Rootling

I have been rootling. I'm sure that is a real verb. Regardless, it is a word that is applicable throughout  our house where opening cupboards and drawers is never straightforward. I try and be organised but tidiness is not high on my list of priorities skill set. Please note, however, that the filing for all of of 2013 is now done, only 10 days into 2014. Exemplary I agree, until I tell you that I also had to do all of the filing for 2012 at the same time. Ooops.

My rootling was very productive. You see, I had the munchies following a run. I really fancied burnt toast and marmalade again, but there was not enough bread in the house to indulge this whim today. So I rootled. And I discovered another Christmas present from the mince pie maker. Charcoal Crunch Crackers. Apparently they are very good with cheese. I love cheese, but my immediate thought was that they would be a good substitute for my burnt toast seeing as they really do contain charcoal. And they were - topped with cream cheese and boozy, thick cut marmalade. It was an inspired combination that I may well have to repeat right now after another run.

So very, very delicious!

Just Me….

We all have our our idiosyncrasies. I've just happily indulged one of my foodie quirks. Burnt toast and marmalade. It has to be burnt toast for me to have marmalade. And it has to be chunky cut marmalade for me to have burnt toast. The mince pie maker gave us some pretty fantastic marmalade for Christmas which I fully intend to enjoy on many more pieces of charred bread…. It's an award winner - Gold at the 2013 World's Original Marmalade Awards don't you know.

Ooops

It seems that 7 or so months has passed by with no updates from me. It isn't that there has been no baking taking place (can you imagine?!) or even a lack of shenanigans (sigh, truth be told I daren't write about the more recent ones). Simply, I have been busy with family, friends as well as cake and boy antics. So, a few memorable highlights from the latter half of 2013 before 2014 starts to run away from me.

I finally organised to have the garden landscaped at the start of the summer. It has been totally transformed and we have loved using it. Cocktails, BBQs, fire pits, family, friends and the Wimbledon final have all been a delight. I think we made more use of the garden in a couple of months than in the previous 9 years of living here!

More plants next year, but such a difference!

I was whisked away to Chatsworth House by 2 lovelies - the mince pie maker and the true gentleman (first mention here, and a total sweetheart!) for a wonderful evening of pink champagne, the most fabulous picnic and an outdoor production of Pride and Prejudice. It was magical and very special and I felt very spoilt!

Pink bubbles!

We had a wonderful family holiday in the South of France in early August too. We ate a lot, did very little and thoroughly enjoyed the local Blanquette de Limoux - a sparkling wine that predates Champagne and was simply delicious! We were joined for some of the time by the cocktail queen (welcome too - another first mention) a truly lovely friend whom we have had the pleasure of getting to know over the last couple of years.

Am I wearing my bikini top upside down or not in this picture?

The mince pie maker turned 30 in the summer and I was privileged to make the cake for his celebrations at Hambleton Hall. A dark chocolate and cointreau Hermes inspired cake that thankfully was a success. Unlike the macarons I attempted to make to accompany it - after 3 attempts I had to concede defeat.

Shocking photo, but you get the idea….

We celebrated the gorgeous husband's 40th birthday in November. Yes. Really. Forty. There were several nights out, a surprise party at home and a weekend in the Cotswolds with some very special people. And another huge cake. Plus we still have New York to look forward to in April 2014. Which is near when I turn 40 30. Ssshhh please.

Biggest ever - 4 layers of indulgence!

There has also been lots of training and running - I have a new running buddy which is a real treat. Not the mince pie maker. We ran together once and I thought I was going to throw up, pass out cry. There have been some tough times along the way both for us and those we love, but this has been a year of knowing the importance of family and friends and loving them as best we can. Now looking forward to all the opportunities that 2014 brings. And more cake.