About Ready

To jump on a plane and have an adventure armed with a camera, notebook and a few spare pennies.

Tuesday Trip to the Coast

Spring is Springing!

I have gone down south for a few days to visit my Grandparents in Suffolk. It was the nicest feeling this morning, waking up to nothing but blue skies and sun. It's only the 1st of March but spring is seemingly getting its act together. The garden here is absolutely beautiful, so after breakfast i went for a walk round to admire it. It's not too warm yet but when you stand facing the sun it's really lovely. A new addition to the garden (which i'd not seen until now) is the summerhouse at the bottom of the garden tucked away. It's got lovely floral cushions inside and is going to be fantastic in the summer as it really catches the sun.

pansies

irises

I would love to spend a sunny afternoon hidden away in here with a good book and a cold glass of cloudy lemonade :]

Finally, Cookies.

It's taken about two weeks and five chocolate chip cookie recipes, tried and tested for our flat to find the best wheat free recipe. We've had some that have turned out more like syrup sponge puddings, some with the consistancy of bread and butter pudding, and some more like cakes than cookies. Whilst eating breakfast this morning the latest Good Food magazine arrived and i found the following recipe.

Ingredients:

100g soft brown sugar

100g golden caster sugar

100g butter, softened

1 egg

1tsp vanilla essence

225g wheat-free plain flour

140g milk chocolate, melted

85g white chocolate chips or chunks

85g plain chocolate chips or chunks

Step 1: Heat oven to 180C fan. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Mix the sugars and butter with a wooden spoon, until soft. Then add the egg, vanilla, flour and melted chocolate and mix together. Stir in the chocolate chips, then using a spoon, scoop the mixture into balls onto the baking paper.

Step 2: Bake in batches for 8-9 minutes until pale golden and soft to the touch - they will firm up as they cool. Carefully transfer to a wire rack and drizzle with the remaining melted chocolate. Best enjoyed warm with a glass of cold milk, american style.

Enjoy!

Catching Up

I've spent all week getting to grips with the new project and trying to learn how to use InDesign, i haven't had time to sit down and blog. It's unusual for me to be so undistracted, but i really want to get this project sorted. So anyway, it's the weekend, and a week since i've blogged. It's also nearly the end of February, which i must say i'm not so sad about. The dreary weather and work load has made me look forward to spring so so much. I'm really excited about filling the flat with daffodils, decorating eggs, de-cluttering and cooking lovely easter dishes. For now, however i shall leave you with a few things that have inspired me this week, that i haven't had time to share. Have a lovely weekend!

Lovely simple design work. Makes me wants to create miniture recipe concertina books in that style.

Expensive, but pretty good for inspiration.

from EatDrinkChic.com

Rather pretty origami heart invitations.

Would like to read this next.

Would quite like to go to this.

Enjoy your Saturday!

 

Saturday Treats

I came home for the weekend to find these lovely little chocolate discs. A friend had given them to my Mum, who let me try one. I love interesting chocolate recipes, especially if they contrain something you wouldn't have thought would go with chocolate, in this case lemongrass. 

Budapest

Earlier this week i booked a flight for a friend and i to Budapest. We're making a pit stop there in July on our way to Novi Sad in Serbia for EXIT Festival. We don't have long there, and neither of us have been before so it's hugely exciting starting to think of all the places to visit. I was having a browse on the web and made a (long) short list of potential things to see and do...

We could enjoy the healing waters in the Rudus Thermal Baths, build in the 16th century during the Turkish occupation. I got a little downhearted when i looked at the prices and saw that a weekend all day pass cost would set you back 1,800 HUF, until i put it into a currency converter and discovered it was a measly £5.80. 

 

The Museum of Applied Arts

The Széchenyi Chain Bridge

I really hope we get time to visit the Great Market Hall, it's packed with food stalls selling typically Hungarian produce, famous for its Hungarian paprika powder.

Needless to say i am getting so very excited about the trip, and it's still months away. I think what i'm looking forward to most is arriving in a city with a completely new culture.