Monday, 23 July 2012

Strawberry Flan

I made a lovely strawberry flan yesterday:-














First I made a basic Victoria Sandwich sponge mix:-
100g self raising flour
100g caster sugar
100g butter or margarine
2 eggs beaten
1 pack of red gelatine glaze
Heat oven to 375F/190C Gas#5
Put sugar and butter/margarine in bowl and 
cream together until light and fluffy.....

...blend in the beaten eggs gradually to avoid 
curdling - add a bit of the flour if it does curdle.

Next add the sieved flour in gradually...

...until you have a stiff smooth batter.

Get a flan tin/mould ready.

Put the batter into the tin/mould and try to 
spread evenly across it. Put in the oven and bake
for about 20 minutes until golden brown and 
the sponge bounces back if you press it gently.

Once baked remove from oven allow to cool a 
little, then turn out cake from the tin/mould onto
a cooling rack. (My middle stuck  bit!).

Once cold start to put the fruit onto the flan....

....until the flan is full - fill any gaps with sliced 
up fruit if you wish.

Next make the glaze - use 1 pack of gel you
can buy in any supermarket.

Add the powder to a pan of water and sugar 
as per instructions on the pack.

Bring to the boil.

Once boiled the mix goes clear, you then allow 
it to cool for about 20 minutes - stirring 
occasionally to stop lumps forming.
Once the gel starts to thicken/gloop it's time 
to spread it over the fruit/cake QUICKLY with a 
spoon or one of those Teflon brushes.

Ta-da the finished article!
Serve with cream and enjoy - yum!

Saturday, 21 July 2012

Anyone for Tea?

When I was in London recently for the ballet I went for afternoon tea at The Berkeley famous for its "Pret a Portea" it was lovely!
My place setting.

Bespoke china by Paul Smith for Thomas Goode.
Champers to start and a posh pink 
shoe name plate!

Inside the menu booklet.

The menu - blown up so you can read it hopefully!

Delicious sandwiches.

The tea stand arrives!
The savouries and gaspacho soup - yum!
The first layer of cakes.

The fancy top tier.

Top tier mousses and Louboutin Shoe!

Detail of the mini cakes - flowers and all.

This cake had popping candy on it!!

Think you can see the detail better here.

A little early present - today's the day though!


I love this flower art!
What a great tea pot!


I would highly recommend this afternoon tea for its novelty factor, and they were very generous with the helpings too - you could have seconds of everything!!  Some ladies had goodie bags to "pret a portea" their uneaten nibbles! The waiters explained the cakes etc to you and there was a small handbag shaped leaflet detailing the season to take home - I forgot to take a photo of mine to put on here.  No matter, I hope you enjoyed seeing this little treat!

Monday, 16 July 2012

This and That

It's ages since I posted - my apologies - Blogger's Block!  I have lots to blog but need to process the photos first.  Anyway just touching base today....it is still cool here in the UK and very very very WET!  Today I wore my Christian Dior Anselm Reyle scarf with a scarf ring:-

Last week I wore my Hermes Carre en Cravates in the same way.  I like this bow as it stays out of the way nicely when working at ones desk!
 
Hopefully I will be back with some more blogs as soon as I get the photos sorted out!!

Sunday, 1 July 2012

Canada Day!

I was just in London for the weekend and just before I had to go for my train I had time to pay a quick visit to the Canada Day celebrations in Trafalgar Square - apparently it is the biggest Canada Day celebration outside Canada!  Anyway to any Canadian readers - I hope you had a great 145th National Day!!
Canada House in London.


Trafalgar Square celebrates with Canada!
There was street hockey....

Getting ready for the match Team Maple Leaf
 in green.

A wonderful male choir - conducted by the 
lady in white.

Members of the Royal Canadian Mounties.

A message from the Canadian PM.....

...but the sound failed!!!

The Canadian High Commissioner opens the event.

The National Anthem is sung...

The Mounties salute the anthem.

So smart!

A plastic RCM horse!  As I had to
go I could not "Meet the Mounties" at 12.30
I really hope that I didn't miss any real horses
too!
Health & Safety gets everywhere even
the plastic horse was a no go area LOL!
As you know it is the Queen's Diamond Jubilee 
and Canada is celebrating too!

Diana, Princess of Wales, celebrates her 22nd birthday at the opening of Universiade ’83 on Canada Day.
Photo Edmonton Journal
Canada shares its birthday with Princess Diana
here she is on her birthday in Canada 1 July 1983.
Picture
And in colour - photo n/k.