Canvas & The Lakeside

Hello Everyone! I apologise for my absence over the past month, I've been rather busy with moving house, relocating back to my parents in the Peak District. It's taking a lot of getting used to after living in Sheffield for the past 4 years, so it was nice to catch up with the Sheffield gang on a little camping trip for Stacey's birthday in The Lake District over last weekend.

Heading over on the Friday afternoon Neil and I arrived at Hoathwaite National Trust Campsite where we met up with Sidd and Stacey and after a bit of a struggle against the wind finally got our tents pitched and dinner barbecued. That night was a rather windy one, and Neil and I were woken up at 4am by the tent falling on top of us! Saturday morning seemed a bit brighter we woke to another water view, not quite as spectacular as the one we got during our camping trip at the coast, but not bad at all.

After breakfast we decided to take a walk down to the lake and followed it along into the village of Coniston, passing through Coniston Hall which were setting up for a country fair the next day!

Coniston is a very pretty little town, it gave us the chance to pick up a few items we'd forgotten and we also stumbled upon a lovely little vintage and antique fair.

We headed back to our campsite to await the arrival of Ben and Charlotte and after a few drinks and a catch up we decided to take a walk to a nearby pub for some dinner.
Our finally morning started off with my specialty 'Eggy Bread' topped with some blueberries and raspberries, I love sweet breakfasts, pastries, pancakes anything like that really sets me up for the day.

After getting packed up we headed down to the Coniston Hall Country Fair, I'll be dedicating a whole post to that so I won't reveal too much, but what a great back drop for a Fair!

If you've made a trip to the Lakes you can't not go out on the water, so we decided to hire two-man sit on top kayaks and in our couples all rowed off onto the lake. I really enjoyed it, I think Neil and I made a good team once we'd got the hang of it, I'm sure we were both imagining we were professional rowers! (Rowing photos courtesy of Charlotte of Salt Deep)

After our two hours were up we headed back to the cars, my bum was soaked so had to do a quick change before the two and a half hour drive home. It was sad to say goodbye to everyone, the trip seemed to go so fast, but we've all agreed we'll go camping again this summer!

xx

Fairs, Fetes & Farmers Markets

Saturday night wasn't the warmest or driest of nights however we didn't let it dampen our spirits as Neil and I headed down to check out the Peddler Night Market. It's the first time we've been and what a little gem of a market it is! Part of Arundel Street is closed off for the event and filled with some of the areas finest food and drink vendors.

'If you're looking for a sign, this is it!'

By far my favourite stall had to be 'The Hop Box' not only because it served a fantastic Porter 'Beavertown Smog Rocket' but due to the fact it's a converted horse trailer! Such a creative idea, and quirky use of space something you'd expect to see on the 'George Clark's Amazing Spaces' show.

The market itself had a very youthful arty feel and the inside seating area housed local print makers works up for sale. Perfect chilled out atmosphere with everyone just there to enjoy great food and drink. Neil and I decided to go for the Nether Edge Pizza Company's Meaty Pizza made to order and cooked in their wood fired oven, which we wolfed down!

After a few drinks the cold got the better of us and we decided to head home. 

What I thought & bought:

Atmosphere - Arty & Youthful

Food - Meaty Pizza (Nether Edge Pizza Company)

Drink - Beavertown Smog Rocket Porter (The Hop Box)

Favourite Stall - The Hop Box

(Please excuse the photo quality on this post it was pretty dark at times and I only had my iPhone to hand.)

xx

Baking for the Birthday Boy

Everyone knows the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, and as it was Neil's Birthday I thought I'd better get in the kitchen. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and I believe on your Birthday you should wake up to something special and indulgent. 

Pancakes are my speciality, and ever since watching that Matilda scene as a young girl I've longed to replicate those perfect pancakes she whips up as a four year old child. Well my friends at the age of 22 *cough 23 in 8 days cough* I think I've finally done it! Referring to a trusty Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall recipe Neil's Birthday pancakes were the best I've ever made and I topped them with some gorgeous Free Range Beech Smoked British Streaky Bacon from Waitrose and maple syrup. Check out the recipe here.

Well a Birthday isn't a Birthday with out a cake is it, so once he was out of the house I soon got to work on a Birthday carrot cake -his favourite.

If you've never baked a carrot cake before I cannot recommend it enough, I really enjoyed making this the smells are incredible before you've even put it in the oven. I followed Paul Hollywood's recipe which you can find here, its easy to follow and really 'scrummy' as Mary Berry would say. 

The Birthday Boy!

I hope you've all enjoyed this post, do give those recipes a go or share with me any of your favourite recipes. It's my Birthday next week and as you can see I've set the Birthday bar quite high so you'll have to wait and see if Neil takes part in the Battle of the Birthday Bakes - no soggy bottoms allowed!

xx