Home2018 December

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!
Comments : 1 Posted in : Bereavement, Occasions, Travel, Updates on by : rachgriff@hotmail.com

This time last year I was saying goodbye to the worst year of my life.  2017 was indeed our ‘annus horribilis’, the year we lost the irreplaceable Greg.  Yet I remember feeling thankful as the clock struck midnight.  Thankful for the legacy Greg had left.  Through the worst of times, I’d actually seen the best
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Christmas Coffee Gift Ideas

Christmas Coffee Gift Ideas
Posted in : Christmas, Coffee, Coffee Shops, Courses, Speciality Coffee on by : rachgriff@hotmail.com

With Christmas just a week away, here are some gift ideas for the coffee lovers in your life. First up is Christmas coffee itself!  Lots of coffee roasters prepare Christmas blends for the festive season.  A couple that I’m currently sampling are from ‘Union Coffees Christmas Blend’ (this coffee has notes of cranberry, clementine and
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Candy Cane Cupcakes

Candy Cane Cupcakes
Posted in : Christmas, Cupcakes, Recipes on by : rachgriff@hotmail.com

These simple Candy Cane Cupcakes are a real showstopper.  Once again I have used my ‘Very Vanilla Cupcakes’ recipe (posted 25.05.17) for the sponge cakes and I’ve topped them with peppermint frosting. To make enough frosting to decorate 12 cupcakes, combine 50g unsalted butter, 100g full fat cream cheese, 300g icing sugar and 1 tsp
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Grinch Cupcakes

Grinch Cupcakes
Posted in : Christmas, Cupcakes, Recipes on by : rachgriff@hotmail.com

Yet again my vanilla cupcakes prove very versatile!  To make a simple ‘Grinch’ cupcake, add green food gel (I used ‘AmeriColor Electric Green’) to the frosting and use a Wilton 1A piping nozzle to give a swirly effect.  Top with the Grinch’s tiny (sugar paste) heart!  Perfect for any fans of the Grinch 🙂 ***Recipe
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Hot G&T

Hot G&T
Posted in : Christmas, Gin, Recipes, Trends on by : rachgriff@hotmail.com

In past times people would sip their gins hot to keep the chill away. Sipsmith have revisited this old tradition, to give a tasty alternative to mulled wine. To create this hot, fruity winter treat, mix 50ml of Sipsmith Gin with 25ml of tonic syrup. Stir well, top up with hot water and garnish with
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Festive Gins

Festive Gins
Posted in : Christmas, Gin on by : rachgriff@hotmail.com

Last Saturday I hosted a Festive Gin night!  This was the night when myself & my Gin Bestie Hayley sampled Christmas themed Gins and paired them with Gin themed foods!  I’m sure this will become an annual event! First on the menu was ‘Yuletide Gin’ by ‘That Boutique-y Gin Company’.  This is a dry style
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Festive Rocky Road

Festive Rocky Road
Posted in : Chocolate, Christmas, Recipes, Traybakes on by : rachgriff@hotmail.com

One of my favourite recipes this year was my “Easter Rocky Road’!  It was extremely moreish!  I’ve tweaked the recipe slightly, by swopping rich tea for ginger biscuits and the mini eggs for Christmas M&Ms and Maltesers Reindeer, to give it a festive twist! Ingredients 200g dark chocolate 200g milk chocolate 50g butter 1 tbsp
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