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afternoon tea hamper from the british hamper company + giveaway!


The British Hamper Company create luxury food hampers, package them up in a lovely gift box and post them off to your someone special. All with a lovely British theme of course. Whether you're looking for a romantic gift or a thank you present, their hampers range are brimming with the likes of retro sweets, luxury chocolate boxes, British pantry finds, picnic baskets, beers & bar snacks and even "a day at the races." 

In true Emily style, I of course opted for their afternoon tea hamper. The lovely lot at The British Hamper Company not only sent me a hamper but one for my readers to win too. So get the best china out, here's what was in this very British box...


the old thatched inn, adstock, buckinghamshire.


The Old Thatched Inn is a cosy, traditional pub found in Adstock near Buckingham. On our way back from a weekend away in The Cotswolds, we were invited along to try their famous Sunday lunch. Nestled in a peaceful village setting, The Old Thatched Inn is a postcard perfect thatched pub with crackling fire and exposed brickwork. The tables and chairs are charmingly mismatched, with a few tables made from large pieces of reclaimed wood with a natural grain. It was just the place you wanted to be on a cold but sunny Sunday.


super easy red velvet cake: #icakeyou


Betty Crocker are a household baking brand well known for their time saving cake mixes and super speedy frosting. For their latest #ICAKEYOU campaign, they're challenging people to make cakes for people you love, whether it be for a special occasion or just because. Because there's nothing that says I love you like a home baked slice of cake right? Read: five slices.


australasia, manchester.


Australasia, as the name suggests, takes inspiration from the cuisines of the Pacific Rim. From stunning sushi platters to robata grills and tantalising tempura, the Manchester based restaurant embraces all things Japanese, Thai and Indonesian in its dinner, lunch and cocktail menus. You'll find Australasia in the new developments of The Avenue in Spinningfields, beneath a mystical glass prism entrance.


crispy halloumi with mediterranean cous cous.

Actifry recipes

The Tefal Actifry is a nifty kitchen gadget which lets you conjure up culinary delights with just a little cooking oil. The clever air frying technology means you can cook up some mouthwatering chips with a tiny drop of oil, making them a healthier option to deep frying. Although most popular for chip recipes, the recipe booklet shows how you can make the likes of curries, stews, vegetables and even desserts in the Actifry. 

A huge fan of halloumi, it totally made sense to try out a halloumi recipe and I was super pleased with the results. Crispy on the outside and soft within. I mean, it’s still halloumi cheese afterall, but with just a tiny bit of oil means just a tiny bit less guilt.

Halloumi in the actifry
Tefal Actifry recipes UK

the white horse inn, duns tew, oxfordshire.


Found in The Cotswolds village of Duns Tew, The White Horse Inn is a charming pub and restaurant with eight refurbished en suite rooms. Dating back to the 17th Century, the Oxfordshire establishment features the recognisable amber Cotswolds brick surrounded by leafy countryside. Despite being around a 25 minute drive from Oxford city centre, Duns Tew is a peaceful place where you're more likely to hear the steady sounds of horse hooves and farm traffic than cars.


afternoon tea at the courtyard, ashby de la zouch, leicestershire.


Set back off the welcoming Market Street of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, you'll find The Courtyard. Vintage Brooke Bond, Lipton's and Lyon's Tea signs adorn the old brickwork of the Leicestershire establishment. Locals might notice there's been a new lick of paint on the outside, with friendly new management on the inside too. The quaint tearoom serves up freshly cooked breakfast, lunch and cakes, with afternoon tea to book in advance. 


cloudy lemonade caipirinha.


A refreshing, zesty cocktail featuring the new cloudy lemonade from The Cracker Drinks Co. The original caipirinha recipe hails from Brazil, and is made up of cachaça, sugar and lime on ice. If you can get hold of cachaça that's fab - but white rum is a good substitute here too. It's super simple to make and will be the perfect cocktail recipe when Summer comes along!


triple chocolate ice cream pie.


Ice Cream Pie Recipes
Ice Cream Pie

Something sweet for British Pie Week; an indulgent ice cream pie featuring Iceland'Bellissima Chocolate Italian Gelato. This week, the supermarket are embracing sweet and savoury recipes that "lift the lid on pies." I've never been one for warm apple pie or a cherry lattice, so when they got in touch to create a pie recipe, I knew there would be chocolate involved. 

Cue their droolworthy gelato within an ice cream pie and topped with thawed frozen raspberries. It's made up of white chocolate, chocolate and hazelnut ice cream - a dream trio if you ask me. You can make this super simple dessert ahead for dinner parties - what's more this recipe costs under a fiver to make too!

Ice Cream Pie Recipe UK

brownie heaven chocolate scotch eggs + giveaway.


Brownie Heaven do exactly what it says on the tin. Imagine your wildest dreams of brownie creations and you're probably close. From mountain stacks of brownies to the likes of Dr Pepper, Irish whiskey, Cognac and Jaffa Cake brownies, there is something to please all chocolatey tastes. Birthday Kilimanjaro Cake made up of 55 brownies? Now that's a mountain I want to climb! What's more, this Birmingham based indie company do UK delivery too.


With Easter around the corner, this post celebrates their fantastic chocolate scotch eggs, with an exciting giveaway for you guys too. The lovely Brownie Heaven lot sent me a mixed box of their salted pretzel caramel egg, chocolate scotch egg covered in biscuit, plus their hazelnut scotch brownie with a Ferrero Rocher centre. I was certainly popular in the office that day. But quit your drooling, you can try some too in my latest giveaway...

spanish cookery class at l'atelier des chefs, london.


L'atelier des Chefs, translating as the chef's studio or workshop, is London cookery school which runs a plethora of culinary courses. From learning the secrets of baking bread to macaron masterclasses, their St Paul's and Oxford Street locations promise a fun event where you can learn new kitchen skills and make a few friends too. 

Their courses would make for perfect Mother's Day presents or birthday treats, with vouchers available too. I've been to all sorts of classes with my mum - from Tunisian cookery to cake pop decorating - although this time the London class was a bit far away from her Leicestershire home. I went along with my foodie pal Grace to sample their Spanish cookery class; 90 minutes of creating calamari, patatas bravas, traditional paella and croquetas. Challenge accepted!