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Clearly this isn’t a ‘proper’ post. As Google are shutting down their reader at the end of the month I am finding alternatives to keep up with the blogs I love and to give you ways to keep in touch with me. This is just part of the process. Shall I stick the kettle on?
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Guest post: Great coffee in no time at all
If you’re a real coffee person, then help may be at hand. We all know what a lifesaver coffee can be when we’re struggling to get to work or take the kids to school in the morning and sometimes there just isn’t the time to sit back and enjoy a cup of coffee the way we want to.
Thankfully, this could all change with the addition of a coffee machine. If you’re unsure whether it’s right for your family home, here are a few reasons why it’s the best choice for those after great coffee in the comfort of their own home.
Great taste
Great coffee is something to be savoured. With a coffee machine you can be sure that every cup is as great as the last one and you can pick the exact beans which you like to get the desired strength in your cup of Joe.
Also, many machines like the Tassimo from Bosch are equipped with “intelligent brewing.” This means that the machine recognises the refill pods when their inserted and automatically adjusts the water temperature, brewing time and water amount before making your coffee. Offering perfect results every time, this means busy mums get the coffee they deserve without having to wait.
Save time
The other great thing about a coffee machine is that they take a lot less time to boil than a kettle. This means that you will have a lot more free time in the morning to get all your errands done. Simply pop in the coffee disk, place your mug and press the button. In no time at all you’ll have a cup of fantastic coffee ready to drink and this means you’ll be able to sit back, relax, and enjoy it in peace.
Easy to maintain
The best coffee machine you can choose is one that not only produces great coffee but is also easy and quick to maintain. The wonderful thing about models such as the Tassimo is that they required virtually no cleaning at all.
Simply change the coffee disc for a cleaning disk and run the machine as normal. This can be done very quickly and easily and will guarantee your machine lasts for a very long time. For busy mums juggling family commitments and attempting to keep their kids clean and tidy, this is a real benefit and makes one household chore more bearable.
Great looks
Of course, you mustn’t forget that the sleek styling of coffee machines looks beautiful on your kitchen worktops too. Ergonomically designed, functional and able to give you the flavour and strength of coffee that you want, exactly when you want it, coffee machines are the ultimate accessory for family kitchens.
This is a featured guest post.
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Recipe: Vanilla and blueberry layer cake
If you follow me on twitter, Instagram or pretty much any of my social media accounts then you will know that Izzy and I are regulars at Costa. I’m not sure whether to be embarrassed to admit that the barristers know our drink orders and start preparing them as soon as we walk in but I think I’ll take the view that our local store is good at recognising their frequent customers.
Part of our ritual is choosing a treat to share. I say choosing but it tends to be a lot of umm’ing and ahh’ing and then a request for a giant bourbon biscuit or a bag of mini shortbread. A little while ago I spotted that they had a new vanilla and blueberry cake out on display but Izzy wouldn’t be diverted from a “biscuit as big as my head please mummy” so I decided to make our own version at home. I have no idea if this is anything like the offering from Costa as I still haven’t managed to try it but we like it anyway.
The sponge is a simple one, equal weights of butter, sugar and flour with 4 eggs. I bake the layers in two 8 inch tins which give it a good height. As Izzy is a huge fan of blueberries I decided to make a very simple compote to layer between the cakes and a less sweet than normal buttercream. There’s nothing showy about this cake but it’s got a fresh, (almost) summery flavour and disappeared rather quickly.
Click through for the recipe Continue Reading →
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Recipe: Beef burger topped with Brie
The big yellow ball has reappeared in the sky. This is good. A bit of a shock to the system but good. Sunshine and the UK usually means dodgy socks and sandal combos, blue white flesh slowly turning red and BBQ’s. I have to be honest here that we don’t own a BBQ nor really have the inclination to do so but we do like burgers.
Cooked in the oven or grilled inside means that we get the whole alfresco dining experience without trying to get the blinking thing to light in the first place or deal with ‘I am man. See me char’ issues.
This is a very simple beef burger recipe. They don’t take long to knock up and they retain a lot of moistness. I use bread soaked in a little milk to bind them, a tip I picked up from a masterclass with Florence Knight. You can’t taste the bread at all, it’s just there. The onions are cooked slowly until buttery soft but don’t colour or caramelise. Use mince that has a higher fat content, none of the lean stuff, you need fat for flavour.
My burgers always have a rather distinct *ahem* home made look to them. Rustic and nearly as tall as they are wide. You can of course use a burger press and pop out perfectly round, perfectly sized burgers but I think mine have a certain charm of their own.
Toast the bun if you want. Or don’t. Rich thinks it makes for a better burger, I don’t mind either way. Chuck in some lettuce, maybe some tomato. Spread the bun with some onion or tomato chutney – something with a little bite to balance the richness from the Brie and the beef. You won’t see any in the photo because I forgot to add it and then had to dismantle the whole thing to add some.
Top the cooked burger with brie – rind on if you want, though I remember watching with horror as my brother popped a mouthful rind still on. I have no such issues now but I know it’s not to everyone’s taste. We’ve been trying some English Brie recently and I have to say I like it. The brie will melt and ooze and make a mess. All good stuff.
Click through for the recipe Continue Reading →
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Choc A Bloc winner
The winner of the Choc a Bloc mould was……
Jane Townson.
Congratulations Jane! There is an email wining its way to you.
