Friday 11 October 2013

Friday Bake - Sweet honey cake and some pretty strawberry pincushions

Hello lovelies. It has been a super duper busy week here with soooo much going on so both mind and body is really pleased that it is Friday. This week I wanted to bake something from this new book that I bought for a bargain last week. This National Trust book is crammed full of wonderful recipes, but my first choice was 'Buckland Abbey's Honey Cake'. I have never made honey cake before and to be honest I don't know why as I have always fancied the idea. I love honey and have many wonderful memories as a child eating fresh honey on fresh bread, yum!


Fortunately, I have also found the recipe on line, so you can use this link to get started right away. It is a REALLY easy cake to make and I can tell you that the entire cake was scoffed in record braking time. I have never quite seen anything like it in our house. The kids LOVED it and the visitors that dropped in all enjoyed it, so I think it is fair to say, it is a winner and will be made again VERY soon. The added mixed spice makes it the perfect cake for this time of the year, not only is it comforting, but also sends wonderful aroma's of honey and mixed spice wafting through the house.

 
 

I loved the shape and colour that the honey made, such a pretty flower. I adapted the cake to suit my be gluten and dairy free 'weirdness' (as my friends would say) by using Doves Gluten Free self raising flour and Pure Sunflower spread.
 

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 It is pretty much a case of throw and go and within minutes your cake will be ready to go in the oven.


Unfortunately there aren't many pics of the afters as it literally got scoffed in two shakes of a lambs tail. Always a good sign! Well there was a very blurred effort to grab a snap of the last piece going.




Earlier this week I met with three very close and special friends to celebrate a birthday and also to celebrate the fact that we could have our first lunch out without kids. It was a wonderful afternoon where we laughed, cried and just loved being in each others company. As a present I bought my friend Sarah Moore's Vintage Home book and for anyone interested in this book go and grab yourself a bargain as I have just seen it for sale for a great deal less at The Works, bad timing or what?!, grrr. Anyways to go with the book I made her one of my Scandi style tea towels and also a pretty little pincushion.



Recently I have been so inspired by all the pretty strawberry pincushions that are being swapped around blogland, that I just had to make some. They are so easy to make and for reference I used the instructions from one of my favourite ladies on YouTube 'The Gourmet Quilter', here is the link. I didn't follow it to the letter as I had an idea of what I wanted, but she is amazing and I just love here laid back attitude to sewing and quilting in general and I always find her tutorials really helpful.

 



This week I also harvested the last of our vegetables from our patch, meet bill and blob (sorry couldn't resist :-)).

 
 

This week I have done very little in way of crocheting or embroidery, I have largely worked on finishing off custom orders that was collected yesterday, but some of them involved a little crochet edging, so also joining in today with Chrissie and Marianne with their Crochet-A-Long, oops a day late sorry.
  



Before I go, a big and warm welcome my new readers, it is so lovely that you have decided to stop by and I look forward to getting to know you a little better. Also thank you to each and every one of you who leave such lovely comments and sorry that I haven't replied to any of them of late. I am finding it difficult to get around all your lovely blogs and also leaving messages here. I am sure life will resume a slightly less busy schedule after my stall at the end of November. I hope you all have a great weekend and I will pop in on Sunday with a little stitching.


Warm Wishes
Hannapat
xoxo


 

25 comments:

  1. Hannapat you're a bit of a wonder woman! That baking looks utterly delicious and those strawberry pincushions are so beautiful, as are the teatowels with the crochet edging. I'm always a fan of home grown veg. We spend the whole meal being smug whenever we use ours. We are nearly at the end too. I think there might be one or two courgettes and a handful of tomatoes left. xxx

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  2. Those crochet pillowcases are so lovely! its a definite on the infinitely long list of Things I Really Want To Do! The cake looks so tempting so going to have to try one sometime. You really have had a good productive week! Hope you have some time to sit back over the weekend. x

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  3. What a lovely post Hannapat - you have been so busily involved with so much! I will look up that cake recipe for it looks so yummy (love the pic of the honey in the bowl), and also cotton onto The Gourmet Quilter to see what else I can learn!!! Thanks so much for the links. Your crocheted borders are so neat and lovely and I love your little pin cushions. How lovely that you could meet with your dear friends and have such a sweet sharing time. Nice to meet Bill and Blob but I bet they've been devoured by now! Anyway, looking forward to Sunday and seeing your lovely stitching once again, and in the meantime I think you may need to be resting up a bit? Lots of love and warm hugs, Joy xoxo

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  4. My daughter absolutely adores honey and I'm sure would love your cake. I love your crocheted borders, so pretty :) xx

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  5. Well you can spend the weekend resting on your laurels - what lovely things you've made this week! I've been admiring all the strawberry pincushions, too, and yours are so cute! The tea towel edging is so so pretty! And the cake...I love honey, no wonder it was scoffed before you got many pics! Chrissie x

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  6. A post with lots and lots of lovely makes. Your crochet borders look fabulous, and what a mouthwatering cake, just perfect.
    luv
    irene
    xxxx

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  7. I am off to The Works this morning (despite a hangover) to find that book.
    The Honey Cake looks scrummy, but there is just me to eat cake, and I don't need to put on any more weight!!!!
    Thank you for such a lovely Blog.
    Hugs
    Cally x

    p.s. Went to Alexander Palace, Knitting & Stitching Show and only ate a Kit Kat all day. Then as soon as I got home, exhausted, I drank half a bottle of a lovely white wine. It just slipped down;0)

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  8. Oh so much eye candy with those delicious looking things & so many pretty creations. You are so clever. I hope you get a chance to catch your breath & regain some strength for all that lies ahead. I really owe you a catch up email.....hopefully I'll get onto that soon! Much Love. Xx

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  9. Yum, that cake sure sounds good!

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  10. I am making that cake tomorrow Hannapat - I am another honey lover (on hot crumpets with dripping butter - is there ANYTHING better?!) and I love an easy bake. I love your strawberry pin cushions - they are absolutely gorgeous.
    Glad you had such a lovely time with your friends - here's to lovely lunches without the kiddos (and with them sometimes too, of course!) x

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  11. Lots of loveliness in this post. I love cake, it's my weakness and that looks so good

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  12. The cake looks so yummy!! Love your strawberry pincushions! So sweet!! And, your crocheted edging is beautiful!! Wishing you a lovely and crafty weekend dearest! xo Heather

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  13. Hello my lovely Hannapat and once again you are just amazing. Your cake looks just gorgeous and I am definitely going to have a go at this one as we have some visitors this week. Let's know where and when your stall is so that I can if possible come and see you - would love to meet up and possibly but a thing or two.........You have a wonderful Sunday and don't overdo things will you - a fabulous post as always Hannapat, big hugs to you
    Dorothy
    :-)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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    1. Thanks Dorothy, you are too kind. It will be in our village, so it is nothing big, but I will give you the details if you wish. We will hopefully meet before then or after xoxo

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  14. Oh my! You have been busy with your absolutely gorgeous makes! Such a lovely post and I will definately look out for that Sarah Moore Book as I have her first book and there is a The Works very near to me... Thank you for a lovely post and wishing you a lovely weekend!
    Marianne x

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    1. Thanks lovely Marianne, you are so sweet. I didn't know she did an earlier book so off to have a look at that! xo

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  15. Hi Hannapat - I'm just dropping by quickly to say I made that yummy honey cake yesterday, and it is yummy mmmmm! And easy to eat as well as make!
    Love, Joy xoxo

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    1. I am so pleased to hear that Jo, we are all nagging to have it again over here, so it won't be long. My poor waist line! xo

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  16. Love your little pin cushions and that edging, wonderful.....please can we have a tutorial? I've a stash of vintage pillowcases needing the treatment! :) x

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  17. Ooh yummy, daai koek lyk rerig heerlik! Sounds like a lovely week you've had, and hope you're enjoying a relaxing weekend.
    Totsiens skattie,
    xx

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    1. Thanks skattie, it was sommer baie lekker! xx

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  18. Wow honey cake. My mother made this when we were small during the winter months as a snack for us when we ce home from school. I could smell it as I neared the door delighted there was such a treat. It looked exactly like yours too so it must have been the same recipe. I've been looking for it for years. My mum lost hers and my husband loves it and often asked me to make some. Thanks sooo much for that link!!
    Rosie xxx

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  19. Just to let you know that I can't get into your latest post lovely Hannapat - I don't know what's happened but I'm being told that the page doesn't exist!!!! Nasty computers, always up to tricks!
    Much love, Joy xoxo

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  20. That cakes looks super yummy and your crocheted border are so sweet, such lovely pillow cases the strawberries are really cute too, I think they would make great lovely Christmas tree decorations. Thanks for the lovely comment you left on my blog, I will look into the things you recommended, have a good week.
    Clare xx

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