If we were having coffee it would be served with a huge slab of Chocolate birthday cake, a side of fresh Scottish strawberries and a dollop of Greek yoghurt.
The weekend is a busy one and I took Friday off work (which means trying not to log in, to not peak at the emails and to not worry about the issues that you know are building up). Mainly to enjoy some family time as we celebrate a couple of anniversaries, ar year wiser for the boy and to acknowledge another year of marriage. It all flies by so quickly.
As ever food has been a big feature. At the request of the boy, there was breakfast pancakes and a Chinese take away for tea followed by a Fast and Furious film, I think it was number 8, they are very much blending into one!
The cake already mentioned baked and iced with a secret ingredient…..Condensed milk. Which you wouldn’t believe how hard was to get in this current climate. I turned it into a labor of love by drawing a Fortnite character on top using white chocolate. Let’s just say there was room for improvement. Fortunately though it didn’t stop it being eaten….and at time of writing there is only one slice left….which you are more than welcome to.
For some I’m sure your wondering if I’ve spelt Fortnite correctly. It’s the name of an online shoot em-up, last man standing kind of thing. You can play solo or in teams of up to 4 players. Either Duos or Squads. As a boy who’s games console was Astro Wars, and moved onto a second hand Spectrum 48k. This is mind blowing with headsets to boot in order to talk to pals just round the corner, or around the world in New Zealand. It’s been a god send during lockdown as the boys stay in touch with their pals over the power of broadband.
The best part is that I’ve been allowed to join in….I’m carried every step of the way, and they don’t seem to mind. It just adds to being in the game for the boy and his pals. It’s one of those if you can’t beat em join em moments and I’m really lucky to have this extra time with a teenage boy.
Saturday evening, In an effort to get sophisticated and have a more adult meal with the boss, I tried a new recipe where I discovered Freekeh. Served with roasted butternut squash, a fillet of sea bream and a green salad. Freekeh is an amazing grain, nutty, chewy and soft at the same time.
After the big cookbook sort out…..(Yes, I finally finished). I bought a couple of new ones (Don’t groan :)). Honestly, more went out than have come in!
- Aran by Flora Sheddon,
Based around the startup of a village bakery cafe In Dunkeld, along with the ebb and flow of the daily life in a Scottish day. I managed to grab 30 mins with a coffee, and I don’t know if was just peace for the self reflection, or the writing. It took me back to my childhood, staying with my Gran at weekends, cricket teas and warmth of people. This is a beautiful heart warming book about a bakery café.
- 26 Grains by Alex Hell-Hutchinson
This I bought really for my wife, I’ve not had the time to delve deep yet. It’s part of my journey into healthier eating. It’s got the London vibe of another start up café. Where the previous book is about old fashioned warmth…lets say Scottish Hygge. This book is more akin to the new wave of modern eating, professing to be on trend and on message, the author having spent a year in Copenhagen as part of a degree, enjoying the scene and food so much that it translated into a new start-up café in London based around grains and good living. This is where I plucked up the courage to tackle Freekeh from.
The battle bus is calling……I hope you have a great week.
The #WeekendCoffeeShare is an informal weekly link-up hosted by Eclectic Alli that serves as weekly heart beat and sort of of a mind-dump. Helps me reflect on my week, with a list of achievements, thoughts and rambles normally whilst drinking a beverage probably listening to music.
Thanks for the coffee and that delicious cake! All the kids here play fortnite, and the game is mentioned in one of the most popular songs of the season. I think you did great with the cake 🙂 Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Thanks for the big up on the cake.
Hi EC,
Are you suggesting chocolate cake for breakfast? I’m one of those who genetically does not understand how chocolate works for the morning meal. I could do a nice spice cake first thing in the morning, but that dark flavor must wait until after noon at least. Ah but then there is the whole topic of on line gaming. My son tells me that he works with a bunch of young adults, mostly young men, who are obsessed with it and is frustrated because few of them aspire to do anything else with their lives. I’m come to suspect there is a dangerous dynamic in here somewhere.
In principle I agree, cake in the morning is not quite right. But then if someone was to present with freshly backed muffins I think it would be rude to refuse :). I sure we could spend hours debating he merits or lack of on line gaming and I’d be swayed in either direction. It’s all about balance….and lock down has tested that it has to be said. Once the 5 mile radius is lifted I’d be dragging the boys out into the hills rest assured to marvel at the world we live in.
The cake looks yummy, no wonder it was gone so fast. Glad you took Friday off and had a nice long weekend to celebrate with the family. Have a great week!