tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3115523910997463472024-03-05T12:59:40.087-08:00 List LoveRachel Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17142998077911030389noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311552391099746347.post-18593801468018485952014-11-12T13:38:00.001-08:002014-11-12T13:38:38.084-08:00It's been a VERY long time....Well hello there! I stopped blogging well over a year ago amidst many reasons but reading through my old posts has prompted me to take up the typing again. I forgot how much I love to write and how much I miss the theraputic process of hashing out my thoughts on the screen, helping me to make sense of myself as I go along.<br />
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So, here's a little update...<br />
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My Charlie is now four (yes, FOUR!) He is flying academically speaking and I think even the teacher is a little taken aback at his abilities, so it's a learning curve for us all!<br />
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My Micah is now two (WHAT?! Not fair... not at all) and happily chattering away in his own unique style. My first statement to people when met with their uncomprehending stares at his endless babbling? "Before you ask, no, I don't understand a word he says either!"<br />
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Perhaps the biggest adjustment is yet to come as we are expecting baby number three in just 13 weeks time. It was a bit of a shock but I have to believe it's the right thing for our family (otherwise I might go a tad loopy!) and we are certain that she will beautifully complete our little family. Five is a good number right?! Yes, you did read right, I did write 'she' ... due to the wonders of the NHS and multiple ultrasounds, it's as clear as it can be that this little one is a pink one! Charlie is very excited to be getting a baby sister and has declared that Margaret is the name for her (really?!) whilst Micah is yet to grasp the concept. When I said to him "Where's the baby?" (expecting him to point to my rather swollen tummy) he simply said "Oh no! Bebe GONE! Where bebe?" and proceed to look under the dining chairs, you know, in case she was hiding.<br />
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If any of you have read (and remember) my original list and reason for this blog, then you may remember that item one was to learn to drive. Well, I passed my test on 25th October last year, just three days after the sudden loss of my wonderful Grandma. She lived a full & happy 91.5 years and paid for my theory test to help my driving efforts along. I know she would have been prouder than anyone that I passed first time with only one minor and she'd have phoned everyone to tell them the news (whether or not they were interested would have been irrelevant!)<br />
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Anyway, that about concludes it for now. Thanks for reading and I hope you're all well and have been up to lots of interesting things in the last year!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My loopy sons!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlie's first day of school, broken arm & all!</td></tr>
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<br />Rachel Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17142998077911030389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311552391099746347.post-69520696843193129812013-05-21T00:20:00.002-07:002013-05-21T00:20:36.864-07:00In the Face of Tragedy...<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am so utterly broken for the people of Oklahoma and devastated at their loss. The loss of any life is hard to bear, but when that life is taken prematurely and through uncontrollable circumstances it somehow seems worse doesn't it? A tiny bit more unfair. Not to mention the loss of lives of children. I can't go there in depth this morning. I just can't - I have a full day ahead with my own children and to think about losing them... well... I find it best to do my "falling apart" after they are in bed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I haven't said a lot about my faith on this blog but today I am. I am not saying this to start a debate because, if I am totally honest, I don't want to debate whether or not God exists because I believe He does. He is a very real and very big part of my life (and as this is my own corner of the internet, I should be allowed to say that out loud, right?!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Many people will blame God for this tragedy in Oklahoma today and I cannot profess to understand why these things happen or why God doesn't stop them BUT I do know that without my faith I could not make it through these things at all - I would become angry and bitter so fast and what use is that to anyone?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I love this quote from Mr Rogers (if you don't know who he is, google him!)</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.fci.org/images/fred-signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img align="right" border="0" height="57" hspace="3" src="http://www.fci.org/images/fred-signature.jpg" vspace="3" width="164" /></a><span style="color: #20124d;"><em>"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." To this day, especially in times of "disaster," I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world.</em>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is so true! That is where you find God's very nature in these circumstances - in the helpers. In the outward expression of love, compassion, and provision. They offer hope - hope of better times to come, of eventual healing and recovery. Hope of a future beyond the disaster. A helper. Even from afar. The best (and most practically possible) thing I can do right now is to PRAY for these families - that in the midst of disaster they will find the hope they need and cling to it, with all they can muster. Pray that when they can cling on no longer, someone with the strength to do so will stand alongside them and help to shoulder the sadness and overwhelming pain. I know I have not lived through such a tragedy, I know I have not lost a child but we have all been through things in our lives and my God, Father, Jesus - well, they are my hope for change. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I won't do deep & meaningful posts very often - I'm not brave at all when it comes to sharing my faith but I hope that I demonstrate it instead by the way I treat people and the way I live my life. I will leave you with one of my favourite verses from the Bible:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="text Jer-29-11" id="en-NIV-19647">'"For I know the plans <sup class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19647T" title="See cross-reference T">T</a>)"></sup>I have for you,” declares the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, “plans to prosper<sup class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19647U" title="See cross-reference U">U</a>)"></sup> you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.</span><span class="text Jer-29-12" id="en-NIV-19648"><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;"> </sup>Then you will call<sup class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19648W" title="See cross-reference W">W</a>)"></sup> on me and come and pray<sup class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19648X" title="See cross-reference X">X</a>)"></sup> to me, and I will listen<sup class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19648Y" title="See cross-reference Y">Y</a>)"></sup> to you.</span><span class="text Jer-29-13" id="en-NIV-19649"><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;"> </sup>You will seek<sup class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19649Z" title="See cross-reference Z">Z</a>)"></sup> me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."' (Jeremiah 29:11-13)</span></i></b></span></div>
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Rachel Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17142998077911030389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311552391099746347.post-54116104679487958252013-05-11T03:48:00.000-07:002013-05-11T03:48:12.882-07:00BEDM: Book Love<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I LOVE to read but mostly I love books. I have a Kindle account for those cheap useful rescource books that are handy to have on my computer but I don't have a Kindle (or e-reader of any type.) Part of this is due to finances - there are just too many beautiful things and tech that I want more so if the money crops up, it'll be going towards crossing something off my rather long wish list! The main reason for my lack of e-reader, however, is my love of books. I love them, I really really do. We all have enough tech in our lives and we have come to rely on it and I am fine with that but I cannot get lost in a book when I am reading it on a screen - it's just not the same and I am way too easily distracted! Give me good old fashioned paperback though and it's a different matter. I live the story, I get right in there and cannot get myself out again until it's over. Then I get that sad feeling that you get when you wake from a really awesome dream and know it's time to head back to reality. This love affair with fiction started a LONG time ago for me. I was that girl that doesn't just have one imaginary friend but dreams up entire worlds and scenarios - I was the quintessential day dreamer (which, in honour of my mother, I must point out this is a parenting nightmare - I once spent 40 mins in the bathroom and forgot to shower cos I was so engrossed in my dream world!) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I loved many books as a child. Classics like <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Tiger-Who-Came-Tea/dp/0007215991/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368268576&sr=8-1&keywords=the+tiger+who+came+to+tea" target="_blank">The Tiger Who Came to Tea</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=sr_nr_n_1?rh=n%3A266239%2Cn%3A291747%2Ck%3Ashirley+hughes&keywords=shirley+hughes&ie=UTF8&qid=1368268680&rnid=1025612" target="_blank">most books by Shirley Hughes</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGsFi5xYDhkZGDrozPczj05V9oqqqPMk3cpXy557z7ciiX51hT-sD5qSzjkuMzHOkgJihkN0Ks7AdA8xIJWByuO7-gTpS2MVSMwuIBqeBINT6ILyNZKpQpLgvtTMYKHjQ85Tii00qz8oo/s1600/IMAG0717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGsFi5xYDhkZGDrozPczj05V9oqqqPMk3cpXy557z7ciiX51hT-sD5qSzjkuMzHOkgJihkN0Ks7AdA8xIJWByuO7-gTpS2MVSMwuIBqeBINT6ILyNZKpQpLgvtTMYKHjQ85Tii00qz8oo/s320/IMAG0717.jpg" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This moved me on to novels as I got older - I loved Enid Blyton, Judy Blume, What Katie Did books and I collected the Penguin Classics that were only about a pound - I don't think I ever read them all but something about a full bookshelf was rather appealing. I still have the 1939 copy of Eleanor H. Porter's Pollyanna that my Grandpa bought me at a jumble sale for 30p and I fell in love with the history of the book immediately. Inside the cover, just under the pencilled on price was this:</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgns_iPtr4_Zg24CjeepX9jjG7-Kr2k1Q6HFJOHTNAihwb4HTfOi_Zr8tLotUDMRmS_CsE-6iDB43ueU0lW5SJ6IPMWXLqOcS4cQUmZy-PgcolrI4rrJ37WzkHgO5RMGiyL_i9vTIT1BSg/s1600/IMAG0718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgns_iPtr4_Zg24CjeepX9jjG7-Kr2k1Q6HFJOHTNAihwb4HTfOi_Zr8tLotUDMRmS_CsE-6iDB43ueU0lW5SJ6IPMWXLqOcS4cQUmZy-PgcolrI4rrJ37WzkHgO5RMGiyL_i9vTIT1BSg/s320/IMAG0718.jpg" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> How wonderful is that?! This holds a beautiful memory for me and I doubt I'll ever get rid of it, not least because my Grandpa and I were very close and he passed away just over 3 years ago. He is a big factor in my love of words and I spent many an after-school afternoon watching Countdown and doing the Telegraph crossword with him. I still watch countdown and now my son loves to watch it too and repeat the letters as they go up on the screen. I hope these early memories (and all the reading we do together) leads to a passion for reading for him too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy Reading! x</span></div>
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<br />Rachel Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17142998077911030389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311552391099746347.post-77005243488843068452013-05-10T15:25:00.000-07:002013-05-10T15:25:06.466-07:00BEDM: Travel Dreams<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I could use this post to list off all the beautiful places I would love to visit but I am a realistic-style dreamer and I am in a life-stage that means I cannot pack my bags and hop on a plane whenever I fancy (maybe one day?) Quite simply, my travel dream is to go back to Alaska (via Illinois so that my American bestie & I can meet each others kids and our men can meet.) I want to introduce my husband to the people, and the place, that shaped who I am today. I want my sons to see a moose moseying (oooh, nice word combo!) in the back yard and a black bear crossing the street. There is SO much of the world I would love to see but for now I will continue to dream of my USA trip which will happen... someday!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For now, check out my <a href="http://pinterest.com/mrsk180807/what-a-wonderful-world/" target="_blank">pinterest board on travel....</a> x</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://wikitravel.org/upload/shared//thumb/7/76/Aurora_Borealis_Alaska.jpg/350px-Aurora_Borealis_Alaska.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://wikitravel.org/upload/shared//thumb/7/76/Aurora_Borealis_Alaska.jpg/350px-Aurora_Borealis_Alaska.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">source: <a href="http://wikitravel.org/en/Alaska">http://wikitravel.org/en/Alaska</a></span></div>
Rachel Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17142998077911030389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311552391099746347.post-55793668030240148692013-05-08T04:15:00.000-07:002013-05-08T04:15:11.305-07:00BEDM: First Job<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When I was 14 I got my first saturday job. It was hard grafting for £3.50 an hour but it felt so so good to get handed that cheque at the end of the day, knowing I had worked hard for that money. Plus, we're talking 14 years ago now and £3.50 went a lot further back then (also, I had no bills to pay, no house to run, no kids to pay for so every hard-earned penny was mine!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I worked as a Kennel Assistant. The boarding kennels were fairly large and we had to walk each dog twice daily round a 1/4 mile track as well as feeding all the dogs and cleaning out the kennels daily. I can still smell the special chemicals we had to use! Because it was such a full on job we got a tea break in the morning and we also got and hour and a half for lunch. There was an old static caravan in the field which was fully working with tv, kitchen, lounge, etc and I remember my friend and I having cheap instant noodles for lunch then falling asleep watching tv before heading back for the afternoon walking session. One dog in particular (aptly named Jumbo) was so huge his head came to my chest, whilst he was standing normally. He was well behaved but enthusiastic so it took two of us to walk him - two leads round his neck, one person on each side. All in all, not a bad job - if a tad whiffy and rather poo-centric at times!</span>Rachel Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17142998077911030389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311552391099746347.post-21308921838386906682013-05-03T08:20:00.000-07:002013-05-03T08:20:23.441-07:00BEDM: Spring has Sprung …. at flippin' last!
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Random trivia fact about me: I lived in Alaska, for three
years. That’s three winters that last longer than you can imagine (so you
probably can imagine but a little dramatic phrasing is OK right?) I could cope
with those winters though because it was the kind of crisp, cold snowiness that
you KNOW is there for the long haul and so you can be prepared … I mean, REALLY
prepared. I think I’ll save stories from Alaska for future posts – I have to
keep you hanging on a little now, don’t I?!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Back to what is now sunny old England – hoorah! This winter
has felt far longer than those I experienced in Alaska and I have a few
theories as to why:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">i.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Alaskan summers make the winter worth the wait.
Ours do not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ii.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It rains here. A lot. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">iii.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our snow never lasts long enough to have decent
fun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You cannot ride a snow mobile just on wet mud
(see point iii.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">v.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our summer last year came and went in March <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This year we had snow in March <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, anyway, spring has FINALLY arrived – properly – and I am
loving it! As I sit here and type at the farmhouse kitchen table, I am looking
out over a beautiful view of the Lancashire countryside whilst enjoying the
early morning sun and a giant mug of coffee (on account of being up twice in
the night with my kids.) This has to be one of my favourite seasons. With
spring comes the hope of summer and weather to get out and enjoy. People
rediscover a love of their gardens and flowers you forgot were lying dormant in
the earth. There is something wonderful about this season for sure and I am
determined to enjoy it! I hope you are too </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Apologies for the lateness of this post – I spent most of
yesterday on the motorway to get here. Also, I am here til Monday night so
there probably won’t be any pictures on my posts til then (sorry!) We have a
busy few days of playing with cousins, Grandparents and farm animals. As a side
note, Charlie spent a significant<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>chunk
of the journey singing his “Nanna Pa” song (“Nanna Pa Nanna Pa” to the full
tune of Twinkle Twinkle) He LOVES visiting Nanna & Pa’s farm and to be
honest, his joy in seeing his grandparents makes it worth 7 hours in the car.
Oh, and I drove as far as Bath (about 2hrs) before we took off the L plates and
Tim took over </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
fairly pleased with that! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thanks for reading x<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Rachel Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17142998077911030389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311552391099746347.post-33771378170013560132013-05-01T09:42:00.000-07:002013-05-01T09:42:03.803-07:00BEDM: Five Lines... of Happiness1. These Faces<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-h99TNzoD7-rzsYi9OZeMOsX8ioAx9sYtQY067zrD9Hez1FP4WTLwAEmQNMTZAZ8zY_EfHRe5Iu6AP-8bMrpqfSonYgl7BrlkqM5EaZvwH8f1fSrp6jIN1xZRbogvBqyk2yFnLFpcBc0/s1600/East_Family-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-h99TNzoD7-rzsYi9OZeMOsX8ioAx9sYtQY067zrD9Hez1FP4WTLwAEmQNMTZAZ8zY_EfHRe5Iu6AP-8bMrpqfSonYgl7BrlkqM5EaZvwH8f1fSrp6jIN1xZRbogvBqyk2yFnLFpcBc0/s320/East_Family-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixajm7VKOaVedgup2XJ7HQsKOJRxWLlezEjAkNyEfdlwiNB4wX9zc5jhHUO16nB0etS_Xi_wk2kQbSm8sCfZtUpfSvgdK7pLhskZPaJx_YrFgsYK9ukS_6Lt6CTyJOVMimDM95qNUkmjc/s1600/East_Family-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixajm7VKOaVedgup2XJ7HQsKOJRxWLlezEjAkNyEfdlwiNB4wX9zc5jhHUO16nB0etS_Xi_wk2kQbSm8sCfZtUpfSvgdK7pLhskZPaJx_YrFgsYK9ukS_6Lt6CTyJOVMimDM95qNUkmjc/s320/East_Family-10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
2. This Man, This Marriage, This Best Friend (and watching him be an awesome Daddy)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymOIgh8b7lmgf7jZigSUpgxD71vLw-NhhUb8n39vjYrFUOPoskPBWGntxckcwXtV6CWYO6vsRFrQ6mPGoqZ7qxxLd_qFIZybmyFq_k9fY4VEpbx9kiNMAETapIgTcqUesJ_1sbykUDr0/s1600/East_Family-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymOIgh8b7lmgf7jZigSUpgxD71vLw-NhhUb8n39vjYrFUOPoskPBWGntxckcwXtV6CWYO6vsRFrQ6mPGoqZ7qxxLd_qFIZybmyFq_k9fY4VEpbx9kiNMAETapIgTcqUesJ_1sbykUDr0/s320/East_Family-20.jpg" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby Micah is NOT impressed with the PDA!</td></tr>
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3. This day where I pulled my Charlie out of pre-school to hang out in the first proper sunshine of the year (and the first ice cream too!)<br />
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4. This carpet of spring flowers currently taking over the lawn<br />
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5. The simple unadulterated joy at realising the babies slept ALL night and you got 8 hours... solid. (this has yet to happen but I remain optimistic!!)</div>
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Rachel Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17142998077911030389noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311552391099746347.post-5582609662942347112013-04-29T22:26:00.000-07:002013-04-29T22:26:13.163-07:00I love a challenge...<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, I have signed myself up for </span><a href="http://www.rosalilium.com/2013/04/blog-every-day-in-may/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Blog Every Day in May</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> over at Rosalilium (which, by the way you should totally be following if you are remotely interested in vintage, thrifting, beauty, fashion, lifestyle or bacon - yes, I did mean to type that.) Elizabeth is a just lovely lady and is currently selling lots of her thrifted and vintage stuff on her </span><a href="http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/flopsydaisy?_trksid=p2047675.l2559" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">ebay</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> in order to help herself out financially after a rough time - we have all been there so please do go over and show her some love!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Anyway, I digress. Elizabeth has set up a blogging challenge to blog every day in May and LOADS of blogger have signed up (yay!) There is a topic for each day but it is very non-prescriptive and can be interpreted any way you want. The topics are ready and waiting in a google calendar which is mega helpful for those of us who are going away for bank holiday - I'll be doing some of mine in advance and just hitting 'publish' whilst I am away. I don't want to be too antisocial whilst staying with other people!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, there you have it! I wanted to let you know so if you start thinking I've gone stark blogging mad, you know why! If you fancy signing up - even if you want to stray from the topics but just want the challenge of committing to blog each day then please head over to </span><a href="http://www.rosalilium.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Rosalilium</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> and get cracking :) </span>Rachel Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17142998077911030389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311552391099746347.post-32440798101476345882013-04-15T13:41:00.001-07:002013-04-15T13:41:53.300-07:00.... And Breeeeeeathe *phew!*It has been a crazy couple of months, hence the lack of blogging action, despite having LOTS to blog about! So, here I go...<br />
First of all, I went to my very first CCC meeting. I had a lovely evening and 2 wonderful ladies gave me lifts to and from the train station to enable me to be there. There was quite a turnout - so much so that it was nigh-on impossible to get round and meet everyone and taste all the cakes. If I am totally honest, the group was a little too big for me but I know it can vary from month to month (the previous meeting only had 7 attendees) but Dorset is a big county so I think more groups may form in the future. It was a long way to travel too, but once I am driving it won't be so much of an issue. I tried to make a giant coffee cup cake with a irish mocha ganache but it failed.... miserably.... at the very last minute! So into the oven went a coffee chocolate cake with which I could pair the rather delicious ganache that had turned out wonderfully. It went down well but - as for the lack of photo - it really wasn't worth photographing!<br />
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Secondly, I started my driving lessons (yippee!!) My wonderful husband put me on the insurance too so I am practising at every opportunity. After all, I need to get used to driving our car (which stalls irritatingly easily and, yes, my instructors car is much nicer - but also about 10 years newer.) So far, no-one has died and I haven't had to exchange insurance details with anyone. My theory test is booked for less than 2 weeks time so I am busy studying for that.<br />
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There are some other things I have been up to, including, but not limited to:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Hosting a Red Nose Day coffee & cake day</li>
<li>Helping to decorate a venue for a swanky party</li>
<li>Weaning my now 6-month old (what?!) onto solid food which has to be home made due to his dairy intolerance</li>
<li>Potty training my 2-and-a-half year old (aaaaaaaaargh)</li>
<li>Finally admitting to having Post-Natal Depression and accepting medical help (should have done it over 2 yrs ago!) </li>
</ul>
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I have more busy-ness coming up (decorating 2 wedding venues this coming weekend and I have a teething baby and a house to clean) so I won't ramble on any longer. I will simply leave you with a picture of my first EVER Simnel Cake (<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/easter_simnel_cake_82449" target="_blank">Mary Berry's recipe</a> of course) complete with my first ever attempt at sugared flowers which I picked from my garden - it doesn't get much more spring like than this!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simnel Cake.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Triple layer cake for Easter raffle at preschool</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sugared primroses & daffodils</td></tr>
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Rachel Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17142998077911030389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311552391099746347.post-31435211806845869432013-02-28T01:45:00.000-08:002013-02-28T01:47:53.506-08:00Chocolate Guinness Cake... oh my!I did mention <a href="http://listloveblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/this-is-new-cakebook-madness.html" target="_blank">here</a> that I was just waiting for the opportunity to make the Chocolate & Guinness Cake from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Hummingbird-Bakery-Cake-Days/dp/0007374798/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1362042722&sr=8-3" target="_blank">The Hummingbird Bakery Cake Days book</a> and I am very pleased to say that I made it last weekend. We had been invited to some friends' for Sunday lunch and I took this cake (with <a href="http://listloveblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/red-velvet-cupcakes.html" target="_blank">red velvet cupcakes</a> for the kids... this is a decidedly grown up cake!)<br />
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Melting the butter into the guinness was an odd moment - again, I used margarine and I was worried it wouldn't work - it just looks a bit wrong! But, as soon as I added the next lot of ingredients - as you can see - it all came together and the lovely, glossy, desired batter materialised. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6tbFEGT_tadzd00VBzwGe9wh6UgthEyaWxM6hmlfHYuop4yAczTtkDnJN1DPWtEq4rflqEKCt0_27LbALMPpBiZLpqm6KN-DEeAJLV0axodqDWktyTa4IX6F-AsyYqEPOxl3VRQFktA/s1600/DSCF1195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6tbFEGT_tadzd00VBzwGe9wh6UgthEyaWxM6hmlfHYuop4yAczTtkDnJN1DPWtEq4rflqEKCt0_27LbALMPpBiZLpqm6KN-DEeAJLV0axodqDWktyTa4IX6F-AsyYqEPOxl3VRQFktA/s320/DSCF1195.JPG" width="320" /></a>As far as the baking goes, my cake came out with a ginormous crack in it and the cake was a little bit dense toward the bottom - as though it was so moist yet huge, that the cake couldn't withstand its own weight and squashed a little. The cream cheese frosting disguised the crack with no problem and the texture didn't affect the eating at all - it was delicious. I was happy to serve this up to our friends and they were happy to eat it! It seemed positive all round.<br />
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I will definitely make this again - it was so rich, and moist, and just downright decadent!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKe68D0YdbzJ6q9K96OuR3E3KAwV_WH-4cye8ZoQqKpF-CsLqDPoNEKGOXgYSXBra1MN1Pmls-ewkufFaypu3UylJ4e1RtZ2uLAXpvl5YqBITPzNMvngvJjHO8LOF3LJjhrgrijwciyc8/s1600/DSCF1194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKe68D0YdbzJ6q9K96OuR3E3KAwV_WH-4cye8ZoQqKpF-CsLqDPoNEKGOXgYSXBra1MN1Pmls-ewkufFaypu3UylJ4e1RtZ2uLAXpvl5YqBITPzNMvngvJjHO8LOF3LJjhrgrijwciyc8/s200/DSCF1194.JPG" width="200" /></a>The best part of all was that it was SO big that we left a quarter of it with our friends and dropped the other two quarters round to two different friends' houses on the way home. This prompted a facebook discussion on the subject of this cake and I have now promised to make it for a few more friends. I topped mine with a dusting of cocoa powder and some dark chocolate chunks.Rachel Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17142998077911030389noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311552391099746347.post-65439101104550711572013-02-25T06:56:00.001-08:002013-02-25T06:56:51.708-08:00Red Velvet Cupcakes<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, as per my <a href="http://listloveblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/in-review-hummingbird-bakery-cake-days.html" target="_blank">previous post</a>, I got stuck into baking from this book this past weekend and I must say, it all went down very well! I started with Red Velvet Cupcakes and I will definitely be making this recipe again. They were a big hit with us three, my sister, my niece & nephew, my grandparents, and our friends. Thankfully, I already have an exciting event to make these for which I'll be sharing with you all very soon (and how you can get involved). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I haven't made red velvet cake at all before and I was delighted with how moist and delicious this version was. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBL778HqYG5SDQivuRLNsM_9h0xuFcj92mVmWHShJWrYnibOyH4KVnxY5k5iH0DRLmKtrxGLeqYbHsBpUAcZ0YAKvUDGxpc5K6nAZB3kvmioOh2biKAc7PBH4e-ZxwMwNs0KMTeqabH9M/s1600/DSCF1170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBL778HqYG5SDQivuRLNsM_9h0xuFcj92mVmWHShJWrYnibOyH4KVnxY5k5iH0DRLmKtrxGLeqYbHsBpUAcZ0YAKvUDGxpc5K6nAZB3kvmioOh2biKAc7PBH4e-ZxwMwNs0KMTeqabH9M/s200/DSCF1170.JPG" width="150" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The recipe calls for butter but I used baking block margarine because I already had it in my fridge and, quite frankly, half the price! I think if you use it properly in a cake recipe you can't really tell. Obviously icing is a different matter. Buttercream has to be butter! The recipe dictated 'softened' butter but mine was hard out of the fridge. Hooray - a chance to try out a <a href="http://www.maryberry.co.uk/" target="_blank">Mary Berry</a> special tip! Mary says if you need softened butter, to cube it and pop it in a bowl, pour hot water over it then drain the water off and, voila, perfectly softened butter! I am pleased (but not suprised) to report that it works. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPYCd6kdstJoQH7tAeR18FE0YjbTnRMbG_exASjhlDIINdU-6sXIZDAHNFifQ30EgTkRDI_vLj10gbKT9q8qZh7-dqBsy79fVV4MQhBhLmaUjIM47_xxrRkFJFmmowpzF4E5LBGdU5sOU/s1600/DSCF1171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPYCd6kdstJoQH7tAeR18FE0YjbTnRMbG_exASjhlDIINdU-6sXIZDAHNFifQ30EgTkRDI_vLj10gbKT9q8qZh7-dqBsy79fVV4MQhBhLmaUjIM47_xxrRkFJFmmowpzF4E5LBGdU5sOU/s200/DSCF1171.JPG" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The other change I had to make was to the food colouring. I only use highly concentrate gel food colours but the recipe cited Dr. Oetker as a good example of the type of food colouring and a measurement of 40ml. You have to mix it with the vanilla and cocoa powder to form a paste. So I just used a dollop on the handle of a teaspoon and added warm water from the kettle til I felt I'd added roughly 40ml and was a paste-like consistency. This worked absolutely fine and the colour was fab! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The last part that was different was the yield. The recipe states 12-16 cupcakes but I got 14 large cupcakes as well as another 16 smaller fairy cake size! They recommend doubling the recipe for making a triple layer 23cm cake but I'm not sure you'd need to! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I got to have some of the sciency fun that I mentioned before with this recipe - the rise is achieved by mixing bicarb with vinegar - I used distilled white vinegar although they stated white wine vinegar (shop didn't have any and as it's only a spoonful, I doubted it would matter... and it didn't.) It all fizzed up and then I stirred it into the batter last of all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These cakes are finished off perfectly with a spreading of cream cheese buttercream and red velvet cake crumbs:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />Well, these are definitely a great recipe and one I will come back to time and time again. After all, it's been the Hummingbird Bakery's best selling flavour since they opened in London so who am I to argue with that?! Part of item one on my <a href="http://listloveblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/here-goes.html" target="_blank">list</a> is to follow recipes properly - it's pushing me to learn new skills and try methods that I usually wouldn't look at. I am learning a lot already which I love :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By the way, in the interest of full disclosure, you ought to know this is the equipment I am working with: </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5EYhBlktzc61us1tb8sRaBgpbg9Sa5hwyczToQwpVQW1rDtIkOLDbZDpbM0CtRE94TBCJtku2qGqnbuz79F3C71-CStfZmDUHelXzQTXL96ZK09yGYaytl9lZ_9tSTZK5Ik3aPNpkh4/s1600/DSCF1169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5EYhBlktzc61us1tb8sRaBgpbg9Sa5hwyczToQwpVQW1rDtIkOLDbZDpbM0CtRE94TBCJtku2qGqnbuz79F3C71-CStfZmDUHelXzQTXL96ZK09yGYaytl9lZ_9tSTZK5Ik3aPNpkh4/s320/DSCF1169.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have no idea how old this Kenwood is but it has definitely seen better days and needs to retire! BUT it was free to me and belonged to my great Aunt (so is prob 40yrs old or so) and it's all I have for now. As for the scales, my digital ones are broken and these ones were a wedding present - my sister found them in a charity shop! Also, my oven is gas and has no markings on the dial so I have no clue of temperature!! If I can get result with this trio of clapped out second-hand equipment then these recipes must be good!!</span>Rachel Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17142998077911030389noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311552391099746347.post-42366129096726620672013-02-23T15:05:00.001-08:002013-02-24T01:38:08.914-08:00In Review: Hummingbird Bakery Cake Days <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, as per my previous post, I recently treated myself to <a href="http://www.theworks.co.uk/p/cakes/cake-days-the-hummingbird-bakery/9780007374793" target="_blank">this book</a>:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Immediately, I wanted to get baking but wanted an excuse so as to avoid the whole bake-it-just-because-and-then-eat-it-cos-it's-there thing. Thankfully I found the perfect excuse. My sister hopped on a train with her three wonderful kids this morning and came to spend the day with us and we're off to friends for lunch tomorrow. So I baked, naturally. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This book is such a treat to leaf through. The Hummingbird Bakery seems to value flavour over flair which is wonderful. If you visit <a href="http://sliceofbarnes.com/" target="_blank">Slice of Barnes</a>, you will see she says</span> <span style="background-color: clear; color: #333333; line-height: 14.296875px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"believes that modern cupcakes are too much about the icing, and not enough about the taste."</i></span></span><span style="background-color: clear; color: #333333; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, FreeMono, monospace; line-height: 14.296875px;"> </span><span style="background-color: clear; color: #333333; line-height: 14.296875px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am inclined to agree. Cupcakes have become fashionable (which is no bad thing, it has got people interested in baking, after all) but there is generally a mound of piped generic buttercream frosting, too sickly sweet to properly enjoy, and decorated to within an inch of its life. Don't get me wrong, there is a place for beautiful cakes - I am all for the odd sugar paste rose, or lightly glittered butterfly, atop some beautifully piped frosting - but it is a real shame when the look far outweighs the taste. If something looks enticing, you want to take that first bite and not feel you've been lured to something decidedly ordinary tasting (or worse!)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: clear; color: #333333; line-height: 14.296875px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As I read through this book, the first thing that struck me was that all the frosting was smoothed over with a pallet knife with just a little flicked swirl in the centre. And not a piping nozzle in sight. Now, you'll know from reading my <a href="http://listloveblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/here-goes.html" target="_blank">list</a> that cake decorating is on there and I love it. I understand this book though. You get the sense that they want a cupcake (or cake - there are lots of whole cake recipes too) to be a comfort, a real treat, a joy to both bake and eat, and to taste divine. All their frosting is a complimentary flavour to the sponge, not merely a decorative tool. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 14.296875px;">The second thing I noticed was that they only use plain flour with different raising agents. This is new to me (obviously, I have used plain flour with baking powder before but it's unusual for an entire book!) I realise, though, that baking is a science and by taking this route, it allows more control over the kind of rise and texture you get in a bake. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 14.296875px;">The third thing about this book is the flavours they have come up with. They're soooo tempting, I hardly knew where to begin! Flavours so creative and mouthwatering that to cover them with lots of decoration would seem a tad sacrilegious to be honest. The book has such a relaxed, yet beautiful, feel to it that it makes you feel you could achieve the same results you see on the page. Which you totally can. The recipes are more complex than I am used to (as a result of the science-ness) but as long as you read the directions thoroughly it's fine. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 14.296875px;">I have already baked twice from this book and would definitely say it is expanding my baking horizons and pushing my limited skills (thus helping me in item one on the list!) I am already excited about what I can make from this book next... all in all, it's a big thumbs up and huge recommendation from me (that counts for a lot, don't you know?!)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 14.296875px;">Watch this space for a review of the recipes I made for my sister, kids, and our friends!</span></span></div>
Rachel Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17142998077911030389noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311552391099746347.post-65504218530437453072013-02-21T13:10:00.002-08:002013-02-21T13:11:11.797-08:00"This is new cakebook MADNESS!!!!"<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Said Barnes... "Madness, indeed" I replied. She's right, that lovely lady of <a href="http://www.sliceofbarnes.com/" target="_blank">Slice of Barnes</a> fame. You see, shortly before hand I had tweeted this: </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJXoSzobLdKXM34PbF4Xxy23hroPgM7ArcQDQHYJy_whI6ptjHXpdeqspQh92Z6NZLAb_3HsMP7NAp0z9rGTzxHkbc8-WXP1I0sIJyS3FUG2wA1qjDdWfoLTl89HkGb0h90kmWvLcQGk/s1600/cake+days.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJXoSzobLdKXM34PbF4Xxy23hroPgM7ArcQDQHYJy_whI6ptjHXpdeqspQh92Z6NZLAb_3HsMP7NAp0z9rGTzxHkbc8-WXP1I0sIJyS3FUG2wA1qjDdWfoLTl89HkGb0h90kmWvLcQGk/s320/cake+days.bmp" width="312" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Followed by this....</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgveiJdYdJIil5UfIgXV6E4UQR3irym5SxMLXvaSntGm-497KuukHjp1n7NKsqX7qinR0cJ7Z1XymaQ0nS_dmkVjRZbMjvMlDMInJi4hkjv1b50WD1cQEMVeraZ9YzwNyi0s1SzlG_ZATE/s1600/ccccb.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgveiJdYdJIil5UfIgXV6E4UQR3irym5SxMLXvaSntGm-497KuukHjp1n7NKsqX7qinR0cJ7Z1XymaQ0nS_dmkVjRZbMjvMlDMInJi4hkjv1b50WD1cQEMVeraZ9YzwNyi0s1SzlG_ZATE/s320/ccccb.bmp" width="306" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thus ensued a twitter feed involving the fact that I recently gave birth to a 9lb 7oz baby with no pain relief (no, I'm not mental and / or Wonderwoman, my darling son simply came out faster than the doctors could get their epidural act together!) and a discussion on how long I could milk this (we decided on forever - I have warned my husband.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, it has been a fabulous day for my collection of baking literature and these two will be on my shelf of loveliness alongside such favourites as <a href="http://www.josblueaga.com/" target="_blank">Jo Wheatley's</a> <a href="http://www.sainsburysentertainment.co.uk/en/Books/Hardback/Jo-Wheatley/A-Passion-For-Baking-Sainsbury-s-Exclusive/product.html?product=E11076373" target="_blank">"A Passion for Baking"</a> and <a href="http://www.thepinkwhisk.com/" target="_blank">Ruth Clemens'</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1446301648/ref=asc_df_144630164812041831?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&tag=hydra0b-21&linkCode=asn&creative=22206&creativeASIN=1446301648&hvpos=1o2&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=958177447280519116&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=" target="_blank">"A Busy Girl's Guide to Cake Decorating"</a>, both of which I got for my birthday last year and further fuelled my desire to get good at baking!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Having just signed up to my first <a href="http://www.clandestinecakeclub.co.uk/" target="_blank">Clandestine Cake Club</a> meeting, organised by <a href="http://www.charlotteskitchendiary.com/" target="_blank">Charlotte Pike</a>, I am excited to say I'll be baking from the CCC Cookbook at the start of march (if not before!) and found it so hard to settle on a recipe to use, I am actually combining two - the cake of one, with presentation of another! It shall remain a suprise, however, until after the lovely CCC Dorset group have had their slice! As soon as I have an excuse, however, I have my sights firmly set on the <a href="http://www.hummingbirdbakery.com/" target="_blank">Hummingbird Bakery's</a> Chocolate & Guinness Cake... oh yes! Watch this space for recipe testing & full book reviews soon(ish)!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thanks for stopping by, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">R x</span>Rachel Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17142998077911030389noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311552391099746347.post-26115321614493663212013-02-21T08:06:00.000-08:002013-02-21T09:27:25.768-08:00Recipe Development<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: clear; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have always been daunted by the thought of developing my own recipes. I tend to think I would have no clue where to start! Last night, however, I had a little revelation. I already develop recipes... pretty much every day. Every time I look in the fridge & cupboard and then just "wing it" for dinner, I am creating new recipes! So, last night, I decided & would photograph and blog this one. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I know this isn't strictly baking but it is a dough and it isn't something I have made before so I reckon it counts for item two on my big list!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: clear; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, my husband popped out to the Co-Op for something and came home with a super bargain cooked chicken that was reduced to clear for <span style="line-height: 19.1875px;">£</span><span style="line-height: 19.1875px;">1.25. Perfect! I can get a minimum of two meals out of a full roast chicken, sometimes three. This had me thinking, I fancied something with a sweet, smoky flavour and tortillas. I didn't fancy going back to the shops for tortillas so I googled it and here's where I ended up: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.1875px;">Flour Tortilla Wraps - what a discovery, I never knew they could be so easy and delicious. I don't think I'll ever buy wraps again! I made one quarter of this recipe. Seeing I had all the elements in my stores, I set to work and made my dough. Whilst the dough was resting, I made a sauce of tinned chopped tomatoes, paprika, garlic, squirt of ketchup, and squirt of Smoky BBQ sauce, and dash of salt & pepper. Smoked paprika would be best but I didn't have any. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: clear; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Bargain chicken and easy peasy tortilla dough.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: clear; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then I started on my tortillas. The recipe states a hot dry pan so I heated the pan and started rolling out my first one. I went thin, as I was rolling this up for a baked dish but for sandwich style wraps, you could easily go a tad thicker - perfect with falafel I think! I rolled thin enough that I could see light through my dough when I held it up. It should be lovely and stretchy too. The tortillas should bubble beautifully in the pan. It seems odd to dry fry, but it does work and they crisp wonderfully. At this point I started imagining all the delicious things I could come up with for these wraps - hot & crisp served with fresh guacamole, home made salsa and hummous as an appetiser, perhaps?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: clear; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Once all the tortillas were done, and the sauce had simmered to a lovely thick consistency, I assembled the dish. I spread a thin layer of sauce over the bottom of the dish and took each tortilla, filled with a squeeze of BBQ sauce, shredded chicken, and then rolled up, placing it seam-side down in the dish. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: clear; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then I took the remaining sauce and spread it over the top of the rolled up wraps and covered in grated cheese. This would have been better with monterey cheese or even a mozzarella - cheddar mix (for their melty stringy properties) but I only had cheddar to hand. I sprinkled a touch of paprika on top of the cheese and popped it into a hot oven for around 20 mins or so. Here is what came out:</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: clear; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">A dish of sweet, smoky, tomatoey, cheesy, meaty, tortilla deliciousness.<br /><br />I will definitely make this again!! The tortillas stayed soft, with a few crisp edges whereas I have made a similar dish with shop bough wraps and they can go a tad soggy (bleugh!)</span></td></tr>
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Rachel Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17142998077911030389noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311552391099746347.post-72456815379225601862013-02-19T14:32:00.000-08:002013-02-21T09:29:23.007-08:00Here Goes...I wonder how may people have started their first blog post with that title, "Here goes..." Those three little dots, loaded with anticipation excitement, or perhaps even fear? It's quite something, putting a little piece of your heart in writing and hoping that someone, somewhere, somehow will stumble across your teeny corner of the blog-o-sphere and read it. Maybe they'll enjoy it, laugh a little with you. Perhaps even come back and read your musings again, becoming a small part of your journey.<br />
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Well, here goes... :)<br />
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I am Rachel. I am a wife, mother, avid baker, amateur cake decorator, even more amateur sewer, and a below-average musician and an ok singer (I can't ever imagining getting to the point of being able to say I'm a good singer - seems weird, to like your own voice, doesn't it?!) I digress. The point of this blog stems from my love of list making so it seems only natural to make a BIG list. Not long, but BIG in stature. The bucket type big.<br />
At the tender age of 21, I met the most wonderful man I could ever have hoped to meet, because he was made to be mine. My first proper boyfriend and, as it happens, my husband just a year later. 6 years on and we have 2 extraordinary sons who challenge and delight us daily (in almost equal measures.) My twenties have been the most drastically life-altering years so far and I am turning 30 in exactly 2 years and 5 months, which brings me back to the list:<br />
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ONE : Learn to drive<br />
TWO: Learn to bake. Properly.<br />
THREE: Learn to decorate cakes. Properly.<br />
FOUR: Sew an item of clothing from scratch.<br />
FIVE: Write (and finish writing) a song.<br />
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There, that's my BIG list. I told you it wouldn't be long! I will be blogging about my reasons for each item on the list and my efforts in each of these areas as I go along. Of course, there are many more I could add, but I know myself and if I see a list which feels as though it may be bigger than my ability to complete it, I'll very likely not bother at all. So, these five are enough.... for now.<br />
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Thank you for reading and I'll keep you posted (in between changing two sets of nappies and keeping my eyes open with intravenous caffeine shots)<br />
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R x<br />
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ps. re: item ONE - booked my first driving lesson today! EEEEEEEEK!<br />
pps. re: item TWO & THREE - booked my place on my first <a href="http://clandestinecakeclub.co.uk/">CCC Meeting</a> too. Bring on the baking!Rachel Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17142998077911030389noreply@blogger.com6