A SCANDILICIOUS BREAKFAST...

 Photos: Sophia Home

Good morning.... 'Good Friday'!

Whatever Easter holds for you....whether a religious celebration or not, I hope you are having a lovely start to the long weekend?

Ours started peacefully this morning, with no particular agenda for the day.....other than my planned baking for the weekend, walking our dogs, catching up on some reading and generally taking things easy.

Early morning......my favourite time of the day.

Candles lit in the kitchen, some soft music and a fresh and healthy breakfast to start the day.... 

Photo: Sophia Home

Photo: Sophia Home

Delicious home made yoghurt.....so fresh, nutritious and easy to make.....from one of my favourite cookery books 'Scandilicious', written by Norwegian food writer 

Signe Johansen.

Photo: Sophia Home

'Why make your own yoghurt?' ... I hear you say, when you can so easily buy it?

Well, for a start you know exactly what is in it....avoiding commercial sweeteners, stabilisers, colours and additives.   It saves money.....we get through a lot of natural yoghurt in our house, not only for breakfast but used also to make marinades and sauces and as a low fat healthy alternative ingredient in place of cream in many recipes.  

Lastly, for the simple pleasure of making something delicious and healthy from scratch.

Photo: Sophia Home

Making yoghurt is so easy.....  

It basically requires just two ingredients - milk and some friendly probiotic bacteria!

Take 1 litre of milk (whole milk for a milder creamier yoghurt than using semi-skimmed - it's personal preference) and bring it up to the boil.  Allow to cool until warm to the touch rather than hot, then whisk in 6 tablespoons of bio whole milk yoghurt.  Place in a warmed glass or porcelain jar with an airtight lid, or in a thermos.  Keep the mixture warm on top of a radiator or in an airing cupboard for a few hours or even overnight.  Once set, it can be popped in the fridge, where it will keep for up to a week.  

Oh.....and don't forget to keep 6 tablespoons back, so you can start the process again!

Photo: Sophia Home

                So easy......so delicious......particularly 
                          topped with fresh berries!

                            Wishing you a lovely day!

                                       Sophia xx

SWEET TREAT INSPIRATION....

All pictures via: Pinterest

Thursday at last, and on count down for the long Easter weekend!

As well as being a religious holiday for many of us, it is also a time for family and friends to get together....to enjoy each other's company.....catch up.....relax and unwind......and of course, 

to enjoy good food. 

Being more of a savoury cook myself...... I am using Easter, and having my family home..... as a reason to push myself in to a bit of baking.

Busy browsing cookbooks and the internet for inspiration.......where plenty was to be found!

Pretty pastel perfection......

Too beautiful to eat....

Fun...!

Floral fantasy.....

Intricate icing....

Gorgeous detail!

One or two of the above may be a touch too ambitious on this occasion......but have certainly inspired me 

to get baking!

Have a lovely day.....

Sophia xx

AN EASTER TREE...

All photos: Sophia Home

A quick post today, as a busy day ahead!

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I just wanted to share my Easter tree with you...

 Impatient to bring a little Easter cheer in to the house, in preparation for the forthcoming weekend.....I brought a few 'twisted willow' stems in from the garden, to stand in a basket on my kitchen island unit.  I am not one for going overboard with decorating at Easter time, but an Easter Tree, in some shape or form, is a tradition that I grew up with.....and one that I carried on with my own children whilst they were growing up.  Back then, we would blow and then decorate real eggs together for the tree......an activity 

I miss these days!

Faux blossom branches, papier mache eggs, embroidered chickens and small silk birds... which I have collected over the years.....have been brought out for their annual Spring airing.

Do you have any traditions and like to decorate your home at Easter?

I would love to hear from you!

Have a lovely Wednesday....

Sophia xx

LIGHT THE FIRE...

Photos: Sophia home

In these freezing temperatures, it is hard but important to stay focused on Spring......hopefully bringing with it, warmer days and sunshine.

However, today I am feeling distinctly wintry still and shall be lighting the fire in my sitting room.  Not that I need much excuse.....I love to light the fire....it just transforms the atmosphere in the house....making it inviting and cosy,

 as well as very warm.

            

When we built our house a few years ago, our choice of fireplace was of top priority.  Over the years, I have always stressed to my clients the importance of prioritising expenditure for key items such as fireplaces and hard flooring....even if it means waiting or compromising in other areas.  A fireplace is one of the interior 'backbone' items in a room scheme which can make or break it.  You do not want to regret your decisions later!

We chose a fireplace from Chesney's, who specialise in beautiful antique and reproduction stone and marble fireplaces......our choice being a French 'Provencal' style made from English Bath Stone......and within the surround, we fitted a Norwegian Jotul woodburning stove.

We love this key interior element of the downstairs of our home, which brings us so much pleasure. Whether a place to sit quietly alone, curled up with a good book.......or surrounded by a large gathering of family and friends.....it really is the heart of our home.

So, while I light the fire.....

I shall leave you with some other fireplace inspiration.......

Simple....

   Stunning mix of antique with contemporary.

             Classic......

         Cosy.....

and Elegant....

Above photos via Pinterest


Contemporary.....


Do you have a favourite?

Wishing you a happy...and warm....Tuesday!

Sophia xx

                       

HAPPY EASTER WEEK....

Good morning!

I do hope you all had a happy weekend?

As planned, I am pleased to say that I got a lot of my seed planting done on Saturday......braved the elements to get in to my greenhouse, where it is fairly snug.  So, I am feeling a little more on top of things with my kitchen garden.

Both my lovely boys were around separately over the weekend, together with their equally lovely girlfriends......so there was a nice dose of cooking, eating and chatting, to catch up with 

their busy lives, before they returned 

back up to London.

A full week ahead, and the long Easter weekend to look forward to.......so a few new recipes to try out in preparation for a big family lunch

 here on Sunday, which I look forward 

to sharing with you soon.

Wishing you a great week!

Sophia xx

A BEAUTIFUL FRENCH PATISSERIE.

France is renowned for beautiful 'Patisseries'.....

As glamourous as any designer boutique.....the French just know how to 'wow' when it comes to all things 'sweet'.

My daughter, who regular

readers will know, is working as a private chef in Val d'Isere in the French Alps.

A natural 'foodie', along with an eye for design, she often skypes or emails home with animated recounts of meals she has prepared for her clients in their chalet......or eaten herself, in the 

fabulous mountain restaurants......along with pictures of her work or subjects of inspiration.

Yesterday, my 'Inbox' was full of photos of a beautiful little Patisserie/Salon de The, which she and some friends had enjoyed, whilst visiting the lovely resort of Chamonix.  

Obviously inspired by the beautiful creations inside, she couldn't wait to share her pictures....

Stunning all year round, and whether in Paris or all major towns and cities.....through to often the smallest of villages in France....the French 'Patisserie' never disappoints.  At Easter time, the delicious and exquisite creations, particularly of the 'chocolate' variety, are true works of art........as well as the regular fabulous gateaux........pretty macarons.......

                              ........and exquisite 'tartes'.

So to all those with a 'sweet tooth' and chocolate lovers in particular, I hope you enjoy these images of the most gorgeous and 

delicious Easter creations.......

Hope you are having a 

lovely weekend......

Sophia xx

 A WEEKEND OF SEEDS.....

Photos: Sophia Home


A weekend of seed sowing is planned.
The wire basket in my boot room is full of packets of seeds, waiting to be organised and sown.....some in the greenhouse and some in the warmer, safer conditions of inside the house.

Tomato and chilli plants have now emerged, waiting to be potted on in to larger pots.....

and Basil is doing well.....but there is still 

much to be done!

Each year I tell myself that I really don't need to grow quite so much......or so many different varieties of vegetables....but then I find myself immersed in seed catalogues and of course, tempted by everything!

I almost feel overwhelmed at this time of year, with the amount of sowing and jobs to be done in my kitchen garden......but then it suddenly seems to all come together, and I feel calm 

and on top of things....and can just enjoy watching everything grow with anticipation of harvest time.

So this weekend, you will find me snug in my greenhouse.....with a cup of tea and the radio on......happily pottering.

I hope you have a lovely weekend, whatever you have planned?

Sophia xx

A DAY OF SPRING INSPIRATION!

Yesterday was a day of  'Spring' inspiration at the 'Country Living' Fair, held at IDC London. 

My friend Amanda and I had a full and fun day together at this beautifully organised
 biannual event......browsing, shopping,......coffee......lunch.....more shopping, and more chatting......!

Gorgeous Easter treats and decorations...

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Inspirational crafts and ideas......

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A beautiful 'Kitchen Garden' themed

 Show Garden...

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Add caption


Gorgeous Vintage interiors......

.....pretty accessories....and much more.

Certainly a little 'weary' on the train home! 

.....but I came back brimming with new ideas for the coming season.......full of Spring inspiration and enthusiasm for new projects to come.

Have a lovely day,

Sophia xx