Great Christmas Bake Off...

I, along with 7 million others was hooked on the recent TV programme "Great British Bake-Off", so how excited was I last week to spend the day with the winner Jo Wheatley baking for Christmas!
My Christmas Hamper day was held at Jo's lovely home in the Essex countryside.... and she is exactly as she was on the TV, warm, and friendly.
The day evolved around the large wooden table in the very homely kitchen, complete with the blue aga, and alongside 5 other ladies we were treated to a feast of Christmas hamper goodies. Bakes for the day were:

• Christmas Stollen
• Cranberry Sauce
• Homemade Mincemeat
• Christmas morning Granola
• Shortbread biscuits
• Chocolate truffles

The day was very well planned, and Jo kept us busy mixing, chopping, grating & rolling!... recipes are available on Jo's blog ~ Jo's Blue Aga.

We had a lovely "Ladies that lunch" supplied by Jo, whilst her & her friend Linda prepared for the afternoon.
Learnt some great hints & tips, and homemade treats will be appearing in Christmas stockings this year!.... Laughed lots all day, a real eclectic mix of girls who were all very friendly and very entertaining....

Jo was lovely, quite shy and still genuinely cant believe that she won the Great British Bake Off...alongside classes that she is running ( all details via her blog) this week she announced that she has just signed a book deal, publishing next year... Congrats Jo and thanks for a fabulous day.

One man, Two Guvnors .....

Last Friday evening i went to the theatre to see James Corden in One Man Two Guvnors, this has recently enjoyed a run at the National Theatre and has now transferred to the Adelphi on the Strand. Tickets are much sought after and after seeing it I can understand why. It's refreshing, fun and a riot of a play.

Set in 1963 and fired from his skiffle band, Francis Henshall (James Corden) becomes minder to Roscoe Crabbe... But Roscoe is really Rachel posing as her own dead twin brother.. who's been killed by her boyfriend Stanley Stubbers. Francis spots the chance of an extra meal ticket and takes a job with Stanley. To prevent discovery Francis must keep his two Guvnors apart.Simple!!!...
James Corden is fabulous, slapstick, satire and phenomenal comedic timing, it's a proper old fashioned giggle. I lost all makeup that I was wearing and had stitch through laughing so much... I loved it.
If you can get tickets then go.. It's a fabulous riot.

Love to Cook...

Tuesday evening last week myself & a my friend C headed over to the Waitrose Cookery School at Finchley Road for the launch of their 1st Cookery book... "Love to Cook" The launch evening was a celebration of the cookery schools 1st birthday as well as the launch of the book book. It comprised of meet and greets with all the chefs from the school with demonstrations and tastings... plus the added bonus of drinks and canapés. As you know I've been to the cookery school a couple of times and can't talk highly enough of it. It was great to catch up with Karen and her team along with Gordon and the chefs.

The book is stunning.... Tips, Techniques and Classic recipes from the Waitrose cookery school. All demonstrations by the chefs during the evening were featured recipes from the book... Prawns, fino sherry & garlic Churros with chilli hot chocolate sauce.

 Great evening from the team at Waitrose Cookery school, the book is an informative read, recipes are delicious, instructions are clear with gorgeous photos, what more could you wish for in a cook book. Fab for both novices and budding chefs.... (please note all views are my own & no payment is received for any review)
Cookery School ~ an evening of macarons
Cookery School ~ an afternoon with Fiona Cairns

Remember....

Friday afternoon I headed over to the Garden of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey. Every year since it opened I've promised myself to go, and this year I finally got there. The garden is a beautiful tribute to our military services past and present. It's carefully thought out and even though it's busy it's designed to allow people the opportunity for some quiet reflection. This year I planted a cross for my gramps at his regiment. Thankful that he came home and could be my hero for remaining years.

 On leaving the garden I walked up Parliament road passing the Cenotaph and finishing at Trafalgar Square, where I sat for a quiet drink looking at the poppy wreaths that had been left in the water pools.

 So today on Remembrance Sunday... We will remember...Thank you to all our service men & women that have given us our safe today and tomorrow.

We will Remember....

Today at the 11th hour, on the 11th day in the 11th month we will fall silent and remember those fallen for their country.
We give thanks to those that never returned home, for our today's, tomorrows and yesterday's.
Today I will remember my beloved Gramps, who served in the 2nd World War, who returned home and became my hero.



I will also be thinking of my 2 godsons both serving today, D flew to Afghanistan on Tuesday for his 2nd tour and G being deployed next month on his 1st tour..



Brothers and Comrades in arms... Loving thoughts & thanks to you and all the troops serving today...



They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:We will remember...

Cookery school of magic....

is where I'm off to tonight!... I'm off to the Waitrose Cookery School for the launch of their "Love to Cook" book... having been to a couple of their events I am looking forward to it.
This weekend also saw the launch of the Christmas advert from Waitrose...

 I can say that its likely to be my favourite again this year. The perfect Christmas cake (Delia does it again!) and Christmas Tree fragrant Mince Pies..pure magic from Heston!.
 for the last couple of years between John Lewis & Waitrose they have hit the top of the tree for me in creating the perfect Christmas advert.... and this year comes out tops again... from the present here's a reminder of Christmas pasts..
Christmas 2010.... the perfect Christmas cake
Christmas 2009.. the only place to be

Its beginning.....

to feel a lot like Christmas... 6 weeks today and it will be Christmas day... Last week the Big Yellow Store transformed itself white for its Christmas Windows launch... never one to follow fashion, it was one of the 1st stores in London to officially launch Christmas...
Its the biggest scheme of the year and draws crowds from far & near, this years haven't disappointed... not only are the brimming with amazing things, surrounded by 100's of twinkling lit evergreen, but they are also musically interactive.... how fabulous is that!

here is a video of the making of one of the windows... its magical!...

alternatively check out the Selfridges website..

Last week also saw the lights being lit on Oxford Street, with presents, stars & umbrellas... in whites & Golds.. it really is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas... full of Magic & Sparkle!