a little european travel wishlist

I've been super lucky in my time when it's come to European travelling. My Dad was big on seeing lots of countries when I was growing up, and as a result - according to my Been app - I've been to 63% of Europe, which isn't too bad I don't think. The only problem with going when you're a teenager as opposed to the age I am now is that I don't think I truly realised how expensive it would for me to go back to those countries by myself, and I'm not sure I appreciated them enough when I was there. Don't get me wrong though, I'd love to see the rest of the world at some point too. I've barely been anywhere else in the world, never got myself on a long haul flight and I will definitely have to rectify that. But those things cost money I don't have, whereas Europe isn't too hard to get to, especially now my colleague has introduced me to the "everywhere" tool on SkyScanner (how much was I missing out?!). 

But still, even with 63% there are some big countries I still haven't been to, that I'm desperate to get scratched off my little world scratch map. First on the list is the Czech Republic. Having been slightly disappointed by the lack of architecture in Reykjavik on my recent trip there, Prague in particular is supposed to be full of a thousands different styles - Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, Art Nouveau and Cubist all plonked in one city sounds like something I could really get along with. Plus the beer is meant to be amazing. 

Next is Switzerland. A country with sweet architecture, colourful buildings, a mix of cultures with all the influences from France, Italy and Germany mixed into one little country, all with amazing mountain region backdrops? Perfect. Plus they clearly make some pretty good cheese and chocolate and I can't think of a better reason to visit a country than it having those. I didn't get chance to see much of Iceland's natural scenery, so I can't think of a better way to repent than going to see Switzterland's. 

Poland. You can get some seriously awesome deals on flights out to Poland, so I don't think this one will be particularly hard to tick off the list, I just don't want to visit when it's too cold! I quite fancy taking a trip to Kraków to see its medieval streets and castle, and I wouldn't mind a trip to Schindler’s Factory Museum or heading out to Auschwitz either. Plus the country is still affordable, even with the crap state of the pound at the moment. 

Finally, Hungary. I feel like the world and his wife have headed out to Budapest recently and I want to join that crowd of people. Part of this is because they seem to have such an excellent cafe culture over there, and I need no excuses to spend some lazy times sitting in a cafe with a coffee and a cake. And afterwards, you can just be even lazier by visiting a thermal spa. Perfect. 

Have you been to any of these countries? Or would you suggest somewhere else to go?

a little trip to walcot | london.

Some (most) Sundays, I take myself off in London to search for the best roast I can find. So far, it's been a harder battle than I think it should be. There's been the place that served jam with it, and the other place which served honestly the oddest gravy known to man, plus the places which sell out of the choice you really want (beef, usually) or take over forty minutes to arrive. No one should have to wait that long for a roast when you're out and about. Add in the added complication of the fact that I practically make it a rule that I won't get out of bed before midday on a Sunday, which means that it has to be local, easy to get a table and not finish service at 1.30pm. 

However, currently winning in the local roast dinner stakes is a small pub in Kennington. I think if I could be really arsed, I could find somewhere maybe just a bit better, but this place will do for a while. And it means that on the walk there, I get to pass through a small collection of streets known as the Walcot Conservation Area, not far from Elephant and Castle. 

It's only a small collection of streets, but I love it. I love the way you just don't expect it to appear, especially if you've just walked through Elephant and Castle, which isn't exactly known for it's London beauty. I love the fact that although times have moved on and the shops don't exist anymore, their ghost signs and their shop fronts live on. Plus, who doesn't love a gorgeous London townhouse? One day I'm determined to own a house with a big black front door and steps to the top, I just doubt that day will be any time soon.

rose infused chocolate truffles | a recipe

I'm really behind on Bakealong. Really, really behind. And I doubt I'll ever catch up. I tried to make a Bakewell Tart, and I found the whole process to be relatively soul destroying. I made the worst Bakewell Tart that has ever existed. I couldn't even post the recipe and pretend it tasted nice because the photos were okay (lets not pretend that's never happened...), because it didn't even look nice. I somehow managed to burn the pastry, under-cook the frangipane and also accidentally left cherry stones in the jam. My boyfriend valiantly tried the disaster, but after nearly choking he decided to chuck it in the bin. For the best...

Then it was "botanical week" and if I'm honest I was so bloody underwhelmed! I thought of all the flavours and the edible flowers and herbs and whatever else that could be used, and instead it was basically a lemon meringue pie and a cake with flowers on. Hmph. 

So I didn't wan't to make anything from that. Instead, that week I made rose truffles. I'd been messing about on the internet and found a wonderful company called Sous Chef who happened to be selling rose petals and I picked some up. Their website also had this recipe, so I had to try it! How pretty are they?! 

The recipe only calls for sugar, but I'd also bought some rose sugar, so had to use that and double up on the rosey taste. I found that the recipe made the truffles a little soft, so in future I'd be adding a little less cream. And for once, I have made something that was an honest success. If you're looking to make something easy, quick, tasty and ridiculously pretty, then this is definitely the recipe for you.

On a side note, I was so impressed with Sous Chef. They're such a great price and delivery was super quick. If you need random little baking bits, they're worth a look. 

a little visit to rozel | jersey

A few weeks ago I headed out to Jersey for a little break away. Jersey, the biggest of the Channel Islands but still only 9x5 miles big with only 100,000 thousand people has always been one of my favourite places to go. I love the fact that it's only a half an hours flight away, that you can get to some of the most gorgeous beaches on the shortest bus ride or a short walk, I love that it's this odd little mix of French and English and I have some very happy memories of being there when I was a kid and having a stupid amount of beaches to pick from. 

After deciding that I wanted to explore the north of the island, Rozel was recommended to us by some of the locals, and after a fairly long winded bus journey (which saw the bus getting stuck a number of times down narrow country lanes) we finally got there, and luckily it was boiling hot, but also extremely quiet. 

We arrived at about 2.30pm, and realised we were starving and so set out to try and find a good place to eat. Stupidly we forgot we weren't in London anymore and that in Jersey they actually had a lunch service and didn't just serve food continually. We thought we might just have to go without, but instead walked along the pier and found the Hungry Man beach cafe, which appears to be one of the most loved beach cafes in Jersey. I can sort of see why. If you were hungover, it would have been one of the most amazing places to eat - burgers have names like "the double decker health wrecker". We weren't hungover though, and instead settled on one crab sandwich and one prawn sandwich, both were pretty enjoyable.

I ended up chickening out of swimming in the sea, although I really should have done because it was boiling hot, but I hate the idea of swimming where there are boats. Pathetic eh? I missed my chance though because the next few days in Jersey the weather was no where near as good. We went back to the pub instead, and spent the next few hours listening to two best men practising their speech for the next day's wedding. I'll never know who Phil is, but I do know that he's extremely posh, good at lacrosse, is really short and makes gagging noises when he brushes his teeth. 

Rozel is lovely though and I'd love to go back, I can really see why all the local people recommended we visit while we were there.