Christmas Crackers

I’m not really a fan of crackers (with or without cheese). The kind you pull are fun but the kind you eat leave me a bit uninspired.

Well, last day at work before the Christmas season grinds into full swing. Still more Christmas tunes belting out from the desk opposite mine. I must say that Phil Spector’s Christmas is now wearing thin and the fact that “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” is no longer filling me with delight and, much tho I’d like to “Feed the World” to “Let them know it’s Christmas time again…” I’m afraid these songs are really grating on my now jangled nerves - as is the truly dreadful singing of my colleague opposite. The fun and shine of my festive baubles are really tarnishing rapidly.

Otherwise I’m quite perky about the whole thing and can’t wait to skip free from my work shackles and skip merrily to my family and friends to begin celebrating proper.

This evening I’m catching a train to northern England to spend the ‘season to be jolly’ with my family. I hope it snows a bit. Last time I went home I spent all of Boxing Day (26th December) on a sledge with my brother, niece and nephew, hurtling down hills on a bleak and snowy moorland. It was brilliant!

I have been preparing my body for a week or so of major heart-stopping, artery clogging food bingeing. I think I’m just about there but may have to do some last minute stomach stretching exercises on the train – I have 3 hours worth of journey to increase my eating capacity…
I’ve also done a little to spread some joy elsewhere. I donated some cash to a charity to buy equipment for building wells and buying crops to allow people to grow their own food and become self-sufficient) and to a childrens’ charity in the UK. I feel a little happier that I’ve tried in a really, really small way to make someone’s life a little better.

Merry Christmas to anyone who may be dropping in to my blog. Happy New Year to everyone.

Nuts!

Aren’t nuts weird?! I don’t really consider them to be actually food at all. They just seem to be things that are added to other stuff.
When I was young I hated nuts and would avoid at all costs but, as with many other things, I’ve started to appreciate them as I’ve got older. I am munching on cashews right now and they’re going down tremendously well! I’m also deeply passionate about macadamia nuts and chocolate covered Brazil nuts. Hazelnuts are also worthy of a mention.

Maybe it’s because it’s Christmas time and everyone goes nuts for nuts at this time of year. I can’t be faffed shelling the things tho.
I even cooked with nuts over the weekend. I created a fabulous (even if I do say so myself) Moroccan chicken tagine. It had a ton of fruit and a rattling stack of almonds in it. At first, the ingredients looked more like a dessert than anything else. I was tempted to just put the kettle on, have soup and eat the tagine ingredients with ice cream instead. Common sense prevailed however and 1 hour later a spectacular culinary triumph was born. I’ve had Nigella on the phone for days since, begging for some advice but I’m letting the answer-phone pick up.

The Christmas countdown is now on. I’ve got most of my presents, just 2 more to buy on Thursday. Then I have only the wrapping to go but I quite enjoy that as it makes me feel quite festive.

The weather has turned quite chilly here – finally. It’s been so strange lately, not too cold at all. There are still some trees with leaves on – it’s December for goodness sake! I’m quite pleased the weather has taken a colder turn. It feels more like winter time at last and that Christmas and a new year are on their way.

Note to self…. Must buy a winter coat. And more nuts. Ooh. Maybe mince pies….

Ding Dong Merrily

Now that the festive season is approaching at terrifying speed, I’m pleased to report that my first yuletide Eggnog Latte from Starbucks has been consumed. Despite the reputation of said coffee outlet, I do enjoy their Christmas offerings. When accompanied by a couple (or more) of their mini mince pies an eggnog latte is just the thing for…. for…. well… for anything really!

Today I also threw myself into the seasonal spirit by having a Christmas sandwich. Now ‘Christmas sandwich’ could include a whole host of nasties really, couldn’t it? But fortunately this one was devoid of sprouts, crackers, hairy aunties or ‘eat me’ dates. It was a yummy cranberry bread sandwich with turkey, bacon, stuffing (my fave!), cranberry chutney and various greenery.

Other festive seasonal firsts of late…

The CD player has come out in the office and I’m peppered with the ‘rootie-toot-toots’ and ‘rumtie-tum-tums’ of jolly ditties all day long. It’s only day 3 of the music so I’m still upbeat about it all. Come next Monday I’ll be ready to use festive CD’s as coasters… and don’t even mention Slade…..

The social hurly burly of Christmas has also begun to gear up and we’ve had a few people over for dinner over the last few days as we probably won’t get to see them again until 2007. Party invites and Christmas drinkies with chums are filling up weekdays and weekends are booked solid. Fortunately I seem to have plenty of annual leave left over this year that needs to be used before Dec 31st so I’m only working 3 day weeks until January. Woo-hoo!

I’m now looking forward to my first Christmas buffet of 2006. Always a fan of a buffet, I wait in eager anticipation to see what’s on this year’s party food top ten. Please don’t let there be too much fish or cheese. I’m ok with the odd prawn but I’m more of a lover of lard and stodge than prancey health food on a doily. Give me indigestion inducing pastry, love-handle producing cake and artery hardening dairy products. All washed down with booze. I know. It’s not big and it’s not clever. But it is Christmas, and that’s the season (but not just the reason) to be jolly.

Cupcakes

I’m having a bit of a thing for cupcakes at the moment. I’m even considering making my own. Lord only knows what has brought this on.

New York was super. The weather was fantastic. Clear blue skies all day and not too cold at all. The sales were in full swing by the time we awoke on our first day so; of course, we went for a huge brunch before braving the stores.

Armani Exchange has a buff DJ playing seriously cool tunes so at one point I was right in the mood to sink a few vodka & tonics and have a bit of a dance, but realised it was early afternoon and I was in the queue for the changing rooms. Still, my purchases were many and splendid. Abercrombie & Fitch do the loud music thing too but their music wasn’t as good, the store is quite dark and the people who work there are busier admiring how good they look in the A&F clothes that are always sold out, than they are in helping anyone in-store. I had a laborious (and fruitless) conversation with a vapid, glacial minion who spoke “like, er, kinda dumb?!” I wasn’t entirely sure we were communicating in the same language and the look she gave me for being obviously and comfortably over the age of 17 said it all. She did, however, have time and energy to wave me vaguely in the direction of the back of the store to point out that I may find what I was looking for elsewhere (anywhere but near her). I fought my way thru the pack of gawking groupies waiting to have their photo taken with a muscle-bound hunk wearing only jeans and an open coat - poor bloke must have been pretty chilly! Then again the air around the frosty madam in men swear wasn’t that toasty either.

One ray of sunshine in the A&F store was that a friendly and seemingly ever perky lady told me I wouldn’t need to buy a medium T shirt as it would be “way too big” and “what was I thinking?!” I nearly hugged her.

We had dinner with our New York friends on a couple of nights, once in Harlem, a new experience for me, and another night uptown. The other evenings in New York were spent out on the razz sampling restaurants and bars. It was a hoot. I was interviewed for a gay TV channel by a drag queen that liked my aftershave, and spookily to continue the drag theme, I had Sunday brunch at a drag show restaurant in Greenwich. It was very entertaining. I’m amazed how some men can squeeze into a glittering garment without firing sequins off with every tightly clad movement.
The other half is absolutely terrified of drag queens, much in the same way that some people find clowns a bit sinister but was way, way, WAY too hung over to leave the hotel anyway. I, on the hand have no such problems, so having a fake bosom in my face whilst having my drink poured didn’t upset me at all. It caused much hilarity and photo snapping from my NYC chums tho.

P.S. The picture is most definitely NOT me!

It’s up to you….

New York, Nooooooooo Yoooooorrrrkk!

I depart on Thursday for a weekend of pre-festive shopping and extreme indulgence. I can’t wait.

Hong Kong was, as always, kinda cool. Also, as always, I left Hong Kong with a little parting gift – a cold. I don’t know why but I always get a cold in Hong Kong. I thought it could be the air conditioning but I never get it anywhere else I travel to. Still, no matter as I have just been to visit the smoothie man at Gatwick who made me a ‘flu fighter’ smoothie, packed with lots of vitamins and bug busting goodies.
It was quite tastey too, until I’d finished and then had a bit of a funny aftertaste, but hey, medicine always tastes bad in some way doesn’t it…

I made sure I sampled some Hong King cuisine and dined on great food during my 2 night stay. It wasn’t even a whistle-stop visit this time – I didn’t even have the opportunity to get my whistle out and blow, let alone stop!

Let’s talk about New York…
I’m flying out on Thanksgiving and arriving in the evening. Apparently the day after Thanksgiving is a mammoth shopping day. How splendid. I shall have my cards charged up and my signature signing speed at max so I’m able to blitz the shops before retiring in a huge heap of quality shopping bags stuffed choc full of fabulous things. All for me!
Actually, I do have to do a spot of Christmas present buying whilst I’m in the US but I know what I need and where to get it so it’ll take me no time at all!

Right. I’m away with my sniffles now to seek solace in a lemon drink. It’s all about glamour with me – it really is.

Chinese food

I haven’t eaten any Chinese food today – or for quite a while, for that matter. However, I shall be chowing down on lots of it next week as I’m off to Hong Kong on business.

I really like Hong Kong – it’s bustling & lively and has that buzz that only a few cities seem to possess. It’s visually stunning and each time I go, I stand and look at the skyline from the harbour-side just dumbstruck that this fantastic view is entirely manmade. That’s what hits me every time as being so unusual. Not many manmade sites on such a grand scale can be considered beautiful or spectacular. Hong Kong manages to get away with it. Don’t ask me how, as it’s all glass, noise, light – I don’t even want to think what kind of electricity gets used up or how much pollution is being belched into the environment as a result..

Back to Chinese food briefly. I’m looking forward to lots of duck – I think that’s my fave, that and dim sum.

After my whistle-stop visit to Hong Kong for 2 nights, it’s back on the plane for 12 hours to London. Hopefully there’ll be some good films on the plane so I can fill up all that time.
My travels don’t end there, as the next week I’m boarding a long-haul flight again to visit New York – for fun. I hate to imagine what my carbon footprint is like…
I do work for an airline tho so travel is kind of unavoidable. Perhaps I can pay for some trees to be planted to offset my carbon footprint. I’m a bit worried that I’ve travelled so much on business this year and had some long haul holidays, that I don’t actually have a carbon footprint but a carbon off-road 4x4 dirt trail.

Sigh. I love trees – I need to look into tree projects to pay for my travel crimes….

M&S Mini Jaffa Cakes

I’ve just had a whole bag of them. I shared with my colleagues of course, but the majority ended up being shovelled into the huge pie-hole located at the front of my head.

Yum.

Well, it’s nearly the weekend. We have a friend coming to stay, which means I’ll spend most of it out and about, probably in a semi-drunken state and seeking something more to eat.

Not entirely sure about the specific plans as yet but I know that this evening is going to be a ‘civilised’ dinner somewhere pleasant. Now, we all know that this means we’ll have an enjoyable, civilised dinner somewhere, drink a cellar’s worth of wine and decide to lurch off to a West-End club to drink far too much before tumbling into a cab at the crack of sparrows, then crawl into bed well after day-break. This whole kind of evening is what’s planned for tomorrow tho, so we’ll be dreadfully over-hung but will force ourselves out into town to do it all over again. Typically, Sunday will be spent promising anyone who will listen that we won’t be drinking again and that our healthy lifestyles are due to start first thing Monday morning. Which of course, they won’t.

I can’t wait! I do love a major weekender!

I also need to fit a spot of retail therapy in too. I need a winter coat and some new things to wear. Well, I say need. That’s not strictly true. I’d like.

The weather has suddenly, and sharply, turned chilly. Frost everywhere this morning and visible breath. I wasn’t expecting it. By the time I got to the tube station today my ears hurt. Anyone in Canada, Scandinavia or Siberia who may be reading this could probably sneer with good reason at such blousey reactions but hey! I’m British. It’s what we do. We discuss weather. Constantly.

Next entry it’s really all back to cake. Or at least I’ll try! Honest.

Food Bravery

Today I’ve been quite brave. I’ll explain in a little while and anyone who reads it might think “so what?”
My adventure in food, admittedly, has been low level but I have learned something. Which is always good.

I’m not really a cheese fan.
Wow! Another savoury food blog, but fear not cake fans, after this I’m definitely returning to sugar-laden stuff. It’ll make me happy and keep my dentist busy.

I digress (what’s new).

I’m not really a cheese fan. I only really like ‘plastic’, processed cheese that comes in flat squares or foil wrapped triangles. “Philistine” yell the food connoisseurs of the world. Blah blah blah say I. Anyway. As previously mentioned, I’m having a bit of a soup-fest at the mo so I wandered down to the little food place in my building to buy some lunch. The soup of the day is broccoli and stilton. Cheese-feelings taken into account I grimaced then, on the verge of declining, I was struck with a devil-may-care attitude and promptly ordered a small serving – don’t want to get too giddy.

I’ve finished the soup now. I’m feeling a bit cheated. At first it was ok but then the serious chessiness began to kick in. It’s the whole blue cheese thing for me. It’s mould! Why would anyone want to eat mould? Then again, mushrooms are fungi and they’re great. I’m sitting now with a mouldy taste in my mouth and a feeling of missed lunchtime opportunities. That’s the last time I throw caution to the wind and delve into the world of cheese.

I need a huge slab of chocolate now to lift my mood and rejuvenate my taste buds. I’m taking a sprightly short walk to the snacks machine immediately.

Let's talk about crisps…

Although I never used to hate them, crisps were never high on my food agenda. At parties, gatherings or when particularly peckish I’d nibble on the odd few. I’d also usually head for salt & vinegar.

These last few weeks I’ve found myself drawn to crisps in a big way. Why? Why, oh why?

Walkers Roasted Red Onion & Balsamic Vinegar flavour are specific winners at the mo, as are Pringles Thai Lemon Grass flavour. I don’t understand how it’s happened but I’ve found myself cramming fists full of them into my mouth to the point of near suffocation. Despite the danger of choke hazard or the risks of laceration to the inner lining of my mouth from pointy crisp edge, I’ve been throwing caution to the wind and devouring them like a total crazy!

Is there any cure I ask myself. Is there a self-help group? A Potato Products Anonymous?

Not sure what has set these new savoury wheels in motion but it’s certainly got me thinking. Crisp cake…..
No. That’s just plain silly.

For those who may have dropped in from outside the UK – and there used to be but I think they had their fill of cake and have moved on to slimmer pastures – crisps are potato chips. Chips are entirely different here – chips in the UK are what folk in the US call fries – only they’re fatter (the chips, not the Americans, let’s not get in to THAT debate! Although I think there’s little difference between the UK and US on that score these days…)

Now that it’s becoming chilly and autumnal, I’m also becoming a bit obsessed with soup. I wonder… is this all because I’m getting older? I can’t possibly abandon my loyalty to cake/biscuits/sweet baked goods, it’d be too much of a wrench…

Please help

Shocking, lazy, uncaring….

I know – it’s true. My blog has been left cold and unloved for a while. It’s not as if I haven’t had anything to write about. I don’t have an excuse. I guess even nice blogs have bad authors…

I’ll try and make amends.

I’ll begin with macaroons. I may have mentioned them before but last weekend I went to Paris – for dinner more or less – oh the glamour! It’s like being part of a Pretty Woman movie spoof. Except that I’m not pretty, or a woman. Nor am I a hooker with a heart. I just went to Paris for dinner.
Dinner was fab – Hotel Costes is the epitome of cool. Our waitress looked like she’d just nipped off the catwalk at the end of Paris fashion week and back to her day job. The woman walked like she was on castors! It was too chic for words.
Anyway, back to macaroons. On Sunday we went to Laduree on the Champs Elysees for breakfast. They make the most unbelievable macaroons. I can’t even think of a way to describe them – the only thing to do is to experience one. It’s almost magical in a food kind of way.

Eurostar was fun but looking a little tired these days and you don’t get the fun stuff anymore. The glasses are all nasty plastic tubs that look like the containers you get filled with pills/medicine when you’re in hospital.

The week before Paris I did some sightseeing in London. Strange as I actually live in London but my brother and sister in-law came to stay and we did some tourist stuff. It was brilliant. Some things I hadn’t done in ages and others never before. For the first time ever, I climbed to the top of the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral (for those of you who may not be in the know, it’s the 2nd largest cathedral in the world after St Peters in Rome). The view was stunning. As good as the view from the London Eye but a darn sight cheaper and the surrounding architecture (the cathedral with it’s dome designed by Christopher Wren) more beautiful. The steps were narrow and winding and could cause sweaty palms even to the hardiest of tourists. I urge everyone to visit.

This week has been busy at work – lots to get done and not much time to do it in. I’ve given up on any sense of urgency and I’m allowing myself to be swept along in everyone else’s waves of panicky delirium. It’s easier to let someone else do the worrying I’ve decided. It then leaves me plenty of time to look forward to the weekends and to decide what I should have for dinner each evening!

Biscuits!

I’m really in the mood for biscuits today. Not really fussed what kind, just want to cram my mouth with packets and packets of them. If pushed into making a biscuit selection I think, right now, I’d choose Jammie Dodgers or Orange flavoured Clubs. Mind you, a Jaffa Cake always goes well and should never be sniffed at, unless you’re going to scoff it down after a tempter sniff.

I think it’s to do with the change in the weather. It’s a bit cooler today and drizzly. The kind of weather that should be endured by beaching oneself on a large sofa accompanied by a vast amount of cushions, many cups of tea and a mountain of biscuits within easy arms reach. The other arm would, of course, be gripping on to the remote control to orchestrate a day’s DVD viewing pleasure. I reckon to go with my current biscuit mood I’d watch perhaps the first 3 Star Wars movies (as in the first 3 that were made), maybe one or two of the Lord of the Rings films (absolute nerd fest but easy viewing). Alternatively, I could just be in the frame of mind to watch a few of my all-time faves in one blast – Thomas Crown Affair (the Pierce Brosnan one), Oceans Eleven (George Clooney one), Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert (the ‘one and only’ one) and I think perhaps something slightly cultural should be thrown in as I’m feeling that the above selections lead to a trash extravaganza. Something cultural tho…

I’ll have to give that some thought. I do like cultural stuff but I’m pressed now to think of one on the hoof.

Oh to be close to comfy upholstery, hi-tech audio visual equipment and a kettle.

Detox…

Sigh.

Yes. It does say detox. After 16 days of boozing it up and eating like it was my last ever day, my body has finally begged me to please let it have at least a day off and maybe just one full glass of water.

Spain, Spain, Spain. I love it. Ibiza was a blast. Whilst I didn’t go quite so far as to be in some uber-now club with a clingy vest on and a whistle every night, I did stay out late drinking in cool bars and eating my own body weight in …, well, whatever came closest to either of my hands really. Ibiza was also very relaxing as our villa had a HUGE terrace with pool, plus the most spectacular views of the sea and the sunset. Days were generally lazy and involved bobbing about on a lilo whilst soaking up as much sunlight as is humanly possible. After an afternoon sharpener from the drinks trolley a little disco nap often followed before evening activities commenced.

After a week of glorious sunshine and fun in Ibiza we flew to mainland Spain for a week of more glorious sunshine and fun.

Tapas with extra sides of tapas, day after day, all washed down with about 200 gallons of Cruzcampo beer (unless in Granada where it’s all Alhambra beer!) have left me with the constant sound of straining stitches and the panic that unexpected and embarrassing seam-splitting could occur at any given moment.

I think my new fave tapas are croquettas caseras, broad bean & bacon stew and squid. The other half and a friend were obsessed with anchovies for the whole time, which kinda made me heave a bit. The small, fresh ones that have been prepared in vinegar are ok but the bigger ones that are deep fried whole gave me the heebie-jeebies – especially when the other half pulled out a whole spine and bones combo and ate it separately to demonstrate how soft the bones were. I nearly revisited a whole plate of super tasty croquettes over that…

Other scary offerings worthy of note were the pigs’ trotters that the other half ordered whilst at a fiesta in Ronda (where everyone should visit as it’s beautiful!). We all looked at them as they glistened wetly on the plate. I instantly decided that they would never be on my ‘must try’ list (not that they ever were) and plunged gladly into the huge plate of ‘Jamon y Queso’ that was at the other end of our table. The other half, having ordered the feet struggled bravely on, much to the horror of the rest of us. I’ve got a pic of them somewhere so I’ll attach once I find it. It ain’t pretty so I may have to pop another pic along with it too, to take away the nasty taste.

I’ve decided that I’d like to live in Seville for a little while. The city is so warm and exciting. It has character, charm, and history and did I mention they practically invented tapas there? Even working in a smoky little bar there would make me very happy. I’d be able to learn Spanish and drink little beers all day long. Actually, that would lead to an enormous belly, which wouldn’t do, as Sevillanos mostly seem svelte with fabulous skin and attractive features.

Heavens. I should have been Spanish. It would have made everything so much easier…

Turkish Delight

Ever get a craving for something you haven’t had in ages, completely out of nowhere?

I’m in desperate need of a Fry’s Turkish Delight right now. Dunno why but I just really, really want one. Or two. I must confess that I’m a bit of a Turkish Delight fan. Obviously my favourite is the fake, unauthentic kind covered in chocolate but I do also like the official Turkish stuff too – especially the pistachio flavoured ones.

More food adventures coming up for me! I’m off to Ibiza on holiday at the weekend, which will mean a huge booze-bonanza but also the beginning of a Spanish food frenzy which will last two weeks. I’m very much looking forward to chorizo and albondingas. A special favourite is dates wrapped in bacon – something that I can make myself at home but never seems to taste anywhere near as amazing as it does when you’re plonked port-side in some glam and sunny holiday destination with a glass of chilly rose near at hand.

Now there’s a thought…. Does food automatically taste better if you are in pleasant surroundings? Would I find dates in bacon as tastey if I were sat on a plastic chair at the side of the M25? Obviously I’d be choking on the fumes and picking grit thrown by speeding lorries from every mouthful. It would therefore seem that location could be a factor in how good food tastes. These findings are not conclusive but I shall keep everyone informed of any further discoveries in this area.

After Ibiza we’re jetting straight to Malaga to begin our Andalucian Extravaganza. Yet more tapas!!!!! I may even get into sherry. Or maybe not. It’s a bit old lady. Although I’m sure Andalucians would argue it’s super-trendy and extremely cutting edge….

Warm Plum Tart

Warm plums….. hmmmm…

I’m a fan of a sticky tart too. In fact any bit of pastry is usually welcome.

Now then. Enough of all that. I have details of an event, the likes of which has ne’ery been seen before (well maybe, but it was pretty spectacular). Last weekend I attended the matrimonials of Todd & Fergal at Bovey Castle in Devon. What a shindig!

The whole thing was planned with immaculate precision, gliding along at a fair ol’ pace with bags of style, tons of fun and bucket loads of booze.
Being the paragon of virtue that I am, I only allowed a whisper of alcohol to touch my lips. Actually, none of it touched my lips - it bypassed all of my mouth and hit my throat at a gallop. Or it went down my front. As someone who is totally unable to say no to ‘another’, I should have suffered rather badly with dreadful hangovers but after the initial night’s revels I arose without a headache or nausea. I also arose without a toenail, my camera or my shirt. The camera I had left in the hotel bar, the shirt at the pool after an early morning dip with other drunken merry-makers and my toenail was embedded in the bottom of the bathroom door where I had, under the influence of course, trapped it.

Pain began soon after waking and shame shortly followed. Fortunately being in the pool in such a state meant that I had consumed rather more water than usual which held off any ill feeling. However, the fact that I made my way back to my room at 5am in wet boxer shorts brought on whole different feelings of agony… Fortunately the other half had organised the room for my arrival by removing any furniture from my route between bed and bathroom.

Further agony followed when later that day I had to don my lovely new Patrick Cox shoes for the wedding ceremony. I went thru the whole thing with a dignified limp, able to meet the eyes of only my five fellow fun seekers. A few glasses of champagne later and my limp was improving marvellously and the party spirit and returned. I even managed a dance or two.

Notable food over the weekend was a fantastic barbeque with amazing burgers and sausages. An amazing mountain of cupcakes (wish I’d taken a photo but my camera was strangely missing…) drew my attention shortly after demolishing a pile of yummy salads and grilled meat!
The wedding feast was sooooo good too. Fabulous wine accompanied the food, all selected by Todd & Fergal. Wow! You boys have such great taste.

I haven’t been to a wedding like that before and certainly not one that I’ve enjoyed so much.

Cinnamon Spiced Carrot Cake

I love cinnamon, as has already been discussed on a few previous blog entries. I’m not going to bang on a about it any more. Carrot cake tho... I quite like carrot cake but my favourite part is the squishy bit on the top. Once I've polished that off I soon lose interest.

I’m off to a wedding on Friday, which should present a whole cornucopia of food opportunities over the weekend. The wedding is taking place in a castle in Devon so I’ll snap a few shots and try and get them on for a future blog.

We’re going by train – a relief as driving would have been mayhem. An 11 o’clock start and we’re taking the whole thing very seriously with a plan and everything. One of my chums is charged with getting the bread, cheese, pate and other smashingly delicious comestibles whilst the rest of us are bringing the wine. By the time we roll of the train in deepest, darkest Devon we’ll be trashed! Hurrah!

Once arrived, we’ll check in to the castle (as one does) and then (hopefully) nip off for a refreshing snooze. After a nap we shall glam up for an evening’s entertainment of monster proportions before retiring (elegantly, of course) to our rooms to enjoy a night’s slumber before the big wedding day of Todd & Fergal.
Much excitement about what is planned but they’re keeping it all very close to their chests. Time will tell….

I’m a bit peckish. I might have a pasty….

Friday Night

Aah. I used to love going out straight from work on a Friday night and then discovering that it was Saturday afternoon all of a sudden. Associated side effects were usually some form of headache, vague memories of thinking how splendidly witty I thought I was at the time (usually bringing on waves of dire anxiety and embarrassment), the elusive feeling that I'd found someone frightfully attractive but not feeling entirely sure if I'd acted upon those urges (quick check under bedclothes to ascertain success or lack thereof) - all rolled up with a devilish hankering for bacon.

Nowadays, I still like to pop out for a frisky shandy or two but prefer to be home and in my jarmies by midnight. Of course, having the other half for the past 9 years has meant that the Saturday morning score chart has been neatly filed away for posterity but the rest has just faded away with age.

It's Friday night now and I've had some wine (a fair bit actually, but sipped slowly over a whole evening rather than binged in a couple of hours followed by spirits - both high and alcoholic - and some impressive cocktails which make better hats than drinks!). I'm feeling mellow and content.

Saturday nights however, still don't seem to have changed. I still love to go out on the lash! Tomorrow night we're off to a stag do. Entertainingly, there are two stags as there is to be a 'big gay wedding' next week. It's all very Madonna really - big castle, stacks of people - and I'm quite looking forward to it.
Back to the stag party tho - not sure how that's gonna pan out. Stag/hen parties usually, in the UK at least, involve going out with your mates for a final fling as a single, possibly also involve snogging as many people as you can and generally getting off your face without your intended being there to look on disapprovingly. Gay stag parties are only in their infancy, so this is all going to be a bit of an adventure.

I shall, of course, behave as a paragon of decorum, sampling only a small variety of alcoholic tipples, until I feel that it is time to withdraw politely to return home before the witching hour. Bollocks! I'll be trashed by 11pm, won't remember swinging my pants outrageously on the dancefloor of some club choc full with chunky chaps without shirts, before being thrown into the back of a taxi to arrive in a heap at my doorstep by the crack of noon the next day.

Dontcha just love the weekend?!

(pic is of me at my most virtuous....)

Super Hungry

Yowsers! I’m sooo hungry today. I’ve just spent a week working in Hong Kong and we were thoroughly spoiled by the staff at the hotel where we worked. Every day was a huge merry-go-round of cake, dim sum, pastries, sandwiches - with extra cake. All of these exciting treats were punctuated only by breakfast, lunch breaks, and snack times.

My system has now reconfigured itself to expect at least a biscuit every fifteen minutes. Now that I’m back in the UK, and in normal work mode, there’s been ne’ery a piece of fruit near my desk, let alone a strawberry shortcake. I’m in disarray. I’m craving a sugar fix of monster proportions and the sensible part of my brain is quietly informing me that if I continue at my current consumption I shall have a stomach like a barrel in a few short weeks. Conversely, the irrational foodie part of me is screaming inside my head that I need baked goods immediately, or my sanity could well be at stake and I could slip into a hunger-induced state of melancholic apathy.

Panic over! Just had lunch at Pizza Express. I was kinda good by having a salad but the salads at Pizza Express have just as much fat in them as a pizza. Still, I feel slightly virtuous by having eaten some lettuce and tuna, which is obviously health food…. Isn’t it?

Lemon Meringue Pie

Do I like it is the question….

Yes is the answer, providing the meringue is fluffy and chewy. If it’s that hard, brittle polystyrene look-alike, then I certainly do not!!

I’ve just had a cheeky lunch surprise, which has made me totally perky and full of Thursday cheer. I had a cheese and mushroom panini. It was delicious. It must have been the cheese – type unknown sadly but I’m still basking in the rosy glow of a yummy lunch. Does anyone else get that? When you don’t want the taste of that last mouthful to fade? I was gasping for a drink of water but wanted the taste to last. Of course I had to give in as was beginning to look like I’d just crossed the Kalahari…

Isn’t the weather just fab in the UK right now?! I spent last weekend in Brighton and had breakfast on the beach. Granted, shingle and pebbles don’t make the most attractive beaches but the sea was a beautiful green colour, the sun was shining and there was a cool & steady breeze to take the edge off the heat. I made the dubious decision to eat a chocolate-almond croissant but it went without a hitch, there wasn’t really enough time for the chocolate to have melted as I shoved it in pretty much all in one go, as I was so hungry. Not sure why I had such mammoth hunger on though as we’d been out for dinner to an amazing restaurant the night before and ate fairly late. Anyone dropping by here that may live in Brighton or is thinking of visiting soon should go to Pinxto People. It’s kinda like a tapas restaurant but it’s a combination of Spanish and Asian food. All sounds a bit bizarre but it works really well. We had all sorts of unbelievably great food and the cocktails were lethally fabulous. What made the evening, and the restaurant a real winner was the amazing staff who work there. They were all so proud of the place and of the service they provide. It helped that the majority of them were stunning to look at but they were so genuinely lovely it made our whole experience twenty times better. We’re going back again this weekend and taking some different friends, hopefully they’ll love it as much as we do.

Now that the taste of my panini has faded and I’ve quenched my thirst I’m feeling really full. Ooh. A nice lie down would be ideal. Alas, I still have half of my working day to lurch through.

sigh….

Banana and Vanilla Sponge with Toffee Sauce

Summer is here. Kinda. It’s been hot, then cold. Then hot. Then cold. I can’t keep up! My bag is so heavy every day that getting to work is exhausting. The weather is so jumper on, jumper off, sunglasses on, sunglasses off that I’m having to cart all-weather gear with me everywhere I go. I’m thinking of just buying a caravan or Winnebago to drive to and from work so I’ll have the appropriate stuff with me at all times.

All this plus banana & vanilla sponge with toffee sauce. What a rubbish cake!

I was in Mallorca a couple of weeks ago. It was splendid. I’ve decided I’m very much in love with Mallorca. Beautiful weather, scenery and the odd spot of tapas whenever I feel like it are most welcome additions to a lifestyle, dontcha think?
Note to self. Move to Mallorca asap!

I’ve got a busy couple of months coming up and it’s all feeling a bit daunting at the mo. Like a big wall in front of me that I’m going to have to climb. Fortunately, there will be a few nice little ledges on my ascent where I can stop and take a quick breather. Busy at work and 2 visits to Hong Kong to put in before September. Obviously, I shall be comforted by the mountains of Chinese food I can eat there, plus the card-groaningly vast amounts of shopping I can do.
I have a gay wedding to go to in August. But before the wedding is the entertaining event of the stag night. 2 grooms, 2 stags and 2 separate events for us all to attend in one evening. I’ll make sure I’m wearing comfy shoes and have a speedy route between the 2 planned well in advance!

Pleasingly, after the busy events of the next 2 months I’ll be whisking off to Ibiza for some serious pleasure seeking. There will be a great deal of sun-soaked loafing involved, liberally sprinkled with booze. Immediately after Ibiza is a week of cool sightseeing in Andalusia. I’m really looking forward to it, as one of our major stops along the way will be Seville. I’ve blathered on about Seville here in my blog before so I’m not going to go on. Apart from the fact that it’s warm, beautiful, all of the people there are real pretty and it’s FUN!

Summery Bread and Butter Pudding

Well well well…

Again it’s been a while…bit of a pattern forming here isn’t there?

I’ve just returned from Tokyo where I’ve spent a week on business. I’m not even going to consider talking about today’s dessert as there’s just too much to flap on about Japanese food. I LOVE it.

I’ve spent a week demolishing tons of beef sukiyaki, Japanese beef curry, sushi, teriyaki, and katso curry, not to mention the desserts! Japan is a rather cheeky surprise on the cake front. It’s all v fluffy and light and super-duper pretty. I’ve also become a bit obsessed with Japanese pickled radish – odd huh? If anyone reading this ever gets the chance to try it then I suggest you wolf it down!

The bonus of Japanese food is that it’s all fairly healthy! How cool is that?!

I’m off to Mallorca tomorrow for a long weekend so I’ll be throwing myself heartily into tapas and much sangria. Heck, I need to be planning a diet soon or I’m gonna turn into a big slab of Serrano!!!

Chocolate & Black Cherry Sponge

Hmmmm…..

I like chocolate and I LOVE cherries but I’m not sure how I feel about the dessert du jour.

I’m going to hold off discussing it whilst I ponder….

Since my last entry (some time ago I know – big sorry!) I have had a splendid holiday in Boston and Cape Cod. We visited Boston over a national holiday – Memorial Day. Boston was more or less closed. The ‘other half’ and I explored the city on foot. The weather was amazing, which was a good job, as we couldn’t go into many places, being that they weren’t open. When it came to lunchtime I was sooo hungry and my feet were aching but we couldn’t find anywhere open to eat! But then we spied a diner that was open and we rejoiced. However as we limped towards the door, weak with hunger, we noticed the enormous queue spilling out on to the pavement. I stifled a small sob. Due to the heat and unbearable cravings for food, the ‘other half’ and I then proceeded to have a completely irrational argument and opted to buy a sandwich from a little store and sit on Boston Common with it.

Harrumph! Boston is pretty though and I feel that I’ll need to return to give it a fair chance. And to have a look at the insides of things too!

Cape Cod is incredibly beautiful, so friendly and completely geared up to allowing one to eat lobster 24 hours a day! Spectacular! I particularly enjoyed my lobster sandwich one afternoon whilst lazily slumped over a view of a beach. I’d recommend Cape Cod and I hope that I can visit again soon.

Now then. I’ve made up my mind on the Choc & Black Cherry Sponge. It gets a big fat zero.

Marks & Spencer Dunker biscuits

How do all.

I'm veering away from standard format today as the dessert here at Casa del Work is too dull to mention. Actually, that's not fair - it's actually quite nice but I'm bored of blogging about it as it pops up with such regularity it's becoming as familiar as the Cadbury Flake mug on my desk (sadly empty of Flakes....).

M & S have really got it sussed! These biscuits are just brilliant. They taste great - you don't even need to dunk if you don't want to but when you do......

They're even better than TimTams and that really is fighting talk I know.

I'm busy not preparing for my holiday at the moment. I should really be bustling about getting things ready but I haven't really realised just how close it is. I depart this weekend for Boston where I'll spend 2 nights ,then nip over (as you do) to Provincetown for 3 nights before returning to Boston and then home, Boston is going to be a new experience for me and one I'm very much looking forward to. I've been really fortunate in having travelled to quite a lot of the US but Boston, New England and Cape Cod are totally new to me. I get to travel for work a lot and as I work for an airline, I get to travel for fun - for free! I'm therefore surprised that Boston has never cropped up before. I've always wanted to visit but the circumstances never quite fitted. Now they do and I'm excited.

I'm also hugely excited about whale watching. I've done it before in Australia and I thought I was going to explode with sheer joy. I'm glad I've thought about all of this now as I'm super keen to get home to start packing!

Warm Chelsea Bun

Hello Blogworld! It's been a little while so apologies.

I've already discussed my feelings on Chelsea Buns so I won't dwell. However, I was just thinking if there is actually anything I really do like about them. I've realised there is. The cherry! It's wierd. I do kinda like plastic food - much to the horror of the other half and friends. Glace cherries for starters. They're grrrrreat. Basically sugar but with a bit of flavour, which I'm not even sure is actually cherry - more er....... pink?!

Other fake foods I really love are, in no particular order....

Cheese singles/Dairylee Triangles/Cheese Strings. I love processed cheese - the more plastic/rubbery the texture, the more I love it! I'm not a huge cheese fan - in fact really strong cheese tends to make my tongue itch and as for cheese with blue veins..... that REALLY gives me the willies!
I love tinned Baked Beans - the kind that already has Branston added - yum, and I love tinned beans and mini sausages too. Tinned meatballs are winners also.

Apologies to any culinary experts gliding thru. I realise that the small list above is enough to harden an artery at fifty paces but I don't overindulge too much.

There are some foods that appear to be a bit fakey by way of their texture/appearance and I'm a huge fan of them too. Squid is a prime example. Slightly resistant to chewing but tastey if you can get over the whole tentacle thing, a struggle at first I grant you but just be brave and throw a sucker-clad octopus leg between your chops and you may be pleasantly surprised. Mussels, also rubbery - yum and Scallops!!!!!!!! Yowsers - I LOVE scallops!

Seafood. Now that's a whole different blogathon to chat about... On the whole I'm basically against it unless the bones are on the outside.

Canadian Gingerbread

I wonder what it is that makes it Canadian...? There were no mounties handing it out - which would have been fun. They could offered quick rides around the lunch room on their horse for a small fee.

I'm uncertain of any maple syrup content. Is there a special kind of Canadian ginger?

Hmm.....

I'm still thinking about mounties....

Don't they have great outfits!?! Apart from the hat.

Anyway. Back in the work groove again after a splendid weekend in Rome. It was beautiful and we had a lot of fun. A friendly lesbian hijacked us in a bar one evening and whisked us off to a club (location unclear... there had been considerable booze consumption by then) with 2 of her friends in their early 20's - both attractive in that smouldering, Italian kind of way but a little on the short side - but then Italian chaps generally are from what I've seen. Sigh. There was drinking, there was dancing and there was much merriment. Rome is one of my fave places on the planet.

What else? Now counting down to my holiday to New England. My health plan has been set in motion and my lunch today threw a rather large spanner into it early on in the programme. Turkey, brie and cranberry sandwich. My tastebuds rejoiced, my waistband groaned in terror. Things aren't going too bad tho - I don't really want/need to lose that much. Just want to tone up - don't want to look like a lardy ol' knacker on the glamourous streets of Provincetown!

Any travel tips for Boston/Provincetown would be greatly appreciated, so if anyone happens to be browsing thru here and has any info please let me know.

I think I need some tea. One lump or two? Anyone?

Tiramisu

Actually... that's a bit of a big fat fib - there is no tiramisu on the menu today. But there could be! I'm counting down to departure for Rome. The weather here is gloomy and grey. Sadly, from what I've heard, that's more or less the same report for Rome too. Pants! I've packed shorts and sunglasses and everything! Still. It's not here and that's all that counts.

I plan to eat much pasta. I plan to eat much cake. I plan to drink much coffee. Heck, I basically plan to drink much!!

I may squeeze in some shopping. And I'm definitely going to be doing a lot of sitting down and gawping at people as they pass by - a personal passion, especialy if they're attractive.

So far today I've had a bag of Cheese 'n' Onion crisps which has left a bit of a taste... It's not pleasing me, this taste, I must mention. I did want Salt 'n' Vinegar but the bloody vending machine is on the blink and I was lucky to get any crisps at all. Shame really as I don't do crisps that often. As we all know, I love cake, so a savoury attack this morning was quite unexpected but not unwelcome. I'll wait until I get on the plane now. I quite like plane food. Does that make me a little wierd? Obviously I like Business/First Class food best but I'm happy with my little plastic squares filled with coloured blobs in economy too. I'm usually fairly easy to please when it comes to food.

Wow! Times drags when you've got cool plans just on the horizon doesn't it!?! I'm almost certain this last 5 minutes or so has taken at least a half an hour to lurch by.

sigh

Ciao 'til next time!

Coffee & Walnut Sponge with Coffee Sauce

Now I like coffee as much as the next man/woman but this is a bit ridiculous! I'm not a fan of coffee flavoured stuff - apart from coffee of course. There's nothing better than a mid morning cappuccino whilst you watch the world go by - preferably seated in a bustling square somewhere glamourous like Rome, or Madrid.

I'm also not a fan of strawberry or mint flavoured things. Strawberries are great but once you start to fake it up it just gets a bit sickly. I really can't stand soft centred chocolates either so strawberry or orange creams always go wasted. And as for coffee creams.... eww! When I lived at home with my folks, our dog thought that chocolate only tasted of strawberry goop as the poor mutt never got to taste any other kind! Mind you... he was always very close by or arrived at your ankles soon after the first rustles of an opening box could be heard, so he must have been partial...

Speaking of Rome - I'd casually dropped it in, of course - I'm off to the Eternal City on Friday. I can't wait. I love it so much. It'll be warm, it'll be stylish, the people will be attractive and I can eat fabulous food 24 hours a day and top it all off with gelato and maybe an amaretto or twenty! Europe is so handy to us Brits and it's stuffed choc full of cool food potentials! My current faves - if anyone has dropped by before may have read - are Rome (sigh!), Seville (sigh plus!), Madrid (lengthy sigh!) and Mallorca (island-breeze-laden sigh!). Of course there are more global faves too, but I'm focusing on Europe right now.

I'm off to Cape Cod in June so if anyone has any tips please drop me a line to tell me of your fave places/food tips/booze locations. I'm already planning a lobster extravaganza.....

Chocolate & Almond Pithivier

What the..?

Completely clueless me! Had a quick look at it too and I'm still baffled. Hmph!

Anyhoo. I've had a pretty slim (excuse pun) week on the cake front. I spent last week in Delhi and enjoyed it so much I decided to bring back a memento. Unfortunately my souvenir of India made itself known on the flight on the way home. I've never been so scared of a seat-belt sign. I had a sick-bag ready and my eye constantly on the loo. Phew! Nine hours of plane toilet trauma! Hence a slight easing off of mass consumption. Then again...

All better now tho and eyeing up a box of lemon and lime Jaffa cakes on my boss' desk....
I tried a raspberry Jaffa cake the other week and was most impressed. Although the original Jaffa is still a firm fave.

The other half and I discovered the joys of Gu last night. Everyone should try it. Really. Before you die.
Chocolate and raspberry dessert. Heaven! The other half was also impressed at the washable (and then obvisouly re-usable) glass ramakin style dishes. What a geek! After much eye rolling from me at such a suggestion, I still wasn't able to prevent them from going into the dishwasher. What next? Saving lolly sticks?

Pear & Ginger Crumble

I'm not that much of a fan of ginger. Come to think of it, I'm not that keen on pears either.

I am, however, most thrilled with my lunch today. After a lacklustre pre-decision scan at what was available, I had prepared myself for a dull, unappetising choice which had the potential to turn my Friday afternoon into a gloomy affair. Actually, there were Jammy Dodgers on standby so it wouldn't have plummetted too low.

Anyhow, I spied mushroom stroganoff on the menu but was put off by the wild rice. So I had it with chips instead. Inspired!! It looked so great, the lady behind me in the queue gasped with undisguised fascination, then promptly ordered the same for herself. Culinary genius!

I'm now feeling a tad full. But extremely pleased with myself. The Jammie Dodgers are quite close to hand but I'm not feeling drawn just yet. Probably later with a nice cup of tea and a hob nob chaser!

Not sure what to do over the weekend. I can feel a mammoth shopping trip lurking at the back of my awareness and I'm not sure whether I should give in to it and go bananas or if I should smother it and save the cash. For an even bigger splurge at some time in the near future. Obviously!

I may be off to India on Monday. Last minute work plans. All keeps one on one's toes. At least I get to eat groovy Indian food and do a bit of unusual shopping. I'll probably be given a humungous list by my work chums to bring back and king's ransom in pashminas.....

Chelsea Bun

Chelsea buns are kinda wierd aren't they?! Part breakfasty cake and part afternoon tea bun. I'm not entirely sure when to have them and what to have with them. My jury is out on Chelsea Buns. Kinda like Chelsea boots. Not too sure how I feel about those either....

Everyone around me is talking/planning holidays at the moment. Holidays are 2nd in my heart to food. Especially as holidays lead to great food opportunities. I've been quite proactive this year with my holidays. I've got quite a few jaunts already planned out and wardrobe/tan maximisation schemes are being activated. All I need to do now is to get myself into shape so that people will be amazed at the person of mind-boggling, Titan-esque stature that I will soon become! Well, that's the plan anyway. Of course "best made plans..." and all that will probably render me pale and rather untoned on arrival at most, if not all, of my holiday destinations. They have a habit of just sneaking up on you unexpected don't they? You look forward to them for months and all of a sudden you're waking up at 4am so that you can throw your unironed clothes and still damp-from-the-wash pants into a bag, then to search for your long-lost sunglasses and that handy travel guide you bought 4 months ago when you booked, all in time for a 6am check-in.

Ooh! I'm tired just thinking of that. Perhaps I need a holiday.....

Eve's Pudding

Eve's Pudding?!! Haven't a clue about that one! But as soon as Eve finds out she's gonna be really mad....

I failed to even find out what Eve's Pudding is I have to admit. I was too distracted by hot dog and chips. I was so hungry I couldn't focus on anything else at all! After approx 8 mins of furious chewing, ooh-ing and aah-ing with pure delight I found I'd over-estimated my hunger levels. I had to donate most of my chips to a willing and eager colleague and the roll from my hot dog got filed under "B" for bin.

Now sitting rather full and sleepy nursing some sparkling water.

When is it going to be Spring? I'm looking forward to bluer skies, warmer breezes and more sunshine. It's sooooo cold at the moment. It's making me a little gloomy. Perhaps I should go and live in sunnier climes. I like to visit said loactions often so I might as well just live in one!

Jam Roly Poly

Now then. Jam roly poly. I think I've discussed it before. It's jammy and good with custard on a cold day but I'd choose tons of other stuff first.

What's been happening then? Hmm. I've been to Brighton a fair bit lately and I'm gradually finding my fave food places. On Sunday morning had an amazing cooked breakfast at a cafe but then had enormous food envy when I saw my friend David's brekkie selection. Full English breakfast hash!!! Can you imagine it? It came in a huge towering stack of steamy potatoey fabulousness. I felt a bit miffed with my previously much envied breakfast. I couldn't resist sliding a sneaky forkfull from David's plate and devouring it - all the more tastey for the guilty pleasure of it not having been my food. I've decided to go back next Sunday to have the hash! Taking a police woman friend with me and we all know police people know a good food stop when they come across one, so I'll be asking her what she has jotted down in her very important police person's best food tips notebook.

I'm going to Lagos for work next week. Nigeria isn't at the top of my 'must-see' list I've got to say, and I've heard a few toe-curling stories but I'm a bit intrigued. A colleague has told me to avoid Bushmeat stew which is apparently rat! Hilarious! Glad I found that out or I'd be up for sampling a bit of local flavour! I'm only going for a couple of days so it'll hopefully pass without incident.

I'm a bit hungry at the mo. Not sure why as I had lots to eat at lunchtime - beef teryaki - yum!
I'm a HUGE Japanese food fan. They've really sussed some cool, cheeky food surprises. I love teryaki and I love Japanese curry. Edemame - soya beans you suck out of the pods are great! Also one of my favourites, which amazed a Japanese colleague, is Japanese pickled radish. I know, I know. Sounds totally wierd but they are amazing. I recommend everyone (anyone!) who reads this blog to try them.

Actually, I wonder if anyone does read my blog... I'm aware that there has been a lapse of new entries of late and a certain dip in quality/entertainment value.

Is there anyone out there? Who does read blogs anyway? Wow! Get me! Deep, searching questions. I like to blog because I like to write stuff down. I also like to chat and waffle, so blogs are ideal when you've got no-one about to talk to. And I am REALLY rubbish on my own. Even watching my fave TV or films alone. I can't focus on them. I need someone to discuss it with. I guess it's just because I can't keep my mouth closed for more than a few minutes at a time.

Yikes. Things to do. People to see. Places to go.

Drop me a line if you're passing by. Unless you're trying to flog something useless or provide an uninteresting/impractical service. I get a lot of nonsense spam blog. Sigh....

cake that you have on your birthday

Well. I'm feeling very weary. I've just spent the weekend in lovely Rome. It was great. I like it a lot. The food is fab, the weather was warm (warmer than here anyway!) and the people are all so cool it's unbelievable. Even the slightly less attractive people were so chic they made me feel like a bag of spanners as I lumped around the place. It was my birthday yesterday and the trip to Rome was my present from the other half. And a splendid gift it was too. I insisted on many coffee stops whilst wending my way from spectacular edifice to stunning historic moument (and they're only the ice creams I consumed - not even mentioned the sightseeing yet!)

Back to work today tho and it's all so grey and grim that it's taking all of my powers of concentration to prevent my head from slumping to my desk in a drool puddled stupour. However, there's always the cake. We have plenty on offer today but my faves so far (I've only tried a couple) are chocolate pies and mini lemon meringues - well done Waitrose!!!!

It's also raining now too which is adding to my feelings of absolute gloom. When oh when will it be Spring again. Then I can gallop with crazy foolish abandon across tulip laden meadows towards a table groaning with the weight of afternoon tea and biccies. Sigh.

I could do with a serious lie down now. In between the last paragraph and this, I squeezed a doughnut in. It was only a small one so I thought it was probably rude not to...

Cake and choc-a-go-go!

Yowsers!!!

It's Valentine's Day (obviously) and blog-buddy Adele's birthday today so the office is postively studded and festooned with cake, sweets and goodies.

Commiserations to those who waited in vain for the flowers and cards to arrive, discussions with colleagues indicate that we feel your pain!

However, there's always our favourite artery clogging, tooth rot to fall back on. Chocolate. Whilst unable to solve third world debt and eradicate crime, chocolate goes a little way to spreading a bit of love! Pass it around we say. A malteser here, a minstrel there. Every little helps!
Cake goes even further in it's stodgily friendly way. Currently doing the rounds just a few feet away are doughnuts (both jam and custard), Bakewell tarts (a personal favourite), chocolate teacake thingies (a personal fave of the other half so may smuggle one or two home to win extra Valentines brownie points! Mmmm - brownies!!!). Many other lively little delights are there too and I'm planning a full frontal attack upon those later, once my doughnuts settle......

I'm thinking that there are so many missed opportunities out there for valentines cakes - Bakewell Hearts for example. I may think up some more cakey puns and add them later. Or maybe I'll completely forget and leave it all hanging lamely until I next blog and have to release a feeble apology... hmm...

Chicken Jeera & Tarka Daal!!

Yes, yes, I know it's not a dessert. And yes, yes, I know I haven't blogged for at least a small eternity. I'll explain both.

I kinda lost faith in blog when I sat all keen 'n' eager just at the rosy, fresh dawn of the new year and the blog thingy just kept saying that there were problems with memory and I'd have to delete stuff. I couldn't get it to work and after a few attempts - evidence now displayed for all to see! - I couldn't get any other response from the darn thing! It was only today, in passing, whilst discussing Chicken Jeera et al. that my colleague Adele told me I should blog about it and that my New Year one had in fact worked.

There was some light rejoicing (let's call it 'diet rejoice' - it's the only mention of diets that there's ever gonna be on my blog!).

Well here I am. Full of chicken jeera and tarka daal. All pleased with myself for eating something so yummy for lunch. I realise it's not any kind of dessert but it's an unusual blogging day and that means that it's allowed. For today.

What do I tell ya now? Hmmm.....

I spent the first week or so of this year In Delhi on business. It was cold. Very cold. I arrived armed with my shorts, sunglasses and a nifty collection of short-sleeved wear. I ended up swathed in multiple layers (of previously mentioned glam short-sleeved wear) and a hooded top. Of course I consumed much Indian fare and was kept extremely happy by an Indian dessert made entirely out of carrots and milk. Sounds spooky I know but it's an amazingly cheeky surprise. Well done and hats off to our Indian dessert buddies! It's kind of like treacle sponge but not as spongey. It was warm and comforting - especially on chilly days.

Other new dessert discoveries..... update.....

My flat in Brighton is close to a cool foodie place - called The Real Eating Company - pop in if you're nearby, it's fab. Mind you, don't all go at once as I'd like to make sure that there's always a spot for me to throw myself down on a Sunday morning! Everyone's so friendly (and attractive which is always a splendid bonus). They have just opened up a patisserie a few doors down that make the most un-believ-able pan au chocolat! I shall eat nothing else for breakfast again. And breakfasts shall now last well into the afternoon to provide ample opportunity to scoff down as many as possible. Of course a nice cup of tea assists the process admirably. They also do a nice line in enormous pies too, so if you're fancying a little something savoury....

I've exhausted myself now. My curry high is ebbing away and I'm crashing into post lunchtime doldrums and in need of a sugar rush to nudge me on until 5.30pm. Hmmm... think I'd quite like a kit-kat chunky.....

Lashings of Christmas Pudding, Mince Pies and posh French macaroons...

Yowsers!!!

How long has it been?? Have you missed me? I've certainly missed you blog... It's been a long ol' while hasn't it? Unfortunately I don't have time to fill in all of the gap since my last entry so I'll just give a brief, bullet-pointy, sketch. Here goes...

work
travel - lots
food - ooh tons
Christmas - sparkly
New Year - Paris - tres chic!

Er... pretty much covers it.

I returned from Paris this afternoon full of New Year promise and hopes for 2006. I also returned quite literally full of groovy French macaroons. If anyone who stops by to read this ever visits Paris, you HAVE to go to Laduree for their macaroons!!! There are stacks of different colours and flavours and they taste unbelievable! You have to try them to understand.

sigh..

what next? I'm a bit out of practice I guess. I'm off to Delhi on business in 2 days and I'm fairly looking forward to it but I'll be away from home for a little while. I've had a tiring Christmas really so when I return from India I just want things to be a little low-key for a bit.

A lot of my recent travel has been for work and I'm very lucky as it's interesting work and I travel to a variety of fascinating places. I've also travelled quite a lot for fun lately too. I have to admit that my favourite thing to do when I'm in a new place is to sit and watch the world go by. People are always so interesting when they're just going about their daily business.

Other news that I've just remembered... I am now living in 2 places at once. My flat in Brighton is lovely and close to the sea, so I can have a whiff of sea air regularly now to keep my cobwebs at bay.

Right. I think that this will be it for now. My blogging muscles are flabby and saggy nowadays so I need to build up gently to my usual prowess!

Lashings of Christmas Pudding, Mince Pies and posh French macaroons...

Yowsers!!!

How long has it been?? Have you missed me? I've certainly missed you blog... It's been a long ol' while hasn't it? Unfortunately I don't have time to fill in all of the gap since my last entry so I'll just give a brief, bullet-pointy, sketch. Here goes...

work
travel - lots
food - ooh tons
Christmas - sparkly
New Year - Paris - tres chic!

Er... pretty much covers it.

I returned from Paris this afternoon full of New Year promise and hopes for 2006. I also returned quite literally full of groovy French macaroons. If anyone who stops by to read this ever visits Paris, you HAVE to go to Laduree for their macaroons!!! There are stacks of different colours and flavours and they taste unbelievable! You have to try them to understand.

sigh..

what next? I'm a bit out of practice I guess. I'm off to Delhi on business in 2 days and I'm fairly looking forward to it but I'll be away from home for a little while. I've had a tiring Christmas really so when I return from India I just want things to be a little low-key for a bit.

A lot of my recent travel has been for work and I'm very lucky as it's interesting work and I travel to a variety of fascinating places. I've also travelled quite a lot for fun lately too. I have to admit that my favourite thing to do when I'm in a new place is to sit and watch the world go by. People are always so interesting when they're just going about their daily business.

Other news that I've just remembered... I am now living in 2 places at once. My flat in Brighton is lovely and close to the sea, so I can have a whiff of sea air regularly now to keep my cobwebs at bay.

Right. I think that this will be it for now. My blogging muscles are flabby and saggy nowadays so I need to build up gently to my usual prowess!

Lashings of Christmas Pudding, Mince Pies and posh French macaroons...

Yowsers!!!

How long has it been?? Have you missed me? I've certainly missed you blog... It's been a long ol' while hasn't it? Unfortunately I don't have time to fill in all of the gap since my last entry so I'll just give a brief, bullet-pointy, sketch. Here goes...

work
travel - lots
food - ooh tons
Christmas - sparkly
New Year - Paris - tres chic!

Er... pretty much covers it.

I returned from Paris this afternoon full of New Year promise and hopes for 2006. I also returned quite literally full of groovy French macaroons. If anyone who stops by to read this ever visits Paris, you HAVE to go to Laduree for their macaroons!!! There are stacks of different colours and flavours and they taste unbelievable! You have to try them to understand.

sigh..

what next? I'm a bit out of practice I guess. I'm off to Delhi on business in 2 days and I'm fairly looking forward to it but I'll be away from home for a little while. I've had a tiring Christmas really so when I return from India I just want things to be a little low-key for a bit.

A lot of my recent travel has been for work and I'm very lucky as it's interesting work and I travel to a variety of fascinating places. I've also travelled quite a lot for fun lately too. I have to admit that my favourite thing to do when I'm in a new place is to sit and watch the world go by. People are always so interesting when they're just going about their daily business.

Other news that I've just remembered... I am now living in 2 places at once. My flat in Brighton is lovely and close to the sea, so I can have a whiff of sea air regularly now to keep my cobwebs at bay.

Right. I think that this will be it for now. My blogging muscles are flabby and saggy nowadays so I need to build up gently to my usual prowess!