pear, chocolate and pistachio cake (gluten-free)

I adapted this recipe to create a decadent pear, chocolate and pistachio cake. It's a little bit of a faff, but I made it as a thank you.

   
As it is flourless the cake doesn't rise very high, but it still manages to be light and spongy.

recipe under the cut:-

banana and nutella muffins

These delicious banana, walnut and nutella muffins are made with spelt flour, which although is not gluten-free, is easier then wheat to digest.

Full recipe after the jump:-

Betty Blythe tea rooms.

For my mum's birthday we treated her to afternoon tea at Betty Blythe, in London.

It was so much fun. The tea party was held in the cosy basement of the tea rooms (upstairs is a drop in cafe), it was beautifully decorated, and private as there was only one other table of three guests. Depending how big your party is, you could hire out the whole room.

The best thing about Betty Blythe is the dressing up box- there is a collection of 1920's style clothes and accessories that are available for you to wear. My only criticism is that some of the them (especially the gloves)  could do with a bit of a wash. Still, we had the best time trying on turbans, feathers and fur stoles. We ended up with about 70 pictures of us preening like old fashioned movie stars and draped on the chaise lounge (we're all too camera shy to put them up on the internet-sorry!)

one of the costumes from the dressing up box. 

We spent a lot of time pretending to be various characters depending on our costumes- lady novelist committed to an asylum by her husband, scandalous lesbian lady-golfer, show-girl, débutante etc. My mum might now be in her 50s, but she's still proper daft. 

The Waiting Room, Totteridge and Whetstone

If you hungry and at the end of the Northern line, I recommend you pop into The Waiting Room, it's just up from the Totteridge and Whetstone station.

It is a quaint tea rooms which serves delicious home-made food.

 The décor is vintage, and what makes it really unique is that everything is for sale, from the cute little trinkets cluttering table tops, to the tables themselves.  All the furniture has been specially hand picked and I think it's a great idea that they're available to buy, though it does mean that your favourite chair, in which you enjoyed your cup of tea, might be gone next time you're in!

The Waiting Room is full of special touches, for example the menu is pasted into pre-loved books. Speaking of the menu, there is loads of choice, even for vegetarians.

egg soufflé, this was actually huge, like a giant fluffy pillow of egg. 

scones with jam and  loads cream 

pancakes with fruit and maple syrup, this was my choice (though I did have a taster of the other). It was flawless.  

We also took some sandwiches with us for later. I had brie on walnut bread, and it was sooooo good, the bread was really soft.

To drink, we had home-made pink lemonade, tea and hot chocolate. All were beautifully presented, the lemonade was in jam jars with co-coordinating straws and the tea was served in mis-matched china.

Tea strainers and sugar tongs- I felt like I was on Downton. 

The hot chocolate was traditional and proper rich- none of this cadburys instant malarkey. Unfortunately it got sent flying and completely obliterated a vintage tablecloth, but the staff were really lovely about it, and there was still plenty in the pot to enjoy.

Some people had sent up camp, and it is the ideal place to spend a lazy afternoon have a natter and indulge.

double chocolate cookies

The recipe for these double chocolate cookies can be found here. They are a Nigella Lawson creation so they are v unhealthy, but taste delicious. The cookies are cake-y and slightly bitter, so go well with a cup of coffee.

Peanut Butter & Chocolate Cookies

These are so unhealthy, but never mind they taste delicious! Nutty, slightly sticky and sweet. They can be eaten cold, but they are best eaten straight from the oven when the chocolate is all melted.

Another good thing about these cookies, is that they can be gluten-free, as gluten-free peanut butter is available.  They are also really simple to bake.

Peanut & Chocolate Cookies 

Recipe under the cut:-