tea party finds

I am planning my friend's Mum's wedding reception for May.  I do use the term planning loosely?! Anyway she wants a classic tea party theme so there will be lots of afternoon tea treats, drinks and I have to throw in a few decorations to set the scene. I think my blue trolley could be dressed up nicely for it. Any let me show you what I found today. 

On the left;1 large gold detailed rim plate £1. I like buying decorative plates for cake stand potential. Its so easy to make a cake stand and they look effective and give a table some dimension which is more pleasing to the eye.

They are resting on a large pillow case that I noticed on a rail beside the till as I was about to pay. I thought it was an apron so grabbed it to add to my collection. I then realised it was but thought with a few strips of fabric I could cut it into two pinnies or one large apron. Maybe to use as a caterers uniform for the wedding?

I love yellow at the moment but more specifically that mustard tone and thought these were a little different to your usual pink plush look. The gold rims were intact, usually they have been rubbed off from use but these were in such good condition I couldn't leave them. I got 12 side plates and 1 large plate for £5. I also like how the side plates have a wavy but squared shape. The large plate will once again be a cake stand. 

This large jug was a £1. I was running out of change as I had splashed out today compared to my usual 50p or less finds but I just imagined this holding flowers on the table so had to add it to the collection. Or it could be used more practically to hold the milk!

dentist cake

When I was younger it didn't take much bribing to get my siblings and I to the dentist. However if we were good (well our teeth anyway), my mum chose an ironic treat to reward us. CAKE!

There was a bakery  next to the dentist and we would pop in there after and chose a treat. At first, being typical young kids would go for the biggest or the most colourful but then we started trying mums favourite and we never looked back. Unfortunately the bakery is not there any more and hasn't been for years but we still think of the fruit slice we loved and I tried to make a version of it today. 

It consisted of 3 layers; a firm shortbread base, a mince fruit middle and then a more crumbly textured shortbread on top with crunchy sugar to finish. It was like a glorified xmas mince pie! We used to take them round to our grandmas who lives 2 minutes up the road and we would warm it up and have it with ice cream or evaporated milk. Yes, evaporated milk is a favourite in our house, and much preferred over single cream.  I'm sure the name puts people off but it really is delicious. Thats what we have on our apple crumbles I never even considered custard until I was 17!
Anyway I also made a variation on this inspired by a favourite childhood sandwich. A sweet pastry base, a plum jam middle, then finished with a peanut butter crumble! The jams so sweet and the peanut butter gives a salty richness, it works trust me!

noodle salad

I just made this dish this evening and its SO nice and fresh tasting. I didn't follow a recipe I just followed the Asian cookery rules. Hot, sour, salt and sweet. It honestly works and it always turns out right. I let you know which is which in the ingredients. Its also good to have lots of fragrant ingredients like coriander (if you don't like it try some mint and more basil).

These are guidelines not a recipe! Make your dressing to taste and obviously you can add as much veg as you like! I always make more food than I need so I always have something to grab the next day. 

Asian noodle salad could serve 4-6

Ingredients

Dressing:

4 tbsp Soy sauce (salt)

2-tbsp Fish sauce (salt)

1 tbsp Sweet soy sauce or Honey (sweet)

1-2 Lime (sour)

5 spring onions

1 large red chilli (hot)

Lrg bunch Corriander

Sml bunch Basil

Salad:

120g Noodles

2 Carrots

1/2 Cucumber

1 sml Red onion

200g bag of mix salad leaves (rocket, baby spinach, red oak)

50g Natural Cashew nuts

Cook:

First boil the kettle and cook noodles as packet suggests. I prefer just to soak them for about 10mins. I find they cook but keep firmer which is better for a salad.

Get a large bowl and add all your dressing ingredients and give it a little whisk. You can taste it at this point. Make sure it works for you! 

I normally add half or one lime at this stage as I like to finish or serve with lime. Chop your basil and coriander and add to the dressing.  

When cooked, drain the noodles well and add them to your dressing. Coat all the noodles and leave it aside and all the dressing with absorb into the noodles. 

I like to cut the cucumber and carrots into long ribbons using a peeler. A speed peeler would be great as this can be quite fiddly. If not thinly slice in rounds, grate or julienne. 

Roughly chop your salad leaves and finely slice your red onion and add to the bowl.  

Give it a stir and leave aside as you prepare the cashews. Add the cashews to a dry hot pan and toast until golden brown (or a little black like mine) they brown so quickly! Sprinkle the cashews into the salad and mix. 

And that's it!

If you have it, sesame seeds and/or sesame seed oil would really compliment it. This is just a light meal, if you like grilled salmon or chicken goes really well with it! 

tea trolley/bar: 'before' and after

I wanted today to be the first of many of my "Before and After"s projects.  However I failed slight by forgetting to do the before pictures. I was just so excited to get started that I forgot one of the most important stages.

I will just give you a brief description, I mentioned a couple of weeks ago I picked up a lightweight wooden two tier trolley. It was a horrible orangey tan colour that I could not keep so I thought I am going bold with it!

 I primed the trolley with a white purpose primer because I wanted the trolley to be hard wearing and last usage before it starts getting chipped. This is normally a step I leave out but reading many "How to's" I've learnt this is a vital part of paint longevity so I committed and did two coats!

I covered the (strange) wheels its news paper to avoid the paint getting on them in the spray painting stage. So i spray painted this cute trolley about 3 times over 48hours using Plasti-kote Projekt Paint - Gloss Super! It doesn't have a colour name but its a turquoise blue. 

And here it is! I'm planning to use it as a little drinks bar in my place eventually. It doesn't have to have alcohol on though It could be cute for tea and cake and I might use as a prop for the wedding I am catering. 


Evaluation
Positive: It's a great colour and small project for my first spray paint attempt.
Negative: My primer intentions failed as the primer was to glossy so doesn't work with the spray paint! Its going to get scratched easily and have white popping through, night mare! Stick to the chalky grey type.
Tip: Invest in Epoxy paint, its a little more expensive but its hard wearing which is important for furniture that will get a lot of knocks!

already packed!

..well kind of! When I go away anywhere I get so excited I'm packed like at least month before. However I am going Madrid next week and only decided this last week (trying to be spontaneous).  I'm visiting my best friend Danny I met at Uni who currently lives in the amazing city. I am expecting a really good time; food, culture, catch ups, a night out or too. To be honest though I am also thinking food and flea markets and charity shops; so I'm trying to pack ultra light which is hard! According to my friend it is not a big trend to trawl through rags to find riches so I have this wishful idea that there will be some unknown treasures to obtain which I would have to bring home obviously! Wish me luck.

BTW excuse the tropical looking skirt in the suitcase. I am aware Madrid is not like 40 degrees this time of year but its knee length and floaty and will look great with a white T. 

thinking of Japan

I was just watching the news and it brought me to tears. How can this really be happening? The amount of destruction is absolutely insane and I genuinely feel for those on the other side of the world. I have to remind myself of times like these when I start moaning about every day insignificant things. We really don't know how lucky we are living in this part of the world. 

trying to get things done

I'm off work for a couple of weeks so I can get a lot of things done that I have been talking about making or doing for ages. I have a list but nothing is yet checked.


So today I took a walk to get some exercise and went to the local 2nd hand shop. I wanted an ornate looking lamp (on the list) that I can paint a bold colour but got nothing today. I love painting traditional (but nothing valuable or antique) furniture in bold colours just think it brightens up a room and brings an item new life.

Poppy seed living's etsy shop knows what I am talking about! 


I was thinking I was unsuccessful because I was distracted, thinking of my dinner. I am always thinking of food, therefore I end up eating a lot of fit. However I do try my best (most of the time) to eat healthy and balanced meals. So when I am treating myself I can really enjoy it with no guilt.  Its all about balance!!

Black Pepper & Coriander Fish with Soy & ginger courgettes & mushrooms 

amsterdam

For my 21st birthday 2009, my mum bought me flights to Amsterdam to visit a friend who was on a 5month Erasmus there. It was an amazing few days and I forget how lucky I was to be able to go. I can not believe its been over a year!! Heres a few of my favourite pictures and moments from the trip.


Amsterdam February 2010

I was riffling through the market stall tables when this little cutie popped its head out of a baby carrier. HOW SWEET?! It was freezing, so he was wise to wrap. Me are my friends were so obsessed with him we must have took a few dozen pictures of the dog and forgot everything else! 

This was in the market of Watertorenplein. My picture doesn'tshow it well but there are about a hundred teddy bears just tied amongst the branches. Not sure if it was part of an exhibition or memorial but was interesting to look at. 

#

Like the grocery shop display, a little bit more stylish to your common crates and boxes!

How beautiful is this?! I love how they have taken the shop out side even though it was the rough side of winter. I think its so inviting and would make me want to buy something straight away (but I resisted).

My amazing friend Nia who was on erasmus who kindly let us crash in her student halls. Also non of these pictures would have been around if it wasn't for her searching Amsterdam airport to retrieve my phone. (I left it on a table in a cafe before my flight, idiot!)

My great friend Danny who I met at university, posing by the water outside central station.

This was De Bakkerswinkel a tea shop and bakery that we stopped at to have a light afternoon tea. I didn't get a lot of pics of the shop so look at their site.  This company is a small chain and we went to the Amsterdam Centrum. As soon as I saw it I knew I would one day want to own something like it (but with a twist).  It was beautiful, spacious and really homely with a bit of modern kitsch. Plus I loved how you can see them preparing breads, sweets and cakes. I liked the openness of the place. I think if someone wants to sell their items as home-made its good to show the customers the process. .

Where is this tea pot from? I need to know! Like the mix of glass tea cups with more traditional saucers. 

This was like an extended menu and information book about the company, how they started, about the teas, foods and services. I like the idea of that! 

Me thoroughly examining the menu :)

around the bedroom

My favourite dress. I got it from River Island in the January sales. Its so summery and has my favourite colours in similar to the 'blue star' poster I love. I am thinking of saving it for the May wedding tea party reception I am catering. 

The dress mannequin belonged to my mum, she bought it years ago as she made all her own clothes and mine. I use it now for accessories until I get my dress making bug again. My 50s dresser! Its covered in make up, cheap jewellery and nail vanishes, I have a bit of a collection.  

Soup bowls are pretty hideous and out dated but I saw these and thought they would be perfect for growing herbs. For now I keep needles and thread and a few small rolls of tape in them.

Top: my huge tea mug, vanilla candle and owl. Bottom: cute framed screen-printed b'day card I got last December, tea-light candles (I use alot), glass candle holders with bits and bobs in. 

This is crazy quilt is from Urban Outfitters. I got it online in the January sales for £40 (which I know is not super cheap but it was a xmas treat, plus it was £95 before!). I love the colours and the different patterns and hope to make something like it one day. Its so warm I dont need a duvet and its a big queen size quilt so it can wrap round twice!

This silk pink rose quilted blanket is from my grandma, she gave it me before I went off for uni. And again its HUGE queen size. I use it constantly, it keeps warm or keeps cool. Its just a nightmare to hang out to dry!

This is a tea set image lap-tray that I got from my grandma. I don't use it for food, I use it as a laptop rest while I browse for hours to stop it getting over heated. 

b-a-n-a-n-a-s

banana bread muffins

2-3 squidgy bananas

8tbsp self raising flour

1/2 tsp bi-carbonate soda

3 tbsp margarine or 2 tbsp butter melted

2 tbsp Caster or golden brown sugar

2 eggs

1 cup of milk (your preference)

1 tsp cinnamon or mixed spiced (optional)

sift dry ingredients in to a large mixing bowl set aside 

mash banana with a fork in another bowl

lightly whisk eggs and add to mashed banana

add half of the cup of milk

fold wet and dry ingredients with metal spoon

until a thick batter is formed, it should not be to stiff

so add more milk if needed (different flours absorb liquid differently)

pour into individual cases or a small loaf tin

cook at gas mark 5/190'c

for 20-30mins depending on size

do the prick test to make sure the mix is cooked

(bamboo sticks are good for it)

leave to cool on a wire rack, enjoy warm

I like laid-back cooking where I can improvise. I'm terrible with using scales, that is why I'm a good cook and awful baker (but I'm still trying).  So most of my recipes will be approximates or at least measured in cups and spoons which is nice and easy for me! 

travel light

When I first started developing an interest in vintage items. It was more associated with fashion, clothing and accessories. But it was always hard to shop the clothes been a 'British average' size 16! One thing that always worked though were bags. And I became obsessed with travel bags. I think these told the best stories and just looked great. 

 Here are my top three from my collection.

This huge case was found in Age concern, which I have got some of my best finds from.  Its faux leather as you can tell it hasn't aged but I believe it is about 30-40 years old and the lining is perfect. I love the three big straps and the tan. Only down size is the old the suit case the less likely it is to have wheels and this would be a nightmare to carry when full of 2weeks holiday gear!

This is my granny case, which I love. Im not sure what you call this floral canvas style, but you find it on many granny shopper bags and trolleys and travel cases. I love the greens and pinks and I'm actually going to use it when I go to Madrid in a couple of weeks. I don't buy things just for show. 

This one is my favourite and its in perfect condition. Its not seriously old but its a 20 year ago version of the ever popular overnight bag by Antler. Firstly I loved the shape and then the military green colour. I think this bag was aimed to be more masculine, as it has a shaving mirror (which I found a few dark stubble-like hairs on, ew). It has two compartments with many pockets to keep your items neat and organised. I have used it a couple of times and its deceivingly spacious, I used it for a weekend away. 

fancy a chat?

I do love a retro house phone.  I think the modern ones of today are so boring and focus on modern practicality rather than design aesthetic.  However the house phone will surely die out in the next 5-10 years due to mobile phones, laptops and tablet computers. Therefore I think it is important to have something in your home that looks good, as it will become less practical. 

I found this beautiful phone at a  car boot sale and the first thing I asked the guy is "does it work?". He assured me it did, and it was already wired for use. I got it for £4 and he gave me a free lager tray too! woo :) 

I got it home, tested it out. It had really clear reception, I was so pleased.  However every number registered except the no' 7 so I will have to get that checked out (Maybe thats why he gave me the free lager tray). I would only have a house phone to receive calls though so not much of a worry.  
I can see it now sitting on the end of a sideboard next to a comfy lounge chair.

better than imagined

I noticed this building for the first time in Leicester the other day. I do not know why I haven't ever noticed it before. Maybe its been recently refurbished or maybe its because I have been fantasizing about having my own business lately.  But as soon as I saw it, it got me thinking of my dream plans to open up a shop (of sorts). And this is the setting i picture in my head.  Its the perfect style, the cross between modern and traditional and the space inside looks amazing! The primer cream/grey colour is just asking for someone to splash it with a bold paint.  I will be keeping an eye out to see what happens with it next. I wish I had the funds for it!

Here are the pictures. 

I love the double fronted shop-face with doorway in the middle, thats reflected on the side too. Four huge big windows would be perfect for displaying items or having seats/tables by for customers to sit at and watch the people walk by. Also love the zig-zag roof shape!

I like the ornate design round the large windows and the No 9' at the top of the door. You can just about see there is a great open plan space indoors..

..and there are two or three floors above it. When I spoke to my mum about it she remembered that 'back in the day' one of the top floors was used as a day crèche for mums who wanted to get a bit of shopping done in the city centre. What a cute idea and really this could be incorporated to my own plans.. i will share those later!