Finalising Food

I'm sorry I've been absent for a while and in the last couple of days I've tried to make up for it and get the posts up I've been planning for a while.
I have had a difficult couple of weeks that have been full of sadness due to the loss of my Nain (Nan in welsh) and has also meant I have had lots of travelling.
While this has been a difficult time, I have had a lot of support and so, for me, this isn't the place to process my loss.

So today I want to think about something more positive - food for the wedding!

Family Favorites: Christmas Roast, Hot Cross Buns, Birthday cake & BBQ

Food is a really important part of a wedding. I think I would go as far to say that, other than having a church ceremony, food is the MOST important element of the day for me. Food plays a big role in my life, when I get together with family a meal is normally the center of the occassion; our favourites are probably a BBQ or a Sunday tea (cold meats, hard boiled eggs etc all followed by cake and jelly/trifle) and I turn to food at sad times of when I'm feeling ill.

Both BH and I are foodies, we'd rather go out less often and eat at independent places when the menu's ever changing and ingredients sourced locally, we both enjoy cooking (tho BH to a lesser extent) and enjoy a good meal.

Love of food: Toad-in-the-whole, a traditional Turkish chicken dish from Selcuk
orange sponges for valentines and 3 cheese & broccoli quiche . Apart from Turkish chicken, all cooked by me!

For our wedding we were looking for a menu of classic, British winter warmers.
The whole day has a cosy rustic feel and we want this continued in what we eat, but we also wanted to be careful that we don't weigh our guests down with lots of heavy food.

Before the food tasting we were both a little a nervous, we had chosen the Guildhall based on the beautiful building and friendly staff; I have been to a wedding there but it was over 4 years ago and as it is council owned, we weren't sure about the quality of the food.

Winter Warmers: All images from BBC Good Food
Shepherds Pie, Roast Beef, Stew,
 Bread & Butter pudding, Welsh Rarebit and Apple Pie.

All of our concerns were hogwash! Nigel the Chef is amazing!
We tried 3 soups & 2 pate for starters, 2 mains (one came in both Goats & 'normal' cheese options) and 3 puddings. Everything we tried was amazing. not only delicious but well presented and we really felt that they had gone out of their way for us.
We had asked to try a 3rd main, but due to a mix up we weren't able to, however we were told where we could source the main item and my mum then purchased and sent us the item for us to cook up and test at home a couple of days later.

We really would have been happy to have any of the options we tried, however after talking through everything we tasted, our desire for a classic meal and also wanting our guests to have essentially the same meal while offering variation for those with dietary needs, we came to a conclusion and have now emailed to conform/order our wedding breakfast.

I can reveal that the starter will be soup and I will share the other details after the day.

TTFN ~ Kate xxx

Tasty Treat: Rocky Road Recipe

Rocky Road

Recently I wrote about my cake and sweetie table for another site I guest blog for. In that post I forgot to mention that I am hoping to make some of the sweet treats for the buffet. And today I thought I would share one of the recipes I hope to use.

With the wedding in January I thought I would try and add a warming twist on the chocolaty favourite Rocky Roads, I did this by adding the spice of ginger biscuits in place of boring digestives.


Rocky Road is a really simple thing to make and tastes amazing, and if you don't like one element, you could always swap it with something else, or just leave it out.

Cross section of Rocky Road

Ingredients 
(approximates)

12 ginger nut biscuits
1 small bag of mini marshmallows
1 bag share size Malteasers
1/2 bag sultanas
3/4 tub glace cherries
2 blocks milk chocolate cake topping

Everything looks better on a
 pretty stand

Break biscuits into small pieces (about 5mm x 5mm) and slice cherries into 6 or 8 pieces.

Add to a large mixing bowl with marshmallows, Maltesers and sultanas.
Mix together

Get a rectangle or square baking tray out and leave near where you are working.
(I find silicone is the best type of baking tray for this)

Melt chocolate; either for 1min30 or 2 mins in microwave or in a glass bowl over gently simmering water, until all the squares have melted. Instantly pour the chocolate on to the dry ingredients and stir.
Once everything has been thoroughly coated, put mixture into baking tray and press it down to ensure its tightly packed. Leave to cool to room temperature, then place in fridge.

Leave for at least 2 hours and the turn out and slice with a large,                                                    sharp knife (it might help to run knife under a hot tap.

Make a cup of tea and ENJOY!!!

TTFN ~ Kate xx

Bridal Beauty: Under Pressure?

Like most Brides to be I have a full time job and in the last few weeks it's been really busy as I've been planning and organising the Holiday Club (which turned out great). This was followed by a long weekend at my parents where I thought I'd get time to do lots of blogging, however between wedding shopping, wedding crafting and seeing friends this blogging time didn't materialise.

So here I am on my lunch break, wearing a face mask and typing my apologies.

Coming back from weekend of party food, roast dinners and take aways, I am aware that I have a few extra pounds to loose before W-day. I don't think I have ever felt so confused about my size...

Growing up I was a BIG girl and by the time I was 16 I was ok with that, that was me. Since then I have been diagnosed with Crohn's, lost a lot of weight due to the disease and nearly died.

Is it really important for me and other brides to be their thinnest on their day? If I watch the Wedding Channel it is sponsored by weight watchers and each break is framed by an ad showing a beautiful girl shrink to a size 8 for her day - do we need to be told 8 times an hour we are fat and have to be a thin bride?

Yes we all want to look and feel our best, but is conforming to societies standards of beauty the way to do it?

If you are a girl where you have been thin and that's how you feel most beautiful, then returning to that size is great. But I don't see why I should strive to get down to my previous small size when that meant illness and hospital. As long as my dress fits and I'm healthy that will be enough to me.

However, I am obsessed about my skin and hair. After my first turn in hospital my skin is in a never ending cycle of breakouts and I have a weird shelf of hair on my left side as I suffered some hair loss through the stress of the illness. To return these back to their previous good condition involves dedicating time and finding the right products, I have to remember to keep to a daily skin regime and take the time to care for my hair. I need to spend time weekly pampering - oh what a shame!

I also have to eat a healthy balanced diet to make sure my body is getting everything it needs to restore my skin and hair and to keep it healthy.

My beauty must haves: 1) Lee Stafford hair growth products, 2) healthy meals inc fish and lots of veg,
3) selection of my face products, mostly Soap & Glory, 4) I must remember to drink lots of water, 5) body pampering products even more Soap & Glory. I buy all my products from Boots

So for the next 4 months, I will be eating healthily and exercising, not because I want to be thin, but because I want my body to be healthy and strong - ready for the start of the next chapter in my life.

TTFN # Kate xx

Getting ready for the Festive Season

Ok, ok, I know its 25 degrees outside and the 1st of October, I know we still have Halloween and  bonfire night before anyone in their right mind, and the shops, should start mentioning THAT time of year but...
I LOVE CHRISTMAS.

This year being well planned is a must. I am hoping to make presents for most people, or at least part of their gifts, as well as making all my cards and gift tags.
I also work for a church so I have a chidren's activity morning full of crafts to plan & trying to see if i can attend a couple of craft fayres to see how me selling stuff might work.

I'm on my way already, I have started buying some foods for my Christmas cupboard, well box - at home my mum would start to buy the bits we would have over the festive season many weeks before the event to help spread the cost. a tradition I have picked up; so far I have Jelly Babies & Santa's Fetsive Friends

I have also purchased the supplies for the gifts I am making for some of the small children I know and will soon be buying the last beads and findings for the other presents.

Over the next few weeks I will be sharing with you a sneaky peak at what I am up to, both with work & the gifts I am making (without spoiling an surprises for those who will be receiving bits from me), In the new year I will share in more detail some of the complete items. I'm sure Ed will be hoping that this new focus will keep my mind from any thoughts of wedding plans.