In My Kitchen

So this week, I am on annual leave/vacation.  

We are just taking some day trips, here and there.  To be honest, i booked my days off  work at short notice that there was very little time to have booked anywhere for the week or a long weekend holiday away from home with a puppy.  We went to Bristol at the weekend, I do have some graffiti art to share, so do come back later in the week please.

But firstly some deliciousness from my garden plot.

A good looking bowl of strawberries. Enjoyed with vanilla ice-cream and whipped cream. 

First of the courgettes, some peas and broad beans. 

We went to Penarth and picked up this Konge Sourdough bread from a Danish Baker called BROD. It's really good, we will be snacking on it during the Euro 2020 tomorrow, when England play Denmark.  

We went to Pontypridd, where we picked up some cannoli with lemon cream and pistachio filling from a local baker in the high street . 

I also picked up Chamomile Tea which i have been wanting to try for its health benefits. from a little place called Cortile Tea.

We also went to Llantwit Major.  I was tempted by some chocolate at a little shop called Stwff Stff.  I picked them both up with D in mind to share - Salted Caramel and Eton Mess.   As i write the names of these Welsh places, i realise that i have taken photographs of these places before and not shared here.  So i think additional blog posts are due when i am blessed with time to blog. 

Talking about being blessed with time to blog, its the same with baking for pleasure.  But i did find some time to make Johanna's Banana, Prune and Seed Loaf.  Of course I had to adapt a little to what ingredients I had at home, but not that much.  

I replaced the corn flour with additional plain flour and replaced the prunes with raisins.  Also, Johanna generously covered her baking tin with sesame seeds.  I generously scattered them on top of the banana cake. This Banana Loaf was one of the most delicious I've had in a long while; and D agreed too.  

Every other weekend, we have been eating a lot of croissants.  I think deep down we are both hankering for a holiday either in France or Brittany, with family and friends. These croissants cannot compare with a proper French pastry, they were adequate, but not flaky or buttery. 

In my kitchen we had tried another brand of plant based sausages. 

In my kitchen is this wonderful Welsh Artisan Soap.  I was gifted this hand made soap a couple of months back.  It is strongly scented, I am looking forward to washing my gardener hands with it very soon.   

I am sharing this post with In My Kitchen Series hosted by Sherry's Pickings.

Stepping out into the city

So we went into Cardiff city centre this morning, the first time since lockdown, albeit for a short while.

I needed to get a new pair of walking shoes, the ones I had since 2005 - yes, really 2005 finally gave way.  We also saw this awesome piece of My Cymru My Shirt graffiti art in the centre of Cardiff making the rounds on social media, that it gave us another reason to go into Cardiff.  I'd love to have sought out the others dotted around the city, but the streets were getting busy. The artwork is based on actual people living in Wales and is an attempt to acknowledge and celebrate Wales multiculturalism. 

It was not easy navigating the first time with a 3 month puppy, who was most excellent by the way and got so many admiring glances and compliments.  I was quite nervous, especially going into the shops. Then breathing with my face mask on blurred my specs with steam, making looking at products and items tiring and uncomfortable, that i just rushed, grabbed what i came for and got out.  I must say, its not an experience i wish to revisit in a hurry, so thank goodness clothes shopping is not my thing. But i do miss going to the food market and foodie shops and browsing, but i can wait and make do with comfort and easy homely and comfort food for now. 

The atmosphere in Cardiff was a bit sombre too, as the Welsh Dragons - Wales are out of the Euro 2020. Had we come into Cardiff yesterday - Saturday - Wales vs Denmark, the pre-match atmosphere would have been more jovial. Not so much today.  

Anyway, here's my puppy all tangled in Welsh bunting, he's a bit of a trouble maker.

Nice surprise in my kitchen

Wow - its been well over a month since i have blogged.

Home life and work have both kept me busy that I am tempted to stay away from the home computer screen for a little while longer, but I do enjoy joining in with In My Kitchen Series hosted by Sherry's Pickings.

So here I am with a handful of things to share in my kitchen.  Starting with a box of fine chocolates that D picked up for me, when he went to see his mother (and sister) for the second time since lockdown.  My mother in law picked p this really gorgeous cake slicer - just look at the pretty detail on the handle.  My mother in law and her friend also picked me up this little sweet tin  for holding mints.  Its adorable.  You have no idea how wonderful it was to receive the gifts - really cheered me up.

Another gift, came from my brother who came by briefly and stayed in the garden.  He did not come empty handed and brought me baklawa.   

I went to the supermarket again, I must say I did not enjoy the experience - only picking up basics and not dilly dallying to see what other things could tempt me.  However, saying that I did see 'This Isn't Bacon Plant-Based Rashers' and picked up a packet to try.  They were okay, but i definately prefer the vegan versions I make home from scratch - either from lentils and pulses or vital wheat gluten. 

Something that will make you smile - In my kitchen are some soft toys - some in the shape of fruit and vegetables, including a squeaky doughnut - courtesy of my nephew.

Now you may wonder why i have these soft toys in my kitchen - well it will also become clearer why i have not been blogging of late too. Read on....