This morning seemed darker and wetter than ever. it has been confirmed, what we already knew, that we are in recession. We've been told at work, that there are no job losses for this year but next year...who knows. Well, I'm fed up with trying not to spend money, the darkness, rain and the bloody economy. So when I saw these little beauties I threw caution to the wind, spent some money and provided a little cheer for my home.
Aah! I already feel better for little hint of spring that these precious green shoots bring. Hopefully, in a few weeks time the heady scent of blue and lilac hyacinths will waft through the house and provide some much needed colour and cheerfulness. Something else that cheers me up no end are these little coffee and walnut cupcakes.
I found the recipe for these little cakes in this wonderful book by Kate Shirazi.
There was an article in last April's CL about this lady, who runs a cupcake making business from home. If you pop over to her website cakeadoodledo.co.uk you can see the wonderful creations that she sells.
Her gorgeousl little book has a range of cakes from 'low-faff' (my level) up to 'high-faff' cakes which look far too good to eat. Just take a look here(these two photos are from the book, not my creations sadly.)
and here
...........yum. Well they certainly add a little cheer don't they? (As well as a few inches, but we won't go there).Listening to this wonderful man perform last night certainly lifted my spirits. Please let me introduce you to Mr. Martin Simpson, winner of the best album in the BBC Folk Awards last year with 'Prodigal Son'.
He was absolutely superb last night. I tried to upload a video for you but alas, Youtube and Blogger don't seem to be talking to each other at present. Martin's song about his father 'Never any Good' took the folk world by storm last year. As the video won't load I'll give you the link here Martin Simpson 'Never any Good'. It's an honest song, not sentimental, but it will give you goosebumps!I'm off to listen to his album now - that will cheer me up even more!
Have a good weekend everyone.
18 comments:
I must say that I'm really looking forward to the spring..having coughed and spluttered my way through winter!!
It's been sunny today here in Devon and that has really cheered me up!!
Have a good weekend too ;-)
I love the little chicks on the hyacinth pot and the look of the coffee walnut cakes. I am in need of a cake right now!
Cupcakes and flowers I can't think of anicer way to take ones mind off the economy, well maybe JOhnny Depp!
I love cake but cupcakes are even better. Yours look fab! I recently moved to a cottage in south Devon and am discovering the garden that I inherited. Loads and loads of spring bulbs are popping up all over - yippee!
I saw my first snowdrops this week - oh how it cheered me up. This winter is really getting me down :-(
The 0-0 draw against Doncaster didn't do much to lift my spirits either. Tsk.
x
Hyacinths are one of my favourite flowers. Their wonderful scent is among the strongest I can think of and the most pleasurable! As you say, they do indeed bring forth thoughts of spring which we all need so much this time of year along with cupcakes and good movies of course!
OH HOW I LOVE BRITAINS COFFEE CAKES. COFFEE CAKES IN THE U.S.A. ARE EATEN WITH COFFEE BUT HAVE NO COFFEE IN THEM. I LIKE YOURS BETTER. IN THE WHOLE OF SHROPSHIRE I KNOW WHO HAS THE BEST COFFEE CAKES. YUM! AND YOUR FLOWER PURCHASE IS VERY IMPORTANT AS IT IS A MORAL BOOSTER. IT KEEPS YOU HEALTHY! AMERICA HAS BEEN IN A RECESSION FOR A WHILE NOW AND IS ESPECIALLY HARD ON THE YOUNGER GENERATION AS THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO MAKE DO OR DO WITHOUT. THE ECONOMY HERE CAME TO A SCREECHING HALT, SO TO SPEAK! IT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT FOR A WHILE BUT I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THE WORLD WILL SLOWLY RIGHT ITSELF. ENOUGH OF THAT!!! I AM STILL PLANNING ON MY JUNE HOLIDAY IN ENGLAND. I SAVE FOR IT ALL YEAR AND IT IS A PRIORITY FOR ME. P.S. IS THERE ANY CHANCE THAT YOU COULD SHARE THAT COFFEE CUPCAKE RECIPE SOMETIME?
Hello thare,
How lovely of you to pop in, today has been quite dull, weather wise, i went for a walk a long walk......a least it was dry here,
Olly came home from work on Friday.....and said they were trying to make cuts at his place.....they want ppl to opt for redundancy....but they are starting with younger ppl, mainly because the payout won't be as huge!
Scary times....however, I'm glad you cheered up your day with pretty flowers, life has to go on.....:>)))
xxxx
I just adore Hyacinths,they are my favourite of spring flowers but I do find they smell a bit like wee after the flowers go over!!
My niece had a great book on cupcakes for Christmas I was just trying to find the name of it,might have even been that one of yours.. they all looked so delicious, I think I might just have to do some baking now having seen all these cakes! yummy! x
Oh good for you! There's nothing like indulging in a few pagan rites (according to Tom on The Good Life) every now and again to lift your spirits.
I must listen to Martin Simpson, bit of a Kate Rusby fan myself and I'd love to discover more folk. Thanks, I'll look him up!
Stephx
Hi, I have a "Lemonade award" for you if you would like to come and get it!
Love Tracey xxx
Here's a comment from Michele at Cowboys and Custard. I pressed the wrong key on moderate comments so have transferred it from e-mail!
Dear Tracey..
Thank you for your comment re: John Martyn.. His music has haunted me all day since hearing of his sad loss.. I am sure it did little to cheer you up during the January/credit crunch blues.. but those little cakes are a ray of sunshine.. I can almost taste their sugary perfection from here..
I am wondering if it is the same lady that sells divine cupcakes from a florist shop in Bath.. I will have to go and investigate.
Your hyacinth flowers will be a cheerier sort of blue hopefully and smell heavenly..
Love Michele x
Thanks for the comment Michele. Its nice to have found another John Martyn fan.
Enjoy the crisp Winter sunshine and keep cosy when the snow arrives. Spring is just round the corner :)
Twiggy x
Wonder if I'll get one of those heart shaped cakes on Valentines day?! All those cakes look too good to eat. Thanks for your comment, I do love my Rayburn especially on days like this.
Jo XXX
What a great job, making cupcakes! I so wish I had time to be creative like this. I notice Waitrose had a selection yesterday, quite expensive to buy individually. I would rather make them, just like your coffee/walnut ones, I love those. My dad planted me three hyacinth bulbs in a bowl, mine are in our very cold porch, so a little behind yours. I really can't think of a more powerful smell than of fresh hyacinth flowers, really lovely. x
The economy is on the mend here,
so hopefully yours will soon follow, what a lovely way to lift your spirits, the cupcakes and your spring flowers.
best to you
kate
Hi, thanks so much for visiting my blog and your lovely comment. If you're sad then so am I as I was totally delighted when we viewed it and found it had up and down bits downstairs and up!
I love your buys, those chicks on the pot are adorable. And the cakes look scrummy!
Mel xxx
I was bought some white hyacinths at the weekend, and I can't wait till they come out.I just love their beautiful, heady fragrance. It's a lovely way to treat yourself, and it isn't expensive at all. Love the bowl they're in too!
Those cupcakes definitely look scrummy!! Those ones from the book would give anyone mega inspiration!!
The shop ones are never as good, are they?
Happy baking/blogging or sniffing hyacinths!
Sharon xx
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