How to Bake a Delicious Honey Cake.

Good first day of summer to all of you! I hope that wherever you are, you're enjoying sunshine, the smell of BBQ's and that you're not too burnt because you didn't use suncream! Today I thought I'd drop by with a delicious recipe that a wonderful woman from the National Federation of Women's Institutes gave me when I was visiting the bee tent at Royal Cornwall Show just the other week! I'd been excited to try it, so when I discovered that it was my baking week (we have a longstanding Great Banking Bake-Off Wednesday in my work) I knew I wanted to try this. I was lucky to get some super delicious Cornish wildflower honey and I made sure I got some local feee range eggs to help our friends, the hens.  I'm a bit of a sprucer, so  I spent ages bumbling around on Pinterest for inspiration as to what to add to my delicious cake; until Harps told me to stop faffing and just make it plain. (I still snuck a few raisins in though.) I've got to say, it was one of the easiest cakes I've ever made and went down a right treat! Perfect for summer days ahead! 

200g SR Flour

2 Eggs, large

125g Butter

150g Honey, clear

100g Soft Brown Sugar

1 tbsp Water

Optional – 1 tsp Mixed Spice or a few Flaked Almonds or raisins 

1. Set oven Gas 5 175C

2. Grease and line a tin 28cm x 18cm

3. Put the sugar, butter and honey in a large pan and melt together

4. Allow to cool

5. Beat in the eggs, water and flour (and spice if used)

6. Mix well

7. Place in the cake tin and sprinkle with flaked almonds if used and bake for about 35 mins until firm

And hey presto! Perfect and long lasting honey cake! I didn't add the almonds or mixed spice, mainly because it was too sunny and I didn't want to go and source these things. I'm sure it'd be delicious with them!

Love Sophie Xx

Royal Cornwall Show and Fundraising as a Giant Bear..

Aaah Royal Cornwall Show, a true Cornish event. Held in Wadebridge, this annual event lasts for three days, showcasing the majority of Cornish farming, businesses and entertainment gaoler. I've only attended once before, and it's just a huge fun time and was excited when I was invited to fundraise for the brilliant children's charity CHICKS. CHICKS provide week long respite breaks for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Supporting a range of children from a variety of backgrounds including; those living in poverty, abused or abused children,  children who have lost their parents and those that are full time carers at such a young age. CHICKS provides two retreats for children to spend a week enjoying themselves and making happy and lasting memories. When I was asked to go and help out at Royal Cornwall, I was more than happy to give it a go.

Harps and I got there early and decided to check out the bee tent before we went and found our place. 

We had a great time helping collect donations, dancing as the official CHICKS bear 'MAS'- Make A Smile, selling raffle tickets and raising awareness. Thank you to every child that high-fived us, parent that waved and even hugged someone dressed as a bear because their children wanted them to and especially all those that donated. A special shout out to the guy who gave me £3.00 to dance whilst dressed as the bear to gangnam style. Touché. 

Love Sophie Xx

Before I Go Back to Work...

A list of thanks.

• Thanks Batman for definitely NOT caring for the cherries I saved for you.
• Thanks also for trying to help me do the gardening.
• Thanks Jeremy Kyle for making me belly laugh and cringe in horror at the same time.
• Thanks sunshine for trying to make an appearance one day out of fourteen. Not.
• Thanks Harps for being official tea-bearer for the majority of our time off.
• Thanks Friends of the Earth for sending me some super bee saving seeds. Just text 'flower' to 70060 to find out all about helping the bees too with some free seeds! Even if you live in a flat with a balcony (here's looking at you Liona) you can help!
• Thanks Lidl for feeding me with pastries literally every other day and contributing to my new thunder thighs.
• Thanks sheinside.com for my fancy new birdy dress.

• Thanks cows for keeping me all stocked up on milk for my copious amounts of tea consumed.
• Thanks Amazon for next day delivery so I can catch up on Game of Thrones before I go back to work.
• Thanks to Santander for matching the fundraising me and my little bucket did on Saturday.
• Thanks CHICKS for looking after me. (I'll tell you all about this soon!)
• Thanks Budweiser for not giving me a hangover. Wine, I do not thank you.
• Thanks Harps for dressing up like a giant bear and being an all round good sport.
• Thanks baby wipes for helping save me after being a giant bear.
• Thanks WI for giving me some super honey based recipes! Watch out for these!
• Thanks to everyone that ensured I had plenty of laughs on Friday night.
• Thanks mummy for the many conversations over "what to have for dinner."
• Thanks Cornwall for being a bleddy lovely place to live.

Love Sophie Xx