Sunday 18 September 2011

Sunday brunch: honey mango pancakes

The weekend presents the perfect opportunity to linger over breakfast and try out something new. But what to make? Eggs? Too obvious. Cereal? Too everyday. Pancakes? Perfect!

Swapping blueberries for in-season mango, and crème fraiche for yoghurt; here’s our recipe for the American classic, with a refreshing twist.

Ingredients (makes approx. 4-6 pancakes)

135g plain flour

1 tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

2 tbsp caster sugar

130ml milk

1 large egg, lightly beaten

2 tbsp melted butter (allowed to cool slightly) or olive oil, plus extra for cooking


To serve

Honey or maple syrup

Greek yoghurt (crème fraiche if preferred)

Ripe mango, chopped


Method

1. Sift the flour, baking powder, salt and caster sugar into a large bowl. In a separate bowl or jug.

2. Lightly whisk together the milk and egg, then whisk in the melted butter.

3. Create a well and pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture. Using a fork, beat until you have a smooth batter then let it stand for a few minutes.

4. Heat a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat and add a knob of butter. When it's melted, add a ladle of batter (or two if your frying pan is big enough to cook two pancakes at the same time).

5. When the pancake begins to bubble, turn it over and cook until both sides are golden brown.

6. Repeat until all the batter is used up and serve with a couple of spoonfuls of greek yoghurt, scattered mango and honey or maple syrup.






Tuesday 13 September 2011

Introducing Petite Polly

Meet Petite Polly – she’s the latest arrival at Roost Living, and we’re quite taken by her flair for all that’s unique.

This fine mare is designed by Matrushka and made by a small team of Cotswolds-based artisans, who have crafted her from a complementary mix of reclaimed materials including walnut, antique mirrored glass and a lock (or two) of real horse hair. There really isn't a piece of home décor quite like her!





Monday 5 September 2011

The search for lost princesses at Kensington Palace

Once the home of Lady Diana, Kensington Palace is now the official residence of Prince Harry, the recently wed Kate and Wills and occasionally, other members of the Royal Family, too. However, all is not quite as it seems at the palace of late - renovations have been occurring to the grounds and as they’ve been taking place, something rather magical has been uncovered: introducing The Enchanted Palace, where seven princesses and their stories await your discovery.

Now a mystical castle (with the help of theatre company WildWorks) the palace holds a tale of play, war, sorrow and lost childhoods. Visitors are invited to help find the princesses by following the directions of eerily-gloved hands through each of the rooms. Taking note of the clues as you go - be it poem, flickering light, or letters left upon a typewriter - the object is to find all of the princesses and their stories that are sometimes tragic; sometimes heart-warming.

Not just for children, The Enchanted Palace is a fully experiential fairytale for all, of which part of the tale is told through acclaimed writer Mercedes Kemp’s intriguing poetry. Have you been already? Let us know how many princesses you discovered.