Monday Bake - Shortbread Rounds

Last Friday I received the most exciting post - I had won a giveaway on the lovely Silverpebble's blog - a stunning silver cornflower necklace.  Having been to one of Emma's silver clay classes, with my TwitKnit friends last April, I can see how much work has gone into this gorgeous piece of jewellery - I will wear it with pride - I do keep admiring it in the mirror!  If you are able to go to one of her classes I highly recommend it, it is amazing watching your little handmade pieces go from clay to silver, like magic!

I have made Sophie Dahl's Lemon Mousse a few times and for Sunday pudding this week I thought I would make shortbread biscuits to go with it.  The recipe I use is from her book Miss Dahl's Voluptuous Delights - this is a very similar recipe here. 

BestFriend had told me she had made James Martin's shortbread previously.  It is really easy to make whizzing everything together in a food processor and then baking it in a muffin tin.  This is a really "short" shortbread - not surprising due to the amount of butter it contains! - but it is very good - everybody agreed.

Thanks for visiting,
Bakebakegirl

Today's top three radio songs:

1. Careless Memories - Duran Duran
2. I Don't Want A Lover - Texas
3. Loser - Beck

Monday Bake - Carrot Cake

Last Monday Minibakebakegirl and I went shopping to Westfield Stratford City. This is one of the largest urban shopping centres in Europe and it is indeed massive!  We shopped till we dropped (out of all the items purchased, none were for me!)

We popped over the road to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.  It seems hard to believe that we were here for the Paralympics nearly two years ago.

We had a lovely sit down on the wooden loungers and watched the world go by.

We then went to check out the Orbit - think we will do this when my sister is down in the summer.

We got the DLR back into central London and then a bus to Selfridges - I love sitting at the front on the top deck of a London bus - there is so much to see - like the beautiful St Pauls Cathedral.  

Yesterday was such a miserable day here.  In the afternoon I made a wee foxy cross stitch.

Today I made a carrot cake which I haven't made for a while. This is a Rachel Allen recipe from her Cake book. It's very similar to the one from her Bake book I made here.  I prefer the simpler icing in today#s receipe but I didn't put the orange zest in today.  I also substituted the nuts for raisins and added some Mini Eggs as decoration.

Hope you all had a lovely Easter weekend,
Bakebakegirl

Today's top three songs:

1. Whole of the Moon - Waterboys
2. Wouldn't It Be Good - Nik Kershaw
3. Babooshka - Kate Bush

Monday Review - Amwell Nature Reserve

Yesterday was such a beautiful day, Minibakebakegirl said she would like to go for a walk and Hubby wanted to go to a garden centre so we decided to combine the two.  We went to Amwell Nature Reserve near Ware.

We first visited here a few years ago when we initially joined the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust.  Back then we did the dragonfly trail (May to September) which was amazing - we thought we might see one or two but there were so many flying around your legs!!

This time we walked to a couple of the hides to watch the birds on the water and then we walked along the canal to a lock, to watch a boat going through.

The only part I don't like about going here is that you have to walk across the railway line.....

We then went to Van Hages garden centre. 

After coffee and cake - I had the most enormous piece of cappuccino cake - Hubby went to look at the plants and Minibakebakegirl and I walked round the homeware and gifts. We then went to look at the animals.  The peacock was beautiful.

Thanks for visiting,
Bakebakegirl

Today's top three songs:

1. Take On Me - a-ha
2. Dignity - Deacon Blue
3. Pop Muzik - M

Monday Review - Greenwich

Sister and Nieces are staying with us this weekend.  Today we all went to Greenwich. 

First stop was the Emirates Air Line a cable car which goes over the Thames between North Greenwich and the Royal Docks.  We bought boarding passes for a return trip.  Even though the weather wasn't that great we could still see quite far.  With our tickets we could also go to the visitor centre which had a replica of a cockpit and various hands on exhibits. 

We got the river boat to Greenwich and decided to have lunch at Biscuit Ceramic Cafe - we didn't do any painting but we had lovely sandwiches.  The cakes on display looked amazing. 

After lunch we headed to the Cutty Sark.  It is the last surviving British clipper ship and was restored and reopened last year.   You can explore on board and beneath it, as it is elevated 3 metres above the ground.  We went on a tour and were told stories of its time at sea - which included us all singing a sea shanty!  

We finished the day off with a wander round central London and tea at Pizza Express, where I had my favourite pudding - espresso torte and a cappuccino.

Hope to see you next week,
Bakebakegirl

Todays top three songs:

1. Waterfalls - TLC
2. Bridge Over Troubled Water
3. Many Rivers To Cross - UB40