Some amazing treats I admire

Hi all!

I hope you are all enjoying the festive season and are prepared for Saturday! (I however am not!)

I plan to spend tonight and tomorrow finishing off my shopping (!!) wrapping and baking and then visiting some friends and family.
I have been taking some inspiration from another blogger who has made some of the most amazing cookies I have ever seen. The colours are my favourites, so needless to say I was in love with these:

How gorgeous are they? They would make the prefect little gift for big and little girls alike!

With thanks to Glory from Glorious Treats for sharing her talent with us.

Cupcake Courier

Over the last few weeks I have had the problem of carrying cupcakes to parties or dinners without the icing getting ruined. On public transport this is very hard and we have had some casualties.

Well then I came across this today, what a perfect way to make sure they reach their destination unspoilt! Check out http://www.craftcompany.co.uk/cupcakes/boxes-carriers.html

Beautiful food displays

I am sharing this with you whilst stuffing myself with yummy things that have been sent into the office from some of our suppliers. Hand made mince pies and fudge..... mmm.

Whilst my friends and I were wandering along Upper Street last week looking for somewhere to have dinner, we came across this restaurant that had an amazing display of food in the windows. Piles of pink meringues, yummy looking syrupy pies, cheesecakes...... so good!

Apologies for the quality of the photo but it was night time after all, and taken on my phone!

Me to you bears

I love Me to You bears, I think they are adorable. Whilst browsing their website I came across some cute things for Christmas.

I found these cute little decorations for your tree:

These are all £2.99 from http://www.metoyouonline.com/

And check out this apron, how sweet and perfect to keep your clothes clean whilst you do all your Christmas baking!

£7.99

So many gorgeous things, I could keep showing you all the things my heart desires but I will reign it in now. Check out their website, I'm sure you will fall in love with a few things too.

Chocolate Log

(Photo & recipe courtesy of BBC Food)



Ingredients

• vegetable oil, for greasing
• 150g/5½oz golden caster sugar
• 6 large free-range eggs, separated
• 250g/9oz high quality dark chocolate (minimum 60 per cent cocoa solids)

For the buttercream icing filling

• 250g/9oz unsalted butter, softened
• 450g/1lb golden icing sugar, plus extra for dusting
• 50g/1¾oz cocoa powder, sifted
• 2 tbsp milk

For the cream filling

• 400ml/14fl oz double cream, lightly whipped
• 250g/9 oz raspberries
• dash whisky liqueur (optional)

Method

This Christmas roll can be made two ways: with buttercream icing and festive decorations, or filled with cream and berries.

Preheat the oven to 220C/425F/Gas 7. Line a 23x33cm/9x13 in Swiss roll tin with greaseproof paper and brush this lightly with oil.

Combine the caster sugar and egg yolks in a bowl and whisk them together until light and thick. Melt the chocolate with 4tbsp cold water in a bowl over a pan of very gently simmering water. When you can see the chocolate has melted until smooth, stir in the sugar and egg mixture.

Meanwhile, whisk the egg whites until stiff but not dry. Gently fold a spoonful of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture to lighten it, then fold in the remaining whites using a large metal spoon. Do not overmix, and always use a gentle action. Pour the batter gently into the prepared tin and bake for 12-14 minutes (no longer), until risen and just firm to the touch.

Remove to a wire rack and leave to cool in the tin for at least 2 hours.

Once cold, lay a sheet of greaseproof paper on a board. With one bold movement, turn the whole cake onto the sheet of paper, then lift the tin off. Carefully peel away the paper and trim away any scraggy edges of cake.

To make the buttercream icing, beat the butter until soft, then sift in the icing sugar and cocoa. Add the milk and combine together until soft. Spread half the icing over the cake up to the edges.

Roll up as you would a Swiss roll: starting at the long side opposite you, use the paper to roll the cake towards you, around the icing; don't worry about the cracks. Transfer to a flat serving dish. Carefully spread the remaining icing over the cake (you can pipe the icing if you like). Chill until needed, then decorate with festive decorations and sift over some icing sugar.

To make the cream filling, spread the inverted cake with the whipped cream, scatter over the berries and add a few dribbles of Drambuie, if you like. Carefully roll up as described above. Sift over icing sugar just before serving.


Chocolate log brings back memories of school when it was one of the things we made in cooking class, it is a simple yet yummy treat.

In search of the perfect Christmas Cocktail

How will you be spending your Christmas day? Will you be drinking wine or would you rather go all "sex and the city" and make cocktails. I know what I would prefer.

I have been looking for great festive drinks and came across this following one:

The Santa Smash

Image courtesy of Malmaison Liverpool

The Santa smash is the yummy looking one on the right hand side.

Recipe

Take 25ml Mount Gay rum, 12ml amaretto, 12ml butterscotch liquor, 20ml grenadine and six fresh raspberries. Shake all the ingredients together with ice, strain into martini glass and add fresh cream to decorate

Christmas Cupcakes!

Good Morning beautiful people! I hope you are all having a fantastic start to your tuesday.

I found this amazing Christmas tree cupcake made by Linda at:

http://bubbleandsweet.blogspot.com/ 

How amazing does it look!

I have been up to lots of Christmassy things over the last few weeks, all except buying Christmas presents which am now very stressed about.

Anyhoo... here are some of the fab things I have been up to.

I visited the wonderful winter wonderland in Hyde Park and enjoyed roasted chestnuts, mulled wine and live music. If you live in London and haven't yet been I recommend it.

(Ferris Wheel at Winter Wonderland)


I had a fantastic brunch at Patisserie Valerie where I had Eggs Benedict.

I have visited Covent Garden, Regent Street and Oxford Street as well as Portobello Market! Phew, lots of Christmas lights were seen and enjoyed but still no Christmas shopping! Maybe this weekend......

Happy Monday

Hi all,

I hope you had a lovely weekend. I spent my Saturday with my parents in Southend, where we went toy shopping for some of the youngsters in my family. Sunday was spent at the chocolate festival on the Southbank in London. It was so busy that we barely got to see any of the chocolate, so the highlight of the day was when we went to a bar and had some dinner. A lovely weekend with lovely people.

Thought I would share this with you all, I came across this yummy recipe on the following blog: http://hello-naomi.blogspot.com one of my favourites.

recipe: white chocolate rocky road cake

ingredients:

350g premium belgian white chocolate

200g marshmallows

200g turkish delight

80g glace cherries

10g chopped peanuts

10g desiccated coconut

edible glitter (optional)

method:

• greese and line a 5'' cake tin with baking paper
• gently melt chocolate in the microwave
• meanwhile, combine all other ingredients in a large bowl
• stir through melted chocolate and pour into tin
• gently squash mixture down to fill gaps
• use a pallete knife to smooth the top
• refigerate overnight and then remove from tin
• sprinkle with edible glitter
• decorate with a pretty ribbon and wrap in clear celophane until christmas!

Thought I would show you all this cute chalet at the Southbank Christmas Market. Filled with beautiful gingerbread houses and cookies that are perfect for Christmas.

My very first post!

This is my first post on my brand new blog, so exciting! I am a lover of all things pretty, from interior designs, flowers, cupcakes (well any sort of cake if I'm to be honest) hair & make-up, clothes, shoes, handbags........ I think you get the gist!

Here I plan to let you into my life and loves, and show all things in my beautiful life! x