Kenwood’s Kmix Fantastico

Posted on September 30, 2012 by Admin

Oooh … the Kenwood Kmix in cream … or correctly described … the Kenwood Kmix in almond.

I’m not normally one for gadgetry. Ubiquitous contemporary devices marketed to make life ‘easier’ are a horror to me. I simply do not have a large enough spot to store the accompanying weighty manuals, or is it a 3000 GB download nowadays?

Noooo, I do not want to navigate through cutting edge 21st century engineering in order to open a tin or make a cup of coffee. That said, the arrival of the Kenwood Kmix in the kitchen has brought with it some very positive results.

Baking is a magical art akin to alchemy … grasping the exact science, is to me within the cognitive realm of quantum physics. Ingredients need to be measured down to the minutest of particles, or one of my sponges could indeed end the earths cycle if allowed to breakthrough the atmosphere and collide with it.

Embarking on the baking journey involves deconstructing many years of red wine cooking. All savoury orientated, my dishes evolve as they go along … a sprinkle of this, a slug of that, a slosh in the pot and a slosh for the cook. This is not a pattern I can repeat in the baking world. After measuring as per instruction, my first Victoria sponge was assembled using a small electric hand whisk found at the back of a cupboard. Not one fit for the job. Despite the use of tea-towels to catch the centrifugal butter and sugar … the debris flung out to the far corners of the kitchen … each one caught expertly however by my estatic labrador, Thom … who displayed more energy than I have ever seen him muster, while snapping up gleefully each tasty morsel of airborne batter. A very messy affair, finally producing a flat dismal effort that would have been fitting as a granite block for restoration work upstairs.

Hmmn … I recalled the contestents on Masterchef popping all pudding ingredients into a magical cauldron, electrically run. Not only did it complete all of the work for you, it was clean, efficient and the results were spectacular. After internet research, the brave new world of kitchen stand mixers opened up to me. Granted, some could only be purchased by the head of Barclay’s or similar … but the Kmix in comparison … was at a ‘fairly manageable‘ princely sum sans a banker’s annual bonus.

The descriptive text informed me, not only does the Kmix mix cakes, muffins or any other sweet treat one could wish for, it kneads bread and has optional attachments to grate, pulp, blend and … make sausages! That was it! … Convinced I clicked, bought and waited in anticipation.

The shiny Kmix arrived, delivered promptly to my door … 21st century technology with an old fashioned charm.

Once unpacked … as per Masterchef … I measure carefully … (no wine involved here) … pop all said ingredients into the spanking silver bowl and at the flick of a switch … we have a cake batter to die for. The whole concoction stays cocooned within the bowl … so clean … so efficient.

My Victoria sponges are now light and fluffy … I have embarked on the fine art of muffin making and the bread hook is amazing (more on this later).

I am so happy … husband is so happy … we are all convinced with the Kmix purchase.

Thom the labrador is not.

Bye for now

Kenwood Kmix Cream / Almond

Kenwood Kmix Red

Kenwood Kmix Black

Kenwood Kmix Blue

Kenwood Kmix Yellow

Kenwood Kmix Barcelona

J’adore La’Bradors

Posted on September 30, 2012 by Admin

I do love my dogs!

They are such joyous creatures, grinning, wagging and so happy to start a new day every morning. Ah … pure happiness. The mud, mess and lack of emotional physical restraint are balanced by the unconditional love emmitted every second of their precious lives. I know that with four paws on my shoulders and two over enthusiastic tongues lapping at my head, this is indeed part of the labrador package.

My two boys, Rhys and Thom are chocolate. Please do not scoff game shooters … I will state proudly and with 100% certainty that Rhys will retrieve as good if not better than any black or yellow lab …… and Thom … is well … Thom. Thom is fantastic at sleeping infront of a roaring fire and dreaming about retrieving … he’s more senior management.

I repeat everyday to them how handsome they are and they reward me with their regal upright pose and tilted head.

I will one day stay true to my self made promise and paint them, a portrait, probably in oils surrounded by an ornate gold gilt frame, befitting of their status.

In the meantime, I have found some labrador must haves. It has long been a country tradition to adorn your home with animal motifs … the hare … the fox … the pheasant … and so too the labrador retriever …

Is there anything on this earth more adorable than a handsome hound … (yes husband, I love you too).

Bye for now

Evans Lichfield Cushion

Emma Bridgewater Half Pint Chocolate Labrador Mug

Ladies Labrador Shopper

Emma Bridgewater Half Pint Black Labrador Mug

The Labrador Company The Eaton Tote Shoulder Bag

The Labrador Company The Eaton Molly Bag

Hot Cast Bronze Sculpture Labrador Cufflinks

Labrador Bronze Statue

Bee Widow

Posted on September 27, 2012 by Admin

I am a bee widow.

Since undertaking bee keeping my husband has 20,000 gals to keep him occupied. Their ‘boudoirs’ consist of two hives. One cedar wood and one polyhive.

I am all for the bee plight and I will write further on this in a future post. The declining bee population is cause for much concern and will effect us all. The more bee keepers, the better for everyone. However, that said, I had not expected my husband’s bee adoration to be quite so fuelled. At any given spare moment it’s bee time. Bees need feeding, inspecting, mollycoddling and watching … I suspect the hives have been decked out in Sanderson fabric and tulle. Aside from practical bee time, there is research bee time, committee bee time, course bee time and the bee jollies. This has left myself, the labradors and hens feeling quite bereft.

I must say … the bees are a sore point … quite literally …

I have frequented the apairy several times. A beautiful tranquil place in a Cornish field with a stream. The two hives share the green space with a couple of ponies, sheep and ducks. It really is idyllic and in fairness I can quite see why this lovely patch of Cornwall has it’s allure – away from the DIY restoration and chaos of the cottage.

The last time I visited, I did so to take photographs of the apairy for my husband. It was a drizzly day a la 2012 summer. I did not heed advice to wear the visitors’ bee suit, not I, I’ll be fine. I took an array of ‘husband in bee suit with bees’ pictures as directed. All went swimmingly well albeit the gals did seem a little het up re: the weather. I can’t blame them, we all feel the same. Damn that jet stream.

Duty completed, I relaxed to watch the ponies going about their Sunday routine, while my husband chopped and collected wax or similar off the bottom of frames.

Bees are not so bad after all … what a charming hobby … I am so looking forward to the honey.

BAM, out of the tranquil still … one furious mad madam flings herself at my cheek! A second later … bees, everywhere. One big buzz rings in both ears. From my right eye I see Bee 1 aligning herself for another shot. Ow! A sting lodges itself into my cheek. The harlot! The others, possibly four, encircle my head ready to charge. Close your eyes! Now feeling them, having landed on target, crawling amongst my hair, I prompt them to move with my swatting hands. They become furious … jumping … crawling … flying … buzzing …

I release my hairband and shake out my hair. Oh no, these femme fatales are on a kamikaze mission and will not back down. Realising a retreat to be the only option, I run, run, run away from the attack. Shouting for my husband, shaking head, dancing, jumping and running in loops around the field … two more feisty moos go in for the kill. Sting two and three catch the top of my head.

Husband appears in protective suit with smoker … “don’t worry … I see her”. HER! Bah … the mistress! With a few puffs of smoke the concubines fly off.

I am in shock … pain and feeling mighty sorry for myself.

“They thought you were a bear” husband offers with a cheerful informative face. “Yes, as I’m taking wax … they think it’s a honey attack … the guard bees go out to look for anything that resembles a bear”.

What! I am 5 feet 10, I have on brown wellington boots, dark green / brown cords, a brown knit top and long brown hair! I am practically Yogi, Chubaka or similar !!!!!

Yes husband, that bit of informaton would have been better dispatched pre bee visit … or possibly pre when I decided to decline my white bee suit!

Retreating back to the cottage I lay out on the sofa dousing my wounds with vinegar. My ever faithful labradors licking any exposed flesh in sorrowful pity.

Four further days of pain and recovery eventually ensues.

I have not been back to the apairy since … the bees will be packed up to over winter in the next week or so. I will take the downtime to work through the bee trauma and overcome my bee apprehension.

The moral of the tale must be … always but always wear a bee suit when near to random chap inspecting bees. Have complete respect and due regard for this arm of the womens institute. These females are crazed warriors protecting fearlessly what is rightfully theirs.

Well yes I do have respect for my adversaries and I will don the suit without question when spring comes … but ha … he’s mine for the winter ladies … you can forego your honey trap for a few months and buzz right off!

Bye for now

Tea-Towel Hierarchy

Posted on September 26, 2012 by Admin

My mother has always had a tea-towel hierarchy. Such are the ways of the rare domestic goddess hailed from the 1940s. Her tea-towels are pressed and folded to perfection and assorted in various piles depending on their social status. The Queen Bee(s) of the tea-towel assembly, surface at Christmas and special occasions only, where they rarely lower themselves to work. The mere wipe of a tea cup or glass is as much as any blue blood cotton cloth should endure. No, these elegant beauties are folded and displayed for the most part for all to revere.

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Guests Staying for Christmas

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Admin

I know it’s still September and planning for Christmas and it’s festivities this early on is so so frowned upon … but dare I beg to disagree?

Since moving to the countryside, I fear no longer the impending busy high street stores with it’s overbearing glitz and jingle bells on repeat. No – I very rarely venture into a city at all, let alone when the Christmas mania sets in. I buy what I need online, over a cup of tea … and look forward to the postman delivering it to my door, stress and hassle free. (My postmans mantra “don’t rush … this is Cornwall …”).

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Country NikNaks Blog

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Admin

Welcome to the new Country NikNaks blog.

Country NikNaks is based in Cornwall, nestled in the beautiful Tamar Valley, right on the Cornwall / Devon border. This blog is an area where I hope to share with you my countryside knowledge that I’ve gathered to date, whilst being lucky enough to live in this part of the world. I will share the ups and the downs … from countryside crafts, baking, hen keeping, bee keeping (thanks husband!), home brewing (wine & beer … thanks again husband!), foraging, bread making and home remedy tips to heal animals … to my obsession with country interiors and all things pretty.

We live in a 19th century modest miners cottage with three bedrooms … where we have just about got the downstairs habitable, with the help of local builders and lots and lots of back breaking, arm aching work undertaken by myself and my nagged husband.

The upstairs … is still very much in a state of flux, so as I pull down old plasterboard, begin to lime plaster walls, and start to point and point and point again (!!!!!) old granite walls, I’ll keep a diary incase you find it useful.

Along with my ever suffering husband who is relentlessly subjected to a barage of gingham and polka dots, we share our house with 14 hens, 2 bee hives (kept in the field up the lane) and two rather rambunctious waggy chocolate labradors called Rhys & Thom.

Plans coming up soon … starting the upstairs … chipping off 70’s plaster to unveil the 160 year old granite blocks … (romantic) … and mouse / squirrel / spider / wasp nests within (not so romantic) … planning a supper party for October that will include foraged ingredients … along the lines of hawthorn jelly and pheasant … homemade honey beer IPA the step by step guide … getting ready for Christmas … how to make Sloe gin … and orange / cinnammon and pine dried decorations … beeswax candles … how to make them … and so on …

I’ll also post some articles on what’s gone before … tears, tantrums and DIY renovation … favourite mad chocolate lab pastimes … making honeymead … blackberry and blackcurrent wine … bee keeping for beginners and lots more …

Bye for now