Tag Archives: opinion

A tea review (without the afternoon part!)

26 Oct

A post by Amy from The Sweet Pantry

Some weeks ago I received a DM to my Twitter account from Chateau Rouge asking if I’d like to try some of their Organic Rooibos. Oh would I, I thought. And promptly replied.

A couple of days later a parcel arrived in the post and to my delight two packets of tea had arrived; Vanilla Rooibos and Wiedouw Rooibos.

Tea for two! My delivery of Rooibos teas courtesy of Chateau Rouge.

Tea for two! My delivery of Rooibos teas courtesy of Chateau Rouge.

Now I must confess, I was quicker saying yes to  the tea, than I have been sitting down to write this post. So big apologies to Chateau Rouge – and thanks for your patience.

The instructions on the back of the pack recommend brewing a heaped teaspoon of the tea in hot water – and enjoying hot or cold, black or white – with or without sugar.

I started with the Wiedouw Rooibos – and tasted it black, which wasn’t to my liking – so I added milk and half a sugar (exactly how I take my breakfast tea) – and in the words of mr PG Tips…. Ahhhhh that’s better. A light refreshing cup of Rooibos hit the spot.

I also tried the Vanilla Rooibos – and again braved it without milk or sugar. It has a slightly sweet taste (as you’d expect from Madagascan Vanilla). Although I didn’t try it –  over ice this would be a very refreshing drink. (And by chance I stumbled upon this handy recipe for ice tea – which I’ll definitely be trying out).

Time for tea! I don't own all the proper tea paraphernalia (small sieves etc) - but my cafetiere seemed to work well!

Time for tea! I don’t own all the proper tea paraphernalia (small sieves etc) – but my cafetiere seemed to work well!

Rooibos is caffeine free – hurah! I can have a cup of tea after 6pm without risking being awake for the rest of the night. And did I mention that you can infuse this tea several times – ensuring that it’s excellent value for money.

I think I’ll always be a black tea drinker – but Rooibos provides a really refreshing alternative for those who are avoiding caffeine, are on a health kick or perhaps just fancy a change.

The founder of Chateau Rouge says on the website that he is aiming to break away from this ‘same old, same old’ and introduce people to teas that are a bit left of field. Although only my first encounter of Chateau Rouge, I’d suggest he’s well on the way to achieving this mission, with a website which boasts black tea from Nepal, as well as an impressive range of Green Teas, Oolang and of course the Rooibos.

Tea lovers everywhere – check this website out!

(P.S they also have a gift section – perfect for Christmas!)

Afternoon Tea at 47 King Street West, Manchester

19 Oct

A post by Amy from The Sweet Pantry

Afternoontea.co.uk recently asked me to review Afternoon Tea at the very trendy 47 King Street West. So here’s what my guest and I found… (P.S the original review can be found on the afternoontea.co.uk blog.

Having strolled past the decadent 47 King Street West on one of my many shopping trips in Manchester and marvelled at the stylish decor, I was delighted when http://www.afternoontea.co.uk asked me to pop along and try their Afternoon Tea menu.

Housed in this chic part of the City, opposite the infamous San Carlos, I’m really pleased to write that after an afternoon there, 47 King Street West stands up against even the trendiest of eateries in Manchester.

Afternoon Tea at 47 King Street West Review - Amy Martinez

We were greeted by a lovely waitress, and as we took in our surroundings, we were whisked back to the 1920’s (if only I’d put my flapper dress on that day!). Crisp, white linen was perfectly complimented by a vivid purple bar area, plush cream leather booths and dark wood furniture. We were seated in a booth – perfect for catching up with my good friend.

The waitress was well informed as she gave us a potted history of 47 King Street West, which started life as a franchise of a popular Afternoon Tea eatery in the North West, before finally transforming earlier this year into the sumptuous restaurant and bar it is today.

Afternoon Tea at 47 King Street West Review - Amy Martinez

The Afternoon Tea menu is impressive with five afternoon tea options, and for the lighter eater, two versions of a cream tea starting at just £5.45. Along with 14 choices of tea and 12 blended coffees, there are plenty of choices for all palettes and appetites.

Afternoon Tea at 47 King Street West Review - Amy Martinez

We were treated to the Champagne Afternoon Tea – perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon. We started proceedings with a glass of house Champagne, which was simply wonderful. I don’t pretend to be a wine connoisseur, but with light bubbles and a slightly fruity flavour, this glass of fizz received the thumbs up from us.

Afternoon Tea at 47 King Street West Review - Amy Martinez

A classic three-tiered cake stand followed with a selection of sandwiches, scones and mini sweet treats. Oh and how could I forget the Champagne sorbet? Refreshing, light, slightly creamy and pale pink in colour – it was delicious. It’s these little extras which make Afternoon Tea so special for me.

The restaurant was amenable to change, as my guest and I swapped and substituted sandwiches for our various dietary requirements and tastes.

Afternoon Tea at 47 King Street West Review - Amy Martinez

The fresh thick cut bread (crusts off, of course), was lovely and we enjoyed an assortment of egg mayonnaise, beef and horseradish, tuna, and salmon and cream cheese – classics. We also enjoyed hummus sandwiches, which I particularlsoy enjoyed as it was a little different from anything I’d had before.

Afternoon Tea at 47 King Street West Review - Amy Martinez

Afternoon Tea at 47 King Street West was served with a twist – instead of your usual sponges and tarts, we were in chocolate heaven! Served by the divine Slattery’s Patisserie and Chocolatier – the top tier boasted cream filled chocolate cups, a chocolate and orange cheesecake brownie and a very light carrot cake. I can’t compliment these sweet treats enough – they were just delicious.

Afternoon Tea at 47 King Street West Review - Amy Martinez

The waitress told us that each Afternoon Tea is unique at 47 King Street West with the same combination of sweet treats never being served twice.

But please let me get to the main event – the scones. They were served with pots of strawberry jam and fresh double cream. Yes – double cream! For those of you who love Afternoon Tea as much as I do – this can often come as a disappointment if anything other than clotted cream is served. However, because they scones were so deliciously buttery, the double cream (which was a lot lighter than clotted) complimented them perfectly. And also meant we had plenty of room for the top tier!

Afternoon Tea at 47 King Street West Review - Amy Martinez

If you don’t think you could handle a full Afternoon Tea – please let me urge you to go and enjoy a cream tea. The scones are simply delicious (possibly some of the best I’ve ever tried), and washed down by the House Ceylon Bop tea – which was perfectly strong and refreshing – it’s a great way to while away an afternoon.

Nothing is a problem or too much to ask at 47 King Street West – if you want a glass of cold water or more hot water for your tea – they are pleased to help.

47 King Street West also boasts an impressive range of cocktails along with a superb a la carte menu. Something my guest and I promised to be back to sample. If Afternoon Tea was anything to go by – this restaurant and bar has something very special to offer.


47 King Street West’s House Champagne Afternoon Tea costs £19.95 per person or £14.95 without champagne.

Have you been for an amazing Afternoon Tea which you’d like to share? Email amy@thesweetpantry.co.uk and your review could feature here!

Afternoon Tea at Great John Street, Manchester

10 Aug

A post by Amy from The Sweet Pantry

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to Great John Street hotel in Manchester for Afternoon Tea to celebrate a family member’s birthday.

To say I was excited is an understatement. For those who have read previous blog posts, you’ll know I love afternoon tea – in fact, it’s probably a bit of an obsession.

Anyway – I’ve been to Great John Street before for a networking event (I enjoyed the most delicious canapes) and for drinks, but I hadn’t experienced Afternoon Tea there. So I was very much looking forward to it.

The party I was with were on the ‘mezzanine’ – which was lovely – and the table was surrounded by large leather chairs – plenty of space for our expanding waists!

The table was decorated beautifully with fresh flowers and vintage cutlery, cups and saucers, jam in delicate bowls, and even featured it’s very own footed, glass sugar bowl (unfortunately I didn’t get a picture).

Beautiful - the table at Great John Street

Beautiful – the table at Great John Street

Once seated the champagne began to flow, thanks to a very attentive waitress, who was pleasant without being overbearing.

We received a mixture of sandwiches including beef, ham and cheese & chutney. The sandwiches were delicious (I’ve never eaten bread so fresh) – but it was a little disappointing that there was no choice (where was the smoked salmon?). As a number of our guests were vegetarian they did bring more cheese sandwiches – minus the chutney – so we had to ask for this separately.

So, sandwiches devoured – it was on to the impressive cake stand which was laden with chocolate brownies, blackcurrant victoria sandwiches and what we think was carrot cake (although could have been ginger).

On top of the tiered cake stand was also clotted cream – YUM!

The impressive three-tiered cake stand

The impressive three-tiered cake stand

Half way through munching our way through the cakes (which were really very good, and there was one each which was an extra tick for this opulent venue) – we asked for the scones. Scones? The waitress replied and continued ‘there are no scones.’ Well you can imagine, it took a quick word from the host who explained Afternoon Tea was nothing without scones – and we each received one scone. While the scone was lovely – it was just the one scone each. True, two may have been greedy, but I’ve been to very few places where you only get the one scone (ooo I have become picky over the years!) On the plus side, there was plenty of cream and jam to go around.

The scone at Great John Street was served warm - my favourite!

The scone at Great John Street was served warm – my favourite!

Tea was also served at this point, in the most beautiful vintage china teapots.

Tea always tastes better when it comes from such an amazing teapot like this.

Tea always tastes better when it comes from such an amazing teapot like this.

Overall, the Afternoon Tea at Great John Street was magical. But there are a few small kinks in the chain which I think could be easily fixed with a little thought.

Will I be back? Of course – but lets see some smoked salmon on the menu!

Ladies Afternoon Tea at Great John Street is £18.50 per person, or £24.50 per person with champagne. For more information visit the Great John Street website.

Have you enjoyed a fantastic Afternoon Tea? Want to share it with our readers? Email amy@thesweetpantry.co.uk with your idea!

Healthy baking at home

27 Jul

A post by guest blogger Meg Longworth, Nutritionist

With the summer finally upon us (will it ever stop raining?) many of us are looking forward to our summer holidays (abroad!) and I’m sure many of you have considered starting your new healthy eating regimes and are on your way to achieving your ‘bikini body’.’ So here I am again, to help you enjoy those sweet treats without the guilt.

Although June’s sunny-spell was very short lived, it’s still important to keep that willpower and maintain your healthy diets ready for your beach holidays and if you haven’t started yet, now is your chance!

Many of you may believe that all delicious desserts come with a hefty calorie content and although this usually applies when eating out, you’ll be pleased to hear that home-baked desserts can be low in calories and with the addition of certain ingredients, can actually be nutritionally beneficial.

I am a massive foodoholic and love to make foods from scratch; I like to see exactly what is inside my food as I’m very aware of how fat, sugar and salt can be hidden within pre-prepared products. Home baking is one of my favourite pastimes and over the years, I have experimented with various recipes to improve the nutritional status of my desserts.

One of my family’s favourites is my walnut cake. Walnuts are very rich in compounds that reduce the hardening of the arteries and help prevent the thickening of the arterial walls (atherosclerosis) which is common when high fat foods are consumed regularly; adding walnuts to your diet on a day-to-day basis can therefore be extremely beneficial.

Walnuts also contain “good” omega-3 fats to help prevent cancers, as well as phytosterols and antioxidants which are essential for healthy living. Walnuts are not only an option for a healthy snack (scientific studies recommend eight walnuts per day), they can also be used in home baking.

Baking a walnut cake is very easy; I simply follow a basic cake recipe using wholemeal flour and add 125g crushed walnuts and 6tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice. I then grate the zest of one orange into the mixture and serve with 1 tbsp of half fat crème fraiche. In a nutshell (excuse the PUN), walnuts are a great addition to the diet and although they are relatively high in calories, a handful a day helps keep the doctor away!

Another dessert I quite often make is fruit crumble; the fruit I use is dependent on the season however, I try to bake with cranberries and blueberries when possible. Some of you may have heard that blueberries are a “super food”, meaning that they are extremely good for us due to the high vitamin, nutrient and phytochemical content and low fat content. Cranberries are also extremely good for us. Cranberries have the same properties as blueberries however, have double the antioxidant activity. With summer just around the corner, I recommend a refreshing berry crumble, using predominantly cranberries and using dried oats as a topping. This light dessert can be served with more fruit or with low fat natural yoghurt.

I could go on and on with examples of healthy desserts however, the most important thing for you to understand is that all dessert recipes can be made healthier and here are some hints and tips:

  • Replace double, whipped or clotted cream with low fat yoghurt, reduced fat ice cream, half fat crème fraiche or probiotic yoghurt to accompany your dessert.
  • Replace full fat ice cream with fruit sorbet.
  • Replace butter with low fat spread when baking.
  • Use dark chocolate when craving a chocolate-based dessert (see May’s blog).
  • Use half sugar, half sweetener when baking cakes (Truvia – see March’s blog).
  • Use extra light cream cheese instead of full fat cheese when preparing a cheese cake.

Next time – Meg takes a break from sweet treats and talks BBQs.

To contact Meg please email: meg_longworth@hotmail.co.uk

The rise of the candy buffet…

20 Jul

A post by Amy from The Sweet Pantry

Candy buffet, sweet table, pick and mix stall, call it what you will – but there’s no denying that the popularity of the candy buffet is on the rise – and it doesn’t look like this confectionery trend is due to falter any time soon.

For those of you who are thinking ‘a candy what!?’ – allow me to explain…

A candy buffet is essentially a table beautifully decorated with your favourite sweets presented in glass jars. Throw in some candy bags and scoops and you have yourself a candy buffet which guests can pick and mix their way through.

The Sweet Pantry loves a good candy buffet –  and over the last few months requests for a table of sugary goodness have been non-stop.

Brides and grooms to be have been particularly interested in having candy buffets at their evening receptions – and the response afterwards has been fantastic, with brides telling me that their guests (young and old) loved it.

A wiseman once said, a picture paints a thousand words, and who am I to question wisdom – so here’s a selection of my favourite pictures from some weddings we’ve been luckily enough to supply with sweet treats. See for yourself what all the fuss is about…

A candy buffet in the beautiful Langdale Chase Hotel, Windermere.

A candy buffet in the beautiful Langdale Chase Hotel, Windermere.

A new addition to TSP candy buffet - candy canapes!

A new addition to TSP candy buffet – candy canapes!

Some sweet treats for guest at a wedding at the gorgeous Rivington Barn

Some sweet treats for guests at a wedding at the gorgeous Rivington Barn

Top tips on choosing your candy buffet

  • Choose your favourite sweets – don’t be restricted by trying to pick sweets which match your colour scheme. Instead, ask your supplier to dress the table so it coordinates to your colour scheme – that way you have the best of both worlds.
  • Limit the number of hard boiled sweet you choose – I have noticed that at the end of the night – there are always plenty of hard boiled sweets left over – which the hosts will inevitably be munching their way through for months to come. My advice is to opt for some pick and mix classics, such as fried eggs, flying saucers and giant strawberries, which are always very popular with guests.
  • Check with your supplier their policy on loss or damage of items – you don’t want a hefty bill if one of your guests decides a sweet scoop would make a nice addition to their cutlery drawer.
  • Less is more – I always recommend between 8 – 10 choices of sweets for 100 people as a guide. This provides a good selection and enough of each type of sweet.
  • Remember to check under the table! If there are any sweets which can’t fit into the glass jars – TSP policy is to leave them under the table and for a trustworthy guest to do a quick ‘fill up’ when stocks run low. However, in the festivities, this is inevitably forgotten. Arrange this with a guest beforehand. But I guess, if you do forget, at least there’s plenty left over for the honeymoon!

Do you have any photos from a candy buffet you’d like to share? Email your pictures to amy@thesweetpantry.co.uk or visit www.thesweetpantry.co.uk for more information about TSP candy buffet.

The only thing better than eating chocolate is reading about it…!

25 May

A post by guest blogger Meg Longworth, Nutritionist

Chocolate is a food that everybody loves! From ‘just a taste’ to complete indulgence, chocolate can improve any situation and lift any bad mood!

However, it is common knowledge that consuming chocolate in large amounts on a regular basis can put huge pressure on those weighing scales! Take a bar of Dairy Milk for instance. It can take less than 5 minutes to gobble, yet a minimum of 60 minutes to walk off! As you all know from my first blog, one of my general rules is to ‘eat everything in moderation’ and this certainly applies with chocolate.

The type of chocolate that you opt for can make a difference; dark chocolate being the most nutritionally beneficial however this is not me giving you the go ahead to set off on a binging session!

In terms of ingredients, dark chocolate (unlike milk and white chocolate) contains less sugar and more cocoa and therefore has a lower calorie and fat content, yet it is important to remember that overdoing it will cancel out these benefits.

The link between chocolate and romance is not just a myth; dark chocolate contains phenethylamine, the same chemical that is released from the brain when we are in love. Research suggests that by consuming chocolate you can experience pleasure and happiness which explains why many of us consider chocolate to be an addiction.

More often than not it is the sweet taste of chocolate that we crave and as a nutritionist, I am able to provide you with some inspirational ideas for chocolate treats that will be slightly more considerate of your waistline:

  • Replace milk and white chocolate for dark chocolate in your kitchen cupboards and any recipe that you find.
  • Instead of sugar, drizzle melted dark chocolate over fresh strawberries or better yet, pineapple or papaya. Both pineapple and papaya encourage digestion and therefore prevent bloating.
  • Add a few squares of dark chocolate to your home-made chilli – might sounds bizarre but trust me! And you can also opt for Quorn instead of minced meat to keep those fat and saturated fat levels low.
  • And finally, treat your chocolate cravings with an Options hot chocolate for just 40 calories.
You can still enjoy chocolate while watching your waist line. One way to do this is to opt over dark chocolate over milk or white. (Picture credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chocolate.jpg)

You can still enjoy chocolate while watching your waist line. Opt for dark chocolate over milk or white. (Picture credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chocolate.jpg)

So go on, enjoy that piece of dark chocolate – but remember: ‘everything in moderation’.

Next time Meg covers healthy baking at home (is there such a thing!?)

To contact Meg please email: meg_longworth@hotmail.co.uk

Afternoon tea at the Radisson Edwardian

20 Apr

A post by Amy from The Sweet Pantry

I’ve always loved afternoon tea – who doesn’t? Delicate little finger sandwiches, warm scones, dollops of clotted cream and cake – oh the cake!

So when I came across afternoontea.co.uk I was in heaven. The website is packed full of offers, and even better – they have a blog which reviews afternoon tea.

I was lucky enough to visit the Radisson Edwardian Hotel in Manchester, where I sampled afternoon tea in their restaurant Opus One. So here’s my first (and hopefully not last) afternoon tea review which can be found on the afternoontea.co.uk blog.

Afternoon Tea at Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel Manchester Review – Amy Martinez

Blogger: Amy Martinez

Amy is the owner of The Sweet Pantry (www.thesweetpantry.co.uk) and is an avid blogger of all things sweet.

Amy went to Opus One in the Radisson Edwardian Hotel in Manchester to try their new Gentleman’s Afternoon Tea menu.


Gentleman’s Afternoon Tea at Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel Manchester Review

When afternoontea.co.uk asked me to sample the Gentleman’s Afternoon Tea at the Radisson Edwardian Hotel – I had two thoughts. The first was ‘great, this will be amazing’ (I had heard of the hotel before) – and the second, was, ‘I wonder what makes this one for the gents?’ Housed within the Radisson Edwardian Hotel, the plush Opus One restaurant was our destination where we would ‘take tea.’

Afternoon Tea at Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel Manchester Review - Amy Martinez

When my guest and I arrived, we were promptly greeted by a friendly waitress and shown to our table by the manager – who was very chatty and made us feel at ease straightaway. The surroundings were opulent – and we were seated by the large glassed hotel façade – perfect as it was a warm summer’s day (in March no less!).

Afternoon Tea at Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel Manchester Review - Amy Martinez

We were given a tea menu – of which I chose traditional English Breakfast, and my guest had an Americana. The Americana was smooth and rich, while the tea was full of flavour and refreshing. For those wanting a caffeine-free option, fruit teas were also available.

Afternoon Tea at Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel Manchester Review - Amy Martinez

The waitress asked of any dietary requirements – and while there were none, we did decided to substitute our red meat sandwiches in favour for Cheese and Pickle, Tuna and Roast Chicken. While we sipped tea and enjoyed our surroundings, a three tiered cake stand was bought over, some moments later. To say there was a lot of food, would be an understatement. When it was brought over, I could instantly see why this was one for the gents.

Afternoon Tea at Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel Manchester Review - Amy Martinez

With six large triangular sandwiches (no fingers sandwiches here!), two mini Yorkshire puddings with roast beef and gravy, two mini fish and chips with mushy peas, two pork pies with chutney and four scones – we had a feast fit for at least two kings.

We tucked into the hot food first. Served alongside the mini Yorkshire puddings and roast beef, was a jug of rich gravy – which we promptly poured over the Yorkshire pudding and let it soak in. Is there any other way of enjoying a Yorkshire pud? It was simply delicious.

At this point, we still felt like we could conquer the world, so continued with the mini fish and chips, which was served with mushy peas. Everything about this was great – crispy batter, chunky bite sized chips and mushy peas which weren’t too lumpy and not too smooth (Goldie Locks would have loved it!)

When it came to the pork pies we were wary. Having endured pork pies in the past, we both admitted they weren’t our favourite food. But we were there to try everything – so we promptly tucked in. And we weren’t disappointment – my guest summed it up in one by describing them as ‘proper pork pies’ –  tasty and not an ounce of cheap meat in sight.

Feeling like the holes in our bellies were getting smaller by the bite – we came to the sandwiches, which unfortunately we didn’t finish (purely to ensure we had enough room for the scones!). The sandwiches were hearty triple deckers filled to the brim with tasty fillings.

Now like any fan of afternoon tea, I believe the proof is in the scone. We were served four scones, two plain and two with fruit, accompanied by a small pot of clotted cream and two jars of Tiptree Raspberry Jam.

Afternoon Tea at Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel Manchester Review - Amy Martinez

The scones were warm (tick), slightly crunchy on the outside, but deliciously soft and crumbly on the inside (tick). The clotted cream was ‘melt in your mouth’ delicious (tick). The scones were the perfect finale of our afternoon tea experience – which left us feeling suitably full and relaxed.

Afternoon Tea at Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel Manchester Review - Amy Martinez

The afternoon tea at Opus One was wonderful. The staff were attentive, without being overbearing, and we were able to while away a few hours in sumptuous surroundings, enjoying good old fashioned hearty fayre.

The Gentleman’s Afternoon is a fantastic take on the traditional afternoon tea and great for men who want some ‘proper food’. Perfect for Father’s day perhaps.

The (not so) delicate art of baking

9 Mar

A post by guest blogger, Asmau Hassan from The Sugared Saffron Cake Company

The UK baking scene is buzzing. Inspired by cheap-chic and shows like The Great British Bake Off, we’re all trying to return to a time of feminine glory. Aprons, hand whisks and perfect baked goods. Everyone’s getting on the vintage bandwagon; shabby chic oven gloves at the ready and your kitchen scales are finally getting used.

But things just seem a bit…well… off. The kitchen is covered in icing sugar, your sponge is as flat as a pancake and it really, really doesn’t look like the picture on BBCGoodFood. What’s a girl to do?

Ever tempted by the convenience of processed foods, us naughty Brits are going over to the dark side. Betty Crocker icing in a tub, add an egg cake mix, surely it’s still homemade if I made it at home, right? Ermm, wrong.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a food snob, but we all have to draw the line somewhere. Baking is an art, but if we’re being honest, a Victoria sponge is not rocket science. Understanding a recipe and the techniques to a happy cake takes time, reading, and most of all practice. It’s a goal easily within reach for most of us.

If we look at the ingredients of these quick fix baking products, a large proportion of them I can’t even pronounce. We don’t need preservatives, modified starches, E-numbers, partially hydrogenated vegetable fats, stabilisers, and the ever mysterious ‘flavouring’. A bit of practice and a good recipe will suffice. Do we really need to resort to buttercream style icing? Dude, it’s 1 part butter to 2 parts icing sugar! Simple!

I love that America influences our culture and gives us lots of cool things; but we really don’t need to import the baking habits of our US brethren just yet.

So here are my top tips for successful baking:

  • Practice, practice, practice – One failure does not mean you cannot bake – we all try and fail sometimes.
  • Creaming butter and sugar, means creaming! – Your mixture needs to be pale and have increased in volume.
  • Use at room temperature – Make sure your eggs are out of the fridge and don’t leave your butter until it melts on the counter.
  • Don’t convert US recipes – If you’re a beginner, start with home grown recipes to avoid cake heartache.
  • Work slow – A stressed out baker rushing around won’t achieve a thing (believe me, I’ve tried)
We can't all be master bakers... but let's have fun getting there. And in the mean time there is The Sugared Saffron Company which creates masterpieces like this Peony Cake

We can't all be master bakers... but let's have fun getting there. And in the mean time at least there is The Sugared Saffron Company which creates masterpieces like this Peony Cake.

The Sugared Saffron Cake Company was born from Asmau’s love of baking, painting, and all things creative. The company strives to reach the forefront of cake design with delicious baked goods, and attention to detail. Using brilliant ingredients and incorporating big ideas, the company wants to see every bride have a spectacular wedding cake they can be proud of. For more information visit: www.sugaredsaffron.co.uk

Whose toffees are they anyway?

1 Mar

A post by guest blogger Saija Mahon (toffee lover)

Firstly, let’s start with toffee in general.

Toffees are hard or chewy sweets that are usually made of sugar, water and butter – quite simple really isn’t it? Sometimes you may add flour or cream to give it that extra flavour and texture.

Toffees are very popular just as they are, however one preferred way of indulging this particular sweet is as Toffee Apples, which are apples on sticks which then are coated with toffee.

So what is all the fuss about then? Why do we love toffee so much and why does it make us feel all fuzzy inside?

Well, I guess it depends.

A short while ago, I came across a packet of delicious looking toffee. I glanced at the packet – looking all old fashioned and beautiful, very traditional and very British. Not just one of those plastic sweet bags that make no effort at all, this was something special, this packet was full of emotion and full of effort.

I just had to have it.

After a bit of investigation, it came to my attention that these delicious toffees were originating from Mr. Stanley’s confectionery range – traced all the way back to North Yorkshire England in the 1800’s.

Mr. Stanley’s original purpose was to make special sweets to be shared with family and friends and discover new, exotic flavours to be added to his range whenever he was travelling around the world. As his sweets got more popular, he decided to go into commercial production of his treats.

Despite the newly developed business element of Mr. Stanley’s confectionery – the range has always maintained a respect for its roots. These sweets are all about feeling good and happy, sharing a special moment with your loved ones.

We all have memories of our childhood and the days at the fun fair – having a bar of toffee or a toffee apple in our hands, laughing away with our family and friends.

Toffee, and indeed, Mr. Stanley’s, is something that brings those memories back to life and makes us remember who we are and where we come from. There is a moment of history, elegance, memories and love in each piece of toffee. It’s not only about indulging – it’s an experience in itself.

I think we can fairly safely say that the world is a better place with some toffee in it!

Mr Stanley's toffee - our guest blogger's favourite

Mr Stanley's toffee - our blogger's favourite

Mr. Stanley’s is after your favourite toffee moment! Head over to their Facebook page to share your toffee stories.

Want to share your love for your favourite sweet treat? Email amy@thesweetpantry.co.uk and you could feature on this blog.