Hair today gone tomorrow...

After some dithering for a couple of months I decided to cut off my long locks this week. I wasn't delaying because I was afraid I would miss my hair, it was because I have so much hair and it takes a skilled hairdresser to cut it properly. Looking like a bush is never flattering. I'm not kidding, I have a lot of hair.

BIG HAIR!

Everybody loves a good/embarrassing hair flipping action photo.

And this was my "shorter" hair which Mum cut in the summer. This time last year it was reeeeeeeeally long.

Sorry Alice, stole your photo from facebook!

So are you ready for the ta-da moment?

Short and chic.

I've not had hair this short since I was 18 so I'm loving the change.

I may have an old lady sore back but I have a funky, youthful haircut.



An unusual week

Since I have no baking pictures to share from the past week I thought I'd share some pretty things instead.

This is my relatively new dressing table mirror. It's so lovely that I have no inclination to paint the wood. Mum found it in the Curiosity Shop (I think) for £30 and intended to keep it for my Christmas but it was so pretty that it had to go on my table straight away. It certainly adds a touch of class to my bedroom.

I also took a leaf out of Gem's book this week and bought myself some flowers. Although lillies are ridiculously strong smelling, I love how elegant they look.

Last week was weird. I didn't bake at all and wasn't at work due to developing a back of a 93 year old, and I was staying at someone else's house (see previous post). I spent most of my time lying on the sofa browsing Next catalogues and watching a shameful amount of Channel 5 afternoon films. The novelty wore off after day two, I got SO BORED. So bored that I finished a 1000 piece Lord of the Rings jigsaw within a day and a half (with mum's help admittedly).

I also discovered my cousin's cello in the corner of the living room. Now I don't want to sound like a brat, because I did get to learn to play the violin at school (it was free) and I can play piano, but I ALWAYS wanted to play a cello. I just think I suit a cello more than a violin. See, don't I look good with a cello?

I'm even colour coordinating with it! Fate perhaps? (Honestly, it was not intentional.)

This is my best "I neeeeeeed a cello" face.

Anyone else need a cello? Or another musical instrument perhaps? I'd quite like a flute too, not that I'm being greedy...

Lemon drizzle cake

It's my Dad's birthday tomorrow but he's not home for it so I had to think of a cake which could be transported easily. He likes lemon flavours so I went for a lemon drizzle. He took the rest of the banana loaf to work with him on Friday and apparently it was well received so hopefully they'll all enjoy the lemon drizzle too.

I'm gutted I don't get a piece of this cake, I really should have made a second one for home. I also should have taken more exciting photos, but unfortunately this is all I have folks. The recipe is from the Hairy Bikers' "Mums Know Best" book which I got for my birthday a couple of week ago. Perhaps it's a bad move to make an untested cake but I thought the Hairy Bikers looked fairly reliable. The recipe was very straight forward and the only problem I encountered was that it took an hour rather than half an hour to cook.

Now I'm going to settle down to some Ben 'n' Jerry's (chocolate fudge brownie!) and Strictly Come Dancing results! I'm staying at my Aunty and Uncle's house this week as they're away on holiday and need somebody to look after their cat. Coincidently she is also called Jo. Isn't she pretty?

Lemon Drizzle Cake

Recipe from Hairy Bikers' Family Cookbook "Mums know best!". Si King and Dave Myers

2 small, unwaxed lemons, well scrubbed

275g granulated sugar

175g butter, softened and extra for greasing

200g self-raising flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

3 large eggs

Preheat oven to 180C/Gas mark 4. Line the base of a 900g (2lb) non stick loaf tin with baking parchment and butter the tin well. Finely grate the zest of both lemons. Put 175g of the sugar in with the butter, flour, baking powder, eggs and lemon zest. Mix until just combined and it has a thick, smooth texture. Spoon in to the tin and level the surface. Bake for 35 minutes or until well risen and pale golden brown (mine took an hour and I put greaseproof paper on the top for the last 20 minutes to stop it from burning).

Remove from the oven and cool in the tin for 5 minutes. Squeeze 1 lemon to get 3 tbsp of juice and mix with the remaining 100g of sugar. Turn the cake onto a wire rack set above a tray or plate. Remove the parchment and make about 50 deep holes in the top of the cake with a skewer. Slowly and gradually spoon over half the lemon sugar, allowing it to thoroughly coat the top of the cake and drizzle down the sides. Leave the cake to stand for 5 minutes and repeat with the remaining lemon sugar. Leave to set for an hour before slicing and eating.

Banana bread and a bad back

So I finally went to the doctor about my sore back which I have been complaining about for about a month. It turns out I have sciatica down the right hand side. I really am an old woman now! My other annoying news is that my first roll of Diana film was corrupt. This was entirely my fault though. Note to self: do NOT open the back of the camera unless you are absolutely 100% positive that the film has finished winding. Duh! It's been a few years since I last used a film camera so I'm still fumbling about with it.

On the up side, I made banana bread yesterday. I've been wanting to make banana bread for a couple of weeks so when I saw two incredibly ripe bananas sitting on the kitchen worktop last night I knew I had to make it. This is such a tasty cake, especially fresh out the oven served on Beryl Ware china.

Admittedly I slightly burned the top this time, but it was still delicious.

I'm thinking about buying loads of fruit tomorrow to make some jam. I cannot wait to try out my new thermometer and massive pot. Wish me luck!

Banana and fruit cake

Recipe from "Traditional Teatime Recipes", a National Trust book by Jane Pettigrew. I would highly recommend this book, although I haven't tried many recipes because I am so stuck on this one!

75g (3oz) butter, softened

100g (4oz) light or dark brown sugar (I used light)

3 tbsp clear honey

2 eggs, beaten

2 ripe bananas, mashed

225g (8oz) self-raising flour

1 tsp allspice (I used it here but have also made it without before and it still tastes great)

1/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1/4 tsp salt

225g (8oz) raisins (I usually use sultanas as I prefer them but used currants this time as it was all it had. Still tastes delicious.)

Makes one 900g (2lb) loaf

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas mark 4. Grease and line the loaf tin. Beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the honey, eggs and bananas and beat well. Mix together the flour, allspice, bicarbonate of soda, salt and raisins and fold into the banana mixture. Mix well and then turn into the prepared tin. Bake for 1- 1 1/4 hours until a skewer comes out clean (I always bake for an hour then lay a sheet of greaseproof paper on top for the last 15 minutes to stop the top burning.) Remove from the oven and turn out on to a wire rack to cool.

Strictly Come Dinosaur biscuits

When I lived with my friend Alice a couple of years ago, we had this brilliant idea of baking Strictly Come Dancing themed biscuits. It was all planned out for the Strictly finals, but unfortunately we had to cancel. 

Alice came home for a holiday this week (I don't know who was most excited about this) so we decided to FINALLY make the biscuit dream come true. Without further ado...

The plan was to make gingerbread dancers and dinosaurs (as we are famed for our gingerbread dinosaurs) but Alice's mum didn't have any ginger and we were also short of light brown sugar. This didn't deter us as we are resourceful ladies; cinnamon, allspice, and a mixture of light/brown/caster sugar to the rescue!

We had to ice the dinosaurs as quickly as possible as they were quite aggressive fresh out the oven.

My Latin and Ballroom couples. Latin man has an Anton Du Beke worthy hairy chest.

"Oh no!" the horrified dancer ladies exclaim. "The burnt pterodactyl has set off with our tiny friend! I hope it doesn't destroy her blingin' barbie sprinkle and smartie dress." 

Our glorious, glitzy, glamorous biscuit creations.

Any other Strictly fans out there? I'm rooting for Jason Donovan. And is it just me or has Len turned into a pervy old Granddad? I'm sure he used to be a gentleman.

23

It was my birthday on Monday. Birthdays are great because they involve cake. This is what Mum baked for me this year.

It was an afternoon tea party cake, complete with fondant icing ham sandwiches! Although I have to admit she didn't completely make it by herself....

Dad even made a layer of the sponge! He thinks his sponge is the best. Doesn't he look lovely in an apron?

I also received some great birthday presents this year.

Shiny patent shoes! I knew I was getting these though because I had to try them on. The colour in the photo isn't quite right, they're a bright bluey purple.

I got a new winter scarf from Uncle Johnny and Aunty Janice and a jam/chutney making kit from Andrew and Fiona. Is it wrong that I'm so excited about a cooking thermometer? Alex, my 3 year old nephew, drew a portrait of me. I like that he thinks I have massively long legs. Mum and Dad also bought me a Diana Mini camera which I am absolutely delighted with and can't wait to use. I knew a few people at uni who were really into Diana photography but I got my fancy pants digital SLR for my 21st so I didn't feel the need to buy other cameras at the time. This camera is so tiny, it looks ridiculously small next to my SLR. I haven't taken a photo of my other birthday present from Mum and Dad. It's large and requires a bit of renovation so I'm leaving it for another blog post. Hope you're all excited!

My birthday package from Eoin and his girlfriend Caitlin arrived in the post yesterday. He gave me the Hairy Bikers "Mums know best" book and Caitlin gave me a girly goody bag including a pretty hairband, cute socks and pens, earrings.

What? Does no else try to fit in the boxes their presents arrive in? Just me then? Ok.

More yellow Utility China

I can't believe my luck! Honestly, this is almost getting ridiculous, not that I'm complaining. I was in town with Mum this afternoon and decided to have a quick snoop round one of the charity shops and I left with a set of yellow Johnson Bros china: 4 cups and saucers, 4 sideplates (yes, I am aware I have A LOT now), 4 dinner(?) plates (they're still quite small) and 3 pudding bowls. Unfortunately one of the bowls has a small crack but it's still pretty.

And the price of it all?

£1!

Definitely worth celebrating with a bag of chocolate buttons.

I also found this glass dish with a little lid in a pretty pink. I can't decide what to keep in it. Maybe hairclips/bobbles, special bits of jewellery, buttons? It also cost £1.

Lots of lovely things for only £2. What a bargain! I have a pretty healthy collection of green and yellow Utility China now. Need to gather a few more pieces of blue and pink next.

It's my birthday on Monday so be prepared for some glorious photos of cake and loads of Utility China in action. I hope you're excited because I certainly am!