Summery Lemon Cupcakes
I decided the other day it had been far to long since I last baked, so this weekend I re-stoked my baking cupboard and set about making something yummy. Since the weather has been so unseasonably hot here the situation called for something fresh, light and lemony. So, after much debate I decided to adapt my vanilla cupcake recipe and make it a lemon cupcake recipe – the result was quite yum indeed – just what the stomach called for! Well, not really since my taste buds love cupcakes but stomach really quite hates anything with white flour in! he,he!
I wanted to use my new Greengate cupcake cases that Holly got me for Christmas and my new edible flowers Miles bought me from Squires Kitchen. All-in-all they make a yummy, light, summery treat if you’re looking for something fill the sweet craving without being too heavy. If anyone fancies giving them a whirl here’s the recipe – it makes around 8-9 cupcakes.
You’ll need the following:
115g of unsalted better
115g of golden caster sugar
115g of self raising flour
2 medium sized eggs
the grated rind on one lemon
a table spoon of milk
For the icing:
50g of unsalted butter
100g of full-fat cream cheese
300g icing sugar
half a lemon rind grated
1 drop of vanilla extract
How to make the cupcakes:
1) Cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy and light, then beat one egg in at a time until mixture is smooth.
2) Add in the lemon rind and mix again. Now sieve in the the flour and mix until smooth. Then add the milk to make a dropping consistency.
3) Spoon mixture into cupcake cases, making sure to only fill them a 3/4 way full. Bake for 20-25 mins at around 150 degrees.
4) To make the icing cream together the butter, cream cheese – then sieve in the icing sugar mixing as you go. Add lemon rind and vanilla extract mixing until smooth. Pipe onto the cakes once they are fully cooled.
Simple, yummy and fresh – let me know if anyone gives the recipe a go, I’d love to know how you got on! Have a lovely week.
Someone had a Birthday
I’m not usually one to put lots of pictures of myself or people here on my blog, but I thought I’d share these shots as they are a little bit special and really do capture what I’ve been up to. Last weekend was Miles’ birthday, the weather was glorious and we headed down to kent to see our family. We had lots of cake, Miles got lots of pressies and we had a yummy BBQ in the sun. It was perfect photo weather and I managed to snap these pictures of Miles on my iPhone using the Hipstermatic app.
We spent Miles’ actual birthday in London. A trip to Hackney City Farm, some yummy food at Trullo and lots of lounging in the sun – then topped off with the World Cup final. A lovely day, made even better knowing that we are heading off to Paris together in just a few weeks. This was my present to Miles, well it seems quite modest compared to his trip to America that he planned for my 25th. I’m so excited about visiting Paris for a second time – macarons, cakes, parks and lots of beautiful buildings!
If anyone has any helpful tips, hints or suggestions for things to see and do in Paris I’d love to hear them. As it stands I’ve been reading some great Parisian blogs and using the great Design Sponge city guide for Paris. I’m so excited – a long weekend in the city of pretty!
Sunshine and Stamping
Sorry for the super long delay between posts. Miles was away for ages and took with him the camera that we share since mine decided to give up and die a year after purchase (boo). He’s back now and so too is the camera – Hooray! It’s been a busy few weeks here, sweltering in the summer sun, working and all the day-to-day stuff that seems to take up all my time. However, I did get a little time to make these new gift tags with my Russian doll stamps that Miles got me for Christmas, yes I’ve waited since Christmas to get some free time and inspiration to use them. They are from the very lovely Make Lounge – I think? They are hand carved and pretty cute even if I do say so myself.
The Paris stamps were a birthday gift from Miles again, he knows I love nothing more than a beautiful rubber stamp! I was very lucky today, I hit Islington’s Upper Street for browse of the summer sales and one of the local design shops, Aria had this Orla Kiely note book for £3 reduced from £9.95 because it has a little mark on it (I’m not fussed). They also had this great Wallpaper guide to Bilbao reduced to £3.50 – which was a stroke of luck as this is where I’m off to on my work holiday on Thursday. You may remember me blogging about previous work holiday’s to Barcelona and Athens and this year we’re off to San Sebastian near Bilbao, Spain. Looking forward to relaxing in the sun and hopefully seeing some lovely sights.
I really loved how these two books co-ordinated in colour and once I made my labels they seemed to match so well too. Fresh, yet muted summer colours are just what I need right now as every where feels so bright and sunny. This weekend is mostly going to be spent spending time with Miles (catching up and hanging out after his sky diving adventure). We’ve spent hours in the park reading, with a butterfly landing on Miles back several times – amazing! Looking forward to catching the England game tomorrow, fingers crossed for a win! If anyone knows the San Sebastian area and have any good tips please share them, I have done very little research and it doesn’t seem to be a place that many have visited. Have a great week!
Peach and Sweet Potato Muffins
I’m feeling rather summery at the moment. The sun is shining and flip flops are the staple footwear choice. I’m sure all this will change in the blink of n eye and rain will pour – after all this is England! I managed a spot of baking today, another recipe from the Harry Eastwood cookbook. Previously I have attempted the courgette cupcakes, but today I went for the peach and sweet potato muffins. My thinking was that these will make really great breakfast snacks. If you are not familiar with Harry’s philosophy, she tends to avoid butter in her recipes and substitutes this with vegetables to get the same (if not more) moisture – cakes that are actually pretty good for you, whoop!
For anyone looking to give them ago here is the recipe.
You will need the following:
2 medium free range eggs
120g caster sugar
200g peeled and finely grated sweet potato
100g white rice flour
100g ground almonds
1 table spoon of poppy seeds
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of barcarbonate of soda
1/4 teaspoon of salt
3 small peaches cut into small cubes (or 1 regular tin of peaches cut up)
These are really quick and simple to make with very few steps.
Here’s how to do it:
1) Whisk the egg and sugar together for 3 minutes, until fluffy and light.
2) Use a wooden spoon to mix in the sweet potato, ground almonds. Then sieve in the flour, baking powder, barcarbonate of soda and salt. Finally adding in the poppy seeds. Mix well.
3) Add in the chopped peach (I coated my peach cubes in a teaspoon of flour to avoid them sinking to the bottom) and mix well again.
4) Spoon the mixture into muffin cases to the top, make sure you use a muffin tray to bake them. Then they need 3o minutes in the oven at 180 degrees or gas mark 4.
5) Once ready turn them out on to a wire rack to cool – then Eat! Yum!
If anyone tries them out please let me know, love to know how you got on. Also if anyone wants the book here’s the one that I have.
Growbot Gift
Whilst I was in San Francisco I spotted this little Growbot in a very cute shop called Lavish in Hayes Valley. You plant him up with grass seeds and they create his head/hair. I bought this little man a present for my robot mad boyfriend – plus I am a real sucker for white ceramics! I love how he stands so proud and tall with his cute little green grass hair. I was all fingers and thumbs when planting him up and as a result he’s a little thin on top, the grass is a little patchy! I think a bit of extra seeding is needed to give him fuller hair.
I had to stop mid flow in writing this post as the UK announced that David Cameron was to become our new Prime Minister and he was on his way to Buckingham Palace. I have been totally sucked into politics this election and on election night Miles and I were up until 3am glued to the TV. I’m glad a decision is finally made, even if it’s not one I’m that happy with. I must mention that the two frames either side of the growbot are Liberty of London for Target, I bought so much of the collection whilst I was in the US, I think Target ended up being by favourite stop, that and Crate and Barrel. Still there’s lots to be happy about, Stornoway (my fave band) have announced their album will be out on 24th May – yay! I also finally have a bed to sleep on after some very uncomfortable nights on a mattress on the floor – Yay!
In the Pink
I hope everyone had a lovely weekend? Mine was spent with friends and family, which is always lovely and a real treat. On Friday I spent the evening with the lovely Holly, who was full of tales of Australian travel and loaded with awesome gifts. She gifted me a copy of the very cool Frankie magazine, which I’m now hooked on! I love the writers tone and the amazing photography. She also introduced me to the Australian favourites, Tim Tams and I can safely say I am hooked on those too – shame my packed just ran out! The tip of biting the ends off and sucking your tea up through it, like a straw is genius (messy, but genius).
Then I was treated to a lovely visit from my parents, which always brings a huge smile to my face as those guys make me laugh so much. We had cakes, pizza, biscuits and showed them all the news bits I’d bought for my lounge. Overall, a very productive weekend ending with a lovely brunch with Miles at the delicious new brunch hotspot, Caravan. Man, those guys make a mean baked eggs and don’t even get me started on the cakes! The pictures of my strange, pink, milkshake potion is just one of the concoctions that I blend up daily for my morning feed. I’m back riding my bike to work everyday so a power smoothie before I hit the road is advisable, otherwise I end up wanted to eat my own arm by the time I arrive at work. Today I stuck a paper straw in, the colours really jumped out at me and made me smile – and reach for the camera!
Blue Skies and Goodbyes
I’m home! After 2.5 weeks in California I am back on home turf. Well, I’ve been back about a week, but it’s only that I feel human again. Jet lag is not my friend and heading straight into work the day after you land doesn’t leave much time for photo processing and tending to blog. Anyway, explanations aside I thought I’d start sharing a few pictures of my travels, starting (in no particular order) with Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz was filled with beach, board-walks and palm trees – all so very different to England. The sun was shining and the town was buzzing, we managed a go on the 1910 big dipper that is made from wood and manages to throw you around like any ride today. Everything was so colourful and inspiring, there’s nothing like a bright blue sky to capture the colours of the fair.
The overall trip was amazing, the trip of a lifetime doesn’t even cover it. Escaping from reality and getting to spend 2.5 interrupted weeks with Miles was such a treat. We saw so much, did so much and ate so much it’s going to be really hard to do it justice in pictures and words. I feel very lucky to have had the chance to travel and saying goodbye to the blue skies and California was pretty hard. More holiday pictures to follow, I promise. I also spent the weekend revamping and changing my flat about so I need to take some snap to share. I really hope everyone has had a great start to May – have a lovely week! x
Easter Bunny
I’ve been a slacker lately when it comes to my blog – sorry! Holiday preparations and work seem to suck up all of my time – yawn. Anyway, I wanted to wish everyone a lovely Easter. 4 days away from work and hopefully my computer to bake, make and spend time with the family! Bliss. The little rabbit egg cup above is the very cute Easter gift that Miles got me from Liberty – I love it! The little spoon is Greengate and a gift from the lovely Holly. I think tomorrow morning I will replace the chocolate eggs for one boiled real one – yum!
It’s now only days before my big trip to America and I am just a little bit excited. I have mostly been distracting myself with Sophie Dahl’s new cooking show, the latest copy of Delicious magazine (the one with macarons on the front cover) and whoopie pies (I am going to attempt these tomorrow).
Have a great Easter everyone!
Magic Morsels – Pierre Herme Macarons
As a really big macaron fan I have was just a tad excited to find out that Pierre Herme was opening a concession in Selfridges! This is his first English outlet and do feel rather lucky that it’s in London and so close by. I love, love, love Laduree macarons to bits however, as their popularity grows in London the choice of flavours seems to diminish a little. Now these little morsels don’t come cheap, at £2 a go they are quite a bit more expensive more than Luduree, however, they do offer some fantastically different flavours and are quite a bit larger. My favourites were the passion fruit and milk chocolate, rose and quince and the lemon and hazelnut praline – yum!
The packaging was fresh, exciting and pretty cute. The box was adorned with French doodle-type drawings depicting Pierre himself and the locations that he has stores in. They looked so perfect in their little yellow box, perfectly sealed and accompanied by a menu – this really help you remember which flavours your selected! By the time I got home I was struggling to remember – the choice is quite vast. Overall, I think I’ll be back to pay the Pierre Herme counter another visit, in fact I know I’ll be back. Next time I’ll try new flavours and hopefully they’ll last a little longer (I ate 6 in one go). He,he! Have a lovely week!
Best Blanket
For my Birthday I receive a very special present that I have been waiting to share, however the light has been far too poor to photograph it nicely. My lovely Mum crotched me this stunning, lovely, beautiful blanket and I am totally smitten with it. It’s become the main focus in my living room, the colours are so perfect and the fact that it was hand made with love makes it so special – needless to say I don’t let many people sit on the sofa with it on (no way). I am totally in awe of my Mum’s talents, I can’t knit, let alone crotchet something so pretty.
It’s placed on the second sofa in our front room, this retro leather couch belongs to our land-lady and I am rather fond of it. It’s beautifully worn, smells ever-so-slightly of smoke and I just know it’s had an interesting life. This all sounds a little odd I know, but I find strange little things like this interesting and comforting sometimes. Plus, I’ve polished it so many times you can barely smell the smoke anymore (which is good). For anyone who knows me, you will understand just how much I love blankets, I seriously adore a warm, beautiful blanket to snuggle up with at all times of year. So, when I received this stunner it was love. Unique and lovely – I love it. I know, I am being irrationally mushy about a blanket, but somethings are worth gushing over. The end.
Have a great week everyone!