Monday 8 July 2013

a baker's dozen.


Last Thursday I ventured up to Harrogate where I attended a cookery course at the Betty's Cookery School! Mama Wynn had previously been to a Christmas course and had waxed lyrically about how great it was and so I decided to join her on 'Bread making for Beginners'. 

For any of you who aren't familiar with Betty's, they are a family owned company located in North & West Yorkshire, originally set up by Frederick Belmont, a Swiss confectioner, in 1919. Betty's cafés, which are located in York, Harrogate, Ilkley and North Allerton, have always been a favourite place of mine to visit for tea and lunch and I always make sure that I take anybody who is visiting me to experience the delightfully quaint atmosphere and delicacies.

As well as being a café and a bakery, Betty's also have a cookery school, where you too can learn the secrets behind the infamous Swiss sticks, Yorkshire cobbles and a mouth-watering plethora of cakes.
As soon as we arrived at the cookery school, we were given freshly baked croissants and Betty's tea to kick start our carbolicious day. 



We were given a demonstration by the Betty's Bakers, Mark & Michael, complete with scientific explanations of why we leave the yeast to ferment and the reasons behind 'proving' the dough. 

My Yorkshire Cobble dough ready to be kneaded into shape!
Over the course of the day we made a Yorkshire Cobble which is a white flour loaf, decorated so that it looks like the cobbled streets of York (see below), a Swiss Stick, a Swiss Fitness loaf (with a variety of seeds) and some mixed white/wholemeal rolls. 

We came home with a few more than a baker's dozen!

We had a beautiful lunch made for us and it was a truly lovely day. I would thoroughly recommend the course as a gift for somebody or just as something different to do if you get a free day in the week.

You can peruse the programme of courses and book here: http://www.bettyscookeryschool.co.uk

I think sometimes, due to the hustle and bustle of daily life, we forget about simple pleasures like making a loaf of bread. It also tastes a darn sight better than a shop-bought sliced loaf!

I'm a Cobble convert that's for sure!

I hope you've all had a productive start to this glorious week,
Catch you soon,

Ess Double You x


Thursday 4 July 2013

Glastonbury Festival: A Land of Dreams

Last week I went to what I can only describe as the land of dreams: Glastonbury Festival. It was my first time at Glasto and what a weekend it was! People have told me it is the best festival in Europe, even the best in the World (!) and I definitely would not dispute those tall claims. It has a superb atmosphere with festival goers ranging from young families to students to ageing rockers. This year the ageing rockers of course included The Rolling Stones, who I have to say were phenomenal. Other highlights include The Arctic Monkeys, Haim, Jessie Ware, Tom Odell and Mumford & Sons....not to say everybody else I saw wasn't amazing too.

Here are a few snaps I took whilst rambling around the site....
Scene from The Park
Viewing Platform in The Park
Rum Shack!



Day 1 Outfit: My trusty festival tie-dye dress from All Saints, Trainers: Topshop, Socks: Topshop, Sunglasses: Ray Ban Wayfarer, Headband: Borrowed Necklace: Borrowed.




Day 2 Outfit: Tie-dye dress: Topshop, Headscarf: Vintage, Tote bag: Vintage (Paris), Sunglasses: as before, Socks: Topshop.

Unfortunately they are all the photos I have from Glastonbury but I'm waiting on my disposable to be developed and so I will be sure to share any good'uns with you once I get that back! 

Before I go I must just share one last photo with you which we thought to be a million dollar photo when it was being taken, only to be severely disappointed. As I said before, Glastonbury festival is a land of dreams. However, we thought one of the biggest dreams had come true on the Friday night when we believed to have met Daft Punk. Yes, I repeat, Daft Punk. Now if you look at this photo, one would assume this is Daft Punk. We entered the club to be greeted by 2 men on stage in masks dancing to a recent release from Daft Punk's new album. We even asked the bar staff who confirmed it was indeed Daft Punk! Alas, we were cruelly lied to and apparently the guy in the photo below posing as Daft Punk is in fact called...Ian. 





If you want another little giggle look at the guy in the top right. WTF?


And on that note Ladies & Gents, I bid you goodnight!

More to come soon,

Ess Double You x