Bloomin' marvellous.

My month in plants and flowers...

Cotton balls belong in the bathroom, which is where I've hung this wreath from M&S.

Magpie Make & Do ~ Sugar Plum Syllabubby Mess

This heavenly hotchpotch of deliciousness is essentially Sophie Dahl's take on Eton Mess, entitled, Christmas Sugarplum Syllabubby Mess. Since I feel it would be sacrilege to confine this scrumptious dessert to the festive season, I hope the lady in question will forgive me for dropping the Christmas bit.

As part of my goal to follow at least one new recipe from each of my 29 cookbooks before I turn 30, I turned to the lovely Miss Dahl last week for something light but sweet. Both the Mr and I have a very sweet tooth, but I'm not always able to squeeze in a stodgy pud after a meal; this recipe is perfect for those occasions, satisfying the sugar craving without sitting in one's stomach like a brick!

I have both Sophie Dahl's recipe books, and love them in equal measure. I enjoy her writing and the photography as much as the recipes, and would recommend them to anyone who loves simple, wholesome food, whimsical writing and the vintage vibe.

Magpie Make & Do ~ Macarons au Chocolat

Macaroons are a real favourite of mine. I love to eat them (that initial crack of the shell that gives way to the most gratifying of delicately chewy textures...); in fact I'm happy just to look at and admire them in all their pastel perfection! Locally, the best can be found at Maison Blanc. The time was finally ripe for me to try making my own, when one of my best friends kindly bought us this beautiful recipe cook for our anniversary (the pages are edged in gold leaf!):

Magpie Make & Do ~ Home-baked Bread

There is nothing quite so deliciously comforting as the smell of fresh-from-the-oven, home-baked bread wafting from the kitchen. Today I made my own bread for the first time since my school days. My amazing husband's amazing Christmas gift to me - a beautiful Kitchenaid - was my initial inspiration, and we had family visiting for lunch today, so it seemed to me the perfect day to attempt my first loaf. It was so much more fun and so much less hassle than I'd anticipated!

I followed Paul Hollywood's bloomer recipe, and it turned out beautifully, even if I do say so myself.

Supremely simple ingredients.

Pâte à crêpes parfaite!

Perfect pancake batter

Pro.

In the eyes, mouths and stomachs of my husband and I, this is the ultimate recipe for pancakes. This batter results in pancakes so delicious that you won't even feel the need to adulterate them with toppings, however scrumptious - yes, they're THAT good!

This is a French crêpe recipe, and in all honesty I cannot remember when or where exactly I discovered it. I have been using it since throwing a rather noisy, not to mention extremely messy, pancake party one year at university, and I have never once strayed from it since. Whilst there are sweet ingredients in here, this batter is versatile. It still works beautifully for savoury pancakes; just go a little easier on the vanilla and sugar.

I can only apologise for not posting this in a more timely fashion in advance of pancake day, but these really are so good any time, any place, anywhere - you really shouldn't wait until next year to try this recipe for yourselves!

For 8-10 large pancakes, you will need:

250g plain flour

5g salt

2 dsp caster sugar

450ml milk

4 eggs, beaten

50ml beer

50g melted butter

a generous dash of good quality vanilla extract (I like Nielsen-Massey Pure Vanilla Extract)

Method:

1. Mix the wet and dry ingredients separately.

2. Add the wet concoction a little at a time to your dry ingredients, mixing with a balloon whisk as you go.

3. I recommend covering your batter container with clingfilm at this point, and leaving it in the fridge for at least an hour before using it, or even overnight. This gives the flavours time to fully interfuse and develop, while the sugar dissolves and the beer works its magic. However, if your are pressed for time, it's fine to skip this part; your pancakes will still be tasty!

4. Heat your pan on medium high (say, 4 out of 6), and lighly grease with a little butter.

5. If you are no good at judging the right amount of mixture required by sight, use a ladle. One and a half ladles of mixture in a c.12" pan ought to do it.

6. Gently swirl the batter around the pan until the base is covered and the mixture is evenly distributed.

7. Do not be tempted to peek under the edges of your pancake too soon! Give it at least a minute before gently working your way around the edges with a palette knife, to ensure it's not sticking.

8. When the base of your pancake begins to show signs of colour, it's a good time to flip. If you're afraid to toss your pancake, use the palette knife: slide it all the way underneath your pancake, through the centre point, then lift and gently fold over onto the reverse side.

9. Repeat the turning process until you are happy with the colour of your pancake.

10. Adorn with luscious toppings (or not), and devour immediately!

Lemon and sugar. A classic.

 

This filling of strawberries and Nutella is sometimes called Romeo and Juliet,
because it is bittersweet. We were served this sumptuous combo on our honeymoon
by a supremely lovely chef. I just couldn't resist recreating it on pancake day!

This really ought to have been drizzled with melty Nutella and topped with a juicy strawberry...

I do hope you'll be tempted to give this batter a go the next time you fancy pancakes. You won't be disappointed, I promise!

Night, all. Sleep tight.

pp x

PS Special mention to E&S ~ thanks again for such a lovely pancake party, and all three of the delicious batter varieties I sampled! It was in fact your super soirée that inspired this post... Big love x

I'm a little teapot.

I heart vintage crockery. I have done from the tender age of seven, when I literally begged my parents for a china tea set for my eighth birthday. Much to my delight, they obliged with a breathtakingly beautiful, handmade miniature porcelain tea set. It was white, with delicate hand-painted flowers in deep shades of purple scrolling across it. From that time forward, my teddies had actual tea parties with real tea and coffee and homemade fairy cakes. My mum even lent me a special gold tray to lay it all out on, on display, as it were in the playroom. I dusted it weekly with great pride and pleasure, until one sad day when I became a habitual tea drinker and the teddies were no longer invited down from my bedroom to play.

As an adult, I still collect vintage crockery, teacups in particular ~ I feel the desire to state at this point that I've been doing so since long before it became trendy! ~ and I love teapots too. Mum and Dad bought me a lovely teapot for my birthday this year, new, hand-painted, with a nod to the Cath Kidston school of design, and since I already have a few teapots, Mum suggested I use this one as a vase, which I thought was a great idea. Here are the results...

A few of my favourite cups and saucers :-)

Any tips for original ways to display vintage chinaware or flowers..? Do share!

 pp x

Beautylicious.

And so another week of the summer holidays has disappeared before my very eyes. For the most part, I've been tied up with wedmin and domesticity, but I've also been idly glued to the TV watching the Olympics since Friday evening, and we've managed to squeeze in the odd excursion here and there with friends and family. All in all, I'm in holiday heaven, especially since the Sun's been out, albeit sporadically. More on fun in the Sun at a later date, on to tonight's post...

One day last week, I was in the bathroom, post shower, painting my nails - pink skin, fluffy towel, warm perfumed steam hanging in the air, cool tiles beneath my feet - and it occurred to me for the first time how vitally important that space is to me. I love nothing more than wallowing in the tub, scrubbing up for a night out or just slathering on lotions and potions in the vain hope that they might actually do what it says on the tin. Ultimately, it is a place of solace, contemplation and catharsis. Very fortunately, His Lordship and I have separate bathrooms, which allows us both the time and space to perform our ablutions in peace and quiet and at our leisure. This evening, I thought I would express my love of la salle de bains by sharing some of my tips for bathroom bliss.

Seven heavenly virtues for a sanitary sanctuary

In order for your bathroom to be truly relaxing, I can thoroughly recommend the following:

1. Cleanliness is next to godliness.
It is impossible to relax if you are surrounded by clutter and or grime, or if your throne room smells akin to The Bog of Eternal Stench.. Have a regular clean and tidy up, throwing out any products you find unused/unloved/congealed beyond sanitary usage, and don't forget: no one likes to dry their hands on a wet towel.

2. In the mood (for scrub).
Lighting is key in any space, indoor or out, and can be used to great effect to create a calming atmosphere. Your bathroom should not be some bizarre exception to this rule. You need good light for applying make-up/de-fuzzing etc, yes, but that does not mean blinding halogens are welcome 24/7. We all know electricity and water don't mix well, which is where candles come in. Soaking in the bath is lovely in itself, but candlelight will take your relaxation to a whole new level... (Ice-cream and/or wine are welcome additions to this scenario if you're going for all-out indulgence)

3. Bathroom baubles.
I often find bathrooms can be a bit, well, clinical. Now, whilst clinical is ideal when it comes to sanitation, not so with regards interior design. Popping a few trinkets/objets d'art here and there will warm up a bland space instantly, and it's a simple way of adding personality and colour if your bathroom is scarily white. NB All white can look fantastic and is über chic if your bathroom is well styled.

4. Banish bathtime boredom.
Reading material/music/Matey colour changing bubble bath/rubber ducky, whatever floats your little plastic boat. Might I recommend these fab foam alphabet tubs from Sainsbury's - so much juvenile fun to be had leaving amusing messages on the tiles!

5. As soft as an Andrex puppy.
In this day and age there is no excuse for a) toilet paper that chafes, or b) towels as stiff as cardboard and abrasive like a cheese grater. Buy better loo roll! And some fabric softener.

6. Put it away!
Bathrooms require storage. With ever more cunning designs for space-saving vessels on the market, even the smallest bathroom has the odd nook or cranny to stow away your 'feminine hygiene' products at the very least. Let's face it, no matter how fancy the packaging they might come in, we all know they're tampons.

7. Ladies.
Don't let a man in. Without express permission. And supervision. With disinfectant and rubber gloves on standby.

So, are you feeling virtuous, or are you a sinner in the bathroom department..? I'd love to hear your thoughts - please comment below! Tomorrow, I'll be posting a few of my favourite beauty products, from everyday essentials to make-up must haves, so do stop by again soon. Just to finish off, a few snaps of my own beloved bathroom:

 

 

Bonne nuit,

pp x