Wednesday 31 August 2011

Fall treats at Pottery Barn

I know this is a mass market store in the states but something about Pottery Barn really makes me wish we had one here in England. I love the soft New England vibe, and since i can remember I've always wanted to go to that part of the US, I'm a huge fan of the white picket fences and would love to visit the states when they have there Fall and be there for Halloween in Salem ,I think Hocus Pocus had that influence on me, Witches and all that kind of dark stuff is of great interest for me. So while having a nose on Pottery Barn i noticed they've added a few sneaky peeks of there Fall/Halloween items...... Here's some of my favs!, if it wasn't to costly to ship over I'd go for most of what they have.


Don't you just love the Pumpkin punch bowl?

Tuesday 30 August 2011

Berry Red's Autumn/Winter collection!

You know what i love about late August and early September?, all the Autumn and winter ranges and catalogues come out!!! and Now Berry Red have released their A/W collection!!! and I'm in love with what they have.The colour Aubergine and Red are my season favorites at the moment. I just bought some Aubergine curtains for my bedroom and I'm so in love with them, my windows are huge and curtains for them don't come cheap but when i saw a pair for £77 reduced from £109 i had to have them!!!!...... but back to Berry Red! here are some of my favorite items so far....


Thursday 25 August 2011

In the kitchen

Tonight while the rain lashed against the window and the world outside my window became ever so more gray,I was warm inside cooking dinner for me and the Mr, I'm such a little house wife just without the legal wife title. it had been a long day at work and i thought a hearty meal was in order but I'd also been playing with a few ideas on what to try next with cupcakes.

for dinner i made toad in hole, served up with roast potatoes and veggies,

Pretty impressed with how the toad in the hole came out


And for my cupcake idea... I'm currently watching "the great British bake off" series two! was totally fixed to it last year!, and in episode two it was all about tarts and naturally "Bakewell" tarts were on the list to make. now I'm not great with pastry but i am good at cupcakes so i made Bakewell cupcakes!







I used a normal vanilla recipe but just changed a few things around
Instead of adding vanilla extract i used Almond, and once i''d got the batter to its right texture i added a few handfuls of ground almonds, then i put a dab of Cherry jam in the base of the cases

Wednesday 24 August 2011

Autumn in the air.......

August has felt like its come and gone with out much exciting happenings, this flat decorating really takes most of my time up these days, we're still doing the kitchen but I'm pleased to say that the oven, hob and sink have all been in for about 2 weeks now, and let me tell you i felt like a 1950's house wife who had just been introduced to one of these magical devices! although given the chance I'd love to cook on an open stove in a medieval style, I've never been so pleased with a domestic contraption before. So yes I'm most happy that we can cook proper meals! it feels good and smelling dinner cooking  makes the flat feel a whole lot more homely.


I'm not sure about you but Autumn feels so close right now, well actually i smelt the change about 2 weeks ago. slowly fading is that Summer smell and in comes that smoky fire and rustic cosy smell. when i think of Autumn i get a little excited with thoughts of crispy leaves underfoot, hearty baking, hot chocolates with all the marshmallows and whipped cream a faery like me could ask for, warm rich tones of red gold and yellow, HALLOWEEN!! mmmmm i could go on tehehehhe. Autumn for me is a feel good season gone has the not knowing what to wear like you get in summer( well here in the Uk anyway) and gone is the "oh its to hot". With Autumn your pretty safe with knowing how weathers going to be, also i love my woolly goves and this year i want to find a woolly hat that suites me, (hats arnt something i can pull off well), The Mr is going to buy me a new pair of boots too!! eeeeh i do love boots and they're great for woodland walks, which I'm hoping to do lots of this year, taking my camera and capturing those beautiful rich tones before they all go. 


The other day Autumn was really in my mind so i went on to Etsy and created this little treasury of all the things that make me feel so happy and cosy inside.


  Also at the weekend i baked!! for the first time in 7 weeks? (shocking behaviour) naturally with the feeling of autumn in my soul, i baked my first Apple Crumble of the season, well with all those apples ripe, sweet and crunchy at the moment it seemed very fitting.




lots more baking to come this autumn....oh and i have to say a thank you to Juli Gwynn of Dear Sweetlings for making it not feel silly to talk about Autumn so soon, read her blog on her thoughts of Autumn too :)
 
Loves and Sparkles
xXx

Tuesday 2 August 2011

Lammas/ 1st harvest

Yesterday was Lammas (1st harvest) the fae have been hard at work making things ripe and ready for the farmers to start bringing in the good stuff.

"It is now high summer and the union of Sun and Earth, of God and Goddess, has produced the First Harvest. Lammas is the celebration of this first, Grain Harvest, a time for gathering in and giving thanks for abundance. We work with the cycle that Mabon or the Autumn Equinox is the Second Harvest of Fruit, and Samhain is the third and Final Harvest of Nuts and Berries." (info from goddess and greenman glastonbury)

As i don't have a kitchen at the moment, i was unable to make something for the celebrations, but i do have a recipe in mind, hopefully by the weekend i can make it.
Keeping with the in seasonal theme I'll make a crumble adding oats to the topping, i might even go apple picking as its there time to shine. if i can find any good sized blackberries I'll add those too.

Recipe for a basic crumble:

Topping :
300g/10½oz plain flour, sieved pinch of salt
175g/6oz unrefined brown sugar
200g/7oz unsalted butter, cubed at room temperature

Filling:
4 good sized cooking apple
50g/2oz unrefined brown sugar
Pinch of Cinnamon (add more i
f you wish)

Preparation method

  1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.

  2. Place the flour and sugar in a large bowl and mix well. Taking a few cubes of butter at a time rub into the flour mixture. Keep rubbing until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs

  3. Place the fruit in a large bowl and sprinkle over the sugar, flour and cinnamon. Stir well being careful not to break up the fruit


  4. Butter a 24cm/9in ovenproof dish. Spoon the fruit mixture into the bottom, then sprinkle the crumble mixture on top.

  5. Bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes until the crumble is browned and the fruit mixture bubbling.

  6. Serve with thick cream or custard.
Mmmmm i can smell it already, a crumble is hearty and perfect for sharing!

Before i go i just want to share this photo that fairybell cottage put up yesterday!, a perfect representation of the harvest goddess.



Blessings to all
xXx