Treat yourself this Valentines ~ Favourites ~ Baking Blogs and Recipes

It's that time of year again.... Valentines!

Now there are lovers and haters of this holiday and I'm not really one for that fake lovey-dovey S!*T but I never miss an opportunity to eat chocolate and cake! And I love crafts and make-and-do, I'm like an overgrown child!!!! So I do like some valentines things and it's always nice to cheer up someone's day with a cute treat and a big hug!

Also as you know I am obsessed with pinterest and there are soooo many cute cakes and bakes on there for valentines so I am gonna make some treats for friends and family!

Some of my favourite finds include Strawberry Cake in a Jar from The Mini Baker

 

 

and these Red Velvet Cupcakes in a Jar from MyBakingAddiction

 

 

 

Also these great compilations like this one from The Helicopter Mum

 

and this   from your Homebased Mum

 

 

 

as you can tell I am going through a Cakes in Jars phase and am kinda feeling Red Velvet for the season!



 

 

Let me know how your baking adventure progresses and send me links to recipes you like or think I should try!

 

xx

 

P.S. if your still hungry why not try my previous posts:

 

Ferrero Rocher Cake

 

Cake Pops 

Happy Pancake Day! Yum Yum!!!

I love Pancake Tuesday! A whole day dedicated to stuffing yourself with pancakes!

So here is a recipe for pancakes from Odlums, get the whole recipe here!

Ingredients:

 

125g / 4oz Odlums Cream Plain Flour

Pinch of Salt

1 Egg

300ml / 1/2 pint Milk

Oil for frying

Or this one from Siucra, see full recipe here!

I used this Siucra recipe this year as this is the one I had as a child, Siucra used to give recipe cards out in the supermarket so I used to pick one up every year! I used oil instead of butter. simply put all your ingredients into a jug and mix it up with a whisk! It is best to leave it stand for 30mins or overnight however I had some "tester" pancakes last night and they were delicious!

Ingredients

• 2 large eggs (beaten)
• 150 g/5 oz Cream Flour
• 1 tbsp Siúcra/McKinney Caster Sugar
• 250ml/8 fl milk, or milk and water mixed
• 1 tbsp melted butter (optional)

Last year I made Red Velvet Pancakes (using the Odlums recipe) by adding red food colouring and cocoa to my pancake batter!!! Then I covered them with Nutella, and strawberries would have gone great with them!!!
Here they are with a nice cup of tea!

My favourite Pancake though is the Traditional Sugar and Lemon Juice!!!

However you like your pancakes I hope you enjoy them!!!!


Still hungry? Check out my previous recipe posts:

Ferrero Rocher Cake

Cake Pops

xx

P.S. Feel free to comment and send me links for recipes you think I should like!

Happy Chinese New Year!

I didn't know much about this holiday but I've learnt a thing or two recently and thought I would share with you!

First off I got a lovely gift from a friend for Chinese New Year!

Such a beautiful pashmina, I wore it today and everyone complemented it! Chinese Red Knot Tassel with Bells which thanks to Google I know symbolizes good luck and prosperity.

 

 

Then I found this blogger Sally with a lovely Hong Kong Egg Tart Recipe here, yes I would to love to try these but Sally also gives us a quick introduction to some traditions. Notably that elders and married people tend to give the youngsters a Red Pocket. I didn't realise the symbolic nature of the packaging my cute gift came in!


So Happy Chinese New Year Everyone!!

xx

Friday Fashion Fix ~ Spring Summer 2016 Trends

So this week I have been looking through the vast fashion world to narrow in on this seasons key trends!
There is a lot of overlap (in my view)between all these trends!!!

Victorian

This trend includes ruffles, puffball shoulders, high necklines and floral!

D&G

Vintage

Parts of Victorian included!

Gucci

 

Floral

See included above!!!

 

Pleats

Chanel combining pleats and petals

Spanish influences

Including the ruffles as in Victorian!

Oscar De La Renta

And Cavalli, with some shoulder exposure!

Shoulders

A surprisingly seductive part of our anatomy!

Schouler

Shoulders (and strips as below) Ferragamo

White Shirts with a Twist!

Like the shoulder one above!

Paper bag waists

Fringing

Still with us!!!

Plaid and Gingham

Stella McCarthy

Lingerie & Slips

Balencia and Celine

Pyjama party

You gotta say PJ's are quite close to lingerie! Loewe and Gucci

 

Solid stripes

Dior

 

Sequins

Like this from Lavin

Gucci mix sequins, ruffles and a bit of Victoriana

 

The Bomber Jacket

With floral and ruffles, Cavalli

 and Fendi

The New Romantic

This obviously includes flounces and frills along with some shoulder action! McQueen, Cavalli and Valentino.

 So what do you think?? A lot of trends and a lot of overlap??

Opinions welcome so please comment!

xx

Baking! Ferrero Rocher Cake!

As you may already know I just love baking!!! I found this amazing chocolaty luscious cake recipe on Pinterest pinned from Let The Baking Begin Blog as just had to share it with you!

I halved the recipe as you know January... healthy living! So Two Tier half the calories!!! And just blitzed regular hazelnuts in the blender to make the hazelnut flour.

Get the recipe here

This cake tasted amazing! I love Ferrero Rocher anyway and had some left from Christmas!

Let me know how your cake turns out!

Share some of your favourite recipes with me!!!

xx

Friday Fashion Fix ~ Spring Summer Shoe Trends 2016

Loving Harpers Bazaar for inspiration this season! Though I'm not sure I will be embracing all this seasons trends!

Futuristic

I do like Futuristic Shoes

Silver

This look ties in quite well with the futuristic trend. I embraced silver in the past and despite looking like a hot chicken wrap (feelin' the love) so I already have a pair of silver shoes!

 

Mules/ Slip-On's

Hit and miss with me... once they stay on my feet I'm happy to wear them!!

Western Inspiration

I like this one, you can never go wrong with a good pair of cowboy boots!!! Lovin' Marc Jacobs and Givenchy for this trend! 

Flatforms

I like this one, reminds m of the spice girls era! And they are comfy!!

Pom Poms

Like the handbags the pom pom is sticking with us thanks to D & G and I love it 'cos you can bring any shoe up to date with the simple addition of a pom pom!!!

So what's on your feet this season??

Have you read my Hand Bag trends post???

Please give me your opinions!!!

xx

Midweek Motivation ~ January Check-up? ~

For this weeks Midweek Motivation I thought I would give you some time to check up on how your resolutions are going??

As you know from my first post of 2016 I'm not a big resolution person but lots of people and I can't deny that the start of a new year can be a fresh start, a time for change or a time to try something new!
Stay positive and motivated! Read something new and don't be afraid of change! As I Lillian says don't "End up at 80 saying I could have done that!"

So first of all how is your 2016 going?

Fabulous? Good!

Have you stuck to your resolutions??

Hmmm...

Have you made a list and set goals?? Read here to for some Success Tips!!

Remember to stay positive here!!!

Check out my 5 Tips for Success here!!!

So I hope you have a quick read and give your new year a check up to help you stick to your goals!!


Personally you will see I have done something arty! Knitted hat post here, and I have been baking and cooking dinners like a real person! Mornings still not my friend but I think that's a long term issue!!!

Hope you are all on track this year!

xx