I have to add another hole to my belt…

UGHUGHGUH……wow…what a weekend of serious baking heaven…and for once I didn’t even do much of it!

The long weekend began in style on Thursday with the arrival of my boyfriend’s lovely parents, who are fans of chocolate gingers. This of course merited a little gift for their hotel room, some homemade Jackson Pollock style chocolate gingers

Onwards!

Not just baked, but twice baked! As a vegetarian, I have limited choice in almost every restaurant in the world, but there is  one place that understands the vegetarian. ‘The Trout at Tadpole Bridge’ is a beautiful, incredibly secluded (especially when the Tadpole Bridge is closed) pub which glows in the dark with candles and fairy lights. And…MAYTE….they understand vegetarians. Presenting….TWO twice baked goat’s cheese souffles with deep friend spring onions and parmesan sauce….with a side of dauphinoise potatoes. The baking maths here makes me giddy…twice baked x 2= 4 times…………four baking processes went into this work of art…..and I ‘preciate it!

Would you just take a look at that….and as if that wasn’t enough, this pub has the great looking pudding menu ever…..

Warm. broiche. butter. pudding. creme anglais. done.

And breathe.

Just when I thought I’d seen it all, Barnsley House reinvents the Afternoon Tea, moving themselves into first place in the Livi Dee Tea Tables. This was for three reasons.

1. Location. Beautiful building. Beautiful garden. Log fire. Perfection.

2. Strudel. This happened. After everything arrived, a waiter skipped up with this sugared breadboard. I had two. No regrets.

3. Winter Pimms. This was a revelation; apple and Pimms, served hot in a wine glass with foam. It’s what I imagine butterbeer would taste like…..if Harry had been 18 and feeling fancy.

     Forget the belt…..It’s time for leggings and lying down. Stay Unchained ❤

Stay Unchained<3

Lost in Translation

One of the problems (and there aren’t many) is the pudding dilemma.

I’m an English girl, raised on steamed jam or sticky toffee pudding, The American is a…an American, from America- where pudding is served in a cup and looks like yoghurt. This will never do.

So far he has tried everything I’ve placed in front of him; frangipane, tart tatin, chocolate pudding….and loved it.

So, musing over a basket of left over bread in the restaurant I work in, I thought it was time to put him to the test. And in doing so I learnt that even those who love you most can doubt you.

I used three recipes for this, taking inspiration from Nigella for the spices, Jamie Oliver for the marmalade crunchy top, and the history of England for the design (this pudding is OLLLD).

So….here we go….

Oh he is UNSURE!

Verdict?

Oh I LOVE THAT BOY!!

Next stop Pudding Club….<3

http://www.puddingclub.com/

This club is a glorious celebration of syrup, ginger, chocolate and beautiful fruit puddings, and the hotel has pudding themed rooms. I stayed in the ‘Spotted Dick’ room- the children’s room (I was 9) was decorated with 101 Dalmatians and the bed had a mixing bowl above it. And no, I didn’t dream this.