ENGLISH MUM

Barbecue chicken skewers So summer is finally creeping up on us (I definitely saw the sun at least twice last week), and, with some fabulous fresh veg popping up in our local farm shop (I can’t resist a glossy aubergine), I felt it was time to dust off one of my favourite summer essentials: the barbecue skewer.  It’s handy to have meat in the freezer (I often bulk buy meat online from Farmer’s...

My friends all find it hilarious that I live with a human-hating cat.  Our Ninja’s not a people person, bless her.  She’s never happier than when she’s gnawing on an unsuspecting human, and takes great pleasure at turning from purry to assassin by the time you’ve stroked half way down her back and realised you’ve made a big mistake. Much hilarity, then, was caused by the photo...

  Le Chateau Saint-Martin Last week I was lucky enough to be invited to stay for a few days at the utterly beautiful Chateau Saint-Martin in the pretty little town of Vence on the Côte d’Azur.  For a luxury short break, the Chateau really has everything: it’s a scant 30 minute drive from Nice Airport (just over an hour’s hop from Gatwick), the accommodation is luxurious, the scenery breathtaking...

God this week has been mental.  This one came with the added stress of it being Sam’s first A level exam week. Sunday was a bit frantic as he had to work (HOW do these kids do it?  Studying and revising, learning to drive, holding down a part-time job AND attempting a decent social life too?) and didn’t feel that he’d got much revision in.  The Dude was knackered after an all-nighter at...

I’ve just come back from a gorgeous break on the Cote d’Azur: three glorious days of sun, sightseeing, food and relaxation.  But my word, the STUFF you need, just for three days: dresses, heels and some sort of clutch for going out to dinner; shorts, comfy shoes and t-shirts for sightseeing; swimsuits, cover ups and flips flops for beach days; and don’t get me started on beauty products, make up and toiletry...

This week I’ve been in the Côte d’Azur, at possibly the most beautiful place I’ve ever stayed.  Whilst there, you’ll be pleased to hear that I had several epic adventures including: Seeing more tiny teacup dogs than I ever thought possible, and feeling the need to say ‘Monsieur, I need to poop!’ Each time in the style of ‘What Women Want’. Replying to a French...

I’ve noticed that I’ve been a bit remiss with the cocktails of late.  And well, you know me, it’s not because I’ve not been DRINKING them, oh no, it’s just because I usually drink too many and then forget to take a photo! The perfect Bloody Mary This particular Bloody Mary (left) was served to my friend Laura and I at the Cassis American Brassierie in St Pete’s, Florida. It...

I’ve done a few of these Lean on Turkey challenges now, supporting our fabulous British turkey farmers and showing you just how versatile turkey is.   The first challenge for 2013 is ‘pizza and pasta’ and I just had to go with pizza as, with a houseful of teenagers, it’s a bit of a staple. This pizza went down so well it’s been requested again already and has affectionately become...

Salmon en croute Asda’s Fishmonger, Darren Wrend has created some recipes to give you a bit of inspiration for how to cook a whole salmon.  They asked me if I’d like to have a go and have kindly allowed me to publish their recipes (and turned a blind eye while I fiddled with them too, bless ‘em): Salmon en croute filled with parsley, lemon and lemon and pepper butter Our verdict: delicious,...

A man standing amidst the cloud of yellow color while the other people are singing bhajans of Radha and Lord Krishna. The festival of Holi is a religious festival and this day marks the beginning of Spring season.Taken during the celebration of Holi in India by previous award winner, Poras Chaudhary. Yes, it’s that time again, the Travel Photographer of the Year  (TPOTY) Awards have been launched for...

Well, it was a mental weekend, what with the boy’s 18th birthday party, then dinner out with friends on Saturday followed by waiting up until 1am to pick Sam up from doing the bar at a local event.  Knackered doesn’t even cover it.  Sunday dinner, then, was a chilled affair – luckily I’d remembered to defrost the racks of lamb that I took home from the Asda meat masterclass so we had...

WHAT. A. DAY. We started early, constructing an epic chocolate layer cake. It was loosely based on Charlie’s birthday cake, but we dispensed with the top layer and added a layer of whipped cream and a thick layer of crumbled Flakes. Oh, and of course those Curly Wurlys – painstakingly cut to size and applied by the birthday boy himself. Here’s how to make it: Triple Layer Curly Wurly Chocolate...

The boys with their beautiful cousin, Turtle Today our Sam, the Mad Professor, turns 18.  I’m just not sure how I feel, to be honest.  Sure, I’m immensely proud of him: he’s a good kid: kind and funny (he makes us all cry with laughter), thoughtful, a brilliant big brother (they play American Football together and have an increasingly blended mix of friends – I love this), a caring...

If you’re a regular reader you’ll know that this little blog is a bit difficult to pigeonhole.  There’s food, certainly, lots of food, but there’s also a lot of waffle about life here at English Towers, reviews, cookbooks, other waffle about stuff I like, days out and, more increasingly, travel. I’m absolutely loving it and, heartened by the increasing number of visitors, am happily...

Proscuitto wrapped monkfish at Zaza Italian So the newlyweds are back from their honeymoon, and very kindly offered to take me out to dinner to say thanks for my contribution to the wedding (which was basically getting so stressed over making two cupcake towers that I nearly cried and turned up at the service with buttercream still in my hair, but hey ho).  Zaza is a small chain and the Berkhamsted one is...

”Start the season with a bang of bright colour and beautiful fabrics with my new collection for Very.co.uk.  For spring, it’s all about flirty, fun and flattering pieces that will take you into summer and beyond. Playing on a number of spring’s trends including bold prints, bright hues and lace embellishments, the collection has something for every occasion.  I can’t get enough of tea and pencil...

Just to brighten up your Friday, here’s Jack.  He’s a Burmese kitten that belongs to one of the Captains that flies on English Dad’s fleet. Isn’t he just adorable? Check out the Yoda ears!: Jack the Burmese And this is Jack playing a game of fetch with his Dad (sorry about the iPhone vid cropping) ! I WANT ONE!

Triple layer chocolate mousse cake I know I’m always complaining about being old but blimey, my youngest was 15 yesterday. The Dude is mahoosive and has turned into a handsome, kind and funny teenager who is American Football mad and a bit of a gym obsessive. We’re all immensely proud of him. As is the tradition at English Towers, he’s been allowed to choose the birthday cakeage. Usually...

One of the best things about cruising is the sheer variety of activities offered by this sort of holiday.  As well as enjoying all the amenities a massive ship like the Liberty of the Seas has to offer (theatre shows, water-based fun like the FlowRider, ice spectaculars, fine dining, parades, a casino, climbing wall – I could go on), there is the added bonus of stopping off in different places (indeed,...

For some reason, although Mr English and I are no taller than 5’7 at a stretch (I think I’m slightly taller, but we always argue so we just agree that we’re both quite short), our offspring continue to grow at an alarming rate.  Sam, our very own Mad Professor, is now so tall that we recently had to buy longer trousers for all his school suits (he was starting to look a little Michael Jacksonesque),...

Beef, pancetta and shallot pie So if you’re a regular reader (or you’ve just stopped by in search of pie recipes – in which case welcome!), you’ll know that I’ve already published a step by step ‘how to make a pie‘ recipe.  Do have a look at that one as it will give you invaluable tips on how to make pastry.  This recipe kind of skips the basics, just because I don’t...

It’s no secret that I love a bit of a shop, so when Zalando approached me about a competition, I was keen to have a look at their site to see the sort of things they sell.  I wasn’t disappointed.  They’ve got pretty much everything you could buy on the high street, including designer stuff like LK Bennett, uber trendy Ash known for their amazing wedge trainers, and, my own personal favourite,...

Yesterday was my Disreputable Dad’s wedding.  It started badly, with me still running around covered in icing an hour before we were supposed to leave (I stupidly offered to make them cupcake towers) and Dad arriving to pick the boys up for the church with not one, but both boys still in their pants. In the ensuing panic, people were jabbed with buttonhole pins, ties were tied and retied, tempers were...

I think the King’s Head in Ivinghoe is a bit of a hidden gem.  If I ever mention it, people don’t seem to have heard of it, yet my Disreputable Dad adores the place (we clubbed together to buy him dinner there for his birthday), and I often drive past (it’s a stunning ivy-clad 16th century building) and think ‘one day’, despite the fact that the Jags and Bentleys parked outside...

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort: ‘Big Blue’ Pool If you follow me on Facebook (if not, why not? We’re a lovely gang and have all sorts of waffly conversations), you’ll know that a while back, my chums at Disney offered me the most FABULOUS prize for you, my lovely readers: a 7 night holiday in a Walt Disney World Resort, Florida, complete with park tickets.  I, of course, bit...