Matcha Flag Cupcakes
So it seems Sunday really is turning into my baking day, I am strangely addicted to baking and perfecting of late. These latest cupcakes are Matcha, that very strange, bright green ground tea powder that is said to work wonders for you. It’s super rich in anti-oxidants and perks you up a treat, which is just what we all need on these very chilly October days. I am a green tea addict so Matcha makes for the perfect cake, not to mention the novelty factor of chowing down on bright, lush green sponge – grassy.
The colour of the cupcakes really inspired me to create some new cake decorations, as nothing in my baking cupboard matched the green brief. I’ve seen some text flags in cupcakes on other blogs and they are a favourite of Amy Atlas, but with the Japanese feel to Matcha this oriental paper seemed more fitting. The flags themselves are so simple to make all you need is paper and cocktail sticks – and a dab of glue.
It’s been a very relaxing weekend here in Highbury, there’s been lots of cycling, eating steak at Garufa, watching Strictly Come Dancing and listening to my new music lovelies (Mumford and Sons, Hockey and Sky Larkin). Currently hatching craft plans for Christmas – I can’t wait! I will be posting up some of these recipes soon, just working out a place to locate them on the blog.
Sunday is Baking Day Part 2
You guessed it, this is a two part post! The baking didn’t stop with the cupcakes, I moved on to my first attempt at mini meringues, which along with cupcakes are a favourite of mine. I really enjoyed piping them out onto the baking try and then seeing them puff up with the heat of the oven, it’s really quite fascinating stuff. They are a little crumbly, but still tasty – now I need to think what to do with them? With no whipped cream, jam or anything good it’s a tough one, Nutella?
If only I wasn’t so blooming sick, i’d invite everyone round for tea, cakes and some crumbly vanilla meringues – perfect! Alas, as I sit coughing my insides up, wrapped in a blanket I think I’ll save everyone from the misery of my germs. I think it’s back to the newly downloaded Scrabble app on my iphone, it’s been keeping me entertained for hours this weekend. I hope everyone has a great week, any good meringue tips would be welcomed. x
Sunday is Baking Day Part 1
I don’t really like to leave the house a great deal on a Sunday, it really is my lazy indoors day. I don’t sleep in much so I have to seek rest from other things and I find staying for a day works wonders – plus I’ve been pretty ill for over a week now and I’m in need of some serious healing R&R.
Amidst all the relaxing and resting I do enjoy a good bake on a Sunday and I seem to be making it a regular slot. I’m getting a lot quicker at baking these days, whipping up some cakes to keep Miles content doesn’t seem to take up the whole day anymore. After the other weeks’ peach and mascarpone offerings I thought I’d try to perfect my piping skills on the basic (but favourite) vanilla cupcake.
I got inspiration from this month’s Sainsbury’s Magazine (I think I’m the only person under 35 who loves this magazine to pieces) which is filled with how to create the perfect cupcake tips. Note please check out my pink heart shaped doilies, I’ve waited s long to use them! They say ‘Love’ in the middle and I’m totally smitten with them.
House Warming
My very good friend Holly (she’s good with the gifts) treated me to an amazing new house warming gift, a beautiful Greengate jug! It’s a beauty and I love it, thank you Holly! It’s currently filled with lovely flowers that my sister arranged – perfect. It’s really turning into autumn here in London and I’m already getting into a colder weather routine of cozy nights in watching lots of films. Saw 500 Days of Summer recently, with an awesome talk from the director afterwards. It’s a really cool film, with a great soundtrack to boot. Zooey Deschanel has long been a favourite of mine, that girl has style – I type this listening to the She & Him album, if you don’t have it give it a go it’s dreamy!
New Cakes and New Blog
It’s been a quiet bank holiday Monday here in the new flat, I’ve been feeling a little poorly and Miles has been attempting to plough on with work. However, I have managed to get a little baking done and rope Miles into re-designing my blog – what do you think? The cupcakes I made are peach and mascarpone and are hands down the yummiest things around. I first tried them at my daily hunt Nusa Kitchen, London and found the recipe online at Waitrose.
They are super simple to make and well worth every calorie! I had no piping bag to ice them with so they are a little rough round the edges. However, don’t be fooled, perfectly piped icing won’t add to their flavour, they’re amazing through and through, even with messing icing. So between baking cakes, riding my new bike and finally getting a new blog I’m a happy girl this bank holiday – thanks Miles! Love to know what you think of the re-design?
I Moved
My recent absence has not been without good reason, after my last post it was all systems go to move to into London. The move was a little bit epic and has eaten up stacks of time. It was pretty significant, I made the leap from Greater South London to Highbury and Islington, well within North London. I now have a London post code and everything – it’s all terribly exciting. I’ve waited almost two long and patient years to to have a London post code to call my own. I’ve spent the last few weeks making it a home and getting used to my new way of life.
My new flat is situated within a beautiful victorian mansion and Miles and I now occupy the ground floor. It’s filled with delicious features like sash windows, bleached wood shutter boards, wood paneling and lots more. Not to mention some of the more luxurious features like the en suite bathroom, wonderful appliances and utility room! I’m in love with the flat already!
It’s all been very nice to move away, be closer to my work and to be in such a nice area with so much going on. We have a huge park (Highbury Fields) just around the corner, with stacks of cute independent shops, deli’s, restaurants and pubs -all the things you need. Then we are just 10 mins from Islington’s Upper Street, which is filled with delights like Toast, Oliver Bonas, Bora, Noa Noa and lots more. I will keep you posted with lots more pictures as I take them, here are just a few pinky shots taken on our first weekend here.
J’aime France
I’m not usually one to post personal pictures of myself and friends on my blog, but my recent trip to Port Grimaud in France was pretty good fun so I thought I’d give it a mention. Not least because I holidayed with fellow blogger LittleLjBigApple (now There and Back Again).
We ate and drink our way around the whole town and a little of Saint Tropez too. There was lots of crepes, Italian food and lots of rose (possibly a little too much on one or two occasions). We soaked up a lot of sun, I swam in the sea with a little help from my friends (this is a huge rarity as I am terrified).
All in all it was a lovely getaway, a much needed escape from London life. It was also Miles’ birthday whilst I was away, I got him a ticket to join us for two nights which was lovely, I couldn’t imagine missing his birthday, especially after 6 years of always spending our birthday’s together.
Beautiful Budapest
I have been very absent despite saying I was going to blog more. I’m finding having no camera, plus not massively creative surrounds a bit of a drag. I have been galavanting a little over the last two months, I went off to Athens with my work peeps – which was amazing! I also went on a anniversary trip to Budapest with Miles, we needed to celebrate 6 years together in some way.
We had a blast, Budapest is super pretty – with some amazing places to eat drink and chill out. Most of our time was spent at city spas, slurping goulash and drinking stupidly reasonable champagne cocktails. There were some really cute place to eat around the city, everything was so reasonably priced too. These photos are from Marvelosa, a kitch, shabby chic, tiny cafe located on the Buda side of the Danube.
We also managed to eat at the super cool, 1970′s communist inspired, Menza. The atmosphere was great, drinks were strong and the atmosphere was buzzing. If you’ve not seen the interior of the famous restaurant you need to take a peek here – so unique! Well I fell in love with Budapest, it’s similar to Paris, however a fraction of the cost and has a little less pomp. I’ve just got back from the South of France, more holiday posts to follow.
Flower Love
I’m really in love with flowers and candles lately. There is two downsides to this, 1) I am terrible at flower arranging and 2) I always bitched about people who liked candles – I never saw the point? Now I’m a complete sucker for the ambiance they create. I have real expensive candle lust too, I want Jo Malone, Miller and Harris and Diptyque candles! This is not good news because all of these are around £30 for a glorified tea light.
Back to the flowers, these lovely flowers were created by my dear sister, who forages for natural foliage and made me this creation in a beautiful vintage milk creamer. I really appreciate gifts like this as I’m so hopeless at making flowers look nice. I’m a creative person but flowers just stump me every time, if anyone knows or a great flower arranging book please let me know – I’ll snap it up! So much glorious sun here in London, and so much more to come – I’m off to Athens on Thursday for my annual work holiday…. wish me luck!
Sanderson Rugs
Sanderson rugs are pretty special. These round ‘Etchings and Roses’ collection in the various colours is so striking. A little bit of visual home candy. They would look great paired with an ultra modern interior, or thrown down on some wooden floorboards. Beautiful!