The World of Siân

For the fantastic Mr Bus’ birthday we celebrated in style all weekend.  The proceedings started with coming home a day early so I was there to wake up with him on his birthday.  I brought him breakfast in bed while he opened his cards and presents. Unfortunately as where he works they don’t have flexible holidays (archaic if you ask me) he had to go off to work.  In the mean time I did some boring chores and then made his wonderful Despicable Me Birthday cake. Upon his return we had a spot of lunch and chill out before getting ready for our meal out in the evening.  We decided on booking a table at the Swan Hotel in Stafford as it had recently been renovated and the menu looked delightful.  The fantastic Mr Bus’ parents joined us for our meal, which was lovely.  We had a very warm welcome and they showed us to our table.  This was a great booth out of the way and we were pleased far from the hen party that was booked in that...

It only seems like the other week I was making Mr Bus the Campervan cake for his birthday.  This year I decided on a minion cake from Despicable Me.  Then a flash if inspiration hit me, this is what happened: Cake pops are incredibly hard to decorate.  I had done ones in the past with chocolate which were a nightmare, this time I used the proper candy melts, this was still tricky but I think might be improved with practice.  It also made me realise I need a proper cake pop stand!! To make Gru I used a pyrex bowl to bake the cake for his head and iced it, then baked a small round cake for his shoulders and iced that separately, fixing them in place with buttercream.  Not much is needed in the way of cake filling due to the icing as you don't want it too sweet.

I honestly can't believe that today is the last day of April!!!  Where on earth did that go?  My brain really can't comprehend that it is May tomorrow!!  I am going to try and blame this on the really late Easter that we had this year.  I have a feeling May is going to go just as quick especially with the bank holidays. Anyway... At the beginning of the year I started doing a 365 day photo challenge and I am pleased to say I have kept with it so far.  Generally this has been easy to accomplish, I did find it difficult when I was ill with the flu, because seriously who wants to be doing anything other than curling up under the duvet feeling sorry for yourself. but I did battle through. Here are some highlights of the past month: The Photo booth from JISC Digifest The developing drinks cabinet Cocktails with my Bestie Peacocks from Margam down my mum's street First Holiday/Mini Break of the year in New Quay Wales Easte...

Ok, I don’t tend to normally like to rant on here but there is one thing that really annoys me.  This is the latest trend by restaurants etc. to insist on serving your food on what is basically a chopping board!! I really don’t understand it at all, especially with foods that come with a sauce which in turn sees said sauce racing towards the edge of the board and then onto the table cloth and on occasion into your lap. I also think this way of eating is very unhygienic.  Foodstuffs and sauces can become engrained in the wood and difficult to remove, so do you truly ever have a clean board?  Also you wouldn’t catch me eating my main meal off a chopping board in the house.  There is a reason plates were invented and have been used for thousands of years and this is because it’s a result of progress. Call me a snob, call me what you will but I do not see how eating off a chopping board is the height of fine dining and sophistication.  Give m...

My word I can’t believe it is nearly the end of March and I haven’t done a blog post.  As it is March and St David’s day is Wales’ patron saint I thought I would do a little welsh blog. This year saw me making my very first batch of Welsh cakes.  If you have never had Welsh cakes then you’re missing out as they’re little pieces of heaven.  The good thing about welsh cakes is that each family has their own recipe which is passed down through the generations, but generally they are all the same. These are also sometimes called bakestones as they are cooked on a bakestone, which is a cast iron griddle about 1.5cm or more thick.  They are made using flour, sultanas (to preference), butter, sugar and sometimes with a little added spice or nutmeg.  These are served hot or cold with a dusting of sugar, they don’t need any other accompaniment as they are delicious on their own and perfect with a cup of tea.   Here are my lovely welsh ca...