Exploring the Birmingham Jewellery quarter ....

Daughter & I met up with a good friend, Ms M, to catch up in Birmingham.  We just don't get there often enough but it was such a treat to just catch up in a favourite place.

Ms M was keen to visit the famous Jewellery Quarter so that is where we headed. Time was on our side so we walked from the city centre, taking in the delights & catching up on each others news. 

 

We watched this boat negotiate the canal locks which run through the city centre. They did so well - I would have been all fingers & thumbs with people watching the journey & the lock process ...

Us three girlies then had a lovely time exploring the Jewellery Quarter

A Tilly ring in case my cousin so named needs a treat :)

It is a totally fascinating experience, especially as we took in the history of it at the  museum-of-the-jewellery-quarter  which tells the fabulous story of the Smith & Pepper manufacturers.

If you find yourself in Birmingham, please visit this fascinating quarter ....

Thanks for stopping by, I always enjoy your comments,
Dee ~♥~

Delicious French pastries

A trip to Birmingham for a lazy breakfast & some shopping then on the way back to our parking, we picked out an assortment of breads & pastries ...

Four pastries for 4 of us ....

Wonderfully chocolatey delight

Thinly sliced apple on top of a thin pastry & custard base

Fruit delight

Pear with a flaked almond pastry

After much deliberation, we decided to cut each in 4 so we got to enjoy a little of each

Of course, our  new-chopping-boards is perfect for photos

Are you tempted by pastries? Which are your favourite? Do  you share?

Thanks for stopping by, I always enjoy your comments

Dee ~♥~

Stunning new chopping boards

When foodie daughter & her man moved back home, I realised that my two well loved chopping boards are just not enough anymore but I really don't like plastic boards ....

The IKEA lämplig is a large chopping board  which is brilliant value & massive enough for general food preparation but it lacks aesthetic appeal for photos

While browsing the Bridport markets I saw these gems on a stall.

The stall owner makes wooden items from trees he sources around the countryside. He told me my two boards came from a aged, fallen oak tree he saw in a field & negotiated a price with the farmer.

I love things with history - the thought of our boards being battered by all sorts of weather for decades then being useful again is a lovely thought.

For now, we are using them for food display & photography & doing the chopping & preparation on the sturdy IKEA slab.

Is this board not a thing of beauty?

What is your preferred choice of boards?

Utilitarian or beauty? Plastic or wood?  How do you treat yours?

Thanks for stopping by & leaving a comment,

Dee ~♥~

Homemade pizza time

I shared my farmers-market-shopping - it is something I really love; browsing, talking to the stall holders, sampling & then taking home some special things to share with the family.

While out at the market, we were tempted by the selection of cheeses, the parma ham & fresh tomatoes & knew straight away that they were perfect for home made pizza.

A stop at an en route farm shop provided some really good seeded flour. We all love seeds & even though it is not traditional in pizza, it was what we used.

My wondering star daughter & her chap are passionate about their food & so I was only too happy to leave them to it while I did what I like doing - taking photos!

Parmesan, mature cheddar, goats cheese for toppings ....

 Really good parma ham from the market stall

Freshly made tomato sauce with passata, garlic & chillies

A vegetarian pizza topping of peppers, spring onions & thinly sliced marrow

 

 I found this slicer on a market stall years ago - it has 'patent pending' on it so I think it is the original one & it works a treat at slicing various thicknesses so we used it on the cheeses

Fresh herbs from our garden, snipped with my special herb scissors

This is a ham, cheese & tomato pizza in the making

 

This one ham, cheddar & goats cheese with fresh mint (youngest daughter finds goats cheese too rich so it was only on some of the pizzas)

Hot out of the oven

Bubbling hot Vegetable pizza  from the oven

We finished off with a chocolate brownie & ice-cream

Heavenly, I love having the foodies at home because they love trying different foods, wines & are good company. Thanks for a fabulous meal :)

Are you a pizza fan? Which toppings make your mouth water?

Thanks for stopping by & following so I can return the visits.

Dee ~♥~

Farmers market shopping

We are very fortunate to live close to several market towns & farm shops.

 

 

They offer farm fresh produce that is both interesting & healthy. The food is not run of the mill supermarket stuff & I love being able to browse & interact with the stall holders.

This lovely selection at the apley farm shop

 

By supporting our local farmers, we are keeping them in business which can only be a good thing.

Do you enjoy food markets? What do they offer that you enjoy most?

Thanks for stopping by & following so I can return the visits.
Dee ~♥~