Layered Lemon Cake

I'm not sure why I never posted this layered lemon cake (probably lack of time) but I found the photos the other day and really wanted to share. At the moment I'm using my blog as an online journal, keeping a record of the little ways I make the everyday beautiful. Whilst the days are whizzing by and its easy to be totally absorbed in raising two little ones - its so important for my wellbeing to keep creating and most importantly sharing in the hope that I can inspire you too. When I'm really pushed for time creatively I find baking the easiest way to add a little extra in my day. I normally get Stanley to help with the mixing and turn it into a fun activity that we can do together. Decorating is strictly for me to enjoy though ;-). 

This cake (a Mary Berry recipe) is really easy to whip up, I baked the sponge the night before and decorated on the day. I made this in June when peonies were just finishing but you can use any seasonal flowers - Dahlias are just blooming so would look amazing, as would spring flowers if you're in the Southern Hemisphere. I started with the largest flower off centre then graduated outwards with smaller ones on the back half of the cake - make sure you cut the stems really short and make sure not to use flowers which produce sap that could be dangerous if eaten. I then copied(ish) a similar floral arrangement on the cake plate below. I really love using flowers on cakes, they make even the most homemade cake look extra special.  You can see another floral cake here. 

Cake recipe below - happy making! x 

Ingredients
* 2 small thin-skinned lemons, or 1 large one
* 275g (10oz) softened butter, plus extra for dusting
* 275g (10oz) caster sugar
* 275g (10oz) self-raising flour
* 2 level tsp baking powder
* 4 eggs

For the filling and icing
* 50g (2oz) softened butter
* 175g (6oz) icing sugar
* 250g (9oz) full-fat mascarpone
* 175g (6oz) fondant icing sugar

To decorate
* 1 thin-skinned lemon
* 50g (2oz) caster sugar

Method
1. Grease two 20cm (8in) round sandwich tins and line the bases with baking paper.

2. First make the lemon decoration. Peel long strips of lemon rind then cut into fine strips (keep the lemon to juice it for the icing). Place the peel in a saucepan with half the caster sugar, cover with boiling water and boil for one minute. Drain and pat dry, then place on baking paper.

3. Scatter over the remaining sugar and dry out in a low oven set at 110°C/90°C fan for about one hour, until crispy. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice, then set aside for the icing. Increase the oven to 180°C/160°C fan.

I skipped steps 2 & 3 because I didn't have enough lemons or time

4. To make the cake, place the two whole lemons in a small saucepan, cover with water, bring to the boil and simmer for 20 minutes or until very soft and tender. Drain and cut the lemons in half and remove any pips.

5. Place the boiled lemons in a food processor and process to a smoothish pulp but still with chunky bits. Transfer to a small bowl. Add all the remaining cake ingredients to the food processor and blend until smooth. Lift out the blade and stir in just over half the processed lemon pulp.

6. Divide the mixture evenly between the two prepared tins and bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown and just shrinking from the edges of the tins.

7. Leave to cool for five minutes then turn the cakes out, peel off the paper and leave to finish cooling on a wire rack.

8. To make the lemon filling, place the butter and icing sugar in a bowl and mix till smooth and creamy (you could also do this in a food processor). Add the mascarpone, mix again, then add the reserved lemon pulp and mix until just combined.

9. Cut both cakes in half horizontally so you have four layers. Spread the lemon cream evenly between three of the layers, stacking them on top of each other. Place the remaining layer on top.

10. Mix the fondant icing sugar with one or two tablespoons of the reserved lemon juice to make a thick pouring consistency. Pour the icing over the top of the cake, allowing it to drizzle down. Sprinkle the candied lemon rind on top.

I didn't do step 10 either (I couldn't get fondant icing) so just added more cream to the top and spread around the sides with a palette knife.

Prepare ahead
The baked cake will keep for up to four days in a tin.

Freeze
Freeze the unfilled baked sponges for up to three months.

Extracted from Mary Berry Cooks by Mary Berry (BBC Books, hardback £20) Photography by Georgia Glynn Smith.

A simple guide to growing sweet peas

I’d love to tell you a romantic story about how I got into growing sweet peas but it was out of pure curiosity that I bought my first packet of seeds. In the almost five years I’ve had a garden to call my own I’ve been experimenting with what I can grow - sweet peas were the first proper flowering plant I managed to get success with (and by success I mean one bloom). Last years crop wasn’t the best but this year I feel like I’ve cracked it enough to share with the internet. The flowers in this post are all from my garden, I managed to get about 30/40 plants thriving and have been enjoying at least two bunches of flowers a week, which I don’t think is too bad considering I've had a new born and toddler to look after this sowing season. They smell absolutely amazing and are the most generous of plants -  I’ll ever be without them.

Getting started - 

You’ll need sweet pea seeds, my favs are High Scent and the 45p packets they sell in Lidl, ordinary potting compost, root trainers.

One of the things I love most about them is the large planting window, I start one lot off before Christmas (usually in that weird time between the clocks changing and when Christmas kicks off). To plant, it couldn’t be easier, I fill the root trainers with compost press down so the soil is the density of a sponge cake and pop the seeds in about a finger tip deep. I normally do two seeds per trainer and then water. I’ve tried all sorts of pots over the years from standard flower pots to loo rolls - but my favourites are root trainers or take away coffee cups. I keep potted seeds in my cold greenhouse over the winter and water about once a week. If you don’t have a greenhouse then one of these of these mini greenhouses would work or a cool windowsill.

Usually around Christmas leaves start to appear, when there are two true sets of leaves I start to pinch (or snip off) the growing shoots.

When this first set of plants starts growing out of the root trainers (you’ll see the roots poking out of the bottom of the pot), pot on into larger pots. Sweet peas have really long roots so I like to use the tall pots roses come in, depending on the size of the pots I’ll pot in about 4 plants per pot. Advice I’ve seen is not to cramp the plants but when I’ve run out of pots and had to add a few extra plants per pot it’s not done any harm and seems to make them grow stronger if anything - I just water more regularly.

When the clocks change back to springtime and the weather starts to warm up you’ll notice these first plants really start to grow fast. Around early April time I move these plants to the outside of the greenhouse to start to harden them off before planting in May when the frosts have gone, you’ll notice another growth spurt and then it’s time to plant outside.

After this initial planting I sow more batches of seeds throughout January, February and March when I have a few moments of spare time, following the same steps as above but planting the seedlings out when they are a bit smaller than the first crop.

For years the biggest mistake I made was not giving the plants something proper to grow up. This year I was given two frames for my birthday (I think these are really for tomatoes but I liked the shape and style of them) - for successful flowers they really do need something to climb up. I've also got a selection of handmade frames around the garden, long and thin like the above or more wigwam shaped - simply made with bamboo canes and string very roughly tied together. I got my metal frames from a local garden centre but search "metal obelisk" online and a whole host turn up - these ones look really simple and would suit all types of garden.

When planting the small plants in the ground, plant two per stick and make sure you tie in the growing stems as they go upwards otherwise you just end up with a tangle. Other thing I love about these plants is you can make a frame to fill even the smallest of spaces so if you are tight on space there are plenty of options to go up rather than outwards. 

Another point to mention about growing is sowing seed direct. Last year the seeds I sowed directly into the ground at my allotment patch were fab, this year nothing has happened. From now on I'll just sow into pots and if I have any seeds left I'll pop into the ground about March time (weather depending). You can see my cut flower patch in bloom here. 

When your plants are established and producing flowers its important to keep cutting the flowers to produce more and make they get watered on a regular basis. In this crazy hot summer we've been having, I've watered them about twice a week making sure I use up the left over paddling pool water to keep them hydrated. 

Gardening can feel so intimidating but with anything creative the best way is to get started and see what happens. Happy growing (and scrolling!) x

Vintage botanical illustration styling with Cuemars

Botanical vintage prints have been on my radar for a while now - each time I've visited London I've been drawn to places full of these beautiful illustrations. As I'm always on the look out for new inspiration and styling ideas, seeing these prints grouped together with other collected treasures on walls and mantles adding a gorgeous dash of exotic glamour has sparked many an idea. Charity shop and online searches have been unsuccessful so I was delighted when my search came to me and the lovely people at Cuemars got in touch to offer me some vintage botanical illustrations. 

I opted for the African Palm Print and the Ruff Neck Hummingbird - both remind me of some of my favourite places I've travelled to. I styled them on my mantle, layering up with my increasing collection of jugs, vintage books and of course flowers fresh from the garden. Other examples I've seen them displayed with, have included double sided glass frames with pressed flowers inside (something I'm totally doing) and different size and shape mirrors - I think this style works best as it evolves over time. 

The biggest dilemma I faced when the illustrations arrived was where to put them and what to display them in, there are so many options. There's a patch in my lounge above the sofa that I always feel could do with something above it. I thought about adding them to my lacklustre bedroom but by the time that thought finished, I'd decided that I really needed some new wardrobes to set the prints off properly!!! They'd also look really good in either Stanley or Milly's rooms or perhaps up the stairs? As I say, they really do fit in everywhere. When it comes to framing, initially I thought something vintage/secondhand but the more I've researched, I'm leaning towards a simple 'frameless' styles to keep all the focus on the prints. 

Whilst I ponder these decisions Cuemars has kindly offered Lotts and Lots readers 15% off all orders (use the code lottsandlots) until 30th September 2018 (check out their range of lighting wires too). A huge thanks to Cuemars for providing the prints for this post, all styling, photography and opinions are my own. 

Home grown fresh flower gift wrapping

Like buses, gift wrapping occasions seem to come all at once. Luckily for me the latest flurry has happened in glorious summertime. For this gift wrapping tutorial I wanted to use home grown garden flowers mixed with left over wrapping paper and ribbons. Since I've not been in work I've been really conscious of how much I'm spending on extra's especially in the craft department. Over the years I've amassed quite a collection but it just sits in my craft room waiting for 'best'. As my motto is - making the everyday beautiful - I've been using it up and really enjoying the feeling of having less. 

I wrote a fresh flower gift wrapping post a few years ago and to this day it remains one of my favourites. I wanted to revisit using left over wrapping paper and these gorgeous summer blooms. This type of wrapping might not travel too well but it is a beautiful way to share summer flowers. 

Materials - Wrapping paper (these odds are from Oliver Bonus and Selfridges), Tissue, Tassels, Ribbon and crystals all vintage.

Step 1 - Wrap your present, a box shape works best. Gather your flowers, selecting colours that blend in with your wrapping paper. If you don't have access to garden flowers then buy a few individual stems from a florist. Anything with a cottage garden feel will work, the aim is to create something really unique and one-off rather than a lot of the same flower.

Step 2 - Create a little posy of flowers, starting with the largest flower and working down in size. Wrap with wire, string or ribbon to secure. Trim off any extra long stems, you want to keep about two inches of stem sticking out from the base of the flowers. 

Step 3 - Wrap a contrasting ribbon around the parcel securing in a double knot. Place the flower posy in the centre and securely knot the ribbon again, you only need to do one knot as you'll be tying a bow next. I wrapped a matching piece of tissue around the posy before I secured it to cover my wire. Now tie a bow and snip of any extra ribbon.

Step 4 - Take 100 pictures and Instagram it of course ;-) !

Travel - Glamping in the Dordogne, France with children

 Hello friends, it's been a while...I wanted to stop by and share all about our recent trip to France. We decided a year ago that we wanted to camp in France and as it happens my cousin, his wife and two gorgeous girls had just bought a glamping campsite in the Dordogne. Travel can be quite tricky with children, airports don't quite have the same charm they used to when laden with baby stuff so we thought packing the car and driving somewhere would make life a lot easier, which it did! We drove to Dover and took the ferry to Calais, the Tunnel is a quicker option but we wanted to be able to give Stanley a run around plus it meant we could change and feed them easier. To break up the journey to the campsite we stopped for a few days in the Perche region which was very nice but very quiet. If we make the trip again, we'll stay in Chartres for a night or two rather than the 5 nights in Perche that we did. 

The second leg of the journey took around six hours, that included a few stops (There are loads of Aire's/service stations on the motorways). For speed we took the motorways which are fab but there are tolls which means it can get pricey - for the whole trip we spent about £80. Lots of people have asked me about the driving - Dan did most of the long journeys and I braved some smaller ones near the campsite. Driving was absolutely fine and it made far more sense to me to drive on the right! The closest airport is Limoges which is only about and hour and a half from so you can make the journey much quicker than we did. 

The campsite itself its gorgeous and so so peaceful, we stayed in a belle tent that had everything you'd need to be comfy for a week...a proper bed and bedding (for all of us), electric points and even a hot tub. We had our own fridge in the communal lounge area and shared showers on the newly refurbished toilet block. There was plenty of space in-between each tent so there was no feeling of being packed in. When it comes to space, Stanley thrives on having freedom. The field was big enough for him to feel like he was independent but secure enough for me to not feel like he was going to disappear. He loved daily visits to see the chickens and often took us for walks in the wood that is part of the site. 

I truly believe that nature is the best healer, we left the UK rather frazzled but a few nights falling asleep and waking up to bird song was enough to sooth us into a gentle way of life. Weird at first, we soon got used to the slow pace and enjoyed not having to be 'on' - I took photo's to be reminded of something and not for perfect instagram shot. We didn't need to rush and planned our days according to weather and the children's mood. 

The photo's below are a mix of our favourite places - We loved the very beautiful Saint Jean de Cole and had a fabulous lunch in the square. There's also a lovely shop next door to the restaurant that sells local produce - I really recommend buying some syrups. Bourdeilles was a gorgeous place to spend a morning, there were winding streets, roses, plenty of shutters and a secret garden in the grounds of the Chateau. The town closest to the campsite was Brantome, we made quite a few trips for meals etc and again is a really lovely French town with a market on a Friday. 

A few things before I finally press publish...Nappies are expensive in France so take as many as you can, food on the ferry is dreadful but there are loads of tables so bring lunch. If you're going to be arriving late then most supermarkets close at 7 so stock up when you see one open enroute. Finally if you are staying in Chartres and like homeware make sure you stop off at a wonderful shop called Bouchara, they're all over France but I'd never heard of them - I nearly lost my mind when I saw the stripe tablecloth section! 

Enjoy the pictures, it's good to be back. xx