Saturday, 14 June 2014

Wrapping, Recipes and Tea Chatter

Have loved having such a chilled day today, because everyone has to put up their feet once in a while don’t they? Watched Meet the Fockers again which I haven’t seen in agessss and I laughed a hell of a lot! Love that film! I definitely enjoy the old classics a lot more than new films, I think it’s because I already know I’ll enjoy it before it’s even begun. Ha ha!

I also got Dad’s Father’s Day present all sorted and wrapped which I enjoyed highly. I decided to make him a hamper of surprises including; a picture which I made myself of my dad and I, a Pic’N’Mix sweet jar, some novelty 'Super Dad' socks, a sci-fi film, some popcorn, some Pringles and a meerkat garden statue. As well as my hand-made Minion card. I always think if a gift looks like something you would be happy to receive, then you've done a good job!









Events in the calendar are always a fab excuse to bake and so I snatched that opportunity right up! I looked around on Pinterest and on Google and then finally found a set of cupcakes which I really wanted to bake! I’ve watched the ‘SacconeJoly’s’ on Youtube for ages (check out their page here) and Anna baked some Father’s Day cupcakes with her little girl Emilia last Sunday. With a golf theme they were perfect for my Dad, as well as my Granddad! The recipe I'm going to use is posted down below as well as a picture of the cupcakes from Anna’s video that helped me :).



Recipe

For the chocolate cupcakes:
-2 cups plain flour
-1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
-1 teaspoon salt
-1/4 teaspoon baking powder
-1 cup hot water
-2/3 cup baking cocoa (I used Cadbury's Bourneville)
-3/4 cup shortening
-1 1/2 cups caster sugar
-2 eggs
-1 teaspoon vanilla

Method:
Set your oven to 175C
Mix the flour, baking soda, salt and baking powder in one bowl 
Mix the cocoa powder and hot water in a separate bowl
Mix the shortening with an electric whisk for 30 secs, add the sugar and beat for 2 mins until fully combined
Then, beat in the eggs one at a time, as well as the vanilla
Mix in the flour and the chocolate mixture, alternating between each of them
Fill the cases until 2/3 of the way full
Pop in the oven for 20-25 mins


For the vanilla buttercream frosting:
-6 cups powdered sugar
-2/3 cup butter, softened
-1 tablespoons vanilla
-3-4 tablespoons milk

Method:
Beat the icing sugar and butter together
Add the vanilla and milk
Frost cupcakes with a knife until smooth 


For the decoration:
-3-4 digestive biscuits smashed up in a food processor
-Green food colouring/icing
-Green muffin cases
-Mints or any kind of white gumball candies
-Coloured straws
-Coloured paper (I used post-it notes!)
-Tape


So I've bought all the ingredients that I needed (which I didn't already have) and decided to bake them tomorrow so that they’re fresh for after dinner later in the evening. As Anna’s recipe is for 24 I decided that was a bit too many of all of one style so after searching again, found the idea of using the same frosting on top of the cakes and then placing 2 or 3 pieces of a chocolate bar, either something like a Mars bar or Snickers, on the top.




I’m also starting a health kick ready for my recently booked girl’s holiday in Magaluf in August and so wanted to try out a new flavour of tea as I am one hell of a tea lover. I’ve tried out a few different ones but never Jasmine Green Tea, which I gave a try tonight. I used the Twinings brand, which I’ve used before and really liked. Calming drink to end a calming day.

xoxo


Sophie

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