Wednesday 2 September 2009

Blogland Dreams

One way of getting to know a country really, really well is to go house hunting.  In the search for our dream cottage, we’ve been up the side of mountains, down into the valleys, across the marshes and broads, over the downs, along the coast and into any number of villages.  To no avail.  Yet.

blogland lane

Rather than getting into a right royal tizzy, I thought I’d better concentrate on my Blogland Lane beach house instead.  Here, please come with me and we’ll go on a tour before sitting out on the deck with the sun gently touching our cheeks, a whispering sea breeze to soothe and a big jug of homemade lemonade and some very yummy-scrummy raspberry cheesecake to nourish the soul.

5.beach

The deck, with views to forever. 

3.beach

Lots of books and cushions and comfy sofas for chillin’ when it’s stormy outside.

9.beach

Cosy annexe for when the family visits.

13.beach

The engine room!

HOUSEBEAutiful90 from camilla at home

A place to feast if it’s cold outside.  (Must make some cushions for those benches to prevent numb-bum syndrome.)

1.beach

Their room.

11.beach

Your room.

12.beach

Our room.

14.beach

The boys’ room.

6.beach

  Outside bathing? 

10.beach

Or do you prefer a little privacy?

15.beach

Lemonade, anyone?

raspberry cheesecake

And some raspberry cheesecake?

Georgie’s Yummy-Scrummy Cheesecake

This is a really easy two-step recipe that looks like it took hours - and lots of skill - to make.

                • 8 digestive biscuits
                • 50g butter , melted
                • 600g cream cheese
                • 2 tbsp plain flour
                • 175g caster sugar
                • 2 eggs, plus 1 yolk
                • 142ml pot soured cream
                • 300g raspberries
                • icing sugar

Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Crush the biscuits in a food processor (or put in a plastic bag and bash with a rolling pin). Mix with the butter. Press into a 20cm springform tin and bake for 5 minutes, then cool.

Beat the cream cheese with the flour, sugar, eggs, the yolk and soured cream until light and fluffy. Stir in half the raspberries and pour into the tin. Bake for 40 minutes and then check, it should be set but slightly wobbly in the centre. Leave in the tin to cool.

Keep a few raspberries aside for decoration and put the rest in a pan with 1 tbsp icing sugar. Heat until juicy and then squish with a fork. Push through a sieve. Serve the cheesecake with the raspberry sauce and some raspberries flung artistically over the top.

44 comments:

Elizabeth said...

Where is this wonderful place?
Can I come?
or is it a place of one's dreams?
Our Blogstock 08 group (9 middleaged creative types) who got together last year are planning on renting a house on the beach for a reunion....
would you join us?
I posted about the beach today!

Beth Kephart said...

Is this yours, dear Tessa?

Polly said...

This is absolutely, 100 percent my dream house. It's on the coast. It's blue. It's rustic. It's got pretty much all I nead. When can I come??

Sarah Lulu said...

Oh that is so my kind of house!

The cheesecake looks gorgeous too.

Miss Footloose said...

Not only are we looking for a house, we're looking for a country .... warm weather, no winter, outdoor living, ocean nearby, lots of fun people and good friends. Good food would be nice too, but people most important.

Good luck with your search! That beach house is lovely, but wonder if it knows winter ?

Miss Footloose
www.lifeintheexpatlane.blogspot.com
Tales of the Globetrotting Life

steven said...

tessa- anywhere there is cheesecake i'm there!! this is a beautiful home. the kitchen's a dream!!! but it's the outside i love the most!!! thanks for this dreamy post!! steven

Janna Leadbetter said...

Yes, please, I'd like to live there. It's just gorgeous! Hard to pick a favorite room.

pink dogwood said...

Wow love the house, love the cheesecake, love the pictures - are you really getting this house? I hope you are.

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

I'll be right there. Shall I bring anything? The garden is loaded down with produce so could make you up a basket.

Carol said...

Ooohhh for a house like that!!! I can only dream (cause I have waaaay to much clutter and any house I have would never look so lovely and clutter free!!)

I am so going to try that cheesecake recipe!!

C x

Jinksy said...

I think properties on your lane will fly if they are open to offers! You are set to become a property tycoon...

kj said...

ah, tessa, i've been watching the beach for your arrival. may i stay in your guest room tonight? i will sleep deeply and my dreams will be filled with soft and soothing colors. i will bring dinner and drinks, and if you are up for company we will catch up and wind down.

your house on blogland lane is welcoming, breezy, roomy--so much who you are!

the neighbors on the lane are turning out to be wonderful and interesting, every one. they'll be ready to greet you when you tell them you've arrived: www.bloglandlane.blogspot.com

and any of your visitors and blogfriends here are welcome to move to blogland land also. there is still room--so far 60-plus "neigbors" have signed up.

should i call first, my dearest tessa? or may i just shout YOO WHO TESSA!!

xoxo always
kj

Delwyn said...

Good luck with the house hunting, you have a very good idea of what you want!

Thanks for the scrummy cheesecake.

After that delicious hokey pokey one at Starbucks in NZ I am partial to them...

Happy days

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

You've made me feel so welcome and comfortable! The problem with treating your guests so well is that they may never want to leave. I would be riveted to the view to forever.

I know your thorough search will pay off. Don't settle. The home you are looking for is out there waiting for you.

Yoli said...

The house is lovely but if you serve me that cheesecake I would be content in a tent out in the woods! Yummy!!!!

Caroline said...

Wonderful - this place is so you Tessa! And I'd love to live there too - I'll be over to stay, definitely! Love the cool breezes I feel wafting - so calming. I'm already beginning to feel right at home - thanks, that cool glass of Sauvignon Blanc is perfectly chilled... oh and a big slice of cheesecake too, heavenly!

Unknown said...

I love your blogland lane beach house - simply stunning - does it mean you're moving to New England or the Hamptons? ;-)
And I won't even talk about the cheesecake - I can't I'm drooling too much!

Holly said...

I am on the list when this house and you are ready for visitors. I may not leave until or unless you do, but I'm great in the kitchen so you'll find me in The Engine Room.

That made me laugh.

I'd like to try that recipe, but this Yank is no good with those directions so I'll have to just lust after it.

Tessa, I love visiting with you.

marc aurel said...

Can I come over and do the housework, including vacuuming up all those pesky dog hairs?

Rosaria Williams said...

Ouch! This blogland fantasy house can spoil you for reality. Just kidding. Love every room.

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

I like the room you picked out for me very much! Thank you! I just read of your recent diagnosis and want you to know that I am saying a prayer and thinking all good thoughts your way. I shall visit more often to check up on you!! All the Best from both Edward and myself!!

Merry ME said...

Tessa,
I'm ready to make that cheesecake. Alas, I'm from a country that refuses to learn the metric system even though we supposedly joined the rest of the world in our measuring abilities years ago. Also I have no idea what digestive bisuits and caster sugar are. Help!

About the house. I've been yearning for a cabin in the woods but I'd spend a lifetime in this beach house if I could. However, I would never put the "boys" in that white room. I'd keep it for the girls!

Linda Sue said...

Oh my- SO tidy and white and clean- I will not bring Dexter in from the beach...Sorry, in the middle of the night, while you were in blogland dreamland I sneaked down to the engine room and finished off the cheescake made with digestives! I promise to make another!
I wish you well every reality morning and send huge reality love! XXXXXOOOOO

Bee said...

I'm not greedy; I would settle for the kitchen and the cheesecake!

(Lovely summer house . . . it must be in some other country!)

Lola said...

Lovely post & the cheesecake looks so scrumptious I could eat the pic!!

Hope you're having a great week,

xxLOLA:)

L'Adelaide said...

Yum, that hit the spot on ALL levels... thank you so much for the lucky diversion, the wind in my hair, the lovely bed and bath-sigh-and everything else magic.
X

Debra Keirce said...

You need to come visit us in VA! We'll buy you all the supplies you need...You can cook and decorate to your heart's (and ours) delight! Really!

Titus said...

Can I come and live with you please?

kj said...

do you mind if i come back 100 times? i could, you know,..

tsup tessa. you are fantastic woman # 1 and # 1.5

ceecee said...

I wish I was packing to spend the weekend at this light filled space. The colors are so soothing and with the sea within reach it is perfect. Wishing you a happy day, Tessa.
Catherine

Elizabeth Bradley said...

Oh yeah, that works.

Naturegirl said...

Dreamhouse!! Wow....how wonderful to be healing in that atmosphere!!!
Love the lemonade and cheesecake!Comfort foood!MMM...
I thank you so much for leaving such inpirational words for me...I shall soar..I promise!
healing well anna /aka naturegirl the maple!

Amy said...

I've nearly passed out. My dream house that I can't have until the children are gone (too much white everywhere!) and here you have it in all its glory here in The Land of Blog. And, please tell me...what is a digestive biscuit? Is it similar to what we call a graham cracker do you think?

Reya Mellicker said...

When I saw the first picture, my jaw dropped (as we Americans say). I "know" this house, I do! I dream about this house (though sometimes it's a bit higher up on the cliff) including all the rooms, the great upholstery, bright kitchen, and blog people hanging out. Wow!!

A Cuban In London said...

Ahhh, a dream house and a nice recipe. Who could ask for more?

Many thanks.

Greetings from London.

Renee said...

Oh my God, I am so at home. It has the feel of my house but of course looks nothing like it. Especially as mine is a total pigsty right now.

Tessa I sent you an email, please let me know if you got it.

Love Renee xoxo

Madame DeFarge said...

I like that you'd have to fight me for that house. I'm no totally in love and will sit and drool all night.

Clarity said...

So beautiful, from the white drenched beach house - dream, to the lovely recipe. Attempting it tomorrow, God willing.

Thank you for sharing with us. Glad to find your sweet blog :)

kj said...

tessa, do you think i should wear a bathing suit in that outdoor bath tub? does it matter if i still have weight to lose?

xoxo

kj said...

kj, okay, tessa, i'm there already. i can put the coffee on and the scones up tomorrow morning.

tessa, i think it's time for your neighbors to see your house. you have to send debra kay an email so you can post this fantastic house of yours on blogland lane. you are a resident artist, afterall. you'll like the folks there so far. they'll be more collective arms around you. if you need help moving, just ask me. i'm a great non-working supervisor.

i'm thinking about you, sending love and warm energy.

xoxo

Cindy said...

That post will get me through this cold, rainy Southeast Alaskan day. WOW!!!

Ces Adorio said...

Is that you pouring lemonade? because I have another comment if that is you :)

xxx said...

Heaven!

Anonymous said...

I am hell bent on making that cheesecake!