Thursday 29 April 2021

Lemon, Poppy Seed & Strawberry Buttercream Cake



Lemon, Poppy Seed & Strawberry Buttercream Cake, now that is a treat and all in time for the bank holiday weekend. 


Recently I’ve really gotten into baking, I find it soothing for me and Leanora too, plus after a long day at work who doesn’t mind coming home, putting your feet up with a cup of coffee and delicious slice of cake?!




I got the idea of making this cake from our first outing in a long time since restrictions have eased, our first was to Kew Gardens! Whilst strolling around we made a pit stop to the cafe to fuel up, all with a slice of lemon cake, hence where the creation of this delectable Lemon, Poppy Seed & Strawberry Buttercream Cake was imagined. 


Ingredients for the cake

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup of butter extra for greasing 

1 1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp salt

3 eggs

2/3 cup vegetable oil

2/3 cup lemon juice, fresh or bottled

3/4 cup sour cream

1 heaping Tbs poppyseeds


Buttercream ingredients

1 1/2 cup diced strawberries

1/4 cup sugar

1 cup butter

5-6 cups icing sugar

2-4 Tbs double cream

Strawberries and daisies for decoration


Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees
  2. In 2 9 inch cake pans line the bottom with parchment paper and then grease the sides with butter and set aside.
  3. In large bowl mix together your four, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt and whisk together until combined.
  4. With hand or stand mixer mix in your eggs, oil and lemon juice until blended. Slowly add in your double cream and continue beating until incorporated.
  5. Pour evenly into prepared pans and bake for about 25 minutes or until golden and cake springs back when touched.
  6. Meanwhile to make your buttercream in sauce pan add your diced strawberries, sugar to your blender and blend together with your butter until smooth, then place in the fridge to chill for 30 minutes.
  7. To assemble cakes place one of your cakes on a cake stand, add about 3/4 cup of your buttercream to the top of the cake and spread to the sides.
  8. Layer the other cake on top of the buttercream and working from the top down spread the majority of the buttercream around sides and over the top until smooth.
  9. Once you smooth out frosting, cut your extra strawberries into thin slices and place around bottom of cake along with some sugared flowers.
  10. Keep refrigerated.



Enjoy!  Xx


Let me know if you make this tasty recipe in the comments below or by tagging me over on Instagram and using the #LondonMummaEats tag or save over on Pinterest to try for a later date. 


Lindsey

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Monday 19 April 2021

Normality, A New Horizon


 

A new day, a new week and new beginnings.

With last week being such a blast for us all here in the UK pond with restrictions easing, it was a wonderful sight seeing, so many familiar and new faces out and about.

This week is gonna be jammed pack, with me returning back to work Leanora going back to school, life has picked up and normality is slowly but surely returning.

I plan on hitting the shops hard, IKEA is certainly on the hit list, which I am sure it is for many, not only do I missing snagging a few home bargains, it’s the hotdogs and meatballs I’ve really got my eyes on, or should I say belly lol!

With zoos and parks reopening we also planning on going to London Zoo and Kew Gardens. An early little treat for my other and Leanora as both their birthdays are fast approaching. Talking of Birthdays this will be Leanora’s 7th! I mean jeez where does the time go, I remember only the other day it felt like I was giving birth and having my poor mother in the head lock trying to breathe!

As you our Friday nights are mother and daughter date nights, so I’m sure we will be heading to our Ultimate favourite Wagamama or an Italian fave Pastaio, either one it will be carb fuelled.

Weekend after our family day out I plan on meeting the girls and I got a little Essex dating planned too. Not being able to get out I’ve been trying some free dating websites and I have to say it’s going really well. With the UK opening and everyone in good high spirits now is the time to start getting yourself out there, by going on dates and if it doesn’t work out that’s fine, plenty more fish in the sea, you also never know, you may even end up making a new life long friend, you know me I’m always looking to go and explore new places with friends so these free dating sights are perfect for me.

Last week I was a little slack on the workout front, but I promise by the time you’ve read this I would of got my first work out in. Currently at home working out as indoor gyms are still closed so I’ve been going YouTube videos to work out to from my fave HIIT lessons, to a 15 minute ab blast to something a little more slow paced such a good stretching work out video. Over the weekend though I did see a semi outdoor spin class so hopefully I can bag myself a little time slot.

Back to eating healthy, I’ve done a big meal prep, in anticipation of knowing the weekend will carb and cocktail fuelled. We will be having some Vietnamese chicken bad with salad, a few pots of leek & potato soup. Plus I’ve made enough to feed the world a super delicious super fresh cauliflower tabouleh. I will be putting up the recipes on the blog and you ca keep you eyes peeled for it to Via my Instagram

Let me know what you got planned for the week! Don’t forget you can also tag me over on Instagram or by using the #LondonMumma tag to show me what you get up to or keep up to date on what’s new on the blog via Bloglovin!

Lindsey


Disclaimer: this is a paid collaborative post but all words are my own

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Sunday 18 April 2021

A Snippet Of What I Got Upto To This Week



What a week! We've had rain, snow and clear blue skies all with a chill in the air. Regardless its has been a glorious week.

Restrictions finally easing we've taken full advantage of it, an added bonus is I've been off work all week due to the Easter Holidays! The beginning of the week, we were not too adventurous as I thought it best to keep it local and not hit the shops on the first few days as queues would just be insane and I hate to queue!

I was sure to make good of our free time and a few days off work, I got a plumber in and had installed some new taps in the kitchen and bathroom, plus refreshed both rooms with a fresh lick of paint. 

Each year I always like to spruce up our home, however I am thinking that this may be the last time as I am wanting to move, possibly get a bigger home, especially with Leanora getting bigger and in a couple of years she will be heading to secondary school, so it only makes sense, as well as pondering with the idea about getting a dog! But for now we’re more than content with our boy Milo!

With all the home renovations, updates and general Spring clean out of the way, I can happily say Mumma went out out! It was truly nice to see and spend good quality time with friends and family, plus having my first cocktail ‘Porn Star Martini’ in like forever.

A few of the Mumma’s and single gals, kids in tow got together for a late lunch early dinner a few days ago, to catch up, be social and just be in others company, plus we had a few extra socially distanced join in.

Now for the exciting fun part, a dad, his bestie and the dads Daughter ended up joining us, from the next table over. L and the daughter soon became new besties, playing hide and seek which was the cutest, bobbing and weaving through out the tables in the garden leaving us mum as, single gals and men talking from one table to another! Talk about Match me happy!

Honestly, it was the best day, no! We’ve all had in a very long time, just the normality of things of meeting new people and getting together with old, plus it didn’t hurt that the dad and his friend were hot!! 

All talking amongst ourselves and talking about work, to the next restaurant we will be eating out in, to even the next staycation got me more interested in the possibility of travelling to see other cities to explore get in a little Lincolnshire Dating with other singletons and exploring our amazing country! 

The UK has so much to offer, and with the promise of beautiful weather on the horizon and a little freedom, I plan on making the most of it by going on all sorts of adventures and trying new cuisines with friends and family. This week has been truly an amazing week. 

Let me know what you got up to in our first week of freedom! Don’t forget you can also tag me over on Instagram or by using the #LondonMumma tag to show me what you get up to or keep up to date on what’s new on the blog via Bloglovin!

Lindsey


Disclaimer: this is a paid collaborative post but all words are my own


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Friday 9 April 2021

Getting Back To Dating After Lockdown



A couple of years ago, no one would of envisioned what this past year in a half would of brought to the world. With lock down easing in a few days, everything opening up, which I’m so excited about that I can’t figure out if I will be getting my hair, nails or eyebrows done, but what I do know is, that so will my dating life.

During the pandemic it’s been a little harder to find love, true genuine love. Whilst it’s been great speaking to people via messages, it’s the natural face to face connection that’s been missing nor do I mean a physical one.

Social distancing still firmly in place now, and with in reason, dating during this pandemic doesn’t have to be a bore but exciting. I think this is a really great time to genuinely get to know someone, have a more emotional connection rather than a physical one, after all, we have a life time to get to that part.

I find, really getting to know someone more attractive, now being older and a parent and hopefully a little wiser! Gone are my somewhat wild ways, I’m now looking to settle down, hopefully with the one.

I am starting to find that one online dating can be great, adventurous and very fun, there are loads of free dating sites, apps you name it, all at the touch of your finger tips.

I find online dating a lot more safer and easier, you can go online from the comfort of your own home, a little bored whilst on the commute to work, even a little cheeky look whilst on your lunch break or if you really want to be a bit mischievous you could be bound for an Oxfordshire Dating meet up. The world is your oyster, and virtual dating is perfect to help connect you with other singles from all over the country, to even a little closer to home.

Regardless if it works out or not, just have fun with it and take each experience as it comes.

Before I used to over analyse everything, to what I am going to wear, the polish on my nails, location, longevity of the date, to even how my date was gonna turn up!! Pre pandemic problems am I right! Now no more of that, I think we’ve all had enough to deal with during these times, now time to simply let go of all those things that really and truly do not matter and focus on what does and what you are looking for and want.

Just remember guys, dating should be fun whilst meeting new people, never settle and who knows you may end up with a second date.

Let me know your thoughts and your experiences of dating during the pandemic, how have you found it and any highs or lows, did you find the perfect one for you? Let me know in the comments below.

Be safe & well.

Lindsey

Disclaimer: this is a paid collaborative post but all words are my own
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Saturday 3 April 2021

Looking for things to do this Easter? I’ve got 10 on my list here!


I get a lot of questions, asking what do Leanora and I do during this pandemic, weekends and during the half term. The answer is everything and anything.

We’ve become a bit of gamers in my household, ever since I got Leanora the Nintendo switch, we’ve been getting crafty and building our own personal heaven on Animal Crossing to something a little bit more scary Luigi Mansions. I’ve got so bad, I’ve been sneakily playing it when Leanora’s gone to bed. I have to admit, we even play friends online, which is a great way of keeping in touch and spending socially distanced time together, a great console for family and friends I can recommend it enough.

With it being Easter we’ve been making some tasty treats, such as our Lemon and Pistachio cake and our adorable bunny biscuits, both never last very long in our house. Being able to bake together as a family brings us closer together, well until L gets flour everywhere and blames poor Milo!

We are a family who loves to create and design, so this Easter we decided instead of buying cards for our friends and family, we decided to roll our sleeves up, get the glue, googley eyes and scissors out and a few bottles of glitter and design our own. This adds a bit more of a personal touch, plus it’s a lot of fun, me I get really stuck in probably more than I should, it certainly brings out my inner child and imagination.

I don’t know what is up with kids, but they are always drawing on themselves, Leanora drew a little heart and when questioned she thought it was a good idea, as I had a tattoo so why not her! Well where do I begin......girl your 6 haha! But whilst she has been rejected to ever mark her body, I thought what not make an activity out of it and let’s draw, on paper and who can design the best picture. We found some really cool tattoo fonts online on the fonts bundle website.

Still having our creative hats on we decided a bit of tie dye was in order, a few white T-shirt’s looking a little old we decided to bring them back to life and add a little colour to our tees.

Everyone’s favourite game MONOPOLY I mean every household has this game am I right! Now Leanora being of an age, I bought the Junior Monopoly and I’ve never had so much fun, only a few tears and tantrums, which pretty much came from me as Leanora kicked my butt at it! Maybe Ludo is in order..

With our favourite bookstore still closed, has not stopped us from reading. We’ve brought a tonne of books and what better way to expand our minds than with some really great literature.

Now that we can meet up with friends and family out doors, we’ve been taking advantage of this dry weather, grabbing coffee and hot chocolate and heading out for a stroll, which is so beautiful due to all the cherry blossoms trees having bloomed.

Every week, we get our main and pedis on! Nothing quite like a day of pampering, this weeks shade of nails is green.

We love a movie night, we grab the duvet all our fave snacks then kick back, Netflix and chill and watch a movie, we just watched Raya and the Last Dragon, it was absolutely excellent, so much so we’ve watched like 5 times already.

There you go folks, are top 10 things to do this Easter.

Let me know what you and your family get up too in the comments below we are always looking for new ideas, new crafts and activities to do! Don’t forget you can also tag me over on Instagram or by using the #LondonMumma tag to show us what you get up to!

Lindsey



Disclaimer: this is a paid collaborative post but all words are my own
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Lemon and Pistachio Cake

 


Starting the Easter weekend with a tasty treat, a lemon and pistachio cake! 

Brining our two favourite ingredients that we love to use, it only makes sense to bring them together in perfect harmony. 

The weeks are not right without a little pleasure, nothing quite like after a long day of work or running errands, school run you name it we all deserve a wonderful happy delight in the form of cake.

Since Leanora has gone back to school and I work, I’ve really fallen back in love with baking, be it our Lemon & Poppyseed Cake to something a little more savoury,  the perfect grab and go breakfast cheese and chives scones, which are great for batch cooking and freezing. 




Ingredients

 3/4 cup butter, room temperature or sightly softened
1 cup sugar
3​​​​ eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 lemons (2-3 tablespoons ​​lemon zest) 
———
1/3 cup ​​​lemon juice
1/4 cup plain ​​​​yogurt
————
190 grams all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon ​​​baking powder
½ teaspoon ​​​salt

Lemon Glaze

1 cup ​​​​powdered sugar
3 tablespoons ​​​lemon juice
½ cup ​​​ pistachios, chopped

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.
Butter and use parchment a loaf pan 
Cream butter and sugar in a stand or handheld mixer until pale, light and fluffy.
Add eggs one at a time mixing until fully incorporated.  
Add vanilla and lemon zest. 
Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt in medium sized bowl.
In a separate little bowl, mix together lemon juice and yogurt.
Add a third of the flour mixture and half of the lemon yogurt to the egg/butter batter, incorporating gently. Repeat, ending with the flour. Mix until combined.   

Pour batter in greased lines pan, smoothing the top.  
Bake for 50 to 70 minutes.  
Test cake in the center until comes out clean. 
Cool in pan on a rack for 10 minutes. 
Carefully remove cake from pan and allow it to cool on rack for another 30 minutes before adding glaze. while cooling make the Glaze.

MAKE GLAZE: Whisk together lemon juice and powdered sugar for the glaze taking care to smooth out any lumps unlike me!
Spoon ½ of glaze over cake.  Let sit 10 minutes  and add the remaining glaze for a second coat. 

Sprinkle with chopped pistachios (while still wet, so they stick).  


Lemon tell ya! You and family and friends are going think it’s the zest thing in life! See what I did there.

Enjoy!  Xx


Let me know if you make this tasty recipe in the comments below or by tagging œ over on Instagram and using the #LondonMummaEats tag

Lindsey


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