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Reflections of a Foodie

~ cakes, bakes, recipes and random musings

Reflections of a Foodie

Category Archives: Random Musings

Visiting a small but beautiful Island..

03 Tuesday Mar 2015

Posted by chardrap in Home, Random Musings

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Island, Isle of Skye, Skye

Isle of Skye

Isle of Skye

Last week we undertook an adventure! Well a road trip to be more precise, but it felt like more of an adventure!! We travelled up to the Isle of Skye on Friday after work (timed so we would miss all of the rush hour traffic) roughly taking around six and a half hours. I was quite amused when friends asked “Are you not bothered about traveling on friday the thirteenth?’ the answer was always a resounding no! Truth be told I’m not superstitious at all – as far as I’m concerned if something’s going to go wrong it will and there’s nothing we can do about it! We just have to get on and move on! Well that was all fine, ready and packed just waiting for our friends (Alison and Ian) to join us. Shortly after settling down to a cup of tea (lemsip for Ben as he had come down with man-flu!) the phone rang – they were pulling over as they had a flat tyre on the M6  enroute to us….great start to the holiday! It was just a red herring having checked the pressures all four tyres were fine we think the fella who had recently fitted the tyres must not have attached the sensors properly…phew!

It took us around 8 hours in total to reach Skye – plus about fifteen minutes to find the house after taking some dodgy wrong turns and ending up in a farm. Much easier to find the house in daylight! As we arrived in the house we were surprised to find that at -2 the outside was warmer than the house – (I don’t think anybody had stayed there in a while) so we manically rushed round turning on, and up, every heater and fan heater, heated blankets you name it in the house and huddled around the fire before exhaustedly turning in for bed.IMG_3840

That morning looking out of the window of the quirky and quaint cottage you realised quite where you were! No wonder the cottage was so cold the ground was white with a very hard frost and the views – well they were just spectacular!! Our cottage was located on the furthest point on the Minginish Peninsula, meaning that you were looking right over cliffs into the sea perfect for capturing amazing sunsets…DSC_0066

Anyway I’ll stop boring you with all the travelling and on to some photos..

We visited the beautiful Fairy pools…mesmerizing with its turquoise waters that are so clean you can drink them! The walk takes up most of the day with it being an eight or nine mile walk if you carry on right to the top – definitely worth it.Fairy Pools Skye Fairy Pools Skye

And the food..well what can I say!IMG_4871

The Quiraing..beautiful and unusual natural rock formations with the bonus of having (if you enjoy driving) most fantastic windy steep road to get there..The Quiraing, Skye

Old Man of Storr – we only made it so far up to the top but were battled back with the gale force winds, rain, hail and snow. The views looking out were fantastic across rugged fells, lakes and then out to sea. Old Man of Storr Old Man of Storr

Seals at Dunvegan Castle – this photograph was taken by Ian who has a longer lens than mine – fantastic isn’t it? All my camera would pick up were black dots in the water! They are fantastically curious animals getting gradually closer the more you called /waved at them then swimming off if you dared look away!15622_10155310103485595_5315263641149030708_n  IMG_3838

I cant wait to return to Skye – I would perhaps pick a warmer and slightly more modern house to stay in next time but keep everything else the same. It was lovely to properly see the island when it is not full of tourists and not to be queuing everywhere. But alas I have missed the best bits of Skye for me out – coming up on the next post…

 

 

 

 

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Visiting far away friends…

08 Sunday Jun 2014

Posted by chardrap in Home, Random Musings

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Algeciras, Medina Sidonia, Semana Santa, Semana Santa parades, sevilla, seville

Gibraltar

This gallery contains 37 photos.

 Semana Santa Parades Back in April we took our first visit to Spain on holiday visiting some wonderful close friends …

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Spring and summer have Sprung with new Vigour

04 Wednesday Jun 2014

Posted by chardrap in Home, Random Musings

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garden, spring, summer

Hello Wildlife!

Finally thought I might finally sit down and update my blog – as I have the evening to myself! I should really be baking for friday and saturdays charity event or perhaps sort out the mountain of paperwork / invoicing thats looking longing at me…But No! That can wait for once, they’re not exactly going anywhere are they?!

I hope you are all enjoying spring? Once again my garden has sprung up and last years plants are HUGE! I should really read a gardening book and plant them a little further apart so they are not all battling against each other in the strive for sunlight- but that would just take the fun away! Anyway I like the higgledy piggledy cottage garden style- especially as it attracts soo many bees, birds and various other insects! Unfortunately our birds are particularly camera shy most of the time (or I am a little too noisy!)- Nutthatch, finch, green finch, gold finch, chaffinch, great tit, blue tit, wood pecker, blackbird..and our new swallows nest…

Dragon fly Continue reading →

Spring has arrived – with flowers and red squirrels..

03 Monday Feb 2014

Posted by chardrap in Home, Random Musings

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red squirrel, spring

Thought I would share a little bit of spring..

Unfortunately its a bit blurry but…. I was chuffed to catch it on camera as I’m normally too noisy and they are normally too fast!!DSC_0069 DSC_0012 DSC_0013 Continue reading →

February Challenge – forget resolutions, it starts now!!!

01 Saturday Feb 2014

Posted by chardrap in Home, Random Musings

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Tags

February challenge, food, slimming recipes, slimming world

My February – April challenge…

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So its the first of February and I have to say it’s truly miserable here, rain, rain, oh and lots more blooming rain!! Although spring is arriving with lots of snow drops, pansies in full bloom, violas, my sage has come to life and my rose hasn’t stopped flowering since last may! (I’m slightly worried it thinks its something else entirely!) So I think its about time I set my self a new challenge this February with the deadline of April – to loose a further stone -with the bonus of if I do it on here I am surely more likely to achieve the results I desire!

Last year if you read my previous posts I started doing Zumba or a walk every morning at 6:30am with a few neighbours which lasted right up until I started work at the cafe in November. During that time I lost well over a stone in weight and have kept it off. Unfortunately as I now have to leave the house  by 6:45am I can no longer fit in the walk before showering etc. (unsurprisingly no neighbour wants to walk with me at 5:30am!!)  So, inspired by a friend (also has an under active thyroid) who has lost nearly 2 stone since october using slimming world, I am going to try their recipes along with other bloggers slimming world friendly recipes.

Please let me know if you have any recommended recipes or bloggers – so far I have seen a blog called www.shecookssheeats.co.uk amazing inspiration! Roll on the rest of February I shall let you know how I get on! 🙂

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Im back and armed with a Kitchen Aid!!

23 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by chardrap in Home, Random Musings

≈ 4 Comments

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Kitchen Aid, Sallys tea room, tea room

Its been a busy few months so let me fill you in…

Hello!! I have had the most busy three months working at the tea room, Christmas and various other celebrations – unfortunately its meant my blog has been put on hold due to a whole lack of time on my hands! (My new years resolution -better time management from now on!)

I hope you have had the most wonderful christmas and new year celebrations – I certainly have visiting family, friends, eating and drinking a plenty and not forgetting a new arrival in the kitchen…….

Kitchen AidThanks to my husband, parents and in-laws I now have the most fantastic Kitchen Aid!! Thank you!! 🙂 Having only ever had an electric whisk this is bliss – I can just simply add the ingredients, push the switch and off we go, baking perfection… ok I’m sure its not perfect but this is my latest…

Almond and Apricot Cake..

Almond and apricot cake Almond and apricot cake Continue reading →

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My New Recipe Books

12 Tuesday Nov 2013

Posted by chardrap in Main Course, Random Musings

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christmas collection, how to bake, mary berry, paul hollywood, pies and puds, recipe books, sausage plait

Mad few weeks of cooking decorating and working hard..

It feels like forever since I have posted anything!! I have recently been tied up with so many other things, completely missing out nearly half a month on the bloggershpere! Well there has been no shortage of cooking, plus helping with the decorating of a friends newly opening tea room! Opening night taking place mid this week (tbc) with the formal opening at the end of week where we will be serving teas in pretty vintage china, barrister coffee and plenty of indulgent bakes and cakes! (not forgetting of course the jacket potatoes, crusty baguettes and Panini’s among other things!) I personally can’t wail till we are finally open!

On another note back I have gained three recipe books since my last blog…. thanks to my wonderful hubby!

Recipe books Continue reading →

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A lovely surprise in the post!

22 Tuesday Oct 2013

Posted by chardrap in Home, Random Musings

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Christmas, creative, gifts, november care package projec, Oh Comely, oh comelys, oh comelys november care package project

Oh Comely’s November Care Package Project

Oh comelys swap

I love this idea – your paired up with another random person who enjoys this fab magazine – or not i guess as its open to anyone! I have taken part! Woop!!

So here is how it works…..each person sends a unique parcel –  the parcel criteria…

Something personal. Eg: a favourite family recipe, a good book you’ve just finished, a playlist of your favourite music.

An inspiring snippet. Eg: newspaper clipping, a photo or illustration you love, the lyrics to a song that strike home.

A wintry treat. Eg: a pair of gloves, your favourite tea, a mini hot-water bottle. The spending guide for each box is £10.

Continue reading →

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Exciting and chaotic…more random musings…

17 Thursday Oct 2013

Posted by chardrap in Home, Random Musings

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Exciting, chaotic and Mr Mill….

Its been exciting times and chaos here recently to be honest! In the madness there is exciting news that along with my existing job in our company I have been offered the job of working along side a friend in a newly opening local cafe – opening nov 2013! (exact date to be confirmed!) I will be selling, serving and of course making some of the yummy cakes, bakes, jacket potatoes, baguettes and much more!! So of course I expect every one to come along and sample some of the goodies all served on gorgeous vintage china! Is that not tempting?!?

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Mastering the Poached Egg…

13 Friday Sep 2013

Posted by chardrap in Home, Main Course, Random Musings

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

breakfast, cooking, egg, food, how to poach an egg, perfect poached egg, poach, Poached egg, recipe

The perfect poached egg…

Thanks to the help of a fellow blogger after many years of resigned failure I have now officially mastered egg poaching! The post Frisee and Lardon Salad with a Poached Egg explained clearely where I went wrong! Thanks to Fleur de Se!l

Poached egg
The poached egg has always been my nemesis – having taking advice form many people and websites, I have failed miserably to get the perfect poached egg! Its not that I over cook it, I use the secrets like ‘create a whirl pool before pouring the egg in from a cup and use white wine vinegar. And boy did I create a whirl pool at a really good rolling boil unfortunately being so vigorous ended in yolk perfectly cooked but with all the white floating in strands around the pan! Yuk!

Having been inspired by this blog post I thought I would try again see if I could master my nemesis and if it really was as simple as slow down. Watching nervously as I poured my egg into the slightly spinning water I was amazed that the egg just stayed perfectly in place – so excited I nearly forgot to time it! I am so easily pleased!

So here it is as far as I understand it

Crack your egg into a cup. bring a pan up to a simmer (tiny bubbles appearing and coming up from the bottom every so often) with wooden spoon stir water in a slow circular motion to create a whirlpool ( not too much like me!) pour the egg into the middle of the spinning water then time for 3and a half minutes and carefully spoon out.

Any other hints tips let me know!

Poached egg

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  • Visiting a small but beautiful Island.. March 3, 2015
  • Salted Caramel and Mocha Profiteroles Recipe January 4, 2015
  • Visiting far away friends… June 8, 2014
  • Spring and summer have Sprung with new Vigour June 4, 2014
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