Vintage Glory!

It is easily overlooked that what is now called vintage was once brand new.

Tony Visconti

I think I've mentioned a few times my great love affair with vintage doodads (don't you just love that word?) and this doesn't cease when it comes to my kitchen.

One day, I dream of having a 1950's inspired kitchen, with raised counter tops just like Julia Child had because I happen to be a bit taller than the standard counter accommodates. I want a lovely old Libra cast iron scales. My mam has these and I adore them so much, sure they aren't as accurate as the modern digital ones but isn't that some of the charm?

I also dream of a gorgeous 6 burner stove, oh how I'd bake the hell out of one of those babies!

If this were a 6 burner I would be in heaven!

Even the aprons I adore, I personally think they looked better and covered better, after all - isn't that their purpose anyway?

Obviously this kitchen of mine is still a dream, for now at least, but I do have some cute little knick knacks already stashed away waiting for the day when we have our very own place and I can go nuts in the kitchen! For an example (and one I'm very proud of) of my knick knacks, here's my salt and pepper shakers...well not my actual ones, but I have the exact same set :)

Aren't they adorable?

I know, I know, I'm making you all jealous so I won't put any more examples up or tell you how devilishly difficult it was to source them or the good deal I got on them when I did find them...Ok! You bent my arm! It was £15! How good was that?!

Anyway, I digress, my main point of this article is to ask if I should post more vintage recipes on here? What do you guys think? And also to tell you I have started another blog Vintage Daub to get some of my addiction out of my system. I hope that you go check it out and look out for the vintage kitchen paraphernalia reviews and tips!

Happy Baking!

Related articles

• WIAW 11.28.12 [Inspiration from Julia] (lifesabowl.com)
• Vintage ventures 3 (themuseumgirl.com)
• On Classics Of The Kitchen (alwaysyum.wordpress.com)
• Country Roads Christmas (cubbyholes.wordpress.com)
• vintage ornaments, love. (abiteast.typepad.com)

Wedding stress!

In all of the wedding cake, hope is the sweetest of plums

Douglas Jerrold

Ok, so I know I've been gone for...well quite a long time now and I do sincerely apologise for that.

One of the main reasons for this is we are now in the full throws of planning our wedding! When I returned to Israel after my holiday back to the U.K. we started sorting everything out so some things were put on 'the back burner' as we say.

From running around to the venue, photographers, Rabbi, wedding dress shop and trying to organise our friends who are coming from abroad it's been pandemonium here!

Now we have most things sorted, I can get back to baking and writing my blog :)

I've decided not to go with a wedding cake, firstly it's not that common here and secondly, I'm getting one for the U.K wedding so I won't complain, not every girl can say she's getting two weddings :D

What are your thoughts on wedding cakes? And what are some of your favourites? How big is too big for you?

Personally, I think if you have an oversized, or too many tiered, wedding cake it not only looks presumptuous but also...is it really practical? Not just for the baker to get it to the venue but also for you to do that dream 'first cutting of the cake'. I plan to have a smaller designed cake and then a sheet cake of the same sponge flavour to be served to the guests...that way no one misses out, it saves you money, and also - it can cut it easily and even smash it into your partners face if you fancy! :)

*Update* My, now husband, did this to me, but I managed to run away and then to smear it on his face - Girls -1 Boys - 0!

Here's a link to one of my favourites - http://www.perfect-wedding-day.com/image-files/hawaiian-wedding-cakes-1.jpg

Now I promise to add more posts and content in the coming days. If there is anything you want me to focus on, drop me a line!

Happy Baking!!

My favourite brownie recipe

Let's face it, a nice creamy chocolate cake does a lot for a lot of people; it does for me.

Audrey Hepburn

Who doesn't love a big, gooey (yep, I use this word a lot - I love it), chocolatey piece of brownie?
I'm certainly not one who can refuse it and one of my favourite things about brownies is if you cook it for slightly too long you still get a wonderful chocolate cake! Perfect.

I've written down here my favourite brownie recipe. Now this is sadly not one I created but unfortunately I don't remember where I found it so can't give credit. Also with this recipe it's easy to tinker with some of the ingredients, you can easily add more chocolate chips, add nuts or even fruit so you can really personalise it.

Ingredients:
185g butter/margarine
185g dark chocolate
85g plain flour
40g cocoa powder
50g white chocolate chips
50g milk chocolate chip
3 large eggs
275g caster sugar

Method:

1. Position your shelf to the middle of your oven. Preheat to 160c (fan assisted or 180c no fan).

2. Cut your butter/margarine into smallish cubes and put into a medium microwave safe bowl. Break your dark chocolate into small pieces and drop into the bowl with the butter.

3. Cover loosely with cling film and put in the microwave for 2 minutes on full power.

4. Leave mix to cool to room temperature.

5. Prepare your brownie tin with lining it with grease proof paper.

6. Break eggs into a large bowl and add the sugar. Whisk (on high-speed if using an electric whisk) until its thick and creamy. It should double in size.

7. Gently fold in the cooled chocolate butter mixture but go slow.

8. Now add the cocoa powder and flour (at the same time) by sieving and folding in.

9. Stir gently in the white and milk chocolate chips.

10. Pour into your prepared tin and cook for approx. 25 minutes or until the top has a shiny crust and the sides are pulling away.

Let me know how this turns out for you and what new yummy additions you make!

I'll be posting a gluten-free version in the next few days so stay tuned.

Happy baking!