Blue found treasures

I don't have many blue things in my house, with the exception of a stack of blue Willow plates it's not normally a colour I'm particularly drawn to.  Or maybe it's just the era of designs and patterns I like weren't really doing a lot of blue designs.  Either way, it's resulted in a distinct lack of blue things that I've collected. 

However, I picked up two blue things on the same day and thought they worked so well together.  I bought the very cute enamel blue and white polka dot teapot (I do actually have the matching enamel coffee pot in the same colour) and the rather lovely creamer featuring a stylised floral pattern in the same royal blue hues.  The ceramic creamer was manufactured by Sandland in England, it's not a pottery company I've ever heard of before but looks like they were producing designs from the mid 1940's up until the 1970's. 

Lovely to have some new blue treasures to add to my collection! 

Easter weekend treats

We're just coming to the end of a rather lovely Easter long weekend break, and I'm about to enjoy a nice cuppa with some (more) chocolate.  Easter Sunday started with Toblerone French Toast, courtesy of Bill Granger - which Mr J thought was a fantastic way to start the day, but his day brightened up even more with with a little Easter-egg hunt!  

Toblerone French Toast, Bill Granger

Ingredients: 
  • 3 eggs
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 1 tbsp caster sugar (I left this out as it's sweet enuogh as it is!)
  • 8 slices brioche loaf (I couldn't find a brioche loaf, so I used an un-sliced loaf of fruit toast)
  • 25g unsalted butter
  • 100g Toblerone bar, chopped
Method:

  • Whisk together the eggs, milk and caster sugar (if using) into a flat dish
  • Melt the butter in a large frying pan over a medium heat.
  • Dip two slices of brioche into the egg mixture, turning them over until they are completely coated.  
  • Put the soaked brioche slices in the frying pan and sprinkle each one with a quarter of the chopped chocolate.
  • Soak another two slices of brioche in the egg mixture, and put on top of the bread in the pan to make sandwiches.  Press lightly with a spatula to seal the edges.
  • Cook for 2 - 3 mionutes on each side until golden brown.  Repeat for the other two sandwiches and serve immediately.
  • Enjoy!