Love

‘The book of love is long and boring
No one can lift the damn thing
It’s full of charts and facts and figures and instructions for dancing
But I
I love it when you read to me
And you
You can read me anything’

Peter Gabriel, Book of Love

In January, my long distance boyfriend of 2 years moved to England, so this year has been full of ‘first holidays’ together. We had our first Valentine’s day, our first Easter, our first birthdays, our first Thanksgiving. Many opportunities for baking<3 together, which makes me so lucky!

And maybe this has me feeling all lovey, or maybe it’s Peter Gabriel, who knows……

So…for me the ultimate labour of love (in baking) has to be the macaron.

A blog I read once quoted macaroons as the baker’s unattainable dream, and for this reason I have never endeavored to make them. However, if you have about 7 hours to spare, and plenty of love and dedication, it’s absolutely possible.

When I lived in halls during my Masters, my lovely Chinese flatmate, who had silently observed me baking (a lot…stress relief) asked me if I would like to try one of her macarons, which I suspect were Laduree, and it was a revelation.

Heaven

I used this recipe, from a beautiful website, and it worked blissfully. The only addition might be a bit more food colouring to give them a brighter colour, but really these have only furthered my love affair. Please make them. Please.

http://www.cakeandallie.com/2012/03/pistachio-white-chocolate-macarons/

❤

Pipe white chocolate ganache on half the macaroons.

Eat them…stare at them…love them…maybe cry a little…your choice.

Stay Unchained ❤

Baking Love

This is Johnny Cash’s love letter to June Carter Cash…it is my favourite declaration of love, and came in a book which also provided Cash’s recipe for cornbread and grits. A bit of hunting and I found the recipe!  There is a definite link  between food and affection, even if I still have no idea what grits involves (and I’ve eaten grits before). Johnny Cash is the ultimate baking music…romantic, dark, moving and angry….

Johnny Cash’s Cornbread

1 1/2 cups cornmeal, self rising
1 1/2 cups flour, self rising
1 1/2 tablespoons of sugar
1 teaspoon of salt
2 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups of buttermilk
1 onion, chopped
1/2 cup of melted butter

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My first Easter face to face with my long distance boyfriend….these espresso cups are screaming out for little chocolate mousses, (moussi) ? After long distance baking and swapping recipes/ photographs, and now we are together- trying to beat his baking nerves 🙂

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My best friends! Together since Royal Holloway Day 1, when we nervously drank Malibu and Pineapple together,  we have shared many food related activities. Pizza in Italy, late night snacks during allnighters, and brunch in Founder’s dining hall.

Brunch in a castle will help you bond with anyone!

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Florence will always hold a small part of my heart, and here I am with my ‘Festival Del Gelato’ favourite- fior de latte ice-cream and tiramisu mousse. Florence clearly feels the same way, they have dedicated a shop to me….

This Florentine horse understands how I feel about the food in Florence……….sometimes something is just so good that you have plough into it….

❤

Stay Unchained.