Half-term shenanigans

So, whilst Sprog is at pre-school, it still runs over the holidays, but we had 2 lovely weekdays together, and made the most of them!

We took a road trip on Monday and went all the way over to Surrey to see some old friends and their children. Always a challenge, as the journey feels so long now, and the age-gap so wide (and that's just us Mums!!!), no seriously, the kids range between 12 and 3, but Hayden at 12 is wonderful with the little ones (I think he is still really 5 at heart). Emilia loves playing with Rosie, who at 6 is very grown-up and loves Princesses and dressing-up, and baby Joe at 3, well...he just has to go along with everything, and with his masses of blond curls, he will be a heartbreaker one day.

Anyway, a lovely day was had, a great lunch and some delicious wine, good times with old friends and some hot gossip too!

Then, ROAD TRIP FRIDAY, and we took off to London via Beaconsfield and stopping off to see our good friends at Miss Gracie where we woke them up, still in shower and PJs, had breakfast, and headed off to London.

First stop Southbank Centre, and just in time for the Jazz for Juniors concert which was excellent, an hour long music fest with lots of kiddies bopping away.
Then upstairs to the Poetry Corner, where we read and Sprog did some drawings...tummies rumbling, we headed downstairs to Giraffe.

 A nice, light meal for Mum and I, and Chocolate Brownie with ice cream for Sprog.

Re-fuelled, we walked along the Embankment, admiring the views and fantastic architecture of London, when Sprog noticed the merry-go-round. Straight on, and some candy floss just in case the Brownie was not enough.

A quick trip to the Animation Gallery...oh no, it's closed down. What a shame. So, off we trotted to the playground under The Eye. 4pm now, and it felt like Spring had disappeared. Time to go home.

An indulgent weekend

Hello all

Sprog has been wanting a pet for a while, and since we no longer have the beloved Sacha Spaniel, Daddy has been entertaining the conversation. Have I? No, I have not.

So, the plan was to HAVE A LOOK at some hamsters in PetWorld, instead, 2 Guinea Pigs were purchased "aren't they cute?", and of course, there was a great deal on, to buy their home and other bits together, blah blah, so Sprog chooses a (pink!!!) cage, sorry- mansion, for them to live in. We need another room to house this thing, why they can't live outside, I don't know.

Cute, yes, but can I take them for a walk? No. Will they come and find me in the evening and nuzzle against me for a cuddle? No. Will they eagerly await by the back door for my return? No. Will they sit bolt upright and on best behaviour for a treat? They will not!

So, we are now the proud owners of Sooty and Sweep (I think Angelina and Alice are better, especially as these are girlies) , who will apparently "grow hips and get a bit of a wiggle" we have been informed, and now live in the annexe. More hoovering required.

Sooty is quite chatty and inquisitive, Sweep has a white strip around her middle- looks like a fashion belt, but she's still sussing us out and darts to safety incredibly fast when I enter the room. I think she senses that I wish she was a dog.

Every moment is now taken up with watching them in their home (parents- remember what it was like when you brought baby home?), and checking if they need feeding, or another cuddle. When asked if we had pets before, the standard answer was always "Just Max", my stepson, but another time has now dawned.

Anyway, enough about the furballs!

Plans for The Biscotti Kid are underway, and I have started by selling the aprons for the little darlings to wear whilst they help you in the kitchen, on with Kiddiebase. There are 4 designs and colours in 2 different sizes 3-5 and 5-7, and they are so funky.

More to follow on their website, of co-ordinating pieces, and when food becomes a new dept for them, my party bags and party favours will be going on too!

So for now, it's goodnight from me.
Just have to pop in and check on the furballs.

The Chefette

Where have the months gone?

Hi all

The Biscotti Kitchen took a little break in January after the very busy Christmas to re-charge Biscotti...ummm, batteries, and think ahead to greener pastures.

So...what has happened since then?

Well, firstly- the new packaging is now in place, with fresh white and green tags and stickers to compliment the green ribbon that is now widely recognised. This means that I can spend more time baking, (yay!) and less time creating tags!!! (I would show you a picture, but computer is saying no at the mo!)

Secondly- The Breakfast Biscotti was born! Made with oats, honey, chunks of dried apricots...and more, it is yummy and perfect with your morning tea or coffee. It had it's first outing at Stroud Farmers Market and nearly sold out.

Thirdly- we have started selling with Love Your Larder, starting off with gift boxes and about to go with single packs too. Valentines was a great success with the gift boxes...12 individually wrapped Gourmet sized Biscotti, in 10 flavours, wrapped in a hard white gift-box and finished off with a wired taffeta ribbon in the signature green.

Plans for the year ahead are also starting to take place with the booking of shows and markets. Always on the lookout for something new, The Biscotti Kitchen will now be at London Coffee Festival at Brick Lane, London, from 8-10th April, starting with a trade day, followed by a consumer evening and 2 days of shopping. After the trade day, there will be an Espresso Martini Launch Party- worth going just for that!

Also, after the success of the BBC Good Food Show last Autumn, I have let the delightful Katy Truss talk me into booking in for a show this year. She suggested MasterChef Live London, I said Birmingham Winter Show...she said , why not both?!? Cheeky!!! I love these people that love to spend other people's money...bless. Anyway, Brum it is. Catch me there in the last weekend of November...more details to follow.

Breathe...other developments, several trade enquiries that I am now dealing with, and plans are in place to launch The Biscotti Kid...watch this space.

Bye for now
The Chefette