling all things vintage, from clothes and jewellery to books and brooches. 

We paid our very reasonable £1 entrance fee and got our hands stamped on the way in, like a twee nightclub.

When we walked in, I was overwhelmed.  There was just. So. Much. Stuff.  It was an Aladdin's cave of quirky vintage bits and bobs.  I felt like I was walking around with great big eyes, trying to take it all in and not miss anything.

 

I loved all the old-school dishes - I lost count of the number of times I found myself saying "Ooh my gran had one of these!"  or "I remember these from when I was a kid!"

The clothes and shoes were amazing, but I was more taken with the cute dishes and kitcheny stuff.   And the tea sets.  Ohhh the tea sets!  They were so twee and dainty and pretty. I'm now left with an overwhelming sense that I need a tea set in my life.  I don't know when I would use it, but that's not the point, is it?

I'll definitely be going back again.  After all, I'll need to start my collection of twee teacups.  Or tweecups, as I will call them.

The beach is for life, not just for summer

Hello chaps and chapesses!

With some parts of the country still recovering from the Biggest Storm Since The Eighties, I think we can safely say that summer is over.  But that doesn't mean that you can't still enjoy a good old day out at the seaside.

Not to be deterred by the gale force winds, we spent last Saturday exploring what is apparently the best beach in the UK, and the third best in Europe: Rhossili Bay.  With three miles of clean, unspoiled sandy beach, a shipwreck, and a rugged peninsula shaped like a worm, it's not hard to see why it's received such high accolades.

We spent the afternoon exploring the beach (trying not to get blown away), throwing stones and watching Toby playing in the waves.  He had a great time, splashing about in the sea, and running after the seagulls.  We had one sleepy pup that evening!

I can imagine that Rhossili Bay is jam-packed full of people in the summer when the sun is shining - and rightly so, it's a gorgeous place to spend the day.  When we were there, we almost had the beach to ourselves, which was great as it meant Toby could run and run and terrorise the seagulls to his heart's content.  

Best beach in the UK?  It's certainly up there for me, although Newborough Beach on Anglesey is equally gorgeous.

Tempting as it may be to hide from the grim weather at home, getting out there amongst it is well worth it.  Just wrap up warm and get out in the fresh air to blow away the cobwebs. When you do finally hunker down in front of the fire in the evening, it'll feel all the more cosy.

Fooooood, glorious fooooood.....festival

Hello chaps and chapesses! 

 It's that time of year when the mornings are getting crisp and cool, the central heating is getting switched on, and nothing quite matches the satisfaction you get from a comforting, hearty meal. Quite possibly the best time of year to go to a food festival. 

 I went to my very first food festival on Saturday, in Llangollen. It was a heady mix of cheese, chutney, specialty meats, pate, liqueurs, chocolates, cakes for humans, cakes for dogs (yes, really!), pots, pans and cider, and it was great. 

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Graeme and I were like children in a sweet shop, going from stall to stall tasting samples of pretty much everything. We ended up buying no less than five different kinds of cheese (because you can never have too much cheese), three jars of chutney (to have with our specialty cheese and biscuits), three enormous pork pies, two bottles of perry, some fancy pork and black pepper sausages, and a top secret gift for Graeme's birthday. Not bad for two hours. 

 After all that, we needed a Sit Down And A Cup Of Tea, so we headed outside to the fresh air, picking up a cupcake each on the way out (because what is a cuppa without a cake?). On our way in to the festival, we'd been given vouchers for a free doughnut with every hot drink, which I'd forgotten about until we actually got to the tea stand. This meant that we ended up with a cup of tea, a scrummy cupcake, and a warm, sugary doughnut. Each. Sugar rush? What sugar rush? 

I love those little cupcake pods, by the way.  Glad someone is taking the safe transit of cupcakes seriously.

 There was a male voice choir performing outside too, so we had some music while we sat with our cups of tea and more sugar than you can shake a stick at. It was a lovely moment, actually, enjoying the sunshine and the singing, particularly when they sang Calon Lan, which always gives me goosebumps. All in all, I think my first ever food festival experience was a success. 

 I used the fancy sausages to make this scrumptious casserole for dinner that night. Yum! 

Have you been to any food festivals lately?

Life is short

Hello chaps and chapesses!

It's been a topsy turvy couple of weeks here at Happy Chapess HQ.  I won't go into detail, but suffice to say that lately it's become more and more clear to me that life is short, much too short to waste on things that make you feel miserable and sad.  

I think Mr Bean sums it up perfectly (excuse his language):

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I've realised that life is too short to waste time on negativity, and I'm going to make a conscious effort to look for the good in everything.  It's so easy to focus on the negative, and to lose sight of all the shiny, happy things in life.  Here are some things I'm grateful for: 

My health.  My body is still in one piece, and it still works.  If I ask it very nicely, it'll even run a few miles at a time. 

My chap.  I'm endlessly lucky to have Graeme in my life, and even if we do wind each other up from time to time, I'd be miserable without him. 

My home.  Our house is rented, and there are a few things we'd like to change about it, but it's our home, and it keeps us safe and cosy. 

My job.  Sometimes my job drives me potty, but I work with a decent little bunch of people, there's always something to learn, and at the end of the day, it keeps a roof over my head. 

My people.  I've been lucky enough to have some great people in my life over the years - parents, grandparents, and friends that have become more like family.  I wouldn't be the person I am without them. 

What I'm trying to say is, don't waste your life focussing on all the things that make you miserable.  Spend as much time as you can doing what makes you happy, and make time every day to count your blessings.

There endeth today's lesson.

Blogtember: Comfort

Hello chaps and chapesses!

I've banged on about this before, but I do really love autumn.  There are lots of reasons (brisk walks, chunky knitwear, scarves, hot chocolate....) but I'd have to say that the main one is because autumn is the most comfortable time of year for me.

The temperature is just right for  me - not uncomfortably warm, like the summer we've just had, and it's not freezing cold and wet the whole time.  It's that just right in-betweeny-ness.

Also, I get to spend cosy evenings watching Downton Abbey with the fire on.  Toby is a big fan of autumn for the same reason....

Blogtember: If I had a time machine....

Hello chaps and chapesses!

If I had a time machine, and could go back to any one of my memories and relive it, I'd go back to mine and Graeme's first date.  Well, maybe not 'relive' it, but be a fly on the wall.

I was really, really nervous before our first date.  Nauseous, shaking, the works.  We'd met online, and had been emailing and texting for about a fortnight before meeting in person.  In all his messages, Graeme seemed like a Genuinely Nice Fella, and we seemed to be getting along well, so a part of me was scared that it was too good to be true, and that meeting in person would burst the bubble.

We'd planned to meet at the Cross in Chester.  For those of you who aren't familiar with Chester, the Cross is a monument in the middle of town, at the point where the four main streets meet.  I had to walk up the length of one of these streets to get there, and was worried that it would be a bit awkward if Graeme was waiting there, saw me walking up the road and a) decided he didn't like the look of me and scarpered, or b) made eye contact and then had to wait an awkward couple of minutes while I hurried up to meet him while still trying to look classy, calm and collected.  

The solution, suggested by a good and wise friend of mine, was to walk along the Rows, rather than the main road.  The Rows are covered walkways with shops, cafes and bars, above the main shops that are at street level.  I made my way along the Rows, had a peek to make sure Graeme had turned up, and then went over to him.

The first things that struck me were his height (he is 6 foot 4), his greying hair, and his deep, manly voice.  After that initial first impression, my memory of the evening is a bit patchy.  I remember that we had a few drinks in Bar Lounge.  I remember that we chatted quite easily and comfortably.  I remember that there were no awkward silences, and we never ran out of things to talk about.  I remember there was chemistry.  I remember Graeme walking me home like a gentleman.  I remember our first kiss.  But there's also a lot that I don't remember.

If I could go back, I'd  pay more attention to the details - what we talked about, how we responded to each other, that sort of thing.  I'd also like to have that first-date-excitement again - not the nausea and anxiety, but the butterflies in my tummy.  Know what I mean?

I'm happy to say that first date was a success, and we had a second date that week, then a third and a fourth, and we're still loved up nearly two and a half years later.  I'll stop now, before the soppiness makes you feel sick.

Help! I'm becoming a telly addict!

Hello chaps and chapesses!

I'm not usually that bothered about watching TV.  If I'm at home on my own, I'll often put the radio or some music on rather than watching a bit of telly.  Recently, though, I've found myself changing my ways, as there's been so much good stuff on.

We're at the end of the summer, and it's that time of year when the Good Programmes start making an appearance.  I'm thinking of Downton Abbey, Strictly Come Dancing, and of course, The Great British Bake Off.

Here's what I've been loving on the gogglebox over the last few weeks:

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The White Queen (BBC1)

A historical drama, based on Phillipa Gregory's trilogy of novels called The Cousins' War.  It tells the story of the battle for the throne of England during the War of the Roses, from the perspective of some of the most influential women of the time.  The series has been a bit slated for having some props and details that aren't quite historically accurate (manicured nails and brushed chrome handrails on the stairs, for instance), but I really enjoyed it.  As a drama it was entertaining and kept me interested throughout.  I like that it was history from the women's perspective - so often stories like these focus on the major battles and laws that were passed, and skim over the actual people who were involved.  It got me interested in the story of Richard III and the Princes in the Tower as well, so I'm planning to read some more about these.  A TV show that makes me want to go and learn more about something has to be good, right?

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The Mill (Channel 4)

Another historical one, set at Quarry Bank Mill in Cheshire, which isn't too far from my little neck of the woods.  It's about the young apprentices who worked at the mill in the 1830s, around the time of the Industrial Revolution, when workers were starting to take things into their own hands and stand up for their rights.  I found this one a little bit slow to begin with, and it was very dark, serious and gritty, but what kept me interested was the fact that it was based on the real stories of the real people who actually worked at the mill.  There were only four episodes, which is a shame, but I heard a rumour that there's going to be another series, yay!  I'm also now intrigued to find out more about Quarry Bank Mill, and maybe go up there and explore - I think they have a museum there these days.  Another show that's inspired me to expand my mind - thank you tellyland!

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Southcliffe (Channel 4)

This was ace.  Set in a fictional coastal English town, it centres around a series of shootings carried out by a local man.  It looks at what might have caused this guy to do this, and the effect it has on local residents.  The subject matter was quite harrowing, as it called to mind similar events in Cumbria and Northumbria in the last few years, but it was done really sensitively.  The way it was filmed was just great - I'm not an expert on these things but the way it had been put together was brilliant, and really added to the drama and emotion.  If you haven't already, watch it - you'll see what I mean.

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Game of Thrones (Sky Atlantic)

Graeme is a huge fan of the books, and spent a lot of the first season of this pausing the DVD to explain some background info about the characters that had been missed out.  He's on a mission to get me to read the books for myself, but right now I'm happy to just enjoy this as a TV show.  As the series have progressed it's gotten more and more epic, and I'm enjoying the pseudo-historical feel of it.  There are several strands and plotlines, with a LOT of characters, but I think they've got the balance right with this.  There are enough different strands so that there's a storyline to appeal to everyone, but you still get enough time with all the characters to get to know them and want to root for them.  Does that make sense?  I'm looking forward to the next season, but I'm still not tempted to read the books (sorry Graeme!)

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Made in Chelsea (E4)

This is a guilty pleasure.  It's indulgent and a little bit trashy, but enjoyable as long as you remember the golden rule - "some scenes are created for your entertainment".  Whereas some of the other shows I've mentioned above have inspired me to go out and learn more about something, MIC allows me to switch my brain off altogether and just enjoy watching the rich and beautiful get together, break up and bitch about each other in expensive clothes and swanky bars.  I think the new series is starting fairly soon - I can't wait!

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The Great British Bake Off (BBC2)

As a baking enthusiast, I love GBBO.  As The Experts, Paul and Mary have some brill baking tips, and there's a great chemistry between them; Mel and Sue provide some chuckles and some interesting little background information about the cake/biscuit/bread/pie featured in each episode; and I always, always get to the end of the programme feeling inspired to bake something myself.  After I watched them making French fancies in one of last year's episodes, I went and made a giant one for Graeme's birthday.  It had 3 layers of sponge, a LOT of buttercream, and it took me 5 hours to make, but it was pretty awesome.

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Don't Tell The Bride (BBC3)

This is another guilty pleasure.  The premise is simple - give a groom-to-be £12,000 and 3 weeks to plan a wedding, and don't let the bride-to-be anywhere near it until the wedding day.  It all depends on the couple featured in each particular episode, but I always enjoy it.  Sometimes you get a real Bridezilla who throws massive tantrums and refuses to wear the dress that's been picked out for her; sometimes you get a really Laddy groom who spends most of the budget on an extravagant stag do in Vegas; but most of the time you get couples who are quite sweet and just want to be man and wife.  Cute!

There have also been quite a few other series on that I haven't managed to watch (only 24 hours in a day, after all...) like Broadchurch, The Returned and The Killing, but I have big plans to get the box sets of these on Lovefilm.  What with this and all the new series that'll be coming back in the autumn (Downton, Strictly, the list goes on) at least I know I won't be bored when I'm cooped up at home on cold, rainy evenings.

Do you find yourself watching loads of telly at certain times of year, more so than others?  What are your favourite TV shows?  Do you have any recommendations for me?

Free tea and biscuits

Hello chaps and chapesses!

I gave blood for the eleventh time on Friday.  That's eleven pints of blood over the last three and a half years.  I'm not bragging, but giving blood always makes me feel like a Proper Good Human Being.  I want to share the love, because it's a good feeling, and everyone should try it.

Before I gave blood for the first time, I was a bit nervous about what to expect, like most people are.  If you're thinking about taking the plunge, you can find out what exactly happens when you give blood here.

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Giving blood was something I'd thought about doing for a long time before I actually got around to doing it the first time, and now I almost see it as a kind of treat.  Here are some of the reasons why:

You get to have some you-time.  You basically spend 10 minutes or so having a lie down.  They've always got the radio on, to help you relax, and to pass the time.  Lots of people take reading material with them.  

You get looked after.  In my experience, the staff are always lovely.  They're friendly, chatty, and will take good care of you.

You get free tea and biscuits.  They have squash as well, in case you're not of the hot beverage persuasion, and there's usually a good choice of biscuit.  I normally go for a custard cream.

You get to relax for the rest of the day.  You're specifically advised not to do anything strenuous for the next 24 hours, so use it as a chance to put your feet up and get everyone else to wait on you.  

You get to be smug.  You've done something good for humanity - you deserve to feel bloomin' great about yourself.

Have you ever given blood?  Is it something you've thought about but not got around to yet?  Go for it!