baby mat

Last Christmas I spent a few chilly nights and days assembling this mat for my baby. I thought it would be ideal to change her on, but you live and learn, and after about a week of Baby being with us, the changing mat became a normal playing mat. 

Baby loves to look at it with all the different patterns, and she also gets to have a good kick-about on it everyday. When she is a bit older it should also be used as a bed cover in her cot. All in all, it's now a regular feature in our daily pictures of Baby.

this month I love

♥ a late spring clean in the Lavender household - I am a great believer in the theory that a clean house is conducive to clearer ideas
♥ all the speculation about the Royal Baby...
♥ ...talking of which, have you seen this hilarious photoshoot?
♥ working on a new sewing project - on a big scale! I can't wait to tell you more about it when things are more concrete
♥ old and new recipes - I made Jamie's spring vegetable lasagna from his 30 minute meals series, it was de-li-cious!

simple lunch

Today I think my simple lunch looks a bit like the kind of tray you might get on an airplane! This weekend I want to make something seasonal...maybe asparagus or broad beans something. I think I might head over to Jamie Oliver for green inspiration, he always has great ideas.

darling peonies

No other flower makes me happier than peonies! As it was Mother's Day yesterday in France, my husband treated me to a bunch of flamboyant pink ones. Baby Lavender also loves watching them...a tradition may have started!

lemon poppy seed

Well, I guess there is no better excuse than being a young breastfeeding mother to allow for this to have happened this weekend...guilty as charged!

This cake is my quick go-to recipe for a moist lemony cake. As with a lot of my baking, it could not be easier. I posted the recipe here last year.It is delicious served with a mix of blueberries and raspberries.

The biscuits are even easier to make. I guess they're a bit like shortbreads, but in french they're "sablés", and here's how to make them- I hope you give them a go!

* With your hand (trust me, it's the easiest way to do it!), mix together 250g of flour, 150g of caster sugar, 150g of softened butter, one whole egg and a pinch of salt.
*Add the flavour you want - grated coconut / vanilla essence / lemon zest / poppy seeds / etc.
* Let your mix rest for a half hour or so.
* Spread it with a rolling pin and cut out the shapes you want. Bake in a warm oven until golden.