Hump Day Deliciousness... And getting older!

Hey lovely people!

So it's Wednesday again, and the 2nd of April, can you believe it??? This has quite literally been the quickest start to the year ever! My mum always used to say to me that when I got older, the time would start to fly by quicker than I could imagine, and I always thought she was talking nonsense... but it really does feel that way. I'm 29 in June and 30 next year... I still feel 18!!!

Anyway, less of the nostalgia. Today's choice of recipes include some of Martha Stewart's greatest dessert creations... all in the honour of feeling young... and I'll perhaps throw in another little cocktail at the end, just to make the "getting older" part feel a bit better.

Martha Stewart's Coconut Balls

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup icing sugar & extra for dusting
2 cups plain flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups dessicated coconut

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius
2. Cream the butter with icing sugar until fluffy
3. Mix in flour & salt until combined
4. Stir in coconut
5. Roll dough into 1 inch balls
6. Place balls 2 inches apart on tray
7. Bake until just starting to brown (15-20 mins)
8. Roll warm cookies onto icing sugar until coated
9. Leave to cool completely

Martha Stewart's Moist Devil's Food Cake

Ingredients
Cake

1 1/2 cups unsalted butter
3/4 cup good quality cocoa powder
1/2 cup boiling water
2 1/4 cups sugar
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 cups sifted cake flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk

Mrs. Milman's Chocolate Frosting

24 oz semi-sweet chocolate
4 cups whipping cream
1 teaspoon light corn syrup

Directions

Cake - 1st process

Heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius
Butter 3x 8"x2" cake pans
Sift cocoa into a bowl, add boiling water and whisk
Leave until cool
Cream butter until fluffy
Beat in the vanilla
Drizzle in eggs a little at a time and beat between each additional egg
Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl
Whisk milk into the cocoa mixture
Alternatively add dry & wet ingredients (start & end with dry)
Divide batter evenly between the 3 cake pans

Mrs. Milman's Chocolate Frosting
Place chocolate & cream into a heavy pan
Cook over low heat stirring constantly until combined & thick
Remove pan from heat
Stir in the corn syrup
Transfer to a large metal bowl
Leave until cool enough to spread

Cake 2nd Process

Bake cakes until tester comes out clear (35-45 mins)
Transfer layers to cooling rack
Reserve the prettiest layer for the top
Place one cake layer on serving platter
Spread 1 1/2 cups of chocolate frosting on top of this layer
Add the 2nd cake layer
Spread another 1 1/2 cups of chocolate frosting on top of this layer
Top with the 3rd & final cake layer
Cover outside of the cake with the remaining chocolate frosting
Serve

Kinky Pink Cocktail

Ingredients

1/4 Raspberry vodka
1/3 Cranberry Juice
2 measurements of Peach Schnapps
Raspberry infused sugar to rim glass

Directions
Add cranberry juice & peach schnapps to cocktail shaker with ice
Shake vigorously and drain into sugar rimmed glass
Add vodka

ENJOY!!!

So there you go lovely people. Give those desserts a try and top them off with a few glasses of a Kinky Pink. Don't even think about the calories in these treats, as they are off the scale. They are intended to be enjoyed as a rare treat every now and again... so go on... treat yourself!

Take care lovelies. x

A little Décor Inspiration - My Bedroom

Hey lovely people!

You probably don't know this about me... but have quite an addictive personality. If I'm into something, i.e. a TV show for example, then I'm obsessed with it and will watch every episode there is available.

So when it comes to things like blogging (which is still a very new part of my life), I have become utterly devoted to delivering as many read-worthy posts as is humanly possible for all you lovely people to delve into.

On this note, I thought I would share another of my addictions... and that my lovelies is PINTEREST!

I can't get enough of this fabulous site, and quite literally haven't stopped using it since I discovered its brilliance 2 years ago.

I can quite literally scroll for hours and hours, liking and pinning away and my absolute fave pins are those related to Home Décor. So this post is going to showcase my current bedroom decoration inspiration.

I'm a bit of a NYC fanatic so this décor is inspired by the city itself. The crisp sharp edges of the mirror, the interior brick walls, and the dishevelled hardwood flooring all remind me of the real, edgy feeling of New York City. 

This look was more of a classic one. Something along the lines of an "English Rose" theme. The strong and sturdy wooden bed-frame, the fluffy sheepskin rug, the dreamy vintage dressing table and the ornamental lamp all give a cosy, homely feel. Obviously this room would be dressed with lots of vases full of fresh flowers.

Finally we have a classic contemporary look. This is always my go to style when it comes to creating an inspiration mood-board. I really don't think you can go wrong with it. It's simple and sleek, with a modern punch. A bit safe maybe, but I honestly believe that sometimes sticking to the most simple of styles, delivers the best overall look.

So there you have it. My current bedroom inspiration mood-boards brought to you through the absolute genius and fabulous little gem that is Pinterest.

If you haven't already given the site a little visit then get to it... I guarantee you will find something of interest there, be it the 1000's of recipes available at the click of a button, the numerous DIY/ Craft ideas for you to try at home or the countless posts showcasing the current trends and celebrity styles at the moment. It is an enormous world of pins to get lost amongst and you can't help but love it!!!

Take care lovelies. x

My 1st Friday Faves!

Happy Friday to all you lovely people. The week has come and gone and it's time to relax and enjoy the weekend, except for those of you poor souls who work on a Saturday and Sunday. I salute you.

So I thought I would use this Friday to kick off the 1st of my "Friday Faves" and on that note here goes:

1. Best thing about a Friday (and this will probably always make the top spot... Lol).

My hubby finishes work early on a Friday and without sounding too cringey, he is by far the best part of my weekend and the best thing in my life by far. Any day is more enjoyable when he's there to spend it with me. 

2. My Friday Bouquet.

Remember when I posted last week about my Friday bouquet from my lovely hubby? Well this is last weeks carnations still very much alive and kicking - that's another of the reasons I love them so much - long life. But I will be sure to post a pic of this weeks new ones... as long as the hubby remembers. :)

3. The sun is shining and there's not a cloud in the sky!

This photo was taken from my front door and I just can't believe how lovely a day it is! Still absolutely freezing - but at least the sun is shining and hopefully this is a sign of the better weather that's to come. 

4. Homemade soup & crusty bread with butter.

You seriously can't beat a pot of soup when it's cold and this bowl of homemade vegetable soup was of no exception. I always feel so much better when I have healthy lunches like this - yes the bread and butter isn't necessarily a healthy option, but be honest - you really do need something to dunk when you're enjoying a bowl of soup!

5. Rosé Wine 

On a Friday night my hubby and I usually enjoy a few drinks while watching TV. HOWEVER... We have (stupidly) decided to give up alcohol for Lent.

Let me be clear though. We are in no way problem drinkers - in fact we only ever tend to have a drink a night at the weekend. This year however, we made a deal that we would try and have a healthier approach to life in terms of the food we are eating and the drink we are consuming, therefore when my hubby decided he was packing in the booze for Lent, I thought it was only right that I join him. 

Am I regretting my decision now... Yes! :( We are only 3 days in and I'm thinking about throwing in the towel. It's going to be a "Watch this space" kind of scenario I'm afraid. 

Anyway, that's the 1st of my Friday Faves for you all. Please feel free to share your own. 

Take care my lovelies. x