My secret valentine

Hi All

It is that time of year again, the only day in the year where you must show the one you hold the dearest in your heart how much you love them? This is usually done by mixing loads of cheese, fluff and a good sprinkling of tat and voilà! You have Valentine's Day. I am sure you can tell by the undertone running through the start of this post I really do not hold Valentines Day with much regard, I believe every day is an opportunity to show the one dearest in your heart how much you love them and this day is an overrated commercial, bleed your pockets dry suck fest, which I have no intention of being a part of! However if you are anything like me then you are really secretly hoping this is happen at your home while you are at your 9-5….

Yeah I know I am a contradiction, while I do not believe in the hype and cheap petrol station roses which surround Valentine's Day, I am all for someone genuinely putting themselves out there and showing or telling someone else how they feel about them. So my heart goes out to the young man who could be right at this moment swimming through the shark invested waters in London!? To get to my house and leave me a box of chocolates. As it is 2012 my tastes have changed so hopefully they are from Hotel Chocolate.

Bye for now

PB x

Baby! It's cold outside!

Hi All

A few weeks back, I was sitting down on my sofa enjoying whatever delights were showing on the TV, when I felt an icy breeze blowing across my feet. I don’t like the cold, not one little bit, especially in my house I am one of those people who firmly believes when you are in your house you should be able to walk around in shorts and T-shirt, not keep your coat, hat and scarf on with a hot water bottle strapped onto your body! So with this icy breeze blowing in from under the door, I decided to wage war against all things breezy, icy and blowing in from under doors. My first attempts with an old towel and lightly taping a plastic bin liner to the bottom of the door, failed to do the job in hand, and also look extremely unattractive. So off to the shops I went to find a draft excluder, the one I found was cute but the price wasn’t. So Instead of trying out a bit of haggling in a major department store and embarrassing myself, I went straight to YouTube and found a tutorial by Debbie Shore of Thimble Lane on how to make a doggy draft excluder, (I am sure you could retrain for any new career using videos from YouTube?) As PB senior had caught wind (pun intended) about what I was doing, an order of four doggy drafter excluders came my way. Using scrap material which had been hanging around in a box for years I put this together.

 Not bad huh! As you can see mine doesn’t have any ears or a tail, I could make out this was intentional, but it was because I could not be bothered to cut them out. So while I have one down three more to go and with the Russian cold and snow sweeping across the country at the moment, I think you all should watch the video below, find some old fabric and whip up a few of these and join me in the battle to fight all things breezy, icy and blowing in under doors

                    

Bye for now!

PB x 

28 Days later

It is now 28 days into the New Year. I am sure some of you are full throttle into your New Year’s resolutions, or you have already thrown in the towel? Well it has taken me all these weeks to decided what I wanted my resolutions to be. Usually each year comes and the week in-between Christmas and New Year’s ends up feeling like a pressured one, as everyone is asking you what are your resolutions, or telling you theirs without being asked, so if you’re not stating you are planning to re-train as a tiger tamer and will be learning the classical version of the Nahuatl language which was spoken by the Aztecs on a Wednesday evening. And not forgetting the usual of get fit stop eating crap. Then a look of, ‘boring!’ will surely be fired your way. Well most of the time these resolutions are usually plucked out of the air, the list is far too long, and some of them are only on the list to look impressive! So this year I planned to start with a few and If I need to revaluate or add some more, then I will. So what has all this got to do with baking and avoiding the dishes?

Well, over Christmas I had managed to stay clear from wheat for most of the holiday, (this is not including my fair well tea and chocolate Hob Nob dunking party I had on New Year’s Day) which I felt much better for doing. So starting 2012 I am going to be wheat and gluten free! I know I kind of mentioned something like this before, however I have always given myself a non-expiry date free pass, which has always lead me into an episode of wheat binging and days of bloating and discomfort.

So here's to 2012 living less bloated one day at a time!

Bye for now!

PBx  

Happy 2012!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

BYE FOR NOW!

PB x

Mistletoe And Wine

Well the big day is finally here! If you’re like me and are planning to get the roast in the oven by 10am, or follow Gordan Ramsey's Christmas Cookalong Live (I wish!) and planning not to be in a sugar coma by the early afternoon (because the tin of sweets just can’t stay there on the table and be mistaken for decorations, now can it?) And say to yourself, your not going to overeat, then overeat, and then proclaim to everyone at the dinner table your not going to eat anything until New Years…

Well it is good to plan? But we all know this isn’t going to happen! So when the so-called planning becomes a figment of your imagination, and chaos is beckoning and family members start getting grumpy, I always start to sing Cliff Richard’s Mistletoe & Wine to break the mood, as this was my tune! When I was little. Although the first reaction is usually annoyance, it all so makes everyone reminisce. So crank this at full blast and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas!

Bye for now!
PB X

Polar Bears

I was mesmerised this morning by the most cutest Polo bear cub I’ve ever seen. I was thinking I want one. Then I remembered I am not 5 years old anymore and it will grow up and be bigger than me!

Although this is the cutest polar bear, it is not my favourite, as for some strange reason I love creepy stalker polar bear from the Birds Eye adverts! Have a watch and you see why?





Bye for now!

PB x

I like the way you Moo!

Every time this advert comes on, it always makes me laugh, and slightly confused. As I am not sure I would be busting a move while you make me into gravy for your dinner? However a cow doing the running man gets me every time!

Bye for now!
PB x

A week of Cupcakes

Hi All

As some of you know it is National Cupcake Week, this week! And you can never have to many reasons to enjoy cupcakes now, can you? So in honour of this very special week I thought I rework a classic poem:

Monday's cupcake ends up all over your face.

Tuesday's cupcake is gone without a trace.

Wednesday's cupcake makes you go Whoa!

Thursday's cupcake is far, but you will go.

Friday's cupcakes are for giving????

Saturday you have cupcakes, because you work hard for a living!

And the cupcakes that are baked on a sabbath day, is the most moreish and scrummy and make you lick your fingers all day!

Bye for now!

PBx

Did you turn it off and on again?

Hi All

Technology appears to be the Bain of my life! If it is not my laptop then it’s my camera or both, so once again my lack of presence on here is due to technology trying to ruin my life!! Okay maybe a tad over dramatic? But I come from the school of plug it in, switch it on and that is all I need to do! So apologies, apologies, I will have something food related in a mo!

Bye for now
PBx

Let me at him!

Hi All

I spent most part of this weekend feeling sleep deprived. And oh how I wished it was due to a night out on the tiles, getting somewhat merry to the wee hours. Then I wouldn’t have minded sluggishly pulling myself through the next day with a slight nervous twitch in my left eye! No it was due to a big fly! Although it wasn’t big by Jeff Goldblum standards, it was big enough to make a loud enough buzz that I couldn’t sleep, which prompted me out of my bed trying to coax it out through the window, or catch it in a glass. After the forth effort back and forth from my bed and realising that the fly did not leave graciously through the window. I turned into a large version of Scrappy Doo, slapping wildly around my bedroom with a slipper and muttering get out or die! Remember I was extremely tired!

By 3am the battle was won! I felt a little bad for splatting the fly however in my heart I do believe it was on it last wings? There are some lessons to be learned:

1) Turning into Scrappy Doo it never a good look!
2) Don’t leave your window open all day when it is summer!
3) Invest in some fly paper!

I am sure these are valuable lessons for you all to take you through the rest of this week?

Bye for now!

PBX

Return of the lap(top)

Hi All

I know I know the title is full of cheese! Using a lame reference of a 90's Mark Morrison's hit, which has been given a 2011 remix by Snoop Dog, so maybe I am on trend? But having been away from this blog for what feels like ages? I felt I needed to make an entrance, a show biz razzmatazz. No matter how cheesy it was! (Anyway, I love cheesy!)

So finally giving up on the old laptop and putting it to rest, it did take a while to decide which laptop to buy. Having to consider things like, does it have a built in webcam, how much Ram it has, is it 4GB, 5GB to be honest at this point this is where I get lost and lose all interest, as my eyes start glazing over when the sales assistant enthusiastically explaining the benefits of each laptop to me. So while all the above have been carefully considered and taken into account, I purchased the one which was shiny and pink! I've still got the protective plastic on it, oh dear I hope I'm not turning into the elder relative you used to visit as a child and they had that special front room which you wasn't allowed to enter, you could only take a peek at it through the crack in the door and wonder why the sofa was still covered in plastic??

Err....Plastic will be removed A.S.A.P!

Bye for now!

PBX

Shhhh! This isn't my laptop

Hi All

Apologies for the quite and stillness here but my laptop of four years is now dying a slow death, screen freezing, internet up loading cursor just spins without a care in the world, and it likes to randomly show me it’s blue screen just to scare me! So with that I have to lay it to rest, (sad face) and get me a shiny new one! (Happy face). Anyway can’t go into too much details now as I need to be quick!

Bye for now

PBx

Spelt

Hi All

From my post on Sunday I was going to explain way I was using spelt flour in my recipe.

A few years I was informed I had an intolerance to wheat which for me results in bloating, tummy pains, slow digestion, and some ahem! Anti-social side effects. While my head was spinning with thoughts of cakes, cookies, thick slices of toast soaked in butter I now had to avoid, I was also informed I could eat spelt flour instead, as I didn’t know what spelt was I wasn’t filled with any excitement, however I learned the following:

Spelt is an ancient grain which was originally grown in Iran around 5000 to 6000 B.C; it was more widely used then than the current wheat grain we use today. It is similar in appearance to the wheat grain, however it has a tougher husk and has a slightly nuttier and sweater flavour. Spelt contains more protein and lower levels of gluten than wheat; however it is not suitable for those with a wheat allergy or gluten free diet. However if you want to get deeper into spelt check out the Wikipedia link!

So although I was given this information a few years ago it didn’t mean I adhered to it. Due to research purposes (and lack of resistance) I will eat the wheat, as I know my whole body isn’t going to swell up, or I break out in a rash all over my body, I always think the discomfort is worth it!? Although you can now get more slightly wider range of spelt products in health food shops and one and two items in larger chains of supermarkets it isn’t enough. So most of my recopies will be made using spelt flour unless otherwise stated.

However if you see me out and about eating a massive wheat baguette, please do not wag your finger at me and say I shouldn’t be eating that! Remember it is for research purposes and it’s worth it!?

Bye for now!

PBx

D'oh!

Hi All

Do you ever go against your gut instinct? Well that was me on Friday night having a serious Homer Simpson moment. I have wanted a Kitchen Aid for years! When I decided I could justify spending over £300 on one, they put the price up to over £400 and now I am back in the same position. However I got leered into getting a Magimix which can do so much, juicing, making dough, making cake and cutting chips! I thought I was quid’s in as it had gone down in price to just over £100! However their method for making cake are mainly mixing all the ingredients together all at once. So for that I should of known I couldn’t make butter cream in this machine but I was tired and didn’t want to use my hand mixer and thought why not? It might work? Look at the results!

The one on your right is the one I used in the Magimix, it started creaming together in the beginning then when I added the rest of the icing sugar it started turning into clumps and the oil from the butter looked like it was separating. So in the end I made another batch ( the one on the left) with my hand mixer. So the lesson for this story is to listen to your gut and not be lazy as it will give you more dishes to wash up, and you all know I don’t like that!

Bye for now!

PBx

When I'm cleaning windows

Hi All

It's another bank holiday here in the UK and it has been sunny most of the day today which is surprising, huh hold on I speak too soon! It has now suddenly become over cast and windy, boo! Anyway I have managed not to try and cram in all a months worth of chores in one day, and have spent most of today cleaning my windows Ooo! the excitement! Which it is not! It is rather disgusting, I can't believe the amount of muck that can get trapped in-between my windows and I am not even on a main road! (Shame on me). I've learnt a trick to finish off my windows, is to rub a soft clean towel over them which gives them a lovely shine I am proud of!

Bye for now!

PBx

Testing testing, 1,2,3.

Hi All

Apart of my spring clean and bringing in the new over the Easter and bank holiday break was to redecorate my bedroom, which I have been talking about for aaaageeees!! Finally on Saturday I made it to my nearest DIY store and purchased some paint testers. Which you can see above my aim for my room is to make it relaxing, chilled and rejuvenating, however with the amount of things I have and lacking room to store them (Although I forgot about the new space that has been made in the garden shed) I think that is a lot of pressure I am putting on the paint to achieve these things! I have gone for blues and greens, and a coral I have been inspired by the array of colours of pink flamingos and thought maybe this coral may be the nearest to them? Now I’m looking at the paints just in their pots with sober eyes and no longer with the intoxicated future visions of what my room is going to look like rushing over me I am now filled with err what was I thinking!? Hopefully once I test them on walls they may look alright?

Bye for now!

PBx

Who wants to be a millionaire?

Hi All

Having had to walk to another newsagents which isn’t as close to my house than my usual one, because the news paper I wanted had sold out! I was even more disappointed to find I wasn’t featured anywhere in it! Yes that’s right I was looking at the Sunday Times Rich List lol! I know, I know delusions of grandeur, wishful thinking or plan right cuckoo! Whilst still being at my 9-5 I would have to make and sell loads of cakes (instead of eating them!) to even scrap on the list. However it is an interesting read to see how the other half live.

The above picture is of a £1 note some of you may remember using these, I vaguely remember, or was I shown one in a history lesson? Okay I tell untruths! I remember my big sister using them to pay for her stash of 5p crisps and penny sweets! Peggy B senior found this today while going through some old things; she thinks it may be worth something, not enough to get into print me thinks!

Bye for now!

PBx

All in a days work?

Hi All

Today is the day I return back to the 9-5 after having the 11 day Easter Bank Holiday break from there, although my heart and feet feel heavy whilst travelling to the tube station, it got me thinking about the long list of things I gave to myself to complete over those 11 days, like cleaning out the garden shed, redecorating my bedroom, have a cake sale, catching up with my friends and relatives, trying out 5 new cake recipes, oh and spending a day at the seaside. And what makes this all so more Mission Impossible the list didn’t end there!

Well I did do some of these things, however who was I kidding? Clearly myself. As my body, if it wouldn’t allow me to move, then it would fall in a near comatose state of sleep any time I sat still for two minutes! I do this all the time, all the things I’ve been day dreaming about I wanted to get done over the last four months at work, I know it isn’t wise to try and cram them all in on my days off. Oh well let’s see how many I can fit in on the next Bank Holiday, I know I never learn!

Bye for now!

PBx

Spring is in the air

Hi All

Spring is here and it feels and looks like it, on this bright warm and but windy May Day Bank Holiday. It is the time of the year when we decide to clean up, throw out, and bring in the new! As I have been feeling like this for the last few weeks I decided to do the above with this blog! It has nearly been a year since I last posted anything (my head is hung in shame!) So here is some of my spring cleaning list.

I cleaned up: Gave the blog a few tweaks to look fresh.

I threw out: The old camera and invested in a new fancy one (so I only have my technique to blame when the pictures look bad!)

Bring in the new: Peggy B will be focusing on more! All things that is inspiring and creative for the home and life.

So apologies for my absence, however there will be more to come!

Bye for now!

PBx