Hooray - we have finally made it to Christmas week!!! With the Christmas preparations seeming to start earlier and earlier each year (Christmas carols in the shops in September!!??), the build-up and anticipation towards The Big Day grows to such a level that sometimes Christmas can be an anti-climax when it finally arrives. 

Andalusian Yorkshire Puddings

Today I’m feeling a bit like… meh. I am so extremely exhausted that, after different attempts from my inner me asking for a break (including a cold and a terrible sciatica) I believe my body has turned the standby mode on.

Since November I literally haven’t stopped. I even believe that at some point someone implanted 2 additional arms below the two I currently have. I have jammed, labelled, wrapped and posted more than 4000 tiny pots of jam and marmalade and more than 500 Christmas Crackers. I have been featured in Vogue as the 3rd most recommended gifts this year. I have received 2 awards. I have taken part in a Secret Santa, been a Sheppard in a nativity, gone to the cinema with the boys to see Paddington, set up my stunning Christmas tree, taken piano lessons, sent lots of Christmas cards, cooked for the family, went to work every day, attended a proper British Christmas lunch hosted by Rachael and her amazing husband… being here and there. And I have enjoyed. And I have had so much fun. And I am knackered. And my husband too… bless him.

Last Minute Christmas Cake

Christmas is coming, and with it a barrage of Christmas food and drink that we don’t have the opportunity to enjoy the rest of the year. Christmas cake, mince pies with cream, mulled wine and lashings and lashings of chocolate. There is something about the Christmas period that means we can indulge in the in the rich, generous helpings that are on offer and not feel guilty about it!

Christmas is also a time to share these festive treats with your family and friends. For me, there is nothing better than watching those you care about eating something you have taken time to prepare for them. Although, this can mean a lot of work in the lead up to Christmas, which can be hard to fit in with all the increased socialising that goes on this time of year.

Today I would like to introduce you a really beloved friend of mine: Rachael. She’s intelligent, amazingly clever and an incredible baker who has prepared this week’s recipe for me. Literally for me, as I'm eating it as I type.

Sushi Sandwich Rolls

Last week I decided I should start doing some sport again.

For the last 2 years I’ve been training with a senior basketball team. I reckon it was classed as senior just because of me, as none of the other players were older than 21. So literally it was a bit of “is this granny in shorts running around the court completely nuts?”. I wouldn’t say I had a bad time with the team, the girls were great, but the team stopped training last summer. Then I started to run, but I didn’t go too far (LOL). And I even tried with a boot camp, but it didn’t meet my expectations. So after an exercise strike, last week I decided to give my poor body another go.

Bacon & Date Skewers

Tapas is a very Spanish way of eating by grabbing a bite here and there. The tapas concept seems to fill British taste buds with excitement. The problem is the misinterpretation of the concept tapas, which seems to have evolved into the following: Tapas; a really small version of a pseudo-Spanish dish for which you will pay twice the amount the full plate will cost.

It really looks like Chinese whispers to me. When travelling from Spain to the UK a simple, plain, straightforward concept has been turned upside down?

Madeleines or Earl Grey Biscuits

Hello.

Today I would like to talk with you. You, who are in the street, at home, on the bus, in the park, having a coffee, in a break, in the loo, waiting for someone, snuggling in your bed before falling asleep. With you, who are in the UK, in Spain, in America, in Australia, in Japan, in France. With you, who every Friday wait for our recipe, who receive our emails, who have just found us by accident, who only look at the pictures. To all of you who are there, looking through this peep-hole that is the Internet, enjoying with my recipes, laughing at my crazy stories, being a silent part of my life.

Today, I would like to talk too with those of you that find this blog quite boring, who think that the recipes are so-so, that the pictures are just ish.

Frankfurters & Apple Muffins

Lunch time in an office is one of the most interesting moments to take part in from an anthropological point of view. You can learn a lot from people by looking at their eating habits.

From my experience over quite a few years in different office environments, I would say that there are 6 types of people:

Custard Apple Cake

During my “pre-children” life I had a perfectly formed Idea of the kind of mum I was going to be, the kind of things I was going to do and it was crystal clear how confused and wrong the other parents were with their children. It seemed so easy to bring up the other people’s kids.

 

When my big son was born, I spent the first three months of his life debating whether or not I should put him in his crib. I had heard so many scary things about co-sleeping and I was so pushed not to do it by everyone that I felt I was doing something really horrible to my baby. And it was such a shock to realize that it was me who was confused and wrong.

All things Cake at BBC Show London

It has been a long, long week. Last Friday, after a hectic few days jamming, canning, labelling, preparing and with very little sleep, I packed up and set out  to the BBC Good Food Cakes & Bakes Show in London.

Amazingly good French cakes - By Babelle Cakes

The car couldn’t have been more full. After weeks of endless “to do lists”, “to take with us lists”, “not to forget lists”, we managed to fit everything in. I really thought it was going to conk out in the middle of the M5.

Portobello Mushrooms

We have inherited a piano. Well, it is not a proper inheritance. Is a temporary inheritance.

Our neighbours next door have moved house. They had a piano. He had a piano, but it was she who used to play it. And their lovely boy. 

They have moved and we miss them. It was nice to have such a great people living next door. And their cat, who used to welcome me home from work every day. Their cat  name is Tiberius, now you can guess the kind of amazing people they are.

Oreo Truffles

I feel cheated. Are they taking the mickey? They should be. They certainly are.

This week is "National Chocolate Week". Smile, you are on camera.

Seriously?? 

Does anybody in his right mind need such a simple and stupid excuse to eat chocolate? That’s insulting. My intelligence feels underestimated. Yes, it´s true, I eat LOTS of chocolate. But I'm not dumb. In fact, a recent research from Columbia University suggested regular cocoa intake led to improved mental function. I should be extremely intelligent then.

Crunchy Courgette Bites

If you really really really want to piss me off, arrange an appointment for me with the dentist.

No offense, but I'm pretty sure dentist have a deep and hidden need of tormenting the others. I would even dare to say that there is something evil in them. That in reality, they enjoy being dentists.

Because, OK, having a toothache is not nice at all. But why do they insist on making things even worse?

First Anniversary!

One year.

That is 365 days. 8760 hours. 525600 minutes.

56 recipes. More than 11,000 visitors to our blog and website. Around 9,000 pots sold. Hours and hours of hard work, but also laughs and great times.

When I first started this blog I was so worried about putting my words out there for anyone to see. I probably spent over two hours on my very first post… which is hilarious because it isn’t even really a “post.”

Then, every week has been a new challenge. Something I was sure about is that I didn’t want to cook typical dishes, or recipes copied from somewhere else. I wanted to create, to innovate, to design and prepare my own recipes. But the more you seek inspiration, the more amazing recipes you find out there. Like the crinckle cookies recipe, which was truly a challenge that ended up as a success and one of the most popular recipes on this blog.

Veggie Halloumi Moussaka

Quite a lot of times some of you have asked me where do I get the ideas from. Well, now this blog is about to be 1 year old I’ll make a confession: I spend the whole day thinking about food. As soon as I’m out of bed I start wondering what I’m going to have for breakfast.

A good coffee, freshly squeezed orange juice and a warm croissant with melted butter is my idea of a perfect one. However, since I need to be off to work at 6.30, I hardly have more than a couple of bites of toast and some milk.

Then I start thinking about lunchtime, how long it  will it take until midday, what I will have, when, with who. Lunching with my peeps is definitely the best thing of my job. After having my lunch I start thinking in the amazing snack I’m going to prepare for my boys after school. And then I check what is available in the fridge and what I am going to cook for dinner. After that I just keep on thinking about food until I’m in bed where, to be perfectly honest I quite often dream about food.

Tiramisu

Things are getting out of hand.

The whole marmalade thing is really affecting me. It is affecting my husband. It is even affecting my neighbours.

But even more worrying... I believe it is deeply affecting my sons.

While I'm writing this they are playing... how to express this... well, they are playing jam-battle. Literally they are playing a game where one of them shoots jam at the other one, then the first one does a somersault, and then the first one in getting up again wins. Eek.

Strawberry & Nectarine Sangria

The last few weeks have been completely hectic. Not that I don't like the buzzing feeling, but this week I feel I just need to sit down and share some of the news here in marmalade land. Or maybe I just need to sit down. Oh sofa, I miss you so much!

Anyway…  As you know, we are now selling our jams through some new amazing stockists, including Not On The High Street, one of the coolest online market places of all times. This is keeping us reeeeeally busy, with new customers all around the UK and Europe.

Amazingly, we have made it through to the Semi-Finals of the NatWest Venus Awards Devon 2014 in the category of Green Business Award. This is probably because we are deeply committed to people and the environment: all our ingredients come from sustainable, respectful, Fairtrade and responsible sources. We invest in our community buying from local producers, farmers and shops across Devon and Cornwall. All our jars come from recycled glass and all our boxes, paper and packaging are recycled or come from FSC certified companies.

Custard Egg Tarts

My 4-and-a-half year old is starting primary school this week. No matter how much I have prepared myself, I still feel like I'm not ready.

In a few days he will be a big boy. Dressed up in his brand new uniform, feeling excited and nervous. And I’ll spend the whole day thinking about what he’s doing, what he’s thinking, if he’s ok, if he’s eating his lunch, if he misses me and his dad and his brother.

He’s dreaming about being an inventor, a pilot, a scientific. Just 4 years old and he’s interested in electricity, DNA codes, machinery. He’s a clever, patient, intelligent, generous boy.

Roast Beetroot, Ricotta & Pastrami Roulade

I'm sorry.

Please, accept my apologies, I misjudged you.

All these years I kept you away from me. I declined, in a very polite way. I thought I was doing the right thing. But now I can see that was a big mistake. Sorry, beetroot. Forgive me for ignoring you, bypassing your existence, even (this is embarrassing) encouraging others to do the same. Apologies for being a hater. A massive one.

Gooseberry & Mackerel Ceviche

Luck. This is the word I've been hearing the most over the last few weeks. 

How lucky you are. How jammy can you get. You was born under a lucky star. You always come up smelling of roses. 

And I indeed feel fortunate. But to be honest, I know little or nothing about luck. I've never relied on it and I’m afraid of people who do.

So that’s it. I don’t believe in luck. I believe in hard work and in being ready to take advantage of opportunity. To overcome the bad times

Currants and Clotted Cream Parcels

What would the house of your dreams look like? That was the title of a post from a blog I follow. I’m afraid the text is in Spanish, but in summary the author poses the question and then talks about how probably most of the readers would imagine all sort of houses: big expensive houses with huge gardens and a heated pool, great cottages with loads of land, small cosy modern lofts… But all of them will have something in common: all of them will be feasible, doable and buildable in the real world.

I need to admit I imagined the house of my dreams. And it was pretty feasible (in a world where all money is available). Not too large, detached house, with 4 or 5 bedrooms, the top one being dormered, a huge kitchen with masses of cupboards, drawers and storage systems, pans and pots hanging on the ceiling, two ovens, an AGA kitchen and of course a Kitchen Aid!!!!!!  And I would kill for a cherry pit remover machine. There will be hidden corridors, passages and trap doors with slides and intricate stairs throughout the inner house. It would also have a great garden with all sort of flowers and a huge tree house on an ancient tree. There will be lots of windows with all sort of shapes everywhere. And a wooden mailbox. 

Honey Glazed Aubergine & Bresaola Rolls

I don’t normally pay attention to the things I read on Facebook. I mean, not the things my friends write (I read all of this, I promise!!) but not the spam-like things.

But last week something really hit me.

“It's a terrible thing, I think, in life to wait until you're ready. I have this feeling now that actually no one is ever ready to do anything. There's almost no such thing as ready. There's only now. And you may as well do it now. I mean, I say that confidently as if I'm about to go bungee jumping or something--I'm not. I'm not a crazed risk taker. But I do think that, generally speaking, now is as good a time as any.”

Banana, White Chocolate & Honeycomb Strudel

If there is something that I find absolutely amazing about the British culture is their rooted recycling  and DIY culture. Maybe this ‘make do and mend’ attitude stems from the abrupt change in economic circumstances recently seen worldwide. In Spain it seems that people live in a throwaway society: if something is not brand new, then is not worthy of being used. In fact, things are thrown away just because they are not brand new. Even if they’re still working. It is a bit of “lest somebody think I cannot afford it”. Another good example of our lack-of-lessons-learnt attitude. The stuff we buy has become cheaper and cheaper over the last years and now retailers can sell clothes cheaper than a loaf of bread. This reduction in price has led to a devaluation of how we see and feel about the things we have. Why to bother mending a t-shirt if we can get a brand new one for £3. Even if we are aware of where all this cheap stuff is made and come from. Overconsumption at any cost.

I absolutely love the make-the-most-of-the-stuff culture. Make Do and Mend came about when clothes rationing was introduced during the Second World War. You can read more about this here.

Potato, Chorizo and Onion Spanish Frittata

My husband and I are meant for each other. Together we make an incredibly good team. And this is because we are completely different.

I am organized, thorough and tenacious. He is untidy, forgetful and unfocused. On the other side, I’m impulsive, passionate and a bit flighty. He is reflective,  a perfectionist and meticulous.

We balance each other, he makes me slow down when I’m at full gallop and I encourage him when he’s feeling indecisive. And it has been like that for the last 13 years.

Being different has lots of advantages when managing a household. He’s the best bathroom cleaner and I’m amazing at arranging meals. 

But, we have a problem with our stuff. I’m a chartered member of the just-enough-rubbish brigade and my husband has a serious case of Diogenes Syndrome, or better known as let's-keep-it-just-in-case disease.

Cauliflower, Pistachio and Wild Mushrooms Soup

Something I have always wanted to do is go camping. 

I never went on a camping trip when I was a child, and since then I have wanted to put that idea into fruition. This is why ages ago I gave a camping tent to my husband for his birthday. A camping tent we sold brand new when we left Spain, as we never used it. Failed present. Eek.

Since I live in the South West I have been giving the idea of camping more thought. But every time I proposed it, the never-ending list of stuff to buy and prepare ended up deflating us. Camping tent, sleeping bags and rugs, rucksacks, lanterns, air pump, water jugs, thermos, stove, matches, plates & bowls, folding table and chairs, compass, whistle, candles… the camping gear needed to survive out in the open is never ending. Not to mention all the hassle of packing up, setting up, dismantling and packing up again with 2 toddlers running around and rummaging in the other camper’s picnic baskets. Hey Yogi! Yes, Boo Boo? Just by imagining the picture I start to feel stressed.

Dark Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Things won’t change unless we change them. Sometimes it is so tempting not to get into trouble and leave things that are unfair, as they are. Sometimes we even do ourselves a disservice as long as we stay in our comfort zone. A full-of-rubbish comfort zone. Warm and well known rubbish that pushes us down. “Not that bad” rubbish that don’t allow us to breath. Stinking rubbish we have got so used to that it seems better to stay there just in case we get brand new rubbish that is even worse. The status quo is so much easier to deal with, we know it and are used to it – it is the easy option.

Sometimes we are so covered by rubbish we are not even able to see above it, believing this is the only way to be.

Meringued Milk

Is the glass half full or half empty?

The optimist says the glass is half full.

The pessimist says the glass is half empty.

The realist says the glass contains half the required amount of liquid for it not to overflow.

Luscious Avocado Cheesecake

This week I have made a mistake. You know when you do something so absolutely silly that you cannot believe you have really done it?

That’s me. I normally do silly things. But they are the kind of things you laugh about. Like not coming in to work on Friday because someone told you to have a lovely weekend the previous evening. Or putting sun cream in my toothbrush. Or eating a spider.

I wish that was the case – but not this time.

Gazpacho Andaluz - Chilled Tomato Soup

Summer is just around the corner. This corner the next street. Maybe a couple of streets ahead. Just a few miles driving from here.

Anyway, I really love summer. It is my favourite DAY of the year.

Where has the summer gone? It is rainy, windy and cold.

But I have started my very own battle against bad weather. Tank top and flip-flops on. Beach boys out loud. Dinner on the patio.

Why over this year every month seems to be the wettest since records began?

Gorgonzola Cheese, Pear and Basil Macaroni

Being sporty is not easy. No matter how addictive it could be and how well you feel afterwards. It is easy to be persuaded by your lazy side and surrender to the charms of a luscious millionaire shortbread.

And my lazy side can be stunningly persuading.

This I why I have decided to seek some help and professional advice. And I have joined a boot camp. Well, I haven’t joined it yet, but I have gone to two “taster sessions” encouraged for picture of those American camps, where a well-built ex-military yells without an iota of compassion to a flock of fleshy people sweating and asking for more.

What a disappointment.

Heavenly Pudding

I've been debating for several weeks now on whether I would share something so deeply personal. But I have decided to. I need to. 

I can’t believe it’s been a year. A whole year since my dad lost his fight against cancer. The pain has subsided just a bit over this time, especially knowing that he isn’t suffering anymore. No more shitty chemo. No more drugs. No more being an invalid. And that’s good because my dad hated being dependent on anyone.

My dad and I have always been extremely close. I would say nobody in the whole earth has loved me that much. We understood each other like no one else, probably because we were so much alike.  Both hard working, creative, slightly opinionated and very stubborn.

Honey Mustard Roast Chicken

For the past two years I have attempted to learn to knit. Apparently knitting can be super fun and addictive (should I start worrying about myself starting addictive but painful or frustrating activities?).

Anyway, I have tried and tried to knit quite a few times in my life. Lots of different people with much more advanced knitting skills (and with lots of patience) have unsuccessfully tried to show me how to knit properly. Is it possible that  some of us just aren't wired right? 

However, as you already know, I rarely give up. Some months ago I joined a knitting club in my lunch break (in my real work lunch break). Knitting is one of those things I love to do but I’m sadly unable to. Some people have what it takes, and some don’t. And there is nothing we can do about it.

Seriously Indulgent Rocky Road

I have started to jog. Ok, ok, it has been just three times so far, but I feel like a new person. A fit, healthy and at the verge of collapse, muscular person.

The first day I run for about 20 minutes with 3 stops to recuperate. The second day I ran 20 minutes nonstop. Yesterday I ran 30 long minutes.

When I told to my friends I was going to run they said it was going to be great, maybe a bit tough the first few days but much better after that and almost addictive if I managed to run for a month or so.

Devon Asparagus, Cured Ham and Poached Duck Egg

If you are what you eat I should be a completely different person now. And that’s because since I moved to the UK my diet has changed A LOT.

Some years ago I would have bet that Brits’ diet was reduced to toasts, eggs, bacon and baked beans, and although it is true that some people wouldn't eat anything that has not come out of a can, I won’t tar everyone with the same brush.

So I will eat humble pie and admit I was swayed by stereotypes, because there is a lot of amazing food I have discovered here and without which I wouldn't be able to live. Food in the UK is amazing and trifle is the proof of the pudding. Holy Mackerel, they know how to cook a dish fit for the gods.

After Eight Meringues

Thursday. 17.30. Long day and empty stomach. You are driving back home in no mood to cook. That fried chicken place is too tempting. Let’s do it. This will save you some time, doesn’t it? Maxi chicken combo. Big drink. Extra big fries. Slow traffic. Why not to devour it right there in the driver’s seat. Crumbs on your trousers. Ketchup stains on your shirt. Feeling a bit bloated and greasy you arrive home. Disgusted with yourself. 

Saturday. 15.30. Sofa and food magazine. Gorgeous recipe in page number 16. Let’s do it. Relaxed visit to the grocery picking delicious ingredients. Apron on. Music on. Fresh air through the open window. Steering with a wooden spoon. Try a bit. Taste delicious. Nice table and cloth napkins. Glass of wine. Laughs. Long interesting conversation with you both feeling full and pretty happy.

Guacamole in a Boat

My 4 year old child is going through a difficult stage. He feels upset. Very cross. Displeased in general with the world, with how life is set up. And the most frustrating thing is that I cannot do absolutely anything to change that, apart from being supportive and loving when he needs it. Because what he wants is to be with us the whole day. With no school, nor work or responsibilities.

And that's not possible. And he knows is not. But that's not enough. He feels it's not fair. And to be completely honest with you, me neither. 

I don't like how the world works.

Butternut Squash, Bacon & Marshmallows Pie

How wonderful to be on holidays is. Nothing to do. Nothing to think about. Just relax and have fun. 

After a week off I would normally need a couple of days to recover from the holidays. This time I reckon I'm going to need some more.

Travelling with two children is amazingly enriching but also absolutely exhausting. We've been in Madrid, where we used to live, visiting friends and family and going to the places we used to go.

Apple & Cinnamon Straws

This week I have been feeling a bit crummy. This is something I am not really used to.

And I must confess I cannot stand it. Feeling sick, looking sick, not being able to do what you want to do or even what you need to do is something that overwhelms me. 

I try to use all sort of strategies to let my body know that it must get well as fast as it can. I try to carry on trying not to be bothered by the faintness. I try to convince myself: you are not ill. You are definitely not ill. Like a mantra.

Baked Cannelloni Cake

It is amazing how powerful words can be. How meaningless ideas floating in the depths of our mind suddenly seem to fit together and make sense.

This is something that doesn't happens too often, and maybe just because of this, when it happens, it’s like a breath of fresh air that makes us feel a bit wiser and slightly older too.

In my case, the trigger is usually something I hear or see. Whether it's a song, someone else’s conversation (yes, it’s something I cannot help, especially if it seems interesting!), a suggestive image or a mundane scene.

Chocolate Chip Cookie In a Cup

This week I have been unable to think about anything else but cakes. And muffins. And macarons. And icings, frostings, sprinkles, chocolate, fillings. And my sugar levels had gone through the roof.

A couple of weeks ago I received an amazing email. I was invited to join one of the sweetest and most extravagant cake events that has been ever held: The Big Cake Show. It was only a week before and I had lots and lots to prepare. I started working like mad, and I involved almost anyone who was around in cutting, peeling, labeling, sticking and packing. Family and friends worked really hard to make The Tiny Marmalade stall look amazing (special thanks to Fran, Isa, Ana, Cecile, Juanma and of course my unconditional other half!). And I must admit it was exhausting… More than 700 tiny jars canned in just 4 days. A burn on my arm. A lot less hair. An average of 3 hours sleep per day. Tons of chocolate. Litres of tea. A bit of sobbing and weeping. A lot of fun and hysterics.

Roasted Pears with Cottage Cheese, Raspberries and Dark Chocolate

I’m sure most of you would have already realized I’m an oven cooking fanatic. Magic things happen in an oven. Food can changes its colour, taste, appearance, texture. Food can raises, melts, gets soft or crunchy.  

When I cook I feel like a scientist. Because cooking is all about chemistry. Quantities, temperatures, times. I love to try out new things and watch what’s going on inside the oven sat in the kitchen floor. Enjoying with the roasted aroma getting stronger while the oven heat keeps me warm and cosy.

We normally do our weekly shopping over the weekend. That means me running through the aisles chasing 2 toddlers while pushing a really heavy trolley in a busy supermarket. But even so, I must admit I love to do my grocery shopping. I have an awkward obsession when I’m in a supermarket.

King Prawns, Emmental and Avocado Pasties

Can you believe it’s 21^st March already?!?

The weather has been so amazingly warm lately, so we had an incredibly busy weekend last week: playing in the park, riding our bikes, walking across the river side, enjoying the sunshine and the summer-like days. Making dinner wasn't so much of a priority.

Have I mentioned before that I love pastries? Yes? Well, I'll say it again. I love pastries! So quick and easy to make, can be filled with almost anything, you can prepare them in advance and then eat them any time. Or you can fill them, put them in the freezer and cook straight from frozen!

And they don’t need to be unhealthy. Everything depends on what you put inside.

Goat Cheese Balls with Tomato Jam and Poppy Seeds

Since I moved to the UK I have been thinking about all the people that have been part of my life. People that used to play a really important role in a particular moment, but whose presence gets blurred with time. Or the most unexpected encounters that stay with you through the test of time.

Apricot and Ginger Trifle

I have been asked several times why are we so keen in supporting Faritrade.

Fairtrade is a simple yet incredibly important idea – it’s all about giving the people who produce the things you buy a fair price for their work. This may seem obvious, but lots of people in have to sell their goods at prices so low that they can’t make a decent living. Often, only a tiny bit of the money you pay for something goes to the person who actually made it.  This happens a lot when we import things from poorer countries. But is also happening more and more to our own farmers and producers, as markets are getting extremely competitive.

French Toast Rollups

This week I've faced one of my most big fears.

It was half term and we went with the kids to Crealy Adventure Park. It is a great place to be, riding in the wonderful merry go round, visiting the rabbits and the goats, playing in the gardens.

But then suddenly, all that fun stops when you get into the indoor play area. There, surrounded by harmless ball pools, loud mouthed children, smelly dirty socks, and soft drinks, the most high, superfast and scariest slide ever can be found: the Red Devil Drop Slide.

Popcorn Lollipops

Last weekend, my 4 years old decided he wanted to make a machine. He was absolutely committed to it. He spent three days designing the superstructure, planning how the inner mechanism was going to work and how we should ensemble each piece. And he did a list of which materials we were going to need.

He has been completely excited about it the whole week. We had to put all the designs in a poly pocket to avoid biscuits, milk or chocolate stains causing a major incident. And he has left them  in a "super secure place" whilst in school so nobody can copy or steal anything.

He has had lunch with them, slept with them and you won’t believe how tricky it was to make him understand that it was not possible to go into the bath with them.

Butternut Squash, Cinnamon and Condensed Milk Pie

We all want to be normal. To be accepted. To reach a certain number of milestones in our life that will make our relatives feel proud of us. Since we were born, there are lots of people around us setting up plans for our entire life. Telling us what to do, and what not to do. And convincing us that the dreams we are following are genuinely ours.

This aim to make us seem all the same starts frustrating us when we are kids; making us feel angry and misunderstood later; and ends up with us becoming grey, sad, unsatisfied, normal adults in a permanent seek of happiness. This happens because the human being has an innate need to shine that is continuously dampened.

Root Vegetables and Red Kidney Beans Pie with White Wine Sauce

Drizzle, pour, shower, rainfall, rainstorm, flood, mist. There are around 30 synonyms of rain in the dictionary. And just 2 antonyms.

According to the Met Office, it has been the wettest January since records began in 1910.

WOW. That´s a lot of time. One drizzle day. One stormy day. One rainy day. And that's the pattern. Are we living in a never-ending weather forecast loop?

Cured Ham, Spinach and Parmesan Croquettes

Last week I wrote about happiness. This week is the turn to love.

 Valentines is around the corner and everyone seems to be a little bit more happy. Or maybe it is because January is almost over, and let’s be honest, it is not the best of months. And yes, I agree. Valentines was invented by the big brands just to give us another excuse to spend our money. It is such a post-Christmas overspending withdrawal syndrome.  But leaving the consumerism aside, Valentines give us the chance to give and receive love.

Hazelnut Coated Eggs with Oven Roasted Bacon Rashers

How difficult is sometimes to guess what our heart is trying to tell us. Quite often our lives are too busy trying to meet all those obligations we have, in most cases, self-imposed.

Tasks that quite often we are not keen to do. That doesn't make us happier. That steal our time to do what we really would like.

Ladyfingers or Soletilla Cakes

This week I have something exciting to tell you. Is not a jam related thing. Is not even a food related thing. But it´s so exciting I really need to share it with you.

We have a donkey!!!

Yes, a donkey, a real brown, furry, gentle and adorable donkey. His name is Star and we were visiting him last weekend.