Author: Nia

I live in Cardiff where I lug around a camera, write books and eat a lot of doughnuts. The Cardiff Cwtch is where I post my adventures.

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Food

Easy Key Lime Cake

Although not technically a Key Lime Cake since you’d need to use special Swingle Limes from the Florida Keys to own that title, it’s definitely a bit of a love note to one of my favourite places on the planet and to the massive slices of Key Lime Pie I like to scoff when I’m lucky enough to be there. The sponge is buttery and moist – thanks to a good dollop of sour cream – with just enough of a hint of lime, while the icing’s where the punch is packed thanks to plenty of zest, juice and boiling down the lime leftovers for an added flavour boost. The perfect summer, afternoon cake – and it’s dead easy to make.

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Everything Else Favourite Posts

Pregnancy after Loss: Third Time Lucky?

Finally an explanation as to why I’ve sporadically dropped off the planet during the past couple of years: I’ve been through two miscarriages and am now pregnant for the third time. Buckle up, it’s a long one.

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Food

Picnic Perfect Victoria Sandwich Cake

When it comes to summer cakes, you just can’t beat the basic (but beautiful) Victoria Sandwich. To paraphrase the famous glutton MrJoey Tribbiani, what’s not to like? Cream, good! Jam, gooooood! And in cake form? Even better. It’s a classic; the kind of cake that’ll please everyone if you turn up with it at a picnic or at your Mum’s front door on a sunny Sunday afternoon. I mean you’ll be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn’t like a plain sponge cake, sweet cream and strawberry jam. Better yet, it’s very easy to make – even if you’re a bit of a baking noob.

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Everything Else Writing

The New Normal Me: Why I’m not ready to say buh-bye to Lockdown Me just yet

We’ve all got our “Buh-Bye Lockdown Bucket List” ready and raring, as well as a list probably a mile long of all those things about four months in hibernation that we’re definitely not going to miss – whether we’re stepping out today or in a few weeks or months time when we feel safe enough to do so – but what about the things that we are going to miss?

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Food

Pub Style Gammon and Chips with Cola Ketchup

I cannot tell you how much I’ve been missing my local pub these past few months. So, craving a bit of good old pub grub, I tried to replicate one of my all time favourite bar orders at home. Good old Gammon, Egg and Chips. Instead of using Gammon Steaks, however, I picked up a Gammon Joint and slowly cooked it for an hour in cola and various other cupboard ingredients to make sliced gammon that’s both juicy, sweet and smoky (nothing chewy about this hunk of meat). The dregs make for a fabulous cola ketchup, and this pub plate wouldn’t be complete without a side of chunky homemade steak chips. Yum! 🙂