June 14th, 2011 §
Looking for a little weekend inspiration? At this time of year there’s always something taking place at the weekends to tempt you and with this coming Sunday being an extra special day for Dads, here is a little inspiration…
fabulousplaces.co.uk contains an array of places to visit in Derbyshire, Cheshire and Nottinghamshire. Click here to take a look.
DERBYSHIRE – Sunday 19th June
Ice Cream Festival at Bluebells Farm, Derbyshire
A great family day with lot of fun activities, food tastings and stalls.
Click here for full information.
Cachepot open for Breaston Garden Trail
Cachepot Gift Shop will be open and joining in the celebrations this Sunday during the popular Breaston Village Garden Trail.
Click here for full information about Cachepot.
The Derbyshire Heroes Run and Family Fun Day
Walk, jog or run 5km or 10km in aid of your local Air Ambulance
Location: Locko Park, Derby, DE21 7BW
Click here for more information.
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE – Sunday 19th June 2011
Great Nottinghamshire Bike Ride – Sun 19 June 2011
A great event for the family or the more active cycler.
Click here for full information.
Let me know if you have any other special events taking place this Sunday and I’ll help spread the word!
Don’t forget…the next fabulousplaces.co.uk is just around the corner!
fabulousplaces.co.uk Summer Food & Gift Fair
Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd July 2011
The Roundhouse, Pride Park, Derby
Over 60 food & gift stalls and lots of family fun…an event not to be missed!
Click here to find out more.
June 12th, 2011 §
Bluebells Dairy are holding their first Ice Cream Festival on Sunday 19th June 2011.
Ice cream and spoon racing, blind folded ice cream tasting and ice cream target practice… these are just a few of the fun and wacky activities you will see at Bluebell’s first ever Ice Cream Festival and Summer Food Tasting. Join the Bluebells team for this fabulous event on Father’s Day, Sunday 19th June 2011 and see what else you can do with ice cream! Which Dad will be crowned the winner of the fastest ice cream eating competition? An array of delicious and innovative flavours of Bluebells Real Dairy Ice Cream will be on offer for all the family to taste and enjoy.
Activities include: Birds of Prey display, fire engine display, farm trail, bouncy castle, face painting, beehive display, doggy show jumping, calf and goat parade, animal tent, animal quiz, rabbit petting, BBQ, strawberries & cream, RSPCA identichipping and display, food tasting and much more!
ENTRY: Adults £3.50, £2.50 children. Family ticket £10 (family of 4). Entry fee to include entry to the Play Area, Animal Patch, free participation in all ice cream games, food tastings and a fabulous owl display.
See you there!
June 10th, 2011 §
Happy Friday! The next 25 lucky people who order a copy of fabulousplaces.co.uk magazine (Derbyshire etc. guide) will also receive a ticket to visit the fabulousplaces.co.uk Summer Food and Gift Fair!
Also, when you arrive at the event you’ll also be given a FREE fabulousplaces.co.uk cotton shopper bag to carry all the goodies you find at the event!
Magazines are just £3.50 delivered direct to you and will also include a ticket to the next fabulousplaces.co.uk event!
Click here to place your order!
June 7th, 2011 §
It’s that time of year when elderflowers are beginning to show themselves, so I thought it would be perfect to post a recipe for one of my favourites…elderflower cordial.
I used this recipe last year to make my first ever homemade cordial, which was delicious and extremely self satisfying to make. The recipe will make approx 3 litres (5 pints) of cordial…plenty to see you through the rest of the year.
Here’s what you’ll need:
30 elderflower heads
6 pints (approx 3 litres) of boiling water
900g of caster sugar
50g of citric acid (you’ll find this at any local chemist)
1 unwaxed lemon
2 unwaxed lime
- Gently rinse the elderflowers…this will remove any dirt and little critters!
- Using a very large bowl, carefully pour the boiling water over the caster sugar. Stir the mixture well and leave it to cool.
- Add the citric acid, sliced lemon and limes and finally the elderflowers.
- Leave the mixture to cool in a safe place for approx 24 hrs, stirring occasionally.
- The final step is to strain the mixture through muslin. Once this is done the mixture is ready to be bottled (bottles should be new and ideally sterilized). What I love about the cordial is that it keeps well and it also makes a great gift presented in a bottle with a tag. The cordial will keep for months and even longer if you freeze it (if you decide to freeze some, make sure that it’s in a plastic container or bottle).
Enjoy!
Elderflower cordial is just one of the many inspiring recipes featured in the fabulousplaces.co.uk etc. magazine. Click here to get your copy of the 2011 Derbyshire guide.
June 5th, 2011 §
An evening at Bow - Thursday 9th June from 7pm onwards
Bow Boutique in Matlock are inviting you to their first shopping indulgence evening in the new shop! With extended ranges of gifts, cards, & interiors, including vintage & one off ‘upcycled’ furniture pieces, the evening will be a perfect opportunity to enjoy a glass of bubbly whilst browsing new ranges from Gisela Graham, Greengate, East of India and many more local unique artisans. There will also be inspiring demonstrations from local artisan, Hearts & Homespun.
Location: Bow Boutique, 8 Causeway Lane, Matlock, Derbyshire. DE4 3AR.
Bow will also be exhibiting at the fabulousplaces.co.uk Food & Gift Fair at The Roundhouse on Sat 2nd & Sun 3rd July 2011. Full event information can be found at events.fabulousplaces.co.uk.
May 30th, 2011 §
Come & say hello this Saturday…we’ll be at Wirksworth Farmers Market selling the fabulousplaces.co.uk magazine, etc. We’ll be offering the magazine at a special Farmers Market price of just £2 (rrp. £3.50). The Farmer Market can be located on the main road through Wirksworth (St Johns Street) from 9am until 2pm.
You’ll also have an opportunity to buy the I heart Derbyshire cotton shopper bag and also pick up a flyer for the upcoming fabulousplaces.co.uk Summer Food & Gift Fair at the Roundhouse on 2nd & 3rd July 2011.
Hope to see you there!
May 23rd, 2011 §
The Alphabet Gift Shop in Mickleover will be unveiling a fabulous extension to their current shop space this coming Friday, 27th May 2011, and you’re invited to their grand opening from 10am!
There’ll be lots going on and if you wear something pink you’l receive 10% off! There’ll be lots of new stock to browse, cupcakes and bubbly and a charity raffle in aid of the Lewis Mighty Fund.
Please see invite above for full information.
The Alphabet Gift Shop will also be exhibiting at the fabulousplaces.co.uk Food & Gift Fair at The Roundhouse on Sat 2nd and Sun 3rd July 2011! Click here for full information.
May 17th, 2011 §
Tineke Floral Designs, Matlock, Vintage Floral Bouquet
Yay, it’s competition time…how would you like to win a £60 bouquet of stunning flowers?
Tineke Floral Designs are offering one winner a bouquet of flowers, delivered to you…anywhere in the UK! Tineke Floral Design specialise in beautiful floral arrangements for special occasions and delivery throughout the UK.
All you have to do is follow fabulousplaces.co.uk on Twitter and answers the following question:
Q: Where in Derbyshire is Tineke Floral Designs based?
TWO stages to enter:
1. Submit your answer here.
2. Then click here to follow fabulousplaces.co.uk on Twitter…easy as that!
BOTH STAGES MUST BE COMPLETED TO ENTER!
Competition closes midnight on Thursday 26th May 2011.
To find out all about Tineke Floral Designs click here.
Good luck!
May 16th, 2011 §
Cheshire has been luanched for just over a month now and we’ve been out and about searching through the back streets to find you some of the special hidden gems and talented makers. Here’s a taste of what we’ve found so far! We have some truly fabulous places in the pipeline and can’t wait to share them with you!
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Handmade By Gallery, Congleton, Cheshire
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Button Box Handmade Textile Products, Cheshire
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Little Nut Tree Toys, Wilmslow, Cheshire
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Cornelius Potts and Uncle Monty Cards, Cheshire
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Callula Handmade Glass Products, Cheshire
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Cherry Tree Gallery Gift Shop, Knutsford, Cheshire
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Zoe Corney Handmade Textile Products, Cheshire
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Snapdragon Florist & Tea Room, Chester
Click on a link below to find out more about the place or maker in Cheshire:
Zoe Corney, Cheshire
Handmade By, Congleton, Cheshire
Callula Glass, Cheshire
Button Box, Cheshire
Cherry Tree Gallery, Knutsford, Cheshire
Little Nut Tree Toys, Wilmslow, Cheshire
Cornelius Potts & Uncle Monty, Cheshire
Snapdragon Florist & Tea Room, Chester
Sign up to fabulousplaces.co.uk blog alerts and we’ll let you know when a new fabulous places or maker in Cheshire is added the website!
May 13th, 2011 §
The lovely Dawn from Rudd Moncrieff has been baking up some delicious dishes and has kindly offered to share one of her favorite recipes…Summer Raspberry Tart.
Rudd Moncrieff offer a variety of workshops at the stunning Old Vicarage in Shirley, Near Ashbourne. The Workshops range from inspirations entertaining, cooking, baking, lifestyle and much more. If you’re looking to get some inspiration for this Summer then a Rudd Moncrieff Workshop is a must…I’ve booked onto Summer Entertaining on the 26th May, can’t wait! To find out more about Rudd Moncrieff events please click here.
Serves 8
INGREDIENTS
250g (9oz) Shortcrust Pastry
300g (11oz) Raspberries
300ml (½pt) Crème fraîche
4 heaped tbsp Brown sugar
3 eggs
Temperature
190ºc, 375ºf, Gas Mark 5 for 25 minutes. If using an aga, place on the floor of the roasting oven for 10 minutes and then place the cold plain shelf on the 2nd set of runners once the pastry is turning brown for a further 15 minutes.
Method
1. Line the tart tin with the pastry (preferably loose bottomed). Prick the base with a fork and bake in the oven for 10 minutes, if bubbles begin to appear press down with the back of the spoon.
2. Place the raspberries in the pastry case. Beat or whisk together eggs, crème fraiche and 3 tbsp brown sugar . Pour over the raspberries and sprinkle the remaining 1 tbsp of brown sugar on the top.
♥ Tip…this is such a wonderful dessert as it can be made the day before it is needed and frozen and you don’t even need to bake blind!!
