Monthly Archives: July 2012

oranges and lemons

31st July 2012
Last week the folks at Baking Mad got in touch challenging me to recreate a recipe from their website…with an extensive range (everything from how to make pancakes to a divine sounding peanut butter and chocolate cupcake recipe) it was hard to pick something to make but in the end, wanting something light and fruity for the hot weather I settled on the old favourite St Clements Traybake.

I have a love/hate relationship with online recipes, but I have in the past used many from Baking Mad with great success. This was no different and the results were a delight (even if I do say so myself!)

The ingredients list was nice and short, making the recipe budget friendly; something that stops me baking as much as I’d like can be the cost of ingredients. Although the website suggests specific products to use, I didn’t have access to them all so used equivalents:

100g softened butter (plus a little extra for greasing)
175g self raising flour (Allison Nature Friendly) sieved
1tsp baking powder
175g Golden Caster Sugar (Billingtons)
2 Happy Eggs
6tsp Just Milk
1tsp pure orange extract.

For the topping you’ll need the juice of one large lemon and another 100g of golden caster sugar; plus retro fabulous orange and lemon jelly slices to decorate!

The method was a quick and easy all-in-one job, which is just what I like!

1. Preheat the oven to 180*c, 160*c (fan) or Gas Mark 4

2. Grease/line a shallow oblong tin (approx 18x28cm)

3. Place all the cake ingredients in to a large mixing bowl. Preferably using an electric mixer beat the mixture for 4-5 minutes, or until the mixture drops easily off a spoon.

4. Spoon the mixture in to the tin and smooth the surface. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden and firm to touch.

5. While the cake is baking prepare the icing. Beat together the lemon juice and sugar. As soon as the cake comes out of the oven pour the mixture evenly over the top, then leave to cool.

6. Cut the cake in to 16 squares, them top each one with the orange and lemon slices.

And that’s it! This really is quick and simple..and the best bit? It’s best eaten WARM, which means no hanging around to dig in!

Have you used the Baking Mad website before? Which recipes have caught your eye?

xxx

Posted in baking, recipes

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Daisy Chain Dreaming: Cruise Fashion

30th July 2012
Another week another wishlist, this is becoming a habit!

Alexander McQueen, Acne, Alexander McQueen…all strictly wishlist material with these designer picks from Cruise Fashion another shop freshly on my radar thanks to blogging!

And because Men are so often overlooked, I thought I’d share these wonderful basics (admittedly not as basic prices) by Stone Island at Cruise Fashion

 
To be honest, I wouldn’t mind these myself…ladies, get your men to buy them and then borrow them yourself!

What are your designer wishes this week? Ladies stealing bloke’s clothes..yes or no?

xxx

Posted in wish list

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Sarenza Shoe of the Week

30th July 2012

If anyone was going to create a truly badass flat sandal, you might have known it’d be Jeffrey Campbell…scared of the towering heels of his usual designs? Then the Puffer sandal is for you! It might not be cheap at almost £100, but think of the dignity you will save by not going arse over tit when trying to walk!

I think this’ll be a marmite shoe, some of you will love it, and some will hate it. For me personally…and for inexplicable reasons, I love it!

xxx

Posted in sarenza

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au revoir

29th July 2012

Vest: H&M, Jeans: Oasis, Shoes: Runway Shoes

I’ve clearly been lucky lately as both the shoes and the jeans were competition wins…I like to think that’s a bit of my Nan’s influence as she was forever winning things (and often she couldn’t remember entering the competition to start with!)

It takes a lot to impress me with jeans, especially skinny jeans. I loathe shopping for them; friends and family will attest to that. These from Oasis have won me over. Perfect length, sit in the right place on the waist…I know where I shall be shopping for denim in the future (and yes, I know it’d be better if I actually filled said jeans, but that, my friends is an active work in progress and when I get there I shall buy several more pairs).

It’s become a standing joke now about how many pairs of shoes I own, and this from a girl who used to live solely in trainers. My room, the office and my Brother’s room (er, sorry Ben!) have been somewhat taken over and yet the collection grows. At first I wasn’t sold on the slipper shoe trend, but after winning these beauts from Runway Shoes you can call me a convert.

Well,
it looks like the sunshine is over for now, I’ve awoken today (well, pounced upon until conciousness is reached by Mae) to grey skies and the unmistakable sound of rain. It was never going to last, was it?

I hope everyone is having a great weekend, although not a massive fan myself, I am loving the Olympic fever sweeping the nation!

xxx

Posted in life, outfits

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keep cool, cover up

28th July 2012

There is a lot to be said for what is basically a tube of striped cotton when it comes to keeping cool…this maxi dress from H&M pretty much saved me from melting on Thursday afternoon (and allowed me to bare my hairy legs without anyone seeing!). Teamed with faithful Havianas c/o Sarenza I’ll probably be living in this kind of thing in Spain (6 days, 6 days….I’m allowed to be over-excited, I haven’t had a holiday in seven years!)

I did feel quite sorry for my furry friend, her only way to keep cool was lie in the shade looking cute. Oh, it’s a hard life being a cat!

Has anyone got Summery weekend plans? I’ve had to put mine on hold to shift this sore throat/cough virus before my holiday. This, folks, is the one downside to my job. 50% of our patients have this same thing and it keeps getting bounced back and forth between us!

xxx

Posted in Mae, outfits

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