Happy St David’s Day!

Here are a few of our favourite St David’s day things!….

1. Welsh designer Antonella Commatteo http://www.commatteo.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Welsh cakes – here’s how to make them

What you need…

225g plain flour, 85g sugar, 1/2 tsp of mixed spice, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 50g butter cut into small pieces, 50g lard cut into small pieces and a little extra for frying, 50g currents, 1 egg beaten, splash of milk.

What to do…

1. Tip the flour, sugar, mixed spice, baking powder and a pinch of salt into a bowl. Then, with your fingers, rub in the butter and lard until crumbly. Mix in the currants. Work the egg into the mixture until you have soft dough, adding a splash of milk if it seems a little dry – it should be the same consistency as shortcrust pastry.
2. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured work surface to the thickness of your little finger. Cut out rounds using a 6cm cutter, re-rolling any trimmings. Grease a flat griddle pan or heavy frying pan with lard, and place over a medium heat. Cook the Welsh cakes in batches, for about 3 mins each side, until golden brown, crisp and cooked through. Delicious served warm with butter and jam, or simply sprinkled with caster sugar. Cakes will stay fresh in a tin for 1 week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Handbags-at-dawn calf skin clutch, a perfect accessory for St David’s day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Welsh nails!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy St David’s day!

Happy Pancake Day!

Happy Pancake day – here is one of our favourite recipes from the British Larder…..

Pancake Day, The British Larder Way! Raspberry, Lime and  Coconut Pancakes

Where is the year going!?! Well it’s nearly  Shrove Tuesday, which is  the last day before Lent and known to everyone as Pancake Day.

We love a good pancake, there are so many different shapes and techniques but  everyone has their own special recipe to enjoy this indulgent and delicious  snack.

Today I made fluffy, spongy, sweet and superbly yummy pancakes. I have chosen  to make mine fairly small, 6cm in diameter to be precise, well it allows me to  be indulgent and they do look rather pretty on a plate. I have served these for  breakfast with a large dollop of crème fraîche, a swizzle of local honey and a  big squeeze of lime juice.

Actually to be completely honest I did not buy any of the ingredients to make  this delicious breakfast, it was more a make it up as you go along idea. In my  terms whatever I have in the larder.

I found one lime, plenty of fresh free range eggs, dessicated coconut that I  bought a while ago to make lamingtons, which  never got made and then the  berries from the freezer. I love my freezer, or shall I say freezers. We have  nothing of great value stored in them. Mainly frozen seasonal berries and  fruits, ginger, lemongrass, chillies, home made curry pastes, chicken stock and  even more berries!

Mr.P’s dad Roy has the most fantastic redcurrant bush that produces more  berries than the three households in the family could possibly eat in one  season; hence I store them so that we can enjoy them the year round. The same  goes for the raspberries, we had a fantastic harvest last summer and finally the  last few went into this recipe. The combination of raspberries and redcurrants  is one of my favourites, bizarrely they work incredibly well together. I suppose  the raspberries counteract the sharpness of the redcurrants and visa versa, I  make a stonklingly good Raspberry and Redcurrant Jam that I class as my signature  jam.

I hope this recipe will encourage and inspire you to make up your own Shrove  Tuesday delight, go on rummage through your larder it’s amazing what one can  find. You could make savoury or sweet pancakes or why not go the whole hog and  make both!

Happy flipping,but make sure they do not stick to the ceiling!

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Pancake Day, The British Larder Way! Raspberry, Lime and Coconut Pancakes

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• 135g plain flour
• 1tsp baking powder
• Pinch of salt
• Zest of one lime, keep the juice to serve with the panckaes
• 25g melted unsalted butter + extra butter to fry the pancakes in
• 130ml milk
• 2 egg yolks
• 2 egg whites
• 25g honey
• 40g dessicated coconut
• 100g mixed frozen raspberries and redcurrants
• crème fraîche, to serve

Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl, add the lime zest and set  aside.

Whip the egg whites till they become foamy and aerated, add the honey and  continue whipping until the meringue forms soft peaks, fold the dessicated  coconut into the meringue.

Whisk the egg yolks, milk and melted butter together and fold the wet  ingredients into the flour to form a batter, if the flour makes lumps do not  worry as these will dissolve however do not over mix the batter as this will  make the pancakes tough.

Fold the coconut meringue and frozen berries into the batter, use a large  spoon and do not overwork the batter.

Heat some butter in a large non-stick frying pan and once the butter starts  to foam, spoon tablespoons of the batter into the pan to make approximately 6cm   diameter pancakes. Once the pancakes turn golden brown  flip them  over and continue cooking them on the reverse side until golden brown. Drain the  pancakes on kitchen paper.

Serve warm with a large dollop of crème fraîche, a swizzle of honey and a  generous squeeze of lime juice.

Makes approximately 28 6cm pancakes

Food Fanatics Tip

I have used frozen fruits from my freezer which were left from my summer  harvest. You can use any berries of your choice however I recommend that you use  them from frozen, do not defrost the berries as they become shapeless and looses  all their juiciness.

Read more: http://www.britishlarder.co.uk/pancake-day-the-british-larder-way-raspberry-lime-and-coconut-pancakes/#ixzz2Kh0yW68x

London Calling

Our top 4 unusual things to do in London…..

1. A Mad Hatter’s tea party

We invite you to “tumble down the rabbit hole” and enjoy the wonderful world of Afternoon Tea in the beautiful Courtyard Garden at Sanderson London. This new incarnation of Afternoon Tea highlights the collaboration with design collective Luna & Curious, who crafted bespoke crockery with a carnival theme for the service.

Menus are hidden inside vintage books, and napkins wrapped with riddles, while teapots adorned with kings and queens and sandwich plates featuring zebras, birdcages, carousels and ticking clocks play host to wondrous fare.

Available at Sanderson London for £35.00

http://www.sandersonlondon.com/en-us/#/explore/?id=/sanderson-london-mad-hatters-tea/

2. Attend a secret supper club

Part hideout, part parallel reality, Gingerline HQ is a clandestine dining experience for London’s food adventurers. The menu, the concept and above all, the location, will remain top secret. All guests will be sworn to secrecy with our mantra being: Loose lips sink ships!

We will inform you where you need to go 60 minutes before the evening begins and it’s always just a short walk from a station on the East London Line – or Gingerline as we call it!

We will lead you from the station into our secret and specially designed arts space for an evening of feasting and folly. Our plentiful four course menu is designed for food lovers and we welcome vegetarians, vegans and those with allergies. Your dietary preferences will be collected after booking.

http://www.gingerline.co.uk/

3. Sleep like a King at Hampton Court Palace

Remarkably this apartment allows you to stay within the actual precincts of Hampton Court Palace. It was formerly the base for the Officers of the Pastry and can be found tucked away off Fish Court, in the warren of Tudor brick quadrangles surrounding Henry VIII’s great kitchen.

http://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/search-and-book/properties/fish-court-7006#tabs=0

4. Listen to a Classical Concert in Handel’s former home

Music plays an important part in Handel House and  two harpsichords and a spinet which are regularly used for rehearsals and weekly concerts. Concerts are held in Handel’s Rehearsal & Performance room which he used as a recital room and where he would rehearse his latest operas or oratorios with musicians and singers.

Tickets are £9, £5 students unless otherwise stated Call +44(0)20 7399 1953 to book your tickets

www.handelhouse.org

If you’re travelling to or in London don’t forget our gorgeous Union Jack travel bag!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.handbags-at-dawn.com/index.php/limited-editions/union-jack-travel-bag.html

and our make-up bag

http://www.handbags-at-dawn.com/index.php/limited-editions/make-up-bag.html

Happy travels!  www.handbags-at-dawn.com

5 things to love this week

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. We’re just loving Coco Fennell, a small label with gorgeous clothes and wonderful sale now on  –  The Coco Fennell philosophy – “I want to build a brand that is all about fun, friendliness and positive body image. I want to work with the female body, not against it, and make clothes for boobs, hips, bums and waists. Clothes that you’d be happy to bump into your ex-boyfriend in, that make the local builders whistle and make you feel happy and gorgeous day and night.”

 

 

 

 

 

2. Alila Villas Uluwatu, Bali, “an awe-inspiring temple of sybaritic pleasure” and also the only overseas hotel to win a Royal Institute of British Architects award.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. New Dior Vernis colours for spring we’re loving this Gris trianon hurry though it’s selling fast!

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. The new Alice Temperley collection for John Lewis which launches on Thursday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. The totally gorgeous, union jack travel bag from handbags-at-dawn limited editions.

Handbag Essential!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Large enough to carry all your beauty necessities, this gorgeous hand-embroidered make-up bag from Emma Lomax is a handbag essential.  Fully lined, this make-up bag is water-resistant and closes with a zip.

Outer: 100% canvas with Scotchguard protection
Inner: Water-resistant foam lining with porous synthetic cotton

Dimensions: 19 x 15 (H) x 9 (G) cm + zip and handle

£30.00

To order – http://www.handbags-at-dawn.com/index.php/limited-editions/make-up-bag.html

About Emma

Emma Lomax is a Fine Art Graduate with a lifelong passion for embroidery and the home-made.  Emma decided to mix her passion, experience and skill to create wittily stitched, high quality, ethical sourced canvas bags.

Each piece is lovingly finished by hand, making every one an original. This further allows the owner to feel individual and unique.

Our Exquiste New Music Bag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Handbags-at-dawn are very proud to present our new limited edition music case. Sublimely handcrafted in the United Kingdom, by Rutherfords, using traditional leather techniques, and made from the finest English bridle leather. A brass bar simply hooks over the single carrying handle and adds an elegant finishing touch.

This stunning music case which also doubles as a document case or lightweight brief case, and is the quintessential English piece.  Definately one for your bag radar in 2013!

Height 11” x Width 15” x Depth 3”

http://www.handbags-at-dawn.com/index.php/limited-editions/music-case.html