Daisy is 2!

My little dog Daisy is 2!

Here are some of my favourite pictures of her from the last year :)

Apple Streusel Cake

To me there is nothing better than a steaming cup of tea and a piece of freshly baked cake! Especially when apple & cinnamon are involved! I was looking through a recipe book which was full of hearty old fashioned recipes & I noticed the Apple Streusel Cake! So, yesterday I gave it a go! It was a really dull, cold day & after putting it in the oven & going for a walk, I was greeted by the smell of cinnamon coming from the oven when I came in! I can't find the recipe online, but you can see the book here!

Apple Streusel Cake
Grandma's Best Recipes book

115g /4oz butter, plus extra for greasing
450g / 1lb cooking apples
175g / 6oz self-raising flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
pinch of salt
115g / 4oz caster sugar
2 eggs
1-2 tbsp milk
icing sugar, for dusting
for the streusel topping
115g / 4oz self-raising flour
85g / 3oz butter
85g/3oz caster sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 180^oc/350^of, then grease a 23cm/9inch spring-form cake tin. To make the streusel topping, sift the flour into a bowl & rub in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the sugar & reserve.

2. Peel, core and thinly slice the apples. To make the cake, sift the flour into a bowl with the cinnamon & salt. Place the butter & sugar in a separate bowl & beat together until light & fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs, adding a little of the flour mixture with the last addition of egg. Gently fold in half the remaining flour mixture, then fold in the rest with the milk.

3. Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin & smooth the top. Cover with the sliced apples & sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the top. Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour, or until browned & firm to the touch. Leave to cool in the tin before opening the sides. Dust the cake with icing sugar before serving.

My Outfit Lust of the Week

As it is starting to feel springlike, the sunny weather makes me want to pack away my heavy winter clothes & get into some of the seasons fresh new colours... One thing, it is still so cold when the sun disappears. I fell in love with this All Saints Playsuit - the corals/yellows/mottled blues are colours I associate with Spring but silk material defiantly needs some help so it is wearable while it is still chilly!
I came up with the Quilted Leather Biker Jacket & Coral Pashmina. The Western Boots sort of go with the theme of the outfit. Oh & I just love the Vintage Mini Bag!

Serving food on Slate...

It's not very often that I see something & have an "I have to have that" moment - no ifs or buts {or asking the husband} - and this is exactly what happened when I found The Just Slate Company! I'm always looking household items which are unique/rustic/one of a kind - right now I'm taken up with table wear!
The Slate Cheese Board is my first purchase - it turns out it has more uses than just as a Cheese Board! I made some Fruit Jellies last week & it was a great serving platter! I love how it makes serving deserts or cheese that little bit more fun :-)