ENGLISH MUM

No, don’t be silly, of course I didn’t go teetotal. It just made for a nice title.  You know me better than that. Firstly, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: me.  Let’s be honest, I’ve kind of chubbed.  I’ve podged up.  Filled out.  I’m ‘looking well’ as the ol’ eupemism for ‘shit, you got fat’ goes. Okay, so I’m not wallowing...

Moneysupermarket.com recently sent me these great tips for eating out.  There are some great ideas here (although the greedier amongst us won’t be sharing desserts any time soon *cough*).   Worth a look, I think: Eating out is a favourite pastime for many families – it’s an opportunity to spend some quality time together, eat nice food, and mum or dad doesn’t have to wash up! Unfortunately,...

I’d hazard a guess that Tim Mead isn’t your average company director. As our little gang of assorted journalists and food bloggers wanders wearily into Yeo Valley Organic’s head office, The Mendip Centre, he rushes to greet us, all smiles and firm handshakes. He chuckles at our civvy moans about being up at 5am (‘that’s normal for a farmer’) and takes us out onto the balcony for tea and...

Scoffing… …fabulous bags of Warburton’s ChippidyDooDaas – yummy scrummy bags of baked pitta chips, and SnackaDoodles – little crunchy doofers which are 70% wholegrain, making them healthier and with 60% LESS fat than regular crisps, meaning, naturally, that you can have two bags with your glass of wine *cough* Fiddling… …with my new mad gadgets from Oxo.  My faves:...

So I had the chance recently to run a three week ‘cupcake course’ for a local evening college.  Quite a few of my friends had signed up, bless ‘em, but then when the SeaWorld trip got cancelled because of the ash cloud, the rearranged dates overlapped with the course.   I had to cancel (face it: cupcake course, or SeaWorld? It’s a no-brainer). Lovely Tums, my adorable and glamorous...

So yesterday, me and my chief photographer, AKA The Death Wish Child (armed with his new camera) travelled to The Real Food Festival at Earls Court as guests of the lovely Nick from My Daddy Cooks With the big four dominating our food industry (yes, yes, I know it’s convenient to buy strawberries at Christmas, but sheesh…) The Real Food Festival is a great idea to give our fabulous small food producers...

I don’t think there’s really a day goes past without me missing Ireland.  I miss our lovely house and our wonderful garden, our friends, our neighbours, even our chickens. I also miss being able to go to Dublin, the wondrous, fabulous city that it is, for museums, restaurants, or just a quiet bimble along the banks of the Liffey. I’m especially gutted at the moment, because I’m going...

My sister in law (who is a sweet, gentle creature) once told me that many moons ago, during a lovers’ tiff with my brother, she was so cross she took the tomato sauce bottle and wrote ‘SHIT’ on the kitchen floor in ketchup.  You see?  Naughty words are a form of therapy.  And with this in mind, laydees and gentlespoons, I bring you the arsebiscuit. I’ve been banging on about them...

Planning… My 40th birthday – there’s a fabulous Disney surprise in store, and we’re also planning a glamorous cocktails and dinner extravaganza with my two gorgeous girls, Foxy and Tums and their lubly men.  Wehay! Coveting… the beautiful dresses on  A Change of A Dress – the most fabulous girly website ever. Surfing… over to John Lewis’ new and revamped fashion...

UPDATE: Okay, so the results are in.  And yes, I know, I know, this is just a bit of fun, not a competition, but Toria has chosen her faves: 1st Heather’s from Eggs, Cream and Honey.  They look mouthwateringly gorgeous and I want to stuff my face with them! Yum 2nd Mummy Limited’s heart cupcakes. Loving the sparkliness with the glitter and hearts that look fab on the cream frosting. Too pretty...