The first of three weekends at Artists Open Houses

As the weekend comes to close, so does Louise's Kitchen's first weekend in residence at the very stylish and very christmassy 33 Coventry Street in Brighton. This house along with over 70 opens its doors to the public for three consecutive weekends selling all sorts of wares from local artists and designers - it's a great alternative to the High Street for Christmas shopping. Amongst the stylish lampshades, cushions, jewellery, clothing and artwork, Louise's Kitchen offered up plates of home-baked goodies - vanilla, chocolate and red velvet cupcakes, brownies, giant vanilla snowflake cookies, boxes of chocolate cookies and festive cranberry muffins. The plates have not much left on them aside for a few crumbs, so it's back to the kitchen to bake a fresh new batch for next weekend. If you're in the area please do pop in!

Come on over!

Louise’s Kitchen will be selling a selection of freshly baked cupcakes, brownies, cookies and muffins at Brighton’s Artists Open Houses Christmas 2009 event. For three weekends, 28/29 Nov, 5/6 Dec and 12/13 Dec, these sweet treats will be on sale at 33 Coventry Street, Brighton, BN1 5PP, 11.00 - 18.00. As well as sampling the baked goodies, you can get your christmas shopping underway as the house will be filled with a wide variety of christmas gifts to buy. Host of the event, the wonderful Madeliene of Mibo (www.mibo.co.uk) will be selling her charming christmas creatures along side plenty of other bargins and samples. Lee Baker will be there with his exquisite Japanese influenced screen prints, Ricore will be showcasing delicate Art-Deco inspired jewellery, Organic Stereo will be selling their chic organic clothing and
Sarah Carlisle has the perfect christmas plant gifts from just £5.00.

Browsing the Artists Open Houses with a glass of mulled wine, signals the start of the Brighton Christmas social calendar. This year over 70 houses will be open over the 3 weekends filled with almost every kind of Christmas gift you could wish for. As well as paintings, prints and sculpture, many houses offer ceramics, textiles, lighting, home furnishings, cards and a variety of Christmas decorations.

Many of the houses are clustered together within easy walking distance of one another, so it is easy to spend an enjoyable afternoon visiting them. You can chat to the artists and makers about their work as you browse and when you find the perfect gift you can buy direct from the artists.
You can find out more about Artists Open Houses Christmas 2009 at www.aoh.og.uk

The Beat That My Heart Skipped

Today is Friday and as of today that means 'recipe day'. In my new post as Food Editor for the newly launched blog ' The Beat That My Heart Skipped' (a daily website dedicated to interior and lifestyle products, run by London-based stylist and writer Rohini Wahi) I will be supplying a weekly recipe of either my own or a contributor. To launch with I am sharing my recipe for cupcakes, in fact, the very cupcakes I made for some recent dear friends birthday's, collectively known as 'The Madges' (that's the friends not the cakes!).
For my first introductory post I have written a piece on food and how for many years it has been an integral part of my life. Much to my delight I have some great recipes from some very inspiring contributors and amazing cooks, that I will post up over the coming weeks.
So I invite all readers, regular or occasional to pop by every Friday to 'The Beat That My Heart Skipped' and grab yourself a recipe for the weekend.
www.thebeatthatmyheartskipped.co.uk

First Foods

Yesterday was a very special day. Arthur had his first ever solid meal. Until yesterday he was happily feasting on milk alone, morning, afternoon, evening and at times night. But now he has entered the wonderful world of food. It slightly sad; he's growing up fast - five months have gone in a flash.But ultimately I am really excited for him! In preparation for the big food event, I steamed and pureed carrot (organic of course!) for him the previou night, packing the orange mush into some ice-cube trays. It seems only yesterday I was doing the same for Lily. I'm looking forward to gradually introducing other vegetables and fruit to his diet and once he is six months there are all the other foods for him to try such as bread, cheese, fish, cereal, eggs, yoghurt, pasta and rice ..the list goes on. I hope that he will grow up to have a healthy relationship with food and that, like me, he will grow up to love food and will have many happy food memories.
Bon Appetite Arthur! x

Cherry & Almond Cake

I'm off to meet my lovely friend Celia this afternoon. She is the sunniest person I know - just lovely! It was her birthday earlier this week so I shall be taking her a cherry and almond cake that I baked for her. We're meeting for tea and cake at the Hove Museum and Art Gallery ... the cakes there are devine!

A quick autumn lunch in the garden

Brighton was completely wet yesterday - very heavy rain for much of the day. Today however it couldn't be more different. The sun is back and it is a beautiful autumn day. Lunch was a quick celery soup eaten on the garden bench. The celery was the remains of last week's veg box and had lost its firmness. Cooked with the white part of a leek in a little butter and olive oil, I just added some vegetable stock, creme fraiche, black pepper and a sprinkling of fresh lemon thyme. Perfect!

Anniversary Cookies

Today I have been 'Mrs Gorrod' for 10 happy years. A lot of life-changing events have happened during the last decade; a few of them sad, some challenging, but mostly very happy such as the arrival of our two beautiful children - something that can never be beaten!

Ten years on our life seems in someways many miles removed from our carefree life a decade ago. What with work deadlines, school runs and the constant washing of babygrows, time together is normally spent discussing 'To Do' lists over a coffee at the breakfast table. Tonight however we'll be getting in a takeaway - my, we know how to live! To me though timeout from cooking is really is a treat ....

With no time, energy or imagination to go present shopping, I did what was natural to me, and baked (with love) some orange and white chocolate cookies for Mr G. Who was it that said the way to a man's heart is through his stomach? That said, it certainly is the case for some women too, me included!