Blueberry Breakfast Cake

Posted on March 27, 2012 by admin

This cake makes a lovely breakfast treat. It tastes more like a scone than a cake, it is made from wholemeal flour and is not too sweet…

300g wholemeal pastry flour
3 teaspoons of baking powder
80g brown sugar
2 eggs
250ml (1 cup) buttermilk
60g melted coconut oil (or you can use melted butter)
150g blueberries
a couple of tablespoons of brown sugar

Grease and flour a baking tin (I used a lasagna dish which works well) Preheat the oven to 180c.

Mix the flour, baking powder and sugar.

In a separate bowl whisk the eggs until they are pale and fluffy then add the buttermilk and butter. Pour these into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Try not to over mix, it will look more like a bread dough as supposed to a normal sponge mix.

Place into tin and lightly push to the edges. Scatter the blueberries over the top of the mix and then sprinkle with the 2 tablespoons of sugar. Bake in the oven for around 25mins or until a knife comes out clean.

Botanical Patterns and Prints

Posted on March 17, 2012 by admin

Clockwise from top left:

Botanical Leather Notebook from Natural History, Teacup and saucer: Botanic Garden (March) from Portmeirion, Meadowland and Wildflower Cornfield Mixed Seeds from Victoria & Albert shop, The Paper Garden: Mrs Delany Begins Her Life’s Work at 72 by Molly Peacock, Suzu Top from Toast, Botanical Etchings Square Tile from Marlborough Tiles, Honzo Zufu [Blue Flower] by Kan’en Iwasaki from Kew Gardens shop.

Merchant & Mills

Posted on February 20, 2012 by admin

Merchant & Mills sell the most wonderful selection of sewing essentials; safety pins, buckles, scissors, needles, fabrics… They also sell patterns for a wide selection of dresses and tops which are supplied on thick card and sent out in the post in storage tubes. The patterns are simple and elegant (like the ‘Trapeze Dress’ above) and are not too challenging; even for beginners. The majority of the materials are sourced from the UK including dressmaking shears from Sheffield and oilskin from Yorkshire. Their Studio is based in Hay-on-Wye where you can sign up to do various sewing courses. Keep up to date with all their products and news on their blog here.

Jammy Shortbread Biscuits

Posted on February 13, 2012 by admin

Valentine's Day shortbread

100g butter
100g caster sugar
200g plain flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg
a few drops of vanilla extract
approx 200g strawberry jam

Preheat the oven to 180c then line and grease a baking tin (I used a 30 x 20cm one)

Cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl. Add the flour and baking powder and bring together then add the egg and vanilla extract. Knead the mixture together until you get a smooth dough, wrap in cling film and chill in the fridge for around 30mins.

Divide the dough in half and roll out one half to the size of the baking sheet (it will be quite thin, probably around 3mm) Place it in the tray and spread the jam over the surface. Then roll out the other half and place over the top.

Bake in the oven for around 15-20mins until it starts to go golden around the edges. Take out of the oven and leave to cool for 5mins. You can use pastry cutters to cut out shapes or use a knife to cut it into squares. They make sweet Valentine’s Day presents too!

These keep well in a biscuit tin for 3-4 days.

Blue & White

Posted on February 10, 2012 by admin

Clockwise from top left:
24h Tuokio by Arabia tabelware range by Finnish designer duo Helorinne & Kallio from Skandium, Sandalwood D Tana Lawn, Liberty Art Fabrics from Liberty Vintage Grainsack Pillow Double Blue Stripe from Jill Bent Cut Paper Wallpaper from the Tea House Collection from Thibaut Calico Teapot by Burleigh Nejlika Jardiniere from Nordic Style

Andre Marty prints for London Underground

Posted on February 3, 2012 by admin

These beautiful vintage posters were originally published in 1931 by the Electric Railways Company Ltd. Designed by the Ecole des Beaus Artist Andre Marty, they would have advertised days out form London by tube, bus or tram. You can now buy a beautiful presentation pack of these set of A3 prints from the London Transport Museum shop.