A Trip to France

A couple of weeks ago Mathilda and I went to France with my parents.  Sadly Ed had something important on at work and wasn't able to come with us, so we had to set off on our adventure without him.

The drive down was horribly long, but altogether worth it when we got there; gorgeous countryside, delicious food and lovely weather!

The day after we arrived we went to see my grandparents, who living so far away had yet to meet Mathilda and couldn't wait a moment longer!  Introductions were made, cuddles stocked up on, and after a deliciously French lunch with an aperitif, chicken and petit pois, cheese, and babas au rhum, we ended up spending the afternoon sat outside in gloriously hot sunshine - a perfect welcome to France!

When we got home it was still warm enough for Mathilda to have her supper in the garden, although without the restraint of a high chair she was far more interested in looking at the view than actually eating...

In fact most evenings were gorgeous and we went for a walk round what once was a field and is now, much more excitingly, part orchard, part forest.

There is an avenue of silver birch that leads to a hidden clearing surrounded by crabapples.

We all helped plant the trees years ago and I remember putting the tiny sticks in the ground and wondering if they would ever really turn into trees.  It's magical seeing how they've grown and how they've changed a big expanse of boring grass into something so interesting and full of life.

They also helped keep us slightly drier when we walked down one evening and got caught in a rainstorm.

It was absolutely hosing it down so we made a coat tent for Mathilda and waited for it to stop, but after 10 minutes getting wetter and wetter we decided to make a break for it and ran all the way up the field back to the house. 

We got soaked!  On the bright side, what better excuse to settle down in front of the fire with wine and chocolate?!

Not that we really needed excuses, as I had decided that since I am still breastfeeding I may as well make the most of being able to eat all the delicious French things without feeling too guilty!  As well as hopping up to the local boulangerie a few mornings for chocolatines and croissants, we also picked up a few pattisserie: a huge meringue, a tarte au noix - a sweet pastry case filled with a buttery filling and walnuts, and a 'Japonaise' - a choux bun filled with hazelnut buttercream and covered in chocolate.  Utterly delicious and definitely something I definitely need to try and re-create at home!

Apart from one showery day the weather was warm and sunny and we spent most days pottering about outside, Mathilda kept herself amused playing mostly with Corky (the champagne cork which currently her favourite toy!) and I managed to get some sewing done!



Wish I could always sew with such a gorgeous view!



We also did some knitting, the outcome of which was a gorgeous new hat for Mathilda,



which she modelled in my rather ingenious highchair solution!

My Dad carved a beautiful walking stick for my Grandpa

and my Mum started stripping a sweet little vintage cot ready for the next time we visit.

Then all too suddenly it was the end of the week and time to go home again; au revoir to the lavender and lunch outside, to cheese and chocolatines, to wanderings and wine and all the delights of France.

We climbed rather disconsolately into the car and set off on our epic journey north, past the vines and under a perfect blue sky, stopping off in Bordeaux for supper and a continuation of the family catchup.

We left early next morning after a delicious breakfast of fresh pattisserie - croissants, chocolatines, chaussons aux pommes, and pains aux raisins...they were delicious!

The weather gave us a gorgeous farewell; lovely warm sunshine all the way up, which only made leaving all the harder!

Luckily, we had someone even lovelier to go home to...

Choux Pastry

Choux pastry is so fabulously easy to make and impressively showy for the amount of effort required!

(makes about 40 choux)

3oz/75g butter

280ml water

1tsp salt (cut down to 0.5tsp for sweet choux)

1tsp sugar (omit for savoury choux)

4oz/100g strong white bread flour

4 eggs

Cut the butter into cubes and place in a pan with the water, salt and sugar.  Bring to the boil and remove from the heat.

Add the flour all in one go and beat until combined.  Place the pan back over a medium heat and continue beating for one minute.

Remove the pan from the heat and dip the base briefly in cold water.  Add the eggs one at a time, beating well in between until you have a thick glossy batter.

Place the batter in a piping bag with a 1/1.5cm ish nozzle.  If you don't have a nozzle just cut a hole in the corner of a sturdy sandwich bag, or alternatively you can plop blobs of batter on a tray with a teaspoon.

Pipe/dollop little blobs of batter about 2.5cm wide (or pipe lines if you are making eclairs) onto a lightly greased tray or silicone sheet.

Brush the tops very gently with beaten egg, making sure not to dribble egg down the sides and onto the tray as this will prevent the buns rising, place in a preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes until puffed up, golden brown and crisp.

Remove from the oven, cut a cross in the base and push one quarter of the cross in to make a small hole.  Place them back on the tray and bake for 5 minutes at gas mark 3/160C.

Store in an airtight box but use them as soon as possible.  You can also freeze them; place in an airtight box in the freezer, defrost them at room temperature and give them 2 minutes at 200C to re-crisp them if necessary.

Fill the choux with whipped cream, creme patissiere, soft cheese etc, make sure the fillings aren't too liquidy as it will make the choux go soft very quickly.

Christening Robes

Nothing much to say, just beautiful old Christening robes to look at!

They were washed and pressed after the Christening and then packed carefully in tissue and into boxes ready for the next family baby!

Ed's family's robes have a gorgeous silk cape with them, all hand stitched and edged in hand made lace.

There is also a gorgeous bonnet all covered in lace and bows which was sadly too small for Mathilda and perched on the top of her head like a little frilly pork pie.

The petticoat possibly doesn't match the dress as it had longer sleeves and in the end she didn't wear it.  It is gorgeous though!

The dress has been very sensibly designed with ribbons to adjust the cuffs, waist and neckline, perfect for our rather rotund Mathilda...

It is miles of super fine muslin covered in acres of embroidered panels and pin-tucks - all hand stitched; such a lot of work!

I packed them in tissue in a box with silica sachets to keep the damp out and lavender to keep the moths out.

Next set!  Mathilda changed into these for the party in the afternoon as they are slightly shorter and less tangley-uppy-rippy-lacey-ish...

More fine fabric with beautiful embroidery, frills and hand stitched pin-tucks!

Also packed up in its own little box (although this one needs some pretty paper on it!).

Now we just wait for the next baby!