The weather has been absolutely delightful these past two weeks, allowing for windows and doors to be thrown wide open to take full advantage of the fresh air, although I did catch a magpie trying to break and enter through an upstairs window the other day.
A list of things to do whilst on holiday compiled (including having your nails painted yellow and rowdy games of Kerplunk and Frustration), and completed with the exception of the mini railway! A little baking also attempted despite the heat, comprising the sacrificial slaying of a can of Guinness to make this chocolate cake from the hummingbird bakery cake days and these little delights from a furtive imagination.
The cake would have been Paul Hollywood perfect had it not been for my oven requiring significantly longer to bake anything. Yes, I can hear the arguments stacking up for a new kitchen, in my head anyway. I have also recently lost my soul to Pinterest, have a peek if you have a little time or the rest of your life to waste which would seem to be my approach. Another current obsession is Sarah Beeney, Double your House for Half the Money with me knocking down walls in my dreams. As they say dream on, girl.
Hope your days have also been filled with sunshine xxx
I completely agree with what you say about Pinterest. You can definitely lose hours just by logging in!
ReplyDeleteAlthough it is very handy for planning and holding online recipes.
Deletethey look delicious!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteSounds like a good summer to me! And I love the fact that you're dreaming of a whole new kitchen, not just a new oven - Go You!! :-)
ReplyDeleteXx
Yes it doesn't take much to encourage me.
DeleteYum, they all look delicious! Enjoy ...
ReplyDeleteLove Claire xx
Thank you.
DeleteOoh! Yes, please, I could do one of those lovely cakes!
ReplyDeleteThank you, I try not to make cakes too often because I am the only one who eats them.
DeleteYes, I've seen a couple of those programmes what I could do with a sledge hammer! :) x
ReplyDeleteHard cash might also come in handy!
Deletemy old gas oven always takes extra time to bake things too, usually 10 minutes! I was marvelling at my sister-in-law's oven the other night. It has a light in it so you can see the cake rising! pretty standard to most but a novelty for me!
ReplyDeleteBoth lights have gone in mine, another excuse me thinks!
ReplyDeleteThat cake looks heavenly! I love Sarah Beeny but then I get more ideas to change/extend/knock down the house and that's not good!
ReplyDeleteI'm in the middle of making a chocolate banana cake for Mr FD's birthday tomorrow. And flapjacks, which are far too sweet as my hand slipped with the sugar (no, really) Never mind. I'm sure they'll get eaten. It's just a shame it's a Fast day today (we're following the 5:2 regime) so I can't lick the spoons!!
ReplyDeleteChocolate cake with Guinness ... now that has to be good!
ReplyDeleteI have a friend with your approach to Pinterest ... now I come to think of it I haven't seen her since late June ;)
Suggest you send in International rescue!
DeleteHonestly Pinterest is my vice. Will have to check out the Sarah Beeny programme.
ReplyDeleteDxx
Missed this post - and it's a lovely one! I was probably too busy on Pinterest!! I shall go and look for you there. Axxx
ReplyDeleteI'm constantly Pinterest-bothering at the moment too. There's definitely something going on!
ReplyDeleteAs for house extending... we just want to get this one sold and escape back to the Pennines. Soon. I do like Sarah Beeny though - she talks a lot of sense!
Same here with pinterest. I have a rule that I can't look at it at night before bed cuz then I'm too excited and can't sleep!
ReplyDeleteI cook a beef stew with a can of the black stuff but don't think I've ever baked with it.
ReplyDeleteI always think it looks so tempting in a glass but I just don't like the taste.
Great looking cake.
Lisa x