Happy Halloween!

My friend Emily came over for a little pumpkin carving session last weekend. We replaced what was the usual "Joni & Sarah's Cocktails & Pumpkin Carving Spooktacular" event with civilised tea and scones. And the results speak for themselves.

Here's Emily's Cheshire Cat - free hand drawn! He has a slightly evil glint to his eye.

And my terrier (what else). It was my first time trying the scrape-away effect. Bit of a pain, but looks ok. 

Embleton Stroll

Last weekend we hired a car with the intention of visiting Cragside, but ended up on Embleton instead. It's one of the best beaches in the area, not least because you can stroll from Embleton along the beach up to Low Newton by the Sea, where the famous Ship Inn serves some stellar brews.

Gorgeous, sun-shiny day. 

Dunstanburgh Castle in the distance

Rosie wasn't shy of the North Sea winter temps.

And loved scrambling around in the sand.

There are a little settlement of cosy beach huts along the dunes. Charming, n'est pas? Then you realise they aren't plugged in...

Fat Rascals

I was introduced to Fat Rascals the first time I went to Betty's Tea House in York. And every time I go back, it's the one thing I get and love. They are THE best scones!

I saw a recipe for them the other day and thought I'd try to replicate. They have mixed dried fruit, cinnamon, nutmeg, orange and lemon zest (although I had neither, so used a grapefruit - seemed to work), and are topped with a glacee cherry and almond.

The little guys getting ready for the oven.

Done! They're not over baked - honest. It's just the eggwash.

Served with a dollop of clotted creme (this one looks like a scarf around the cherry) and a cup of coffee. Have to confess, they're pretty darn good!

Getting Crafty 2

My second project for the day is some Halloween inspired vases. I confess: I stole the idea from someone else online. It happens.

This project requires spray paint. I'm not a fan but there's no other option. Oh well.

First you gather some bottles. These were bound for the recycling bin but I held them back. Make sure they are clean and free from sticky labels.

Spray a white base coat.

Then add an orange middle. Can you tell what these will become yet? 

Finally, spray a yellow bottom. 

Candy corn vases!

Getting Crafty 1

I've had a very productive day, finishing off a couple projects that had been in my "to do" box for awhile. The first was a super easy project that hopefully will have a high impact on our house temperature and heating bill: making a door draught excluder.

Last year I used a rolled up towel - not exactly aesthetically pleasing. This year I'm going better and making a sausage dog.  First step: cut the legs off a pair of tights (these were too short for me).

Second: stuff with stuffing.

Third: sew on eyes. These are some vintage buttons from a coat that I had updated a couple years ago.

Fourth: add ears. I used some of Ole's short summer socks. He won't mind, right? 

Here's the gap under the door leading to the entry way. As you can see, the floors in our house are seriously wonky. This is what you get when you build on clay and then start mining out the whole bottom of the city. 

Introducing Harvey, the helping hund!

Isn't he a cutie?

Baby Babkas

For years, I've been obsessed with the notion of Babkas. No doubt this was fuelled in part by Seinfeld and my own interest in Jewish food. At long last, I had a proper one last year in New York and, well, there's no turning back now!

I finally braved up to make my own this weekend. With Rosh Hashanah just passing and Yom Kippur around the corner, there are loads of yummy recipes being featured on my favourite blogs and news sites. 

I chose to do two different kinds, both with a few tweaks of my own: one with apricot and chocolate; the other with marzipan/almond paste and rum soaked raisins. 

What isn't shown here is the dough rising, proofing, resting, chilling. It's a process. 

After many hours, you roll out a rectangle (trust me, it's a rectangle) shaped piece. Since I was doing 4 small ones, I had quartered my original loaf (which was designed to do 2 big ones).

You then add your fillings. Here's the almond paste & raisins. I think this process reminds me a lot like making cinnamon rolls. 

You then roll it up lengthwise - again, just like cinnamon rolls. 

Then you twist it into a spiral and somehow lift it up and put into the pan. It's a jumbled mess, but that's the point!

Et voila.

My 4 baby babkas, proofing again in the sun. I've dusted them with cinnamon sugar & drizzled with melted butter and leftover raisin rum juice.

Baked! They rose nicely. You can seem some chocolate breaking out on the bottom right one. Can't wait to crack them open and dive in!