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Let It Be Sunday - My Week In Pictures #3

Let It Be Sunday – My Week In Pictures #3

13th December 202013th December 2020 - tara Leave a comment

Happy Sunday friends! Are you feeling festive yet? With less than two weeks to Christmas I feel like I should be but I am not. I am excited for Christmas but I certainly don’t have that festive warm feeling yet. It may be because we don’t have our tree or it maybe because I don’tRead more

The First Barbecue of The Season - Lockdown Style

The First Barbecue of The Season – Lockdown Style

13th May 202013th May 2020 - tara Leave a comment

Steve and I got out into our pretty courtyard garden a weekend or so ago to christen our new barbecue and crack open the HECK! meat-free sausages I was kindly sent to try. They couldn’t have arrived at a better time. The sun had shown its face and the new barbecue was built and shoutingRead more

Places To Eat - Agricultural Inn, Brampford Speke

Places To Eat – Agricultural Inn, Brampford Speke

17th March 202017th March 2020 - tara Leave a comment

I know at these uncertain times a blogpost about eating out might not be of much interest to you but you know what? It’s worth a read anyway. We all need to keep our chins up and plan fun stuff for when all of this virus stuff is over and we can finally get outRead more

Veganuary at Comptoir Libanais

Veganuary at Comptoir Libanais

20th January 202020th January 2020 - tara Leave a comment

I’m not vegan but more often than not the meals I make at home happen to fall into that category. Last night was a good case in point. I roasted sweet potato and piled it high on top of warm garlicky cannellini beans and finished the dish off with crispy sage. A simple, comforting, deliciousRead more

Places To Go In Winchester – Saint George Tea Room

13th November 201912th November 2019 - tara 1 Comment

For those of you unfamiliar with Winchester, it’s a cathedral city steeped in history. With that history comes great beauty. Many of the side streets in and around Winchester Cathedral are stunning with the buildings capturing bygone eras. The cathedral itself stands at the heart of historic Winchester, once the seat of Anglo-Saxon and NormanRead more

My September

Places To Eat In Exeter – Sunday Lunch at Comptoir Libanais

12th October 201911th October 2019 - tara Leave a comment

There is something so special about going out for lunch on a Sunday. Yes, it’s great not having to cook and wash up obviously but it’s more than that. Being with your friends and family, catching up on the previous week’s news, sharing laughter and of course eating delicious food does us all the worldRead more

My September

2nd October 20191st October 2019 - tara Leave a comment

Firstly I need to send out a massive apology for going AWOL. August was a blur of daily hospital visits to my beloved Nanny’s bedside which resulted in me never finishing my August round-up. I lost my mojo as I saw her fading in front of my eyes and in all honesty, I am unsureRead more

Places To Eat In Exeter - Bills

Places To Eat In Exeter – Bill’s

28th August 201930th August 2019 - tara Leave a comment

Bill’s on Gandy Street, Exeter has recently undergone a bit of a refurbishment. Goodbye partition walls piled high with jams and chutneys and hello colonial Caribbean/1930’s speakeasy. Plush velvet banquette seating, lush green palms and sparkling chandeliers create the most wonderful setting that is so “on point” at the moment. I have to admit, theRead more

An Evening At Hotel Du Vin , Exeter

An Evening At Hotel Du Vin , Exeter

29th June 201929th June 2019 - tara 2 Comments

I am not going to lie, in the past, my experiences of dining at Hotel Du Vin, Exeter have been disappointing. From the waiter asking if a table of three could make do with 2 knives otherwise he would have to go “all the way to the kitchen” to get another to being forgotten aboutRead more

Places To Eat - The Swan Inn, Lympstone

Places To Eat – The Swan Inn, Lympstone

9th March 20199th March 2019 - tara 1 Comment

The Swan Inn, Lympstone has been at the hub of the local community for years. It offers a cosy interior complete with exposed oak beams and fireplaces that are perfect to snuggle up next to whilst sheltering from the inclement Devonshire weather in winter. In the summer it has one of the busiest beer gardensRead more

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taraskitchen75

Tara
Simple pleasure come with molten cheese interiors! Simple pleasure come with molten cheese interiors! Try putting a little bit of the inside on the outside so your guests (guests? Who has guests these days!🤪) know what’s inside their toastie. A little spicy sausage, a few sage leaves, a piece of ham .. let me tell you... the ham and robust herbs go kinda crispy in the butter whilst the sandwiches toast and it’s a joy to behold! That textural thing is always a winner when it comes to food.. oozy cheese, crunchy corners and crispy, toasted saltiness in the form of ham, sausage herbs or anchovies! Omg - anchovies, I haven’t tried anchovies yet and why on Earth not!? They are literally my favourite thing. I am now craving a pizza inspired toastie with olives, tomato, capers and anchovies! When’s lunch?? 🙌🏻 Also, do you think I could make a toastie with left over Christmas mince meat and serve it as dessert with a scoop of ice cream? Votes in comments please.. yes or no? Shall I try? 🤷🏻‍♀️
Going out to get takeaway coffee is such a thrill Going out to get takeaway coffee is such a thrill these days. (Or in this case a rather yummy beetroot latte💗) Let’s face it, having the briefest conversation with someone other than those in your own household is a joy to behold. Thank you to all of the people I have spoken to this week other than Steve, and by all of the people I mean like 3. The lovely folk at @thepresshouseexeter and the lady in @zukiscaffetteria who gave me my latte for free because my loyalty card was full. Lord, I felt like I was winning at life in that moment I can tell you! 🤩
The prettiest of floofs, a socially distanced walk The prettiest of floofs, a socially distanced walk with a chum, hot chocolate and fresh out of the oven cardamom buns. Not a bad Saturday morning I must say. 🐶
I love anything personalised and it’s even bette I love anything personalised and it’s even better when you can eat it! You all know I love my food and proper bread with thick spread salted butter has got to be one of the simplest joys. Even better when the bread is still warm from the bakers oven and the butter begins to melt into the nooks and crannies of a well made sourdough. 🤤
At the end of last year the wonderful people at @st_sidwells started a crowdfunder to enable them to move to larger premises and so expand and offer more community driven projects. Alongside the bakery creating more amazing nutritious bread and affordable sweet and savoury treats, the cookery school will move into the new larger space too. I was one of 154 supporters who donated to the crowdfund to help make the move a reality and today I went to pick up my personalised loaf. I can’t tell you how thrilled I am that the Bakehouse is now open on Sidwell Street just across the road from its old premises. If you fancy supporting a worthwhile business at this crazy time and beyond get your weekly loaf here. Not only are you supporting a local bakery but you are ensuring that people young and old, regardless of background or circumstance  have access to fun and affordable cooking lessons. 🥨
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 #community  #nonprofit  #giveback  #charity  #youth  #support  #volunteer  #local  #earthfever  #gettyimages  #givingback  #bread  #パン  #sourdough  #手作りパン  #bakery #perdonalised  #dough  #exeter  #inexeter #devon  #cake #homebaking  #cooking  #cook  #chef  #おうちごはん  #homemade  #料理
Golden hour with my precious girl. Lockdown 3.0, D Golden hour with my precious girl. Lockdown 3.0, Day 1. 🧡
Just taking in the last of the festive glow before Just taking in the last of the festive glow before I pack my Christmas tree decorations away for another year and hoover up the pine needles. I am never a fan of how empty the house feels afterwards. How do you think we will celebrate next year? Will it be over-the-top because we can or do you think it will stay small because we have come to appreciate the joy in simplicity? One thing I have learnt this year is that i actually enjoy the simple things in life. Truthfully, I think I always have. 🙏🏻 That being said will you just admire these larger than life decorations that @saraspetitecuisinebakes has in her window! I popped in this afternoon for a pick-me-up whilst taking a walk and couldn’t resist getting some snaps. Sara always manages to make her little shop so inviting. I can’t wait to see what her decorations will be with the promise of spring just around the corner. 🌱
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#festive  #ootd  #tistheseason  #friends  #happyholidays  #style  #london  #fun  #holidayseason  #christmaslights  #christmas2020 #instagood  #santa  #holiday  #lights  #photography  #fashion  #christmasdecor  #holidays  #christmastime  #happy  #festiveseason  #december  #xmas  #family  #winter  #merrychristmas  #christmastree  #love  #christmas
Starting the year with a beach walk, friends, fish Starting the year with a beach walk, friends, fish & chips and an ice cream. The best kind of start to a year! Funnily enough I did the same last year and the year before and the year before that.. am I predictable? Maybe, but why do any different when we are lucky enough to live in such a beautiful part of the country.
It wouldn’t be Twixtmas for me without a trip to It wouldn’t be Twixtmas for me without a trip to the moors. Trust me to bring some fizz so we could toast the end of 2020 on the top of the world. ( i.e Haytor 🥂) 
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#wild  #wildlife  #cold  #winter  #moor  #nature  #photography  #beautiful  #beauty  #dartmoor  #girl  #2020  #yearend  #browneyes  #likeme  #commentme  #england #top  #devon #face  #picture  #instaeyes  #wilderness #instaboy  #tarasbusykitchen #landscape  #selfie  #look  #style
My/Your top nine posts of 2020 via the @topnine.ap My/Your top nine posts of 2020 via the @topnine.app - looks like the best performing posts feature my ugly mug on the whole. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I am so glad that my picture of the beautiful Tudor house in Exeter trumped them all though. It’s such a wonderful building showcasing days gone by in my beautiful city. Thank you to all who have liked and commented on my page this year. I adore the insta community I have and the friends I have made. Have a very happy new year everybody! 🤍
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#photograph  #photos  #photogram  #photoofday  #picture  #photographers  #photographie  #photoftheday  #photodaily  #photographylovers  #photoaday  #photogrid  #photoshop  #fotografia  #photooftheweek  #photobomb  #photoday  #pic  #photochallenge
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© Tara Smith 2020