Katy's blog | Blake & Bull

Darcy the doggo is curled up and cosy in her new spot!

Credit goes to The Den at Backwell Down B&B for this pup portrait of Darcy dog, contentedly curled up in her newly refurbished and renovated surroundings!

And with an immaculate hand crafted kitchen by Tom Howley and a newly refurbished, re-enamelled and converted cooker by us - so she should be! What a beautiful scene, if all goes quiet here this week you will know I have been tempted to go curl up with her in the B&B! 

I love a before shot! ...

Especially when the transformation is so impactful! She was a beauty of a cooker before to be fair, but her new situation really suits her!

Proof from Dusty too that an Electrikit converted cooker is still a cosy thing to nestle up to!

Anyone seen my suitcase.....?

Katy x

Our BIG survey results are in!

How about some really interesting reading over a cuppa in the garden? We collected over 1350 responses to our detailed questions (thanks if you completed them!) and have some really interesting information to share with you all now that we have crunched the numbers. From annual fuel costs to the most popular colours; it's all here!

• The Big Blake & Bull Annual Survey Results | 2019 >

One Happy Mini Refurbishment Customer!

Thank you to Richard for this sunlit springtime snapshot of his beautiful kitchen

Richard complimented Peter, our Mini Refurb expert on his handiwork this week -

"Like brand new! Thanks to Peter, who was a pleasure to have around for a great job!"

< If you would like to book Peter in to do the same he covers a healthy chunk of the UK, follow this link for more info!

Have We Lost Our Bottles?

We were honoured to rescue a beautiful 1936 cooker this week, more to come on that! (dirty hard work but worth it). Amongst the oven parts were some old advisory pamphlets and cookbook sheets.

On these pages I found a small collection of recipes and instructions for bottling vegetables, not pickling, but wet storing seasonal produce for the oncoming winter. The Aga range cooker oven is used to 'Oven Dry Pack' or 'Can' the allotment or garden hoard in Mason or Kilner jars. In most cases only sugar or salt are added to the water..

With the summer seasonal glut approaching I was keen to know if any of you do this? 

Please do get in touch if you have, or you remember a family member doing so!

Katy x

Spring Green - A Very Enjoyable Morning Spent Cleaning

Thank you so much to Sheila, who sent in this photo full of gorgeous greens (right up my street!) after she had carried out a successful spring clean with our Heavy Duty Cleaning kit. 

Our Clucky Friends!

We donate 10p from every Chicken Hob Cover sale to the deserving Hen Welfare Trust. It has been a year since our last donation, so time for another timely spring chicken donation!⁣                                                                                                                             

We are really happy to be able to contribute to the coffers of this charity, who rescue and re-home over 50,000 clucky friends.                                                                                                                              

Here is Maggie's review & photo of her new Chicken hob covers! "Great protectors for our new shiny hot plate lids" ★★★★★

                                                                                                                                     

Matthew has some lovely girls from them, who I think have also won your hearts!

                                                                                                                                     

Hot Cross Buns! A recipe for Easter

Our good friend & talented baker Christine has been working tirelessly not only lambing, but also testing out Hot Cross Bun recipes for you! She has found and perfected this recipe just in time for Easter break and cosy teatimes with your family. Allow time for three proves, around 3-4 hours, but they are quick to bake!

Do send in your bake photo when you are done! Happy Easter from all at Blake & Bull!

Penny's Thoughts..

This coming weekend is the BIGGEST DIY weekend of the year! It is also a weekend of family, food, friends, and The Big Easter Roast! 

Why not give your cooker a spruce up on Good Friday, and reap the rewards of non-stick liners and less cleaning after the roast on Sunday? With temperatures due to hit the mid 20s ℃, who wants to be scrubbing the cooker doors and lids, better to be able to give them a quick wipe and get out in the garden I say! 

Penny is really pleased to have more time on her hands now!

"So much more time!! - No more scrubbing lid tops or oven doors. I hate cooking on a dirty cooker and these have saved me so much time! Thank you Blake and Bull for inventing these for the Aga range cooker!" April 2019 ★★★★★

Order by 2 pm tomorrow (17th April)  & choose our 'next day' delivery service to receive a lovely new set on non stick liners like Penny in readiness for fitting over the Easter break!

A Super Spring Scrub Up By Colin!

"Great Success, easy to use and good instructions. ★★★★★" Colin

We take great care to ensure that you will be equipped with full instructions when you order the kit, & all our products are enamel safe! 

Springy Spongy Simnel Cake

Community member Denise inspired me to pop a Simnel Cake recipe into our baking guide. 

The Simnel Cake has a history crossed with different influences and tales of its origins. Some say that the boiled then baked recipes are so because of a couple called Simon and Nelly fought about how to make it. Only coming to the compromise of the dual method after giving each other a whack with various utensils! No need to beat each other, this is definitely a bake only recipe!

Photo credits go to @stevecooksbakesmakes, who is a regular contributor to our Baking guide. Although he does admit to losing one of the marzipan spheres! The balls on the top are meant to represent the 11 faithful disciples of Jesus.