Working gal outfit | Topshop, Newlook

Hello! So as you may know I have got a job, which means one thing work clothes. I'm still at the stage with an office job where it kind of feels like I'm playing dress up and getting ready is definitely my favourite thing at the moment, where I go from street urchin to office chic - that's what I'm aiming for.

This outfit features two of my favourite items of the moment, the first are these statement leopard print ankle boots I picked up in the Topshop sale, by far my best buy of the sales. I wear these when I'm feeling sassy and want admiring compliments - these boots deserve it.

Secondly is this camel coat which was a bargain in New Look (this exact one is no longer available, but camel coats are everywhere up and down the high street as well as high end). I feel super chic (something I don't often feel) and the city girl I aspire to be.

Thanks for popping by!

xxx

Cherry and Chocolate Hot Cross Buns | Easter Baking #3

Hello! You have reached the final post in my mini Easter Baking Series, I have enjoyed this so much because baking is passion for me. If you haven't read my others I have a Carrot Cake and Easter Cookies for you to look at, just scroll down.

I remember making Hot Cross Buns years ago with my brother, but decided this time around I would make something a little different from your classic ones.

The recipe I'm showing you is slightly different with some improvements!

Ingredients

200g cherries soaked in orange juice overnight
250ml milk
50g unsalted butter
1 large egg
2tbsp cherry jam
200g strong bread flour
2tsp cinnamon (stick to this measurement)
2 heaped tbsp cocoa powder
2 x 7g dry yeast
50g white and dark chocolate (broken into little pieces)
75g caster sugar
50g plain flour
3tbsp runny honey

Method

Warm milk and butter in a pan over a low heat until butter melts, take off the heat and mix in the cherry jam, put to the side.

Mix strong bread flour, cinnamon, cocoa powder and caster sugar with a pinch of salt.

Make a well in the centre and pour in the milk mix, begin to mix this together with a rounded knife then use your hands once it starts to come together.

Once in a smooth dough, knead for 10 minutes on a floured/clingfilmed surface. (Slam it down, push the heals of your hands in, be your inner Paul Hollywood now is the time!!)

Butter a clean bowl, pop in your dough, cover with clingfilm. Leave to rise for an hour.

Grease and line 1 large baking tray.

Tip the dough out, knock it back and knead it for a further 2 minutes.

Cut the dough in half and at this point add in the chocolate a cherries so they are evenly spread, because if you add it in early they will not be spread evenly in your buns TRUST ME. Just pat down into the dough.

Roll into 12 even sized pieces, cover with clingfilm and leave to rise on the baking tray for 45 minutes.

Preheat oven to 190°C/170°C Fan.

To make these hot cross buns, mix together the plain flour and 3-5tbsp of water and pipe onto the buns, in a cross shape. However these can be just sweet buns left without the crosses. Options for all people!

Penultimately bake for 20-25 minutes. When done place on a wire rack.

Finally to make the glaze mix honey and sugar together on a low heat until sugar has dissolved. Brush on top and you my friend are done!!! Leave to cool.

I feel like I've written some kind of epic.

Have a fabulous Easter.

Thanks for popping by!

xxx

Ultimate Easter Cookies | Easter Baking #2

Hello! Nothing says Easter quite like mini eggs, this is why I have paired them with on of my favourite things...Cookies! These are quite a crowd pleaser I must add.

Ingredients
150g self raising sugar
Pinch of bicarb
25g cocoa
60g caster sugar
60g light brown muscovado sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
170g mini eggs

Recipe

*Set oven to 180°C or 160°C fan and line a baking sheet*

Mix dry ingredients in a bowl

Start mix in the butter 

 Add whisked eggs and vanilla extract

 Mix together with your hands until the ingredients  come together in a bowl.

Put the mixture onto baking sheet, to make cookies however big you want baring in mind they will grow.

Top with mini eggs either whole or smashed to various degrees.

Bake for 7-10 mins depending on cooking size. Take them out just before they become firm otherwise they will be dry.

Thanks for popping by!

xxx

Carrot cake | Easter Baking #1

Hello and welcome to the start of Easter baking week! I will be uploading 3 recipes today Monday, then 1 on Wednesday and my final one on Saturday. I love baking and all excuses to have a celebration. In the 21st century more people, especially young people think of the Easter Bunny before they think about Jesus. I could be wrong, but hey I made a Carrot cake, so you're gonna have to go with me and my unresearched statistic. Each bake will have pictures for each step of the way, and I think will be more interesting than one of those easter nest cake things.

Ingredients

155ml sunflower oil
250g self-raising flour
1tsp baking powder
2tsp ground cinnamon
1tsp mixed spice
1tsp ground ginger
230g light brown muscovado sugar
2 tsp orange juice
100g pecans
260g grated carrots
3 eggs

Recipe

*Set oven to 180°C or 160°C Fan and grease and line an 18cm cake tin*

1.Mix together flour, spice and baking powder

2. Add in sugar

3. Add pecans and grated carrot

4. Mix together

5. Separately beat eggs

6. Add eggs and orange juice to dry ingredients and combine.

7. Put into lined tin and bake for 1 hour, ensuring a skewer comes out clean.

ICING

Ingredients

50g soft butter

200g soft/cream cheese

100g icing sugar

2 tsp orange juice

2 tsp orange food colouring (Optional)

RECIPE

 1. Mix together softened butter and cheese

 2a. Mix in the icing sugar until combined.

 2b. If you want to, separate some of the icing and mix in the food colouring.

3. Decorate cake as you please! I liked adding in the orange as it reminded my of the creme egg filling, extra easter points right there!

Thanks for popping by!

xxx

*Paul Hollywood recipe

Lush Fluffy Egg Review

Hello! Sorry for the lack of post on Wednesday, but don't worry next week is Easter Baking Week with Three recipes with step by step photos. As I've said approximately a MILLION times I'm a big Lush fan so I thought I would try one of the Easter Limited Edition Products.

Fluffy Egg Bathbomb £2.95

Scent wise it was pretty dang similar to Snowfairy shower gel, but a little less on the sweet side. However it most definitely on par for pinkness.

This bath bomb leaves your bath lovely and pink after it fizzes away into the abyss.

Leaving you feeling like a princess. As the water was left with a slight glimmer.

Thanks for popping by!

xxx

Classical Music is UNDER RATED

Hello! I don't know about any of you early 20 somethings, but I have never listened to classical music properly - thinking it was for old posh people.

Recently I have some interest from an unlikely source, my iPhone. To be precise the App 'Magic Piano', which I highly recommend by the way.

So stop listening to Drake or whatever usually takes your fancy and listen to classical music. Classical music is totally underrated especially in my generation. Right now I have Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker playing. Its great to listen to to enjoy, for concentration, reading and depending on what you're listening to relaxing, so not Stravinsky's Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring) for relaxing!

Picture from Google

Back to the App, pieces I have enjoyed "playing" are Fur Elise Beethoven, Raindrop Prelude Chopin, and The Blue Danube Strauss to name just Three. From playing pieces I have gone one to listen to them in life generally.

Shockingly an App has opened up a whole new world for me.

Thanks for popping by!

xxx

Stores I wish we had in Norwich!

Hello! Norwich is great, a little small but great. However I do really feel there are some shops we have room for.

I confess I have never actually bought anything form here. But when I am in London, you are sure to find me having a little/browse. My favourite bit to look at is their book section. When I have money for a house/flat I would love to have some furniture from there, a girl can dream.

Literally why don't we have a UO in Norwich - seriously. It would fit in perfectly with other stores. UO is great for when you want something a little different.

This hasn't been on my radar for very long, The clothes they have are so sleek and minimalistic, simply to Cos but without being quite so grown up. I love their understated jewellery (my favourite thing they do). They also have what looks like a great beauty range.

Any other Norwich people agree?

Thanks for popping by!

xxx