Cake And Jelly

I do hope you're all having a wonderful cake and diddy sandwiches weekend!

I'd had so many plans, but due to rain and a bit of laziness, not much happened. Though please do keep your fingers crossed for some fine weather tomorrow, it doesn't have to be hot, just rain-free!

So, as it was a special weekend... Though I didn't see much evidence of that, the one weekend I really wanted the telly back! Where was I? Yes, food;

Did you happen to see the Chivers Jelly Crown here? I wanted to make one, but I didn't have enough jelly to make a proper big 'un, so it looks pretty.... child-like. No, that's insulting, a 4  year-old could've done much better! So among my excuses - Not enough jelly, over-whipped cream, the piping bag was leaking, the royal icing didn't set...

It's funnier every time I see it! But I've learnt my lesson, look at the picture and ignore the instructions!

I ought to point out that me and dairy don't mix, so I'm just going straight in for the jelly, cherries and jelly sweets!
My more sucessful delight was this Victoria Sandwich, which I have been told is "better than Sainsbury's".... There you have it!
I used a 1951 recipe, hence the sucess :)

We don't really have much cake, so this is a treat. Remember what I said about dairy and me? I feel awful after only one slice! I'm not ill, but I am trying to decide of that one slice is worth a headache?

Yes, yes it was!

Ma had seen some biscuits in Marks & Spencers, they call them "Jazzie Biscuits" and slap a nice price tag on them - So Ma made some "Jazzie Biscuits:

And finally, after moving around the furniture and trying to make the old dining room worth of a photo...

Please excuse the "home improvements", it was left in more of a state than this - We've actually tidied it up! But enough of that talk, home made bunting, Coronation mugs and one from the Golden Jubilee (10 years ago!)

I have to go now, but I just wanted to wish you all well on this long weekend. Hopefully I'll be back in a few days after having a lovely day out tomorrow... If the weather holds!

Happy Jubilee Weekend

Jennie xx

The Vintage Tea Party Book

I'm sure you've already heard about this book, or at least the author, Angel Adoree. Of course, if you have no idea who, or what I'm talking about, please allow me to indroduce to you to a new friend - The Vintage Tea Party Book

I was told that this is not a "cupcake book", and that's no lie, it's a very sophisticate, yet delightfully fun book about hosting a tea party, though it really covers dinner parties too and I will be using it for my Christmas planning.

Speaking of Christmas, the Chocolate Prune Tea Cakes will be on the menu this festive season, I have a deep dislike of fruit cake (Bara Brith excluded), but cover any fruit in chocolate and it can find it's welcome on my plate!

Even cocktails are included, and instructions on making hats, flags, pinnies, then there's the style guide with three wonderful hairstyles, which I can assure you, you will have tried before you've even contemplated inviting anyone over. Oh, and then there are the Invite and Thank You templates!

Everything is well planned, and I can't even imagaine how many hours have gone into creating this book, which is a hefty hardback. The illustrations too, they took me straight back to being a wee one (I know I'm barely 5', but that's not what I mean't!), with faerie tale books filled with pictures which still managed to keep me enterained.

The Athol Brose Morning Drink, which includes Whisky and honey... Two of my favourite ingredients. I'm pretty sure this will keep out the cold first thing in the morning (when you don't have to drive!)

So to sum up, I will say what I said the other day when asked if I would use this book:

Gran had Marguerite Patten, Ma had Delia Smith, I have Angel Adoree

That's all for now, hopfully I'll have a kitchen when I blog again (it's mid demolition) and I can show you some of the fab creations made from this book

Toodles

Jennie xx