Baby Shower

Wow, I really have abandoned my poor little blog and to be quite frank with you all, I have missed nattering away to myself. So guess what...I’m back and this time with even more food pictures(sorry to make you peckish).

Today we held a surprise baby shower for our friend Sarah. As you can imagine I went rather wild with my camera so all I can say is prepare to be bombarded with photos!

We decided on afternoon tea, so out came the bread...

My Sister and I were the A-TEAM making the sarns! Our system was so speedy we may as well have been throwing the bread like a frisbee to one another!

We converted our front room into a little pink tea room (whilst waiting for Nan to arrive with her famous homemade scones and cupcakes).  

We had a sweet station...

We made cute pouches for our chocs and sweeties...

Obviously the milk bottles had to come out to play...

Oh let's not forget the strawberry nougat...

Don't say I didn't warn you that this post was going to be crammed with photos...

Our tea station...

Obviously I was chief pourer!

Whoooooo the scones arrived!!!

As did the cupcakes...

All set up and just waiting on one thing...the Mum to be!

Oh what a photo ruiner! Yes, I'm talking about the football! Don't you worry we were quick to switch to 'The Change-Up' film... this definitely was more appropriate for the baby shower!

Goodbye football.

We tucked into sarnies...

(These ones are gluten & wheat free...yes we cater for all at the little pink tea room!).

and black olive straws...

and yet more sugar...

All because Sarah is ready to POP (well not quite!).

With excitement we toasted to Baby B...

We drank and ate, and drank and ate...

I felt a little sick and dizzy - NOT from the champagne but from the birth talk! Hands over ears.

My Sister made some games which we played...

I'm not really a pink lover but I kind of want to keep our house like this forever!

With scented candles...

cupcakes wherever you look...

scones left right and centre...

and sweets within a hand's reach!

But unfortunately that's a wrap and the baby shower sadly comes to an end! BUT, it's not long until we will be oooohhhiingg and aaaahhhinngg over cute little BABY B!! 

Cannot contain my excitement!

Anyway, I am finally finished with the pink photos! I hope everyone has had a lovely weekend, jam-packed with lots of laughter I hope?

Lots of love,

(All of the above images are my own.)

Scones Glorious Scones

If you LOVE scones then you are guaranteed to fall madly and deeply in love with these scrumptious ones! The good thing about them is that they are SO easy to make. However the bad thing about them is that they are SO easy to eat...before you know it you’ve already consumed way over your daily food intake! So be warned dieters - they ARE dangerous.

What you will need:

600g Self Raising Flour

2 tablespoons Icing sugar

60g Butter

375ml Milk

180ml Water

Variations:

1. Blackberries & 1 Lemon 

2. Raspberries & Desiccated Coconut

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 200°c

2. Sift flour and icing sugar into a bowl then rub in the butter.

  3. You can now add in your flavours (e.g blackberries and lemon rind) or wait until the end if you’d prefer. I wanted to make two different flavoured scones so I felt it was easier to make the dough, divide it up, then add the flavours.

 4. Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture...

5. Pour in all of your milk and half of your water...

  6. Gradually add the remaining water and use a knife to ‘cut’ through the mixture.

 7. Add in your desired fruits and flavours (if you didn’t already at stage 3) and mix well. I used a whole packet of blackberries and the rind of one lemon.

8. Knead your dough on a floured surface until smooth and then to achieve neat looking scones divide the mixture up evenly and place in a 12-hole muffin tray.

9.  Bake for around 15 minutes (after 10 minutes of baking brush some beaten egg yolk over your scones if desired). 

10. Tuck in my girl...

A BURST of blackberries...

Scones glorious scones...

I certainly wasn't holding back and I got stuck right in...

Unfortunately there wasn't any clotted cream floating around in my fridge I therefore opted for butter topped with Strawberry Jam...

I don't mind that the blackberries sunk to the bottom however to prevent this from happening you can toss your blackberries in flour before adding!

Last time I made scones they were blueberry flavoured ones and I invited my best friend round for 'afternoon tea'. I highly recommend doing this as we had a delightful day. Present your scones on a cupcake stand, fill your favourite tea pot up, purchase a selection of jams/clotted cream and you are ready to GO! Whether it be for breakfast, lunch, or supper; I guarantee you and your best friend will NOT want the scones, the tea, or the day to come to an end. 

A very cosy and comforting scone feast... 

A blueberry scone, with a generous amount of clotted cream, finished with a layer of blackberry jam...my idea of heaven!

Along with the blackberry and lemon scones that I made today, I also baked some raspberry and coconut ones...

Which washed down very nicely with some raspberry jam...

Anyway I think I need a little post scone nap so I'm going to love you and leave you! Please bake some of these when you get a chance, even if you don't like scones (you strange person) then you MUST bake them for somebody you know that does! 

Lots of scone loving, 

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Scrumptious Sketch

Towards the end of last year I had the opportunity to experience Sketch for the very first time. To say I had an incredible time is definitely an understatement! From the interior design, to the cakes, to the crockery and I’ll even go as far as the toilets; everything fascinated me. Sketch is a destination for the most luxurious food BUT also music and art. At Sketch you are guaranteed an experience like no other!  

Welcome to Sketch...

When shopping you NEED fuel in order to make the right choices right? 

(I am unable to think straight when I’m in need of food.)

Well, the location of Sketch is perfect - just seconds away from Oxford Circus. So, if you’re losing the will to live after failing to find that ‘perfect dress’ OR perhaps your arms are numb from all those shopping bags (lucky you) then it's definitely time for a scrumptious little break! 

Sit down, relax, and just take a minute to appreciate the beautiful interior...

I found myself just staring at everything and capturing TOO many photos (click click click) that I hardly had a chance to look at the menu.

mmmmmmmm quick what shall I have?

SCONES it was, and boy OH boy were they GOOD!

There are no words to describe how delicious the scones were, I think from my photos you can see that Sketch made me a very happy Lady!

Believe it or not, I was kind enough to give a scone to Mother -  She was lucky because I was given THREE scones! Had it have been one or two Mother definitely wouldn't have come close to MY scones! 

I Knew I was onto a winner of a T when it looked this pretty...

  

My brother indulged in the above chocolate cake, he even saved me a slither - what a cutie! It was INSANE - enough said!

My Sister had the eclair type pudding which you can see a glimpse of in the background. I also had a few slithers of this - my taste buds were going WILD! I felt like I was on a CAKE sampling day! I do apologise I don't remember the specific names of their puddings, you've probably guessed I was too wrapped up in my own little scone world! 

Drinking TOO much T it was toilet time but like I said before Sketch guarantees an experience like no other...

Each toilet was in its individual egg shape cubicle. It was surreal and I strangely felt like Willy Wonka was going to appear (not entirely sure why).

After admiring the pretty ceiling for far too long, we made our way back to the Parlour; which by the way was the room we were seated in. Sketch has five rooms:

The Gallery

 The Lecture Room

 The Glade

 The East Bar

The Parlour

I had a glimpse of the other rooms but I need to re visit so I can experience them in full!

Appreciating the quirkiness of Sketch on our walk back...

Anyway, I think it is clear to you all that I LOVED my afternoon at Sketch. If I have tempted you to visit then perhaps you might want to check out the menus HERE.

Now I will leave you to drool over some colourful macaroons... 

Thank you Sketch, I shall be back soon!

Lots of love, 

(All of the above images are my own.)