Off to the beach...?

Previously I was lucky enough to review the Go Camp France app and the lovely folk there sent me an app for another firm favourite – West Country Beaches. This incorporates beaches throughout Devon and Cornwall and not just the popular common knowledge ones either. Amazingly it also includes the little sandy coves or rock pool havens.

190 beaches are featured in this clever little app including my little favourite Talland Bay in Cornwall. Not only does it tell you the nearest beach to you and bring up a photo to show you the beach (great if you’re after sandy or rock pools) it also tells you a little about each beach and the facilities there. For example is there car parking, how accessible is the beach (last thing you want it a cliff crawl with a toddler in arms!) toilets, restaurant, dogs allowed etc. and the best bit I think is are there life guards present. Especially if you have children there is nothing better than an extra pair of eyes on patrol over your kids!

There is also a lovely little surfing part of this which tells you if the beach is suitable for and you can then search for local surf schools! Perfect I think for if you’re planning on visiting with teens in tow this summer! And if you want to make your friends jealous why not check in through twitter and facebook and message your friends directly through the app?

Now while you can also search for surf schools you can also incredible easily search for surf shops, fast food outlets, restaurants and pubs! Is there anything else you might need in an app this summer?

 This little bit of knowledge is just from playing with the app. We’re planning on using it nonstop in the holidays for weekends away in the West Country so check back then!

Malva Pudding Recipe

As most of you know my other half is South African and I’ve been trying out some SA recipes. Recently we visited some friends who had cooked a dessert a bit like a sticky toffee pudding only richer called Malva pudding. Well I decided to bake it myself this weekend but change it to another gluten free recipe. All I did was to change the flour though so just use regular self raising for yourself!

 The pudding

Whisked to paleness

6 1/2 ounces sugar (3/4 cup, 200 ml, or 180 g)

2 large eggs

1 tablespoon apricot jam

5 ounces gluten free self raising flour (150 g)

1 tablespoon butter (a generous tablespoon)

1 teaspoon vinegar

1/3 cup milk

For the sauce

3/4 cup fresh cream (200 ml)

3 1/2 ounces butter (100 g)

3 -5 ounces sugar (90 - 150 g)

1/3 cup hot water (90 ml)

2 teaspoons vanilla essence

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 deg F/180 deg Celsius.



Grease an oven dish. I used a 7 x 7 x 1 1/2 inch Pyrex dish. (18 x 18 x 4 1/2 cm) Beat or whip the sugar and eggs. It's quickest in a food processor, or use electric beaters. Beat until thick and lemon coloured, then add the jelly (jam) and mix through. Melt the butter (don't boil) and add the butter and vinegar to the wet mixture. Sieve the flour and add this with the milk to the egg mixture in the processor or mixing bowl. Beat well. Pour into an oven-proof dish and bake until pudding is brown and well-risen -- depending on your oven and oven dish this will be between 30 - 45 minutes. In a pot, melt together the ingredients for the sauce, and stir well. Pour it over the pudding as soon as it comes out of the oven.



Leave the sauce to soak in..



A soggy but yummy pudding!

Leave to stand awhile before serving. Serve warm. Because it's rich it does not really need enhancement, but if you want, serve with vanilla ice cream. (Thanks to Zurie for the recipe!)

Go Camp France App Review

Go Camp France recently asked if any of their followers were likely to be camping in France this summer and if so would they like to review their app. Now we’re off camping in France twice this year, one trip which involves travelling from top to bottom and then all the way back so I jumped at the chance! Having played around with it when we got the app I had to do a quick review before we go just to say how great it is!

Go Camp France is not just an app for people camping in France. It’s for any one on holiday or visiting. We as a family bigger lovers of France and have been many a time. But regardless of how many times you visit the same area you cannot remember exactly where the nearest pharmacy or petrol station is. This is where the Go Camp France to my mind comes into its own.

There’s an incredibly useful tab which tells you exactly where your nearest pharmacy, cash point, supermarket (inc opening times) tourist information points and family attractions (with helpful reviews) are and the distant from where you are staying. Having had to call up the doctors at 1am in the morning on our last visit and find our way across night time Normandy to a pharmacy which was open we could have done with the Go Camp France app then! One of my favourites is the events button. The French have a fair few holidays or celebrations where everything shuts down and if you know ahead you can plan and decide if you want to visit and what.

Now for a brief bit about the camping side. It has over 100 sites featured and reviewed and it also provides you with directions, maps, travel tips and the current offers and this includes well renowned companies like Canvas, Eurocamp, Vacansoleil, Siblu and more.  Pretty cool hey? There is also (which is rather handy) a phrase section. Which is nicely sub sectioned to help speed up the finding the right phrase process. Sorry to sound gushing but to have all the information at your fingertips (and just for 69p) without having to “google” it or drive in circles for hours is fantastic (especially when you have two youngsters fed up in the back)

I’ll post a more in-depth review when we’re tried it out and relied on it for 10 days! So come and take another look middle of June!

What Am I Reading This Month...

The lovely Julia is back hosting WAIRTM over on her blog I need curtains for the windows in my head so heres my slightly late contribution. Its a manic month coming up so my books are fairly easy reading and can you guess I'm suffering from wandering feet?

The title sold this book to me! Plus the fact who wouldnt want their own bit of Provence?

As I said wandering feet this month and a couple of trips to France planned. Might not come back at this rate.

Trisha's new book is out! So off to the shops this week to indulge! She's on twitter to @trishaashley. Do go and say hi. Her books are perfect for late nights after a busy day reading.

Guaranteed to set your imagination going. M.M.Kaye never once goes in to gorry details like so many modern day cheap authors and yet her books will have you far more on edge then any I've read. Amazing works of fiction and historical snap shops.

You cant read this and not be transported to lazy days by a river. Philippa is superb at the writing and you can clearly imagine the scenes as though you were there. A must for any one with a dream to move to the country!

I havent read this yet but after being told about it at World Book Night I went straight out to buy. Its currently sitting my bed waiting for my current book to finish.

A friend is sending me this in the post after finding it a perfect book to sum up her little Alabama village! Will let you know more when it arrives.

Otherwise enjoy what ever it is you decide to read this month and link up if you can.