Monday 20 February 2012

Hot Chocolate

These cold and rainy days need some good hot chocolate to cheer us up. Mine's not quick but it's worth the effort!


Ingredients
1/2 cup of Oats
500ml Water
100g Dark Chocolate broken into chunks
Cream to taste


Method
Simmer the oats in the water for 10mins. Using a blender process the oats until smooth then add the chocolate and blitz again. Pour into a cup and add cream to taste. Snuggle down and enjoy!

Sunday 19 February 2012

Steamed Pudding!

By popular demand here is my recipe for Chocolate and Cherry Steamed Pudding. Don't be put off by the length of time it takes to make... your part is done in minutes the rest is down to the oven!


Ingredients
125g Unsalted Butter (very soft)
125g Caster Sugar
3 Large Eggs
100g Self Raising Flour
1/2tsp Baking Powder
4tbs Cocoa Powder
1 Jar of Cocktail Cherries (225g)


A sheet of foil




Method
Pre heat the oven to 160C/325F/Gas Mark 3. Half fill a roasting tin with water and put it in the oven. Grease a pudding basin, a pirex bowl will do the job just as well.


Mix all the ingredients including half on the syrup from the cherries but not the cherries themselves until thoroughly combined. Then throw in the cherries!


Spoon into basin. Take foil and make a pleat in the middle (to give the pudding room to rise) place this on top and secure.


Place in roasting tin of water and cook for about an hour (should feel firm to touch).


Turn out and serve with a big dollop of cream!


Enjoy

Thursday 16 February 2012

Running Route

Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to come and run with me. It means a lot to me. And to those of you who want to wave as I go past... you are amazing! A smile and a keep going really boosts morale! So here goes, if you fancy a wave, a mile or two or perhaps a whole morning with me let me know
  • Saturday 31st March       -        Tynemouth - Ponteland
  • Sunday 1st April              -        Ponteland - Maften
  • Monday 2nd April            -        Maften - Redesmouth
  • Tuesday 3rd April            -        Redesmouth - Keilder
  • Wednesday 4th April       -       REST DAY 
  • Thursday 5th April           -       Kielder - Saughtree 
  • Friday 6th April                -       Saughtree  - Newcastleton
  • Saturday 7th April           -       Newcastleton - Canonbie
  • Sunday 8th April             -       Canonbie - Carlisle
  • Monday 9th April            -       REST DAY 
  • Tuesday 10th April         -       Carlisle - Caldbeck
  • Wednesday 11th April   -        Caldbeck - Cockermouth
  • Thursday 12th April        -       Cockermouth - Whitehaven

The distances range from 10 to 16 miles please contact me for more details. Please note that this may change due to unforeseen circumstances such as path closures etc.

Look forward to seeing you! Only 6 weeks to go!



View Coast to Coast Run 2012 in a larger map

Tuesday 7 February 2012

Competition Questions

Q1 . from Global Therapies - Which of our clients who ran the FLM (Flora London Marathon) said "Regular sports therapy and massage really does help to keep those muscles working more efficiently and can not only cure, but actually prevent injury." and why do they think this?
Answer - Sue Clapham, because her knee problem was helped by massage and excercises, and massage pre-race prevented problem from chronic tendonitis, and felt fine while other runners in the same race were sore and stiff
Recommend a friend and get £5 off your next visit 


Q2.  from Balloon Baboon Our latest design is a Balloon Bear holding some flowers. What is he called?
Answer - Loving Bear
Quote "CAKENEST" at checkout for 10% off


Q3.  from Bay Web Design - how much does Bay Web Designs charge for a one page web package?
Answer - £95 for a whole year


Q4. from Designa SausageWhat does a Connoisseur’s Sausage Making Kit contain?
Answer - ‎2 dry beef sausage casings, choice of 2 seasonings, natural stabiliser, new recipe book


Q5. from Little Sunflowers - How many colours are available in Scooby Doo Kids Crocs?
Answer - 3         
Grab yourself a 10% by entering "CAKENEST" at the checkout


Q6. from Colemore FarmWhat is the name of the newly renovated barn which is now available for guests this year?
Answer - Frog Mill Barn      
Mention The Coast to Coast Run when booking and get 5% discount 


Q7. from Taste the Seasons - Editor Andy Darlington will be judging the dairy products classes at which Derbyshire show this summer?
Answer - The Bakewell Show


Q8. from CaterFor.co.uk - How many pies can be stored in our online Parry LPG Pie Cabinet?
Answer - 45      
Type in "Cakes-7268" for 10% off


Q9. from The Gay Card Company - Some say half full, others say half empty, either way there's plenty of our trademark balloons here - question is, just how many? Get the closest answer and you'll bag yourself a free pack together with 25% off your next order!
Answer - 843






Q10. from The Cake Nest - What are the best cakes to give children in their party bags?
Answer - Push Pops!


REMEMBER YOU NEED TO VISIT COAST TO COAST'S FACEBOOK PAGE AND SUBSCRIBE TO ANSWER OR TWEET @C2C_RUN


All prize winners will be notified personally, full details of winners can be obtained on request




Don't forget to sponsor me on my 180 mile run if you have any spare change it's much appreciated! 



Monday 6 February 2012

COMPETITION WEEK!

And so we are off. Every day this week you will find a question about one of the lovely companies sponsoring me on my Coast to Coast run. So let's have a quick glance and the rules and then I can give you the first question...


THE RULES!

To enter this fabulous competition week, you need to do THREE things:

 1. You need to subscribe on our Facebook wall or follow me on Twitter and it's easy peasy.

 2. Answer the question - obvious but don't forget! You will find this on twitter and Facebook twice a day (first thing in the morning and another at lunch time)

 3. Answer everyday to go in for our star draw at the end of the week

For an additional chance of winning, share the competition on your facebook page or on Twitter! 

Competition ends 12th February. Good luck!

THE PRIZES!

There are a range of things up for grabs including, cake club membership and free advertising for your business!

FOR TWO RUNNERS UP!

There are some amazing discount codes we can offer you which should sort everything from valentine's day to your holidays!


Terms and Conditions

1. Only one prize can be given per household, no cash alternative.

2. Winners will be selected at random at the end of the week and notified by email within seven days.

3. The prizes are non-transferable.

4. The winners’ names can be requested in writing from The Cake Nest

5. We'd love to be able to tell people who has won and may ask for you to let us use your name in our publicity materials, but would only do so with your consent.

6. Eligible entrants will be automatically entered into the draw unless they opt out by contacting us at thecakenest@me.com

7. Competition valid for UK residents only.

Sunday 5 February 2012

Coast to Coast Countdown

With only 8 weeks to go I thought I should fill you in on all that's been happening and what we have coming up. We need a big shout out going to our t shirt sponsors (so many we now have two made!). They are a varied collection of businesses that will have you buzzing this week


The Cake Nest
Glossop Screenprint
Inform People
Edwin Wild & Son  - Local butchers in Whaley Bridge
Country Basket - Local veg shop in Whaley Bridge

I would tell you more about them all but it really is in your best interest to go take a look at their websites as tomorrow we will be starting our week long competition where everyone will be a winner! So keep an eye on Facebook and Twitter to find out more as well as on here!