Sunday 30 January 2011

A Sunny Sunday in January...

We made the most of the first Sunny Sunday in January with a delicious Beach Brunch in West Mersea.
Russell cooked up Mini-Portobello Mushrooms with garlic and parsley in olive oil over our camp stove. 
Equipment: Chopping board, knife, tea towel, flask of hot water, camp plates, camp stove, cutlery
You need: Salt, portobello mushrooms, garlic cloves, fresh parsley and olive oil.

He then toasted a couple of slices of bread by holding them over the flames. Tipped the mushrooms and juice on the bread and it tasted like the most delicious thing I had ever eaten. It was really cold on the beach but the sun was so lovely to see and we huddled behind a bush - it didn't feel cold with the hot food to eat!

Being out in the sun is so good for your spirits!
Then for dessert!!!
You need: Chocolate sticks, flask of hot water, milk, sweet bread or pastry
Equipment: Sauce pan, cups, flask
When we went to Brussels in December we brought back some hot chocolate sticks...

(It is basically really high quality chocolate on a stick)
Russell heated some full fat Jersey milk in a pan on the camp stove, while this was heating he tipped the hot water from the flask into the cups (just to warm them up). We then tipped the water away (using it to wash the plates) and put the chocolate sticks in the cups...
Then Russell tipped the hot milk into the cups on top of the chocolate. It took a while to melt - just keep stirring...

 
..until all the chocolate melts into the milk.

We had some Pandoro which is like Brioche to go with the hot chocolate.
DELICIOUS!!!

Friday 7 January 2011

WIN interior design on madeby-me.co.uk

WIN A 'Concept Board' worth £49.50 from
'Champagne & Roses' Online Interior Design
The Concept board is aimed to set the guidelines, with colour, styling and the perceived ambience of the room. These boards are inspirational allowing you to forge ahead. An aid to the creative process. The perfect path for times when you can't deceide which way to go. Boards when used through out a residence are created to link appropriate rooms, each with another ,whilst retaining individual inspiration and identity.

We will confer with you via email to develop an understanding of your design concept.

Boards posted within 7 days of initial consultation.We send these insirational concept boards by recorded delivery to ensure they get to you.



To be in with a chance of winning this great prize
simply send your name and address to: competitions@madeby-me.co.uk
Please mark the subject as 'concept board'



Closing date: 10th February 2011

Thursday 6 January 2011

Napkin competition winner...

CONGRATULATIONS TO 'NEIL WRAGG'
The winner of our recent competition, winning a set of hand-printed napkins from madeby-me.
Here is his entry photograph and story - we love it!













I carved this chain from a piece of Mahogany I rescued from our last house. It has three links for the three of us in our family, mum, dad and our son joined by a heart. The top and bottom links are split to represent us as husband and wife as well as father and mother.

'Neil Wragg'