Half term bliss

Ah, a week off. Normally I take advantage of all of the free time and fill my week with various journeys and visits. This time? I've done nothing. Squat.

I journeyed to Leicester - the city of....terrible architecture....interesting

characters....uh....hearty markets? John Lewis looks pretty swish..... I am struggling for positives.

No, I need to give the East Midlands a bit more credit. Yes, it was bombed during WW2. I get it. You had to rebuild quickly - forget efficiency. In terms of visual appeal - Leicester hasn't quite stolen my heart. I think I'm a Norfolk girl at heart now - much to my dismay.

Regardless of the lack of ocular inspiration, I did have the opportunity to find two haunts where I was more than impressed. Almedia Coffee and Juice Bar - found in the Lanes, and The Red Cow pub in the outskirts of the city. Both were surprisingly pleasing. I enjoyed the coffee, sitting on my own, living it up like a true city girl (or at least trying to).

Rich and I enjoyed a quiet afternoon in the cozy pub - we were meant to go for a walk, but the weather didn't cooperate, making it a few hours in the pub rather than a jolly jaunt in the rain.

Check out the Red Cow here.

Do I love the East Midlands? No. But can I live there? Sure. I'm going to have to learn to love the area. I've even gotten ahold of the old "Great Britain travel" book and am tabbing places I would like to visit in the area.

I'm sure there's some beauty in the area. I just need to find it.

Half term is looming....

The only thing that gets me through the week is knowing that I have a week off. I could use a break. This time of year seems to drag. Maybe it's the weather, maybe it's the outrageous amount of marking I have to do every night. Who knows.

What I have learned is that baking seems to make the world go round. I had to experiment tonight, as I didn't want the whole thing to go tits up when it's meant to count.

Cake pops...cake balls....what have you. These are the chocolate, there are also pink almond disasters in the fridge. I don't know what went wrong with the pink, but they look like a three year old made them. Perhaps I can opt for the cute, homemade ambiance?

They taste awesome. That's all that matters in the end...right? Tomorrow the girls at work are getting a taste. Then Friday I'm gifting them to my beloved for a belated Valentines day. He is taking me to the spa. I am baking. We both get exactly what we want.

xx

Macaroons!

Recently, I've been entertaining the idea of running away to get a job working in a pasticceria or Patisserie, depending on the country. The appeal of Novara, Sicily has always struck me a little more than Paris, but I don't think I'd complain with either option. Truth be told, I like my baking, and I'm pretty good. But I want to be better - what better way to learn than work in the place where the magic happens? Ah, if only we weren't governed by money. I'd so do it.

I've decided for this weeks Sunday baking I would take a stab at Macaroons. They looks gorgeous in the photos I've seen online, so I thought I could give it a go.

I was more than amused by the amount of sugar these bad boys take, so it's no wonder that I have the shakes (probably a diabetic coma) coming on after the amount of batter I've eaten.

I opted for a raspberry cream flavour. Managed to make very little mess, and was fairly pleased with my make-shift piping bag. First time is always scary....

Admittedly, I still haven't worked out the heat of my crappy little oven, so I did burn the first batch slightly. Overall, they aren't too shabby!! I'll let you know when the shakes stop!!