Coconut & Lime Cake

An amazingly scrummy cake! I stumbled across is by accident on Pinterest and it turned out to be Kirstie Allsops and I adore Limes so had to make it. And having made it and tasted it needlessly had to share. Its pretty simple to a case of shoving all the ingredients in a bowl and whisking and then admiring your cake an hour later! Any how give it a go and let me know what you think. (ps if you're making it for adults why not add a shot of tequila for a Margarita flavour)

 Ingredients

175g (6oz)  butter, softened

3  large eggs, beaten

250g (9oz)  Carnation Condensed Milk

40g (1½oz)   desiccated coconut

finely grated zest and juice of 1 lime

175g (6oz)  self-raising flour

5 mls baking powder

100g (3½oz)   icing sugar, to decorate

zest and juice of 1 lime, to decorate

Method

Preheat the oven to 170°C, (150°C for fan ovens), gas mark 3.

Grease and base line a 900g (2lb) loaf tin with baking parchment.

Place all the cake ingredients except for decorating ingredients (ie the zest and juice of 1 lime and the icing sugar) into a large bowl and beat using an electric hand whisk until just smooth and pale. Pour into the prepared cake tin and bake for 55-65 minutes until a skewer comes out clean when inserted into the middle of the cake. If the top becomes too brown near the end of the cooking time, cover with a piece of parchment.

For the icing, simply mix the lime juice into the icing sugar until you have a thick pouring consistency – drizzle over the cake and finish with strands of lime zest.

20 tips to keep you toasty!

This infographic is provided by www.everest.co.uk. Find out how you can make your home warmer & save money by installing double glazing here

2 Step Chicken

While I was hospital last week for my appendix they discovered I also had gall stones (honestly? at my age?!) and therefore I’ve been recommended to follow a low fat diet while they monitor them. From someone who lives during the day off mars bars and baked Camembert it’s a little bit of a shock. However my husband has searched high and low (he and the boys have taken over the cooking for a bit) and came across this recipe and had to share it with you. Its low fat but gosh its tasty and incredibly easy. Personally I added a bit of mash potato as well to bulk it up! But each to their own. A friend I know uses rice….

Ingredients

·         4 large or 6 small skinless chicken thighs or fillets

·         3 shallots , quartered

·         1 carrot , sliced

·         8 new potatoes or salad potatoes, skin left on and halved or quartered if large

·         500ml chicken stock , fresh, cube or concentrate

·         1 cupful peas

·         a small bunch of tarragon , chopped

Method

1.      Put the chicken thighs, shallots, carrot, potatoes, some seasoning and the stock in a wide casserole and bring to a simmer.

2.      Cover and cook for 15 minutes, then add the peas and tarragon and cook for a further 10 minutes or until the potato is tender.

See fairly easy! We’re having it again this week so I’ll pop a photo on then. In the mean time do try it! Its yummy! 

A Request from Peter Rabbit!

I know you're all just had a guest post but having just popped out of hospital (appendix!) and I saw this awaiting me in my inbox and had to share it with you! The lakes just pop Swallows & Amazons in my head and of course the wonderful amazing world of Beatrix Potter! Who wouldn't want to go?

‘Hop to it’ and sign up to this year’s Jane Tomlinson’s Lake District Walking Festival. That’s the

message from family favourite Peter Rabbit.

The cuddly character officially kicked off the countdown to the 8 th September
event which will see around 1,000 people get into the great outdoors while raising funds for their
favourite causes.

The launch took place at The World of Beatrix Potter™, the home of Peter Rabbit, which is just a
stone’s throw from beautiful Lake Windermere – the picture-perfect setting for the festival.

The day-long event is being staged by Jane Tomlinson’s Walk For All and is one of the centrepieces
of the organisation’s newly-launched Wake Up to Walking campaign, which encourages people to
explore the countryside in a safe, fun and friendly environment.

This year’s Lake District Walking Festival – which features 5, 13 and 22 mile courses suitable for all
ages and abilities – will raise thousands of pounds for deserving causes.

The routes take walkers past the area’s most picturesque spots, including Jenkin Crag, Loughrigg Fell
and Latterbarrow.

Event lead organiser Tristan Batley-Kyle said: “With walks ranging from 5 miles to 22 miles, there is
a route to suit all abilities and everyone can enjoy the stunning scenery of this wonderful national
park.

“Last year’s event was a great success and we’re sure this year’s will be even bigger and better as we
know lots and lots of people have been telling their friends and families what a fantastic time they
had.”

Andy Poole, Chief Executive at The World of Beatrix Potter™ Attraction, said: “We’re delighted to be
supporting the Lake District Walking Festival which will not only be a great day out for all ages, but
will also help local charities doing valuable work in our area.”

Proceeds from the Lake District Walking Festival will go to support the Jane Tomlinson Appeal, which
in turn, shares funds, primarily, between children’s and cancer charities. Walkers can raise funds for
any cause of their choice but are particularly encouraged to support the festival’s partner charities
which this year are: Macmillan, Fix the Fells, RSPCA, RSPB, Yorkshire Cancer Research, Parkinson’s
UK, Great North Air Ambulance, Shine and Jane’s Appeal.

Rebecca Brown, Assistant Events Manager at Yorkshire Cancer Research, said: “It’s lovely to see
Jane Tomlinson’s walking festivals expand into such a beautiful part of the country and we’re really
excited to be a charity partner for this event. Walking is such a fantastic way to keep fit and by taking
part in the Lake District Walking Festival, our supporters will be able to make a huge difference
to the cancer research we fund in the north of England at the same time. We can’t wait to cheer
everyone on as they make their way round their chosen route.”

Mandy Drake, Head of Fundraising at the Great North Air Ambulance Service, said: “We are proud
to be associated with this event, which is taking place just a short flight from the base of our Pride
of Cumbria aircraft near Penrith. We hope as many of our supporters as possible take part in the
walk, which promises to be a great opportunity to explore this beautiful area while raising money to
support the local air ambulance.”

Penny McMullen, Fundraising Assistant for Fix the Fells, said: “One pound from each entry to the
Lake District Walking Festival will go to help the Fix the Fells project through Responsible Tourism
charity Nurture Lakeland’s Visit, Give, Protect scheme. Fix the Fells is working to repair and maintain
the upland paths in the Lake District, to protect them from erosion and keep them fighting fit for the
future, for everyone to enjoy.”

Amy Smith, RSPCA North regional fundraising manager, said: "We couldn't be more excited to be
involved in this event in the beautiful county of Cumbria and we hope our supporters will sign up,
get loads of sponsorship, and have a great day out in the fresh air with their dogs and other like-
minded people. The money our supporters raise by signing up to walk for us will go towards some of
the most-needy animals in the North of England and, at such a difficult time, every penny really does
count.”

Victoria Lamb, Community Fundraiser for the RSPB, said: “Jane Tomlinson events always attract
great support from a wide variety of people and we’re extremely pleased to have the opportunity to
be involved with the Lake District Walk For All event. We hope lots of people taking part will support
the RSPB, so we can continue our work to save threatened wildlife in the UK and overseas, and
create a world richer in nature. If people choose to support us, every step they take will be a step for
nature.”

Nicola Jones, National Events Programme Manager (East Midlands and Northern England) for
Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “Macmillan Cancer Support are delighted to be involved with Walk
for All for the second year running. The Lake District is a beautiful location to enjoy a lovely walk and
by signing up with team Macmillan your fundraising can really make a difference to the lives of those
affected by cancer. One in three of us will get cancer and it’s the toughest thing most of us will ever
face. With your help we can provide practical, medical and financial support and push for better
cancer care, making sure no one has to face it alone. Help us to help even more people.”

The Lake District Walking Festival is supported by the Lake District National Park, Nurture Lakeland,
the North West Evening Mail and BBC Radio Cumbria.

Entries for the Lake District Walking Festival are now open. To sign up go to
www.forallevents.co.uk/walk-for-all/ Prices range from £8 to £20 depending on which course is
chosen. Family entry for the five mile course is priced at just £5 per person.

Guest Post: Are we losing touch with the countryside?

As you know on this blog we’re huge advocates of all things outdoors and preferably playing in the countryside. Who doesn’t love the idea of playing down at the river? And with the National Trust bringing out 50 things to do before you 11 ¾ last year there has been a surge in countryside fun however it appears many of us still aren’t enjoying the joys of the English countryside:

YHA: Are we losing touch with the countryside? 

One in four of us have never been to a river and one in 10 couldn't identify a badger, according to

new research from the youth hostelling charity YHA (England and Wales).

Many of us look back fondly on youthful days spent climbing trees, exploring woodlands and looking

for bugs in the great outdoors, however it seems many of us are losing touch with the countryside.

With school holidays just around the corner, YHA is now urging families to get out and explore the UK

countryside.

The *survey also found that nearly four in 10 UK adults have never climbed a tree, while nearly

a quarter of respondents claim to have never even been to a lake and 16% have never been to a

woodland!

As for flora and fauna, many of us have little idea what's out there. Eleven per cent of those polled

believe they might bump into a wolf or a skunk on their ramble through the British countryside, while

one in 10 wouldn't recognise a badger if they saw one. Additionally, 60% of UK adults are unaware

our coastal waters are inhabited by sharks, whales and dolphins.

In total, 38% of respondents have either never been to the countryside or go only once a year or less

- something that YHA wants to change.

YHA (England and Wales) Chief Executive Caroline White said: "This survey shows that a large part

of the population are losing touch with the countryside - and missing out on so much. England and

Wales has an abundance of things to explore and discover – better still; most of it is free or low cost,

which, in the current economic climate, can only be good news.

“Giving people the chance to experience the great outdoors means more of us can find out all about

what is out there and is also good for our health and happiness."

For more information about YHA, or to make a booking at any of its hostels, visit www.yha.org.uk.

A way with hearts....

With thanks to Weibo

I found this on pinterest and just had to share! How amazing are these felt hearts? Why not make either the bunting as you can see to your left or make it in a chain which drops down?


Step 1, Fold your chosen felt in half length ways






Step 2, stich along in a straight line, about half a centimetere away from the fold along the fold line.





Step 3, Fold the felt out on its self. These are marked with one inches line to show you where to cut when finished.






Step 4, As you did before. Stitch along the edge, again about half a centimetre in.






Step 5, Cut in to one inch strips and you'll notice the felt pops in to heart shapes.






Step 6, Do it all again until you have enough hearts. Mix up with white or pale pink or for add interest go multi coloured!







Step 7, At the widest point thread though with a needles and thread and add little felt balls between the different colours.






Step 8, Voila! Hang up!

Why not the same effect with paper and staples? Once you've learnt the technique its amazing what you can accomplish.....

Guest Post: Chefs Knife and their myths...

How many of us out there have expensive chefs kitchen knives and no idea how to use them? Hmm well hopefully this guest post will get you back into the kitchen and enjoying them!

Cutting to the facts: Four kitchen cutlery myths dispelled

Whether we are seasoned chefs or humble home cooks, our cookery knives are important to us. We use them for so many things – from slicing and dicing -  to deboning and chopping - and we know just about everything about them and how to take care of them. Or do we? Here, leading cooking accessories retailer chefsknivesonline.com  cuts straight to the facts to dispel four common myths surrounding our cooking knives.
You can use any chopping board – it won’t matter
Wrong. This is actually a common misconception, but in actual fact, it does matter. While marble and slate might look attractive in your kitchen, wood, bamboo and plastic are actually better for your knives because they are less likely to scratch or chip them. 

Steeling sharpens your knife
Not true. When you steel a knife, you are actually only straightening the edges. You should only really steel after around 10-15 cuts (although many of us wrongly think that it needs to be done more regularly). If you want to sharpen your knife properly, you need to remove the old edge and properly reshape the blade. With just a quick search on YouTube, you’ll find a number of handy how-to videos, but any cook worth their salt will tell you that you need to sharpen them 1-2 times a year.
It’s fine to wash your best knives in the dishwasher
Only if you don’t mind ruining them. The harsh temperatures and detergents will eventually erode the blade – something that would be particularly concerning if you had invested in an expensive set of, say, professional chef’s knives.  And aside from damaging the knife itself, the sharp edges could also knick the inside of your dishwasher.
An expensive knife is always better quality than a cheaper one
This simply isn’t true.  Would you spend hundreds of pounds on a blunt knife? We thought not. It’s not always about the price, but more to do with how you look after them. If you don’t sharpen your knives properly (1-2 times a year), or store them properly in specific knife blocks, then you risk serious injury – every single time you use them.

Fabulous Vegetable Soup

I had friends over for lunch last week and with the weather being so awful decided to whip up a chunky vegetable soup. A long standing favourite in our family it diverted from minestrone soup to a smashing half soup half stew and is an amazing meal when covered in grated cheese and served with toast! It also most definitely gives you your five a day! 

2 Large Potatoes

3 Large Carrots

3 Sticks Celery

3 Medium Onions

Can of Tomatoes

1 1/2pt of stock

Can of baked beans

2oz pasta (fusilli or penne NOT spaghetti!)

Oil

Grated cheese to serve

Dice all the vegetable’s. Sauté onion in oil for 5 mins. Add other veg (inc tinned tomatoes) and water/stock.

Simmer 20  mins until tender. Add baked beans & pasta. Season with salt & pepper. Serve as soon as pasta cooked!

Now I add into this frozen peas and sweetcorn and frozen spinach at the same time as the pasta for extra taste and veg count!

Simple no?

Britmums Sponsor 2013: Nursery Paint!

Just how beautiful are these colours?

I cannot wait to introduce you to my Britmums sponsor this year. Last year I went to the Toy Fair in London and in the entrance was an amazing display of paint and painted furniture. Advertised as safe to babies I was amazed by the gorgeous colourings (they looked like something out of a designer display) and the diversity of what could be painted! One pot would do the walls and furniture or toys! I am of course talking about the rather delicious Nursery Paint Company and the lovely owner Helen.

 Helen knew when she was pregnant that you want to do the best for your child, you eat carefully and look after yourself for them so why not doing the same for the room they’ll sleep in! After struggling to find a paint suitable not laden with fumes or full of harmful chemicals she discovered the natural paint abroad was ok but severely lacking in the beautiful colour and she also wanted it sustainable and antibacterial. So with a magic wave of her hands she created the wonderful Nursery Paint made from soya beans voc free (safe while pregnant and for those all-important years to follow) and anti-bacterial! Pretty cool hey?

Both wall & furniture are Nursery Paint

 I cannot describe just how luxurious these paints are and look. So much so that despite trying to sell our house to move I can’t keep my hands off their beautiful range and will be decorating for the boys. Now not only can this be used on the walls as I said it can be used on furniture and toys. So if you’ve inherited some lovely but plain wood furniture that might have seen better days why not smarten it up safe in the knowledge its safe for your little ones? Over the next couple of months that’s what I’ll be doing and showing you on the blog just how diverse this paint is!  

Ps Why not follow her and say hi over on twitter and facebook? And just check out her gorgeous range here!

Colours for boys....

and girls!