Well that's a big egg!

I mean it, seriously, this is a VERY big egg. Look how much bigger it is than the rest of my eggs...



"One of these eggs just doesn't belong here. One of these eggs just isn't the same..."

I wonder who laid that? (I think it was black chicken)

Speaking of eggs...Martin and I went to view a small holding yesterday and I LOVED IT. It isn't perfect, but it is pretty good. We have been looking for land with woodland and this doesn't have any. There is woodland adjacent to the property but it wouldn't belong to us. Otherwise it is pretty good. 24 acres and it already has a free range egg business. A successful one! And one I would be proud to take over. They have 3000 chickens which kind of makes me think ew gross, but these chickens look so happy! Running around outside, laying eggs. They have all their feathers and everything. Plenty of room for the pigs and it already has a caravan on site which is one hurdle we wouldn't have to overcome. We could potentially file for planning permission for a house straight away! (you have to live in a caravan for three years and make a profit on the land for one of those to show you are serious about living in the country) So we shall see. Lots to look into and it is slightly out of budget, but it is close enough to London that one of us (by one of us I mean Martin) could commute to London. Oh! And the best thing??? It has an honesty HUT! A whole hut full of things I would want to sell and people would leave money for. FINGERS CROSSED EVERYONE!

Peanut butter cream cheese frosting is evil genius

My friend Caroline came to visit husband and I in the country and to mark the occasion I wanted to bake a cake to knock her socks off. (She has a sweet tooth to rival any Mooney!) I have a few baking books I would normally go to, but I was a bit bored of them so decided to troll the internet to see what I could find.

The one that came up most when you googled "most amazing cake ever" was this chocolate cake...

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/3092/ultimate-chocolate-cake

I have made it several times and the raves are correct, it IS the best chocolate cake ever. And one I have made for her before.

I then found this...

http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/08/chocolate-peanut-butter-cake/

BINGO! I knew Martin wouldn't like it but it wasn't really for him anyway plus I always make cakes just for him and this time I was making a cake just for me. I mean just for CAROLINE.

The best thing about this cake is the peanut butter cream cheese frosting. I was slightly delighted/horrified when I had some left over. I would have to eat it all, it was too good to waste! But it was rather a lot so I just saved it and will frost some future chocolate cupcakes with it. The idea of eating it all made even me a little sick. The ganache unfortunately cooled too much so I don't have quite the drip effect I was hoping for, but it still tasted great which is what really matters.

Here is lucky Caroline with her cake.

I've said it once...

And I'll say it again and again. I heart you Ottolenghi!

I decided to buy some cabbage as it is in season and it looked pretty and I figured it might be a good idea to get to know this veg and try to make it interesting. I know of one very good place for interesting recipes...my Ottolenghi cookbook, Plenty! In it there is a recipe for stuffed cabbage. AND IT IS F*&$ing GREAT!



Stuffed with rice and vermicelli noodles, the seasoning is fantastic and the texture spot on. The cabbage doesn't smell great, but wrapped around the filling and seasoned with parm and a white wine sauce, it tastes great.

I had this as a main and served it to Martin as a side to his chicken, of a similar theme. Works better as a side. It doesn't re-heat brilliantly so try and eat it all on the first night. Yum-my!

Pigs, napping in the sunshine...

Also, I just finished this pillow, of which I am very proud. Required the use of a sewing machine and although I messed up and had to start over, I am quite happy with the end result!