I have been making mint brownies for many, many years. They are my most requested recipe. They have joined in the fun at classroom get togethers, kids parties, picnics and many a holiday gathering. Wrap half a dozen in parchment, tie with ribbon and you’ve got yourself the perfect little gift card holder. Great for teachers or tucked in the mailbox as a nice little holiday surprise for the mailman. They are a doddle to make, a dream to store in the fridge for days and can be frozen and kept on hand for any and all last minute surprises…
Pudding&Mess Posts
Mr Dickens And His Carol Samantha Silva A fictional account of how Dickens came to write one of his most famous and beloved stories. When Martin Chuzzlewit is a supreme flop, Dickens must face the fact that his financial status is looking bleak. His publisher declares that he must write a Christmas story immediately or he will face financial ruin. His wife, meanwhile, is planning their annual lavish Christmas party and his kids are tugging on his coat sleeves begging to go to the toy store. Feeling decidedly bah-humbugish with all of this stress, he becomes fractious and irritable so…
The loveliest blush pink paint colours. A deliciously colourful house in Chelsea A new Pride and Prejudice starring Olivia Coleman and directed by Dolly Alderton. Yes, please! Traveling the world without getting on a plane. 14 little things people stopped worrying about. The mental health benefits of a social media detox. Particularly beneficial for the holiday season. Just watched: Stonehouse The outlandishly true story of rising Labour MP, John Stonehouse, who in 1974, found himself in a spot of financial and espionage bother. He is blackmailed—via a honeytrap—into spying for the Czechs, but also paid handsomely with large sums of…
These shows have a few things in common. They are neither violent, nor aggressive, nor depressing yet are substantive enough to make them worth watching. They are undemanding, kinda cozy and provide lots of love and laughter with some getting bonus points for exquisite scenery and beautiful settings. Basically they tick all the boxes for enjoyable, bingeable TV. (And yes, I am shamelessly stretching British to include the Commonwealth – two of these shows are Australian. ~Brief Encounters In 1980’s Sheffield, a group of women of all ages and walks of life are brought together when they get into the…
Galileo’s Daughter Dava Sobel Sister Maria Celeste, a cloistered nun, is the oldest of Galileo Galilei’s three illegitimate children. She wrote to her father regularly and her letters set up a nice framework for this book which is, essentially, an account of the trials and tribulations that faced Galileo throughout his life. Maria wrote beautifully and despite the fact that her father’s return correspondence no longer exists, it is clear that the two enjoyed a deep regard for each other and were able to share their mutual love of both science and faith. No need to be a science geek to…
As the cool of autumn collapses into the cold of winter, as the late afternoon sunshine burnishes the remaining stubborn leaves on the tree tops to a gorgeous glowy copper, a world is created where the cosy comfort of an apple crumble is simply divine. While I adore a good crumble with spring and summer fruit, there is nothing quite like the simplicity of the humble apple at this time of year, and apple crumble feels like the crisp white shirt of the crumble world: elementary, yet classic, with hidden depths. You can, of course, use any apple your heart…
The English It’s the 1890’s in the days of the Wild West and Lady Cornelia Locke (Emily Blunt) arrives at a remote outpost in Kansas in pursuit of the man responsible for the death of her son. She is met by Mr. Watts (a deliciously wicked Ciaran Hinds), who has the body of Eli Whipp (Chaske Spencer), a Pawnee Indian and former scout for the US army, currently strung up. When Cornelia tries to buy Elis’s freedom, she is beaten for her trouble. Some pretty awful things take place next but, ultimately, Cornelia asks Eli to accompany her on her…
Step inside Sienna Miller’s Charming Cottage. Some really fun Halloween costume ideas based on your zodiac sign. In a veritable sea of banned books in the US it would seem that Stephen King novels are the most banned of all. Ten of the best bookshops in Paris. When the icebergs came to town. Fun Charcuterie for kids. An entertaining video about Britain’s major regional accents. For weekend watching ~ Anatomy Of A Scandal A political scandal involving an affair, an accusation of rape, an Oxford days dark secret involving the current Prime Minister and lots of courtroom drama. The plot…
~The Lost Garden Helen Humphreys A slender, beautifully written and lyrical story of horticulturist Gwen Davis who flees London during the Blitz to take charge of a group of Land Girls on a rundown estate on the Devonshire coast, which also happens to have a requisitioned stately home inhabited by a regiment of Canadian soldiers. Upon arrival, Gwen, somewhat socially awkward, struggles to connect with people and, feeling lonely, takes solace in bringing back to life a secret abandoned garden that’s she’s discovered. Over time, Gwen softens to those around her and begins to form deep connections with the girls…
Custard in its most simple form is a mixture of eggs and milk, gently heated so that the eggs can provide the necessary thickening. Possibly around since Ancient Rome, but certainly finding its groove in the Middle Ages, the word “custard” is thought to come from the French word “croustade” meaning pastry crust, because custard was frequently baked into tarts. But custard has a variety of guises. Freeze it and you have ice cream. Put it in a crust with savory flavorings and you have a quiche. It serves as the base for creme brûlée, chocolate pudding, flan, and creme…