OUT AND ABOUT: SUSSEX.

I'm back from a weeks holiday in Sussex. The photo above is from Worthing Pier. I'm in love that bright red 'pier' sign.

We went shopping in Brighton, cycling along the coast, ate a lot of food, watched San Andreas (both the best and the worst film I've ever seen and I loved it) at the refurbished Edwardian Dome Cinema, spent some time in Alfriston (I can recommend Much Ado Books, the best book shop!), Lewes and Arundel.

Here's some photos from the trip.

Arundel Castle was a highlight. It's a restored medieval castle and the gardens are amazing. They were filled with these gorgeous carved wooden structures and so many plants and trees. It all felt very Game of Thrones.

That building you can see in the second picture down on the right was Oberon's Palace. The walls inside were covered in shells and housed a stalagmite fountain with a golden crown that floated on top and was really hard to take photos of. I've included the dodgy mobile phone photo anyway because even though it's grainy the fountain was pretty amazing and I think it deserves to be shared. It's well worth a visit if you're ever in the area.

What's everyone else been up to?

6 DIY'S TO TRY FROM AROUND THE WEB.

I hope you're ready to roll up your sleeves and dive into some weekend crafting fun! I've rounded up six fabulous and easy-to-make DIY projects that will add a touch of handmade charm to your space.

So, grab your scissors, glue, and let's get this crafting party started!

A “Palm Fronds + Bon Bons” Dinner Party

I want one of these balloon centrepieces at every party I throw from here on out. It was so EASY to do!

Find here

DIY Hanging Planter

I’ve made and owned various such hanging delights around the house but really wanted to create a tiered version so I could hang three plants at a time.

Find here

DIY Pegboard Wall Organizer

It’s a space you can keep all those necessities, keys, sunglasses, your bag, all in one convenient spot so they’re ready to grab & go!

Find here

DIY No-Sew Rope Coil Basket

Learn how to make this DIY No-Sew Rope Coil Basket using craft store supplies.

Find here

5. Easier than you might think Quilted Zipper Pouches from The Purl Bee.

6. And finally cute Diy Sunglasses Photo Frames from Photojojo to brighten someone's day.

There you have it, crafty friends! 6 DIY projects to keep you entertained and add a touch of handmade goodness to your space.

CRISPY SWEET POTATO FRIES.

Ok, so, I pinned this recipe for the 'perfect' sweet potato fry a couple of weeks ago. I love sweet potatoes and I really love sweet potato fries, there's something about that sweet, salty combo I just can't get enough of but every time I make them something always seems to go wrong and I'm left with a soggy, mushy or burnt mess. Not this time. Not with this recipe anyway.

Apparently the key to the perfect sweet potato fry is to soak them in water first and then coat them in cornflour. I'd never tried this method before and I'm really pleased with how they turned out. I'll be making them like this again.

Ingredients.

2 medium sweet potatoes,

2 teaspoons cornflour,

2 tablespoons olive oil,

2 tablespoons breadcrumbs,

2 tablespoons brown sugar,

Vegetable oil (to coat the baking tray),

Coarse sea salt.

(recipe adapted from Camille Styles)

(for the dipping sauce)

Sour cream or plain yoghurt,

Sweet chilli sauce.

1. Peel and chop the sweet potatoes into 1/2 inch thick pieces.

2. Soak the fries in cold water for at least an hour. Drain the water away and rinse the fries in cold water. Pat dry with a towel.

3. Preheat the oven to 230 c / gas mark 8.

4. Add 2 tsp of cornflour to a zip lock bag, add the sweet potato and shake until the potato is evenly coated in the cornflour.

5. Pour the fries into a bowl, add 2 tbsp olive oil and sprinkle over the 2 tbsp of breadcrumbs and the brown sugar. Mix together.

6. Line a baking sheet with foil and coat in a thin layer of vegetable oil.

The original recipe said to use a non-stick cooking spray. I didn't have one so I used some greaseproof paper to evenly spread a couple of tablespoons of vegetable oil onto the foil instead.

7. Place the fries in a single layer on the baking tray. Try not to let any of the fries touch. Place the fries in the oven for 15 minutes. Remove the fries and turn them over before putting them back in for a further 15 minutes.

In the original recipe it says to place the baking tray in the bottom of the oven. I only have a middle and a top in my oven so I placed mine in the middle. Some of my fries did catch and burn a little on the edge of the tray. I probably could've done with taking them out a few minutes earlier.

6. Turn off the oven, leave the door open partially and let the fries rest for 5-10 minutes. They should get nice and crispy.

7. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with sea salt and eat.

There's a few ways I love to eat sweet potato fries, dipped in smoky barbecue sauce, sprinkled with chilli flakes and crumbled feta or in this case dipped in sour cream (plain yoghurt would work just as well) with some sweet chilli sauce swirled through it.

These sweet potato fries were crunchy and crispy and not soggy at all. They're a bit more time consuming than the ones I usually make but they turned out great so I'm not complaining. Definitely worth go if you've had the same problems and you're looking for an alternative to the soggy fry.

Has anyone tried this method of soaking them before? I'd love to know what you thought.

P.S. You can find more sweet and savoury treats here.

THREE THINGS I LOVE RIGHT NOW: MAY.

1. This gorgeous Diy Pom Pom Wall Hanging from Sugar and Cloth.

2. The BBC adaptation of this book. I read the book a few years ago and loved it so I had high hopes, the first part was on last night and it didn't disappoint.

3. This quilt cover from Ikea covered in botanical illustrations makes me happy. Even though summer is supposed to be on it's way it rained on and off all day today. Typical English weather. This pretty floral bedding might be just what's needed to brighten up the inevitable grey days.

What about you? What things are you loving right now?