My American Dream

There's nothing like a holiday somewhere sunny and gorgeous to blow the cobwebs away is there!?

You might have seen from my twitter that I was lucky enough to spend the festive season in Los Angeles. Not only was I going to be in LA for New Year's Eve (and escaping the wintry North East weather), we were also there to celebrate an amazing achievement in our friends' lives... 

Jamie, or Sermstyle as he's better known in the music industry, has recently been snapped up by Atlantic/Warner records as a music producer, and while we were in LA his first big single Timber featuring Pitbull and Ke$ha became the first number 1 of 2014 in America and the UK!! We had an amazing time over there so I thought I'd share a few pictures with you!

We stayed in a beautiful house in the Hollywood Hills which was just minutes away from the hustle and bustle of LA. After managing to stay awake for over 24 hours, we soon set out to explore Hollywood and infamous Walk of Fame. 

After rubbing shoulders with the stars we headed to the beautiful Venice Beach and wandered along the Boardwalk towards Santa Monica taking in the sights.

After all that exercise it was definitely time for a quick pit stop before getting dolled up for the end of the year!!

A little birdie told us we HAD to try In-N-Out burgers, and well, need I say more...

After a few glasses of champagne on our twinkly roof terrace we headed to the Hollywood Improv, a local comedy club where the other half was super excited to see his hero Joe Rogan perform. I have to admit I had a really good time, although the jet lag was definitely starting to kick in and I flopped straight into bed when we got home (some party animal I am eh?) 

The next day we made the most of the gorgeous weather and drove to Malibu where we decided to spy on celebrity's houses, lounge on the beach, make the most of the sun and sleep off our hangovers - best New Year's Day ever!

 And I got to see pelicans!!

I could get used to spending January in the sea...

Not a day went by without us hitting the road and discovering something new. Some of my favourite highlights were definitely Huntington Beach where I saw dolphins (!), the super cool Venice Beach, Griffith Park Observatory, Universal Studios and of course Rodeo Drive/Beverly Hills where I might have dipped into my overdraft bought myself a little present and found my spiritual home!

Watching the sun go down at Huntington Beach

Our trip to LA was amazing and I can't believe Jamie and Ashleigh still get to be there! I don't know what 2014 holds, but what a way to kick it off!

Happy New Year!

Pssst, in case you haven't heard the UK's biggest song right now, check it out and support some local talent!

Friends, Fairylights and Fine Dining

Much to my boyfriend's dismay, one of my favourite things to do is go out for food. It doesn't have to be expensive, just somewhere with a nice atmosphere and good food. 

Luckily for him, best friend Lisa makes an excellent culinary companion; having been friends for just about forever, I'm pleased to say we've built up quite a repertoire of go-to dinner destinations across the North East. 

Oddly enough, there's a restaurant just a stones throw away from our houses called The New Exchange Brasserie we've always wanted to try but never got round to doing so. So when I spotted an offer for The New Exchange for a meal for two with wine on NEoffers.co.uk, I told wor lass to dress to impress and be ready for our date. 

From what I gather, The New Exchange in North Shields has changed hands over the years, but its secluded courtyard location has remained one of its biggest assets. The patio/courtyard terrace is magical thanks to the stylish rattan tables and chairs and strings of twinkly fairy lights festooned and wrapped around every available surface. Sadly we would not be dining alfresco tonight thanks to the wild North Sea wind that threatened to blow our hair from our heads but it was a pretty sight all the same. 

Walking into the restaurant, I instantly liked its laidback atmosphere and effortlessly cool interior. Exposed red brick walls contrast with soft leather chairs, while the inky night sky hangs above you, seeping into the room from the glass walls and lean-to roof. 

After presenting our voucher, we were shown to our table, where we popped open the cork of our bottle of house white and spilled the contents of our lives to each other until prompted to make a decision from the menu. 

It's probably worth noting that the £19.99 deal from NEoffers.co.uk will get you a bottle of house wine and a main course for two - any additional drinks, starters or desserts are extra. 

We decided to sample the black pudding and chorizo 'bombe' with redcurrant jus and micro greens to start and share apple crumble and custard for dessert. The black pudding and chorizo starter came encased in flaky puff pastry which was a surprise (who can refuse extra carbs?) and we both thought the portion size was generous. 

I'd like to say we were wildly adventurous with our mains (the menu did tempt us with pan-friend sea bass, Barbary duck breast and wild mushroom risotto), but the trouble with dining out with your best friend is that inevitably you'll both like the same thing - so pan friend pork loin with peppercorn sauce, glazed carrots and handcut chips it was! 

Both the pork and the peppercorn sauce was delicious and I thought the sticky sweetness of the carrots was a nice touch too. Unfortunately, our chips had to be sent back to the kitchen as they were still quite hard and threatened to spoil the dish. 

Dessert arrived shortly after our mains and we happily tucked into warm, gooey apple pie and custard served with a side of cinder toffee. Being an avid dessert fan, I have to say I was a little disappointed that the crumble was more of an oaty granola rather than the good old stick-to-the-ribs flour and butter crumble topping you would make at home, but I would still give it 4/5 as we managed to clean the plate. 

VERDICT: The New Exchange was just the right kind of busy for midweek and we're glad we finally got the chance to try it. I'm sure we'll be back, if not just to sip something delicious on that twinkly outdoor terrace! 

The restaurant is a true hidden gem and what better excuse to uncover it than with a voucher on NEoffers.co.uk?

Pssst, quote PROSECCOANDPIE when buying your voucher online 

and enjoy an extra 10% off on me - cheers! 

Pssst...

A little while ago I heard whisperings of a secret club dedicated to those who share a love of cake. 'I love cake!' I thought, but how do I join this secret society? 

The Clandestine Cake Company is the brainchild of Lynn Hill, an avid baker. Her aim was to create a club where likeminded people could meet once every two months and share their passion, tips and skills, and maybe make a few new friends in the process. What's not to love!? 

The CCC has grown from strength to strength, chances are there'll be a group right near you! The club also recently published a recipe collection to inspire other members and would-be bakers. 

So after skirting the sidelines of this ingenious gang, I plucked up the courage to find a club in Newcastle. For once it seems luck was on my side and organiser Lisa had one space left at this month's meeting! (They fill up very fast).

I was excited, intrigued and terrified all at the same time. Now if you speak to my mother, she'll no doubt be pretty cruel about my baking skills. I might have burnt toast on more than one occasion, and I struggle to make porridge.... but I do like baking! 

Check out my summer berry crumble I knocked up last week: 

Luckily for me, I didn't have the added pressure of baking something this time, I could just go as a guest. This month's theme was 'history' so off I went at 6pm on Monday evening to our secret location (The Knit Studio, Blackfriars, Newcastle). 

I think I was born to be here. 

Predominantly a group of ladies ranging from 20+, everyone wore pretty tea dresses and greeted each other like old friends. Endless rounds of tea were served in dainty china cups and saucers and we chatted as we waited for our group of 15 to form. 

There's no judging at these meetings, basically everyone turns up, bakes a cake and everyone has a slice (or three) of each other's cakes. What. A. Genius. Idea. 

There were some really unique creations such as the 'Kitchen Garden' cake, a concoction of potatoes, apples, orange peel and celery, inspired by the Grow Your Own revolution in the early 50s. There was also a rather charming creation decorated in dinosaur biscuits! 

Turns out there was no reason to be nervous! Everyone was so friendly and the handy name badges we were asked to wear made introducing yourself a lot easier. After a good five slices, (what? you're encouraged to fill your boots...), I have to say the battenburg was my favourite, closely followed by a chai tea loaf. 

Saying my goodbyes and taking a wedge of battenburg home for my grandma, I was asked if i'd be coming to the next meeting....

Guys, I guess this means i'm in the club!  

You can tweet them @clandestinecake, or visit their website www.clandestinecakeclub.co.uk

Time for Tea

I don't know about you, but I always feel like everybody else has a secret life they delve into on Sundays, a ritual in which they squeeze every last drop out of the weekend - except me. I never really know what to do with myself, half of me wants to get up at the crack of dawn and do five different things with my day to make the most of it, while the other half wants to lounge around making brunch and reading a good book. 

Well lovely readers, I've cracked it. I spent today enjoying delicious afternoon tea in one of the most beautiful gardens hidden in Durham city centre! 

Having received a kind invite to visit Crook Hall and Gardens for afternoon tea and a meander around the gardens, I hopped in the car and journeyed south with my mother and her broken leg in tow. Neither of us knowing what to expect, we pulled up on an unsuspecting lane just around the bend from the riverbank and Radisson Blu hotel. Hidden completely from view was Crook Hall, the family home of Maggie and Keith Bell and ancient medieval manor. 

Look at the sight which greeted us! 

The smell of the sweet peas was incredible as we made our way through the gardens! 

A little further along was a stunning wildflower meadow and maze, the land i'm told was a 40th birthday gift from Keith to Maggie - how romantic! Everywhere you looked was colour, texture and my favourite little touch, hidden settings for afternoon tea! You would turn a corner or unlock a gate and stumble upon the most perfect setting, as though fairies had set it up and invite you to sit down for a spot of tea. 

Our lovely host Maggie led my mam and I to the most perfect sheltered setting near the house where a veritable feast awaited us. Three tiers of homemade goodies were beautifully decorated with flowers from the garden. Everything looked perfect! 

Our afternoon tea for two consisted of: 

TIER ONE

- egg mayonnaise and prawn cocktail 'drops'

- A selection of cheese and pickle, salmon and cream cheese, ham and mustard and cucumber sandwiches

- fresh lettuce, tomato celery and carrot sticks from the garden

TIER TWO

- Two plain homemade scones with the most amazing clotted cream, strawberry jam and fresh strawberries and raspberries from the garden (which were unbelievably good)

TIER THREE

- Ginger parkin with garden mint

- Chocolate eclairs

- Sponge rolls

- Homemade meringues 

- Caramel shortbread 

Look how beautifully everything was presented! After devouring everything in sight (and taking home a snip of lettuce for the guineapig!) we were invited to explore the gardens. I don't want to spoil the surprise too much, so i'll say this; Crook Hall's series of old Walled Gardens and Orchard are incredibly tranquil, beautiful to behold and full of surprises around every corner. Just have a look at some of the photos I took! 

I struggle to choose my favourite part as I loved absolutely everything, but if I had to, i'd choose the Shakespeare Garden. It is so peaceful and beautiful. The planting scheme just draws your eye at every angle, I can really imagine myself sitting there on a sunny day and writing. 

I loved the Orchard too, full of cooking apples and plums. Our lovely, knowledgeable guide (and the wedding manager) Nicola told me they invite people to come and pick hoardes of the fruit at the end of the season to make tarts and sauces. 

My mam's favourite part was the vegetable garden, which I imagined to be like Mr McGregors garden from Beatrix Potter. It was full of raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes, courgettes, cucumbers and onions. They also grow a few unusual plants too, such as celery parsley and strawberry spinach. 

I had such a brilliant day here, it was a pleasure to visit and I can't wait to be back.

Crook Hall will be opening more during winter this year too, imagine how magical the whole place will look when covered in a carpet of snow, the frosty leaves and branches twinkling in the sun. There's plenty of roaring fires indoors to keep you warm, and can you imagine the Christmas-inspired afternoon tea in the beautiful Georgian dining room which looks out over the gardens and ginormous Christmas tree. 

For somebody as rubbish with directions as me, Crook Hall was actually really simple to find. It's just left towards the passport office just as you come off the A1 and arrive in Durham and a 20 minute or so walk from the train station. I can't recommend the place enough, you'll have a lovely day regardless of whether you're six or sixty. Go for a picnic on a sunny day and definitely for a birthday/special afternoon tea treat! 

Visit their website www.crookhallgardens.co.uk for opening times and more information. 

Thank you for having us!