Coconut Cupcakes

Posted on April 22, 2011  

Mini eggs make everything Eastery!

Today’s recipe is Coconut Cupcakes with Coconut Cream Cheese Filling and Chocolate Butter Icing.

Bit of a mouthful there! I always seem to have failures with cream cheese icing. This time it thickened up but I didn’t beat the butter enough first and then I couldn’t get the lumps out. Then I added coconut to mask the lumps. Then I squeezed in too much lime juice. It’s so warm at the moment that eventually I think most of the lumps started melting but it tasted way too limey to add onto the cakes so I decided to fill the cakes with a little which proved to be nice. Obviously the filling is entirely optional, I was just making the most of a bad situation. I don’t like to waste things!

For the cakes (Recipe ‘Creamy Coconut Cupcakes’ from Cupcakes by Susannah Blake)

90g butter, softened
25g creamed coconut
115g caster sugar
2 eggs
100g self-raising flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
25g desiccated coconut
grated zest of 1 lime
1-2 tbsp milk

  1. Preheat oven to 180C then line a muffin tin with paper cases.
  2. Beat the butter, creamed coconut (you may need to soften the creamed coconut slightly in a microwave first) and sugar together in a bowl until pale and fluffy, then beat in the eggs, one at a time. Sift the flour and baking powder into the mixture and fold in, then stir in the desiccated coconut and lime zest, followed by the milk.
  3. Spoon the mixture into the paper cases, then bake for about 17 minutes until risen and golden. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

For the filling

60g cream cheese
20g butter, softened
50g icing sugar, sifted
20g cocoa powder, sifted
1 tsp of lime
Handful or 2 of desiccated coconut

  1. Beat together the butter and cream cheese until combined and without lumps.
  2. Mix in the sifted icing sugar, cocoa powder and lime juice.
  3. To fill the cakes, using an icing bag with a small tip nozzle and squirt directly into the cake.

For the icing

100g butter
150g icing sugar
30g cocoa powder
1 – 2 tbsp milk
Squeeze of lime
Mini-eggs for decoration (optional)

  1. Beat the butter until creamy. Sift in the icing sugar bit by bit and beat into the butter. If the icing starts getting too hard to beat, add a tablespoon of the milk. Sift and beat in the cocoa powder.
  2. Add a squeeze of lime (around a tsp) and the remaining milk, if needed.
  3. When icing the cakes, spread a thin layer on the cake. Using a piping bag with a star nozzle attached, create the nests by piping around the cake 2-3 times, leaving room in the centre for mini eggs.

Royal Wedding Party

Posted on April 19, 2011  

I’ve decided that instead of not really caring about the Royal Wedding, I am going to embrace it. It’s going to be all I hear about that day so I may as well use it as an excuse to eat shit loads of cake, use my Royal Albert teacups and accompany it all with some gin while laughing at the hilarity that will ensue with the coverage.

So, here’s my guide to have a proper British afternoon for the Royal Wedding. (This is just a bit of fun and not intended to be entirely serious!)

Food:

Sandwiches

Some classic afternoon tea fillings are smoked salmon, cucumber (I’ve never understood just having cucumber in a sandwich) and cheese. Whatever you choose to put inside them, make sure to make them dinky, either by cutting them into triangles or little rectangle fingers. Don’t forget to cut the crusts off. Afternoon tea is a no-crust zone!

Victoria Sponge

You don’t get more traditional than a victoria sponge with lashings of cream & jam (or buttercream icing if you prefer, just as nice) and dusted with icing sugar. They are also ridiculously easy to make and if you are someone who enjoys baking, you probably already know how to make one. I’d just use a 6/6/6 mix (6 oz sugar, 6 oz butter, 6 oz flour) with 3 eggs and a tsp of vanilla extract. Split into two sandwich tins & bake at 180C for about 20 mins. Spread jam and whipped double cream between the layers. If you are wondering what the hell I’m talking about and are more comfortable using a recipe, check the goodfood website.

Want to get a little more twee? Make mini versions:

source

Scones

Another traditional part of the classic Afternoon tea. Go classic or wholemeal and serve with lashings of clotted cream and jam. You could also make some savoury cheddar scones but it’s not afternoon tea if it’s not creamy and jammy.

Bea's of Bloomsbury
source

Other eats
If you are having lots of people around or just like food (like me), you may want to make more. One of my favourite places for afternoon tea in London is Bea’s of Bloomsbury because it is an actual cakefest. They don’t even give you sandwiches. Sod the sandwiches! With their afternoon tea they serve cupcakes, mini macarons, mini brownies, mini blondies and mini meringues so whatever you want to make, go for it – just make it mini, apparently!

DRINKS

Tea

Start the afternoon off with sophistication by sipping on some nice tea with ones pinky in the air.

Gin & tonic

Being realistic, to make watching the Royal Wedding entertaining you need to put some G&T in your teacups and drink away. Plus, it’s a bank holiday so it’d be wrong not to. Feel free to play along with the Royal Wedding drinking game.

Pimms & lemonade

If it’s sunny, crack out the pimms. Make a jugful with ice, chop in some cucumber, strawberry, lemon and mint, pour into glasses and enjoy. You don’t get more British than good old pimms but it’d be weird drinking if the weather isn’t warm and sunny.

DINING & DECORATIONS

Tableware
Cakes and sandwiches should be displayed on cake stands. Jam & cream should be served in ramekins. All beverages should be drunk from teacups, including the gin. Teacups must be accompanied by a saucer and individual plate. Patterns should be twee and floral or tacky and Union Jack-ified. Unless you own this (and why wouldn’t you?):

Table decorations

If you’re going all out, dress your table with a cute runner or tablecloth. If you are making loads of sandwiches, avoid the inevitable ‘WHICH ONES ARE THESE?’ questions and make buffet labels:

As I am super helpful (and am currently procrastinating uni work) I have provided a blank one for you as well as a one that can be placed as a card (fold in half) rather than a flag. If actually making the flags, leave excess paper to wrap around a cocktail stick.

Other decorations (for serious participants only)

For those of you willing to take it to the extreme, you can further decorate your entire home/garden with Union Flag bunting, Union Flags in windows and possibly a gazebo with a Union Flag draped over it. Only advisable if you are fine with looking slightly mental.

***

Let’s just hope they all arrive like this. Down the bottle of gin if so:

Whatever you are doing on the Royal Wedding bank holiday, whether you are watching it or not, let’s hope it’s sunny and make the most of it.

x

Something for the Weekend #7

Posted on April 17, 2011  

  • Spontaneous dance party!
  • Offline love: Food, my bed, listening to birds out of my bedroom window rather than Preston chavs, being reunited with the xbox 360, feeling a lot more peaceful than I have been (too peaceful, still have work to do!), waking up and not feeling grumpy, wireless internet, wonderful friends at home and at uni, really appreciating where I live despite all it’s flaws.
  • Blogs to follow: Katiecakes, The Blog Stylist & Lauren Woodward.

I hope you’ve all had lovely weekends and bring on the bank holidays!
x

What I Wore (for Errand Running & Bagel Eating)

Posted on April 15, 2011  

Top: Asos / Cardi: Uniqlo / Belt: Asos / Trousers: Primark / Dirty plims: Brick Lane

I am back home for 2 and a half weeks, hooray! Then I go back to Preston for about 3 days (or 10, I am undecided as where to spend my actual birthday day yet) and then it’s home for the whole of summer.

Here is what I wore today for running a few errands for my mum and walking this little monster:

Plimsoles were the WORST idea and I now have a blister on the bottom of my heel which means I can’t go shopping with my mum tomorrow because there is no way I am hobbling up and down Oxford St! Which is a shame because I really do need some shoes, haha.

Then I chowed down on this badboy. I know it seems like nothing but a toasted bagel and german sausage tastes so incredible when you have been living off lentils, toast & jam and glasses of water.

It’s insane how full my feed reader gets when I’ve not really been at the internet for a couple of days! Sitting here going through blog posts, trying to do work though I’m so exhausted because despite being in the comfiest bed in the world last night I still had a terrible sleep. If you follow me on twitter, you may be aware that I seem to suffer from what I like to call ‘shit sleep’. My whole body aches today though so fingers crossed. Anyone know if herbal sleeping pills work?

Big love. x

 

Inspiration: Jamie Beck & arty gifs

Posted on April 11, 2011  

Shit son. When I stumbled across these today, at first I just thought they were photos until I thought, ‘Whoa, did that just move?’ and realised these weren’t just some nice little images. These gifs really do capture moments in an extra-special way and I just find them utterly wonderful.

Gifs tend to have connotations of old-school flashing banners and buttons on ye olde internet and of video captures used for internet commenting and to post on tumblr. These show the potential of the gif as an art form and how great they can be when they are thought out and created to be a gif. They come from photographer Jamie Beck who runs a lovely little tumblr blog full of great photos and these beauties.

x

Something for the Weekend #6

Posted on April 9, 2011  


Victoria Zeoli

  • This giant wooden xylophone is delightful. I was a little sad it was for an advert but hey, it’s good advertising.
  • Like typography? NYC Type is a blog for typography found in New York.
  • Bears. Trippy.

Just a short one this weekend. I have been working hard and also allowing myself a little celebration in the sun as I got a first for an assignment that caused me LOTS of stress this year (and nearly broke my laptop) so I’m beyond happy. It came at the right time as a well needed pick-me-up.

Hope you are enjoying the sunshine!

x

Still Alive

Posted on April 7, 2011  

Don’tcha just hate when life gets in the way of blogging? Unfortunately, it happens and any good ideas I had went out of the window to horrible deadlines and the one of few thoughts going around my brain at the moment: ‘How the feck am I going to make an iPhone app in a month?’ and that I should probably do the other assignment available that will be much more doable in 4 weeks.

To get the ball rolling again, I thought I’d participate in a little Things I Love Thursday:

  • Having my last lecture of the year this afternoon and uni being over for the year (except one deadline & exam on May 6th). Yay!
  • Only having 7 more days to count down before I can go home and sleep in my amazing bed and stop being a stresshead.
  • Going home first class because it was cheaper than a standard ticket!
  • Having my first haircut of 2011, haha. It’s not as short as the photo above, the rest of my hair is tied up. But yay, I am re-fringed!
  • Finally using my ASOS groupon voucher and receiving a dress that makes me feel amazing. (I had to send it back for a smaller size so no photos yet. If the smaller size looks horrific I may cry.)
  • The Only Way is Essex! Seriously, I’ve been sucked in this series and I bloody love it. It’s terrible but terrific at the same time. “I didn’t know you blowdried your hair.” “I don’t.” “But you just did.” “This is a hairdryer not a blowdryer. Blowdrying is what you get done at the salon.” “It’s the same thing Joey.” “I’m so confused.” LOL.
  • Having at least one person who gets you and helps you keep your chin up!
  • The fact that I am going home!!!!!! I know I mentioned this already but I am so excited. I know it’s nearly time to be taking all my stuff back for Summer anyway but I just need the break from Preston now.

I hope you have lots of things to be happy about this week and I hope to get back to my regular posting ASAP.

P.S. Happy April! x

How-To…Get a Great Internship

Posted on March 29, 2011  

This week’s How-To Tuesday comes to you from my good friend Louise. Louise is 21 and a student at Goldsmiths and has had a string of internships involving tasks such as working on the red carpet for the Twilight premiere to writing articles for magazines. She has just landed an internship in digital marketing at the ultra-cool Dazed & Confused so I asked her to write a little piece sharing her tips for landing internships.

If you have any questions for Louise, you can leave a comment on this post or email her at louise.eve.shanks[AT]live.co.uk.

 

 

The recession years have made it harder than ever before to get the kind of job that you’d actually admit to having. Graduates are falling into the cycle of retail jobs and bar work as competition in the workplace is higher than ever before. If like me you don’t have a well-connected parent or a direct link to a company, the one sure-fire way of upping your chances is to build up a portfolio of internships. Giving up a few months of your summer for long hours and no pay may sound like a nightmare, but the improvement to your graduate prospects will more than make up for it.

How-to…Get a Great Internship

  • Write a great CV

Aside from your academic history you will need to include experience which would make you suitable for a role. Don’t forget the communication value of bar work or waitressing, or the creative skills you used while painting the backdrop for your school play.

  • Put yourself out there

The Internet has cancelled out the days when you would have to trudge around town with a stack of papers, so make good use of it. Google your location and the type of company you’d like to work for, e.g. marketing, and then send your CV with a (customised, but copied and pasted!) cover letter to every result with an email address. A lot of companies don’t advertise for interns so it’s best to try your luck anyway, but don’t be disappointed if you don’t receive a reply.

  • Be available

Fancy a week away with your friends? Or some time to make the most of the sunshine? Think again. You may be offering to work for free, but this is still a chance that the company is giving you and you will more than likely have to work around the timings they give you which is typically around a month.

  • Take what you can get

So now I work for Dazed & Confused, but the internship which I’ve mentioned in every interview was for a corporate catering company. I spent my last summer as a teenager marketing sandwiches to men in suits. At the time it was hard to stop looking out of the window and feel like I was missing out, but it taught me the skills I needed to progress up the career ladder in leaps and bounds. As it was a tiny start-up business I was the only employee who wasn’t buttering bread, so that made me “Head of E-Marketing”. And saying that you were “Head of E-Marketing” for a small company will have a lot of bigger ones falling at your feet.

How-to…Be a Great Intern

I’ve had a few disasters in my time, but if there’s one thing I’ve learnt it’s that you need to train your mind (sorry, by training your mind I mean pretending you are in an entirely different situation to what is happening in reality).

Take a deep breath. Clear your mind.
Forget it is unpaid work at the bottom of the ladder. Act like this was your last chance at a job, you have no money, you’ve been eating baked beans for a month and you’re really, really grateful.

Basically, follow these golden rules:

  1. Look smart
  2. Be smart
  3. Smile even when being patronised
  4. Be polite to everyone, all the time
  5. Dress semi-formally, even if other employees turn up in t-shirts and denim
  6. Ask questions
  7. Don’t ask too many questions
  8. Be seen and not heard (especially early in the mornings)
  9. Hangovers are frowned upon
  10. ….So is lateness

Trading in your summer of freedom has never sounded so appealing, has it? But trust me, it’ll be worth it when your new-found employability comes into play. In the words of The O.C.’s Julie Cooper, “We will get back on our feet and we’ll be wearing very expensive shoes when we do.”

Everybody in this place is dreaming

Posted on March 28, 2011  


Blouse: H&M / Nude vest: M&S / Cardigan: Topshop
Belt: Primark (an old one for jeans with some extra holes punched in) / Skirt: ASOS / Necklace & ring: Topshop

My flatmate Grace who took the top photos is getting quite good at catching me off guard doing something silly (too often) or even worse, smiling! Ha ;) I think these photos show how desperately in need of a hair cut I am!

I love the sheer trend and I do love this blouse. Black and sheer is a winning combination in my book. The only downside of this blouse is it’s the MOST annoying thing to wear as it constantly twists round and the buttons end up going diagonally over my chest and when you are wearing a belt and are outside, this is quite a hard thing to fix! Next time I’ll try tucking it into my tights to see if it makes a difference.

Sticking to one of my goals of leaving the flat every day, I threw this on to take a wonder to Iceland (and bought far too much bad food, bad Michelle) although to be fair, I would have stuck to that goal anyway if I had woken up this morning and gone to my lecture. My alarm went off but I was far too tired and grumpy so turned it off and went back to sleep. I have gone from having no sleep to lots of sleep, maybe this is extended catching up.

Much of today has been spent listening to Johnny Flynn and the leak of Fleet Foxes’ new album and shall continue while I try to crack on with some work!

Happy Monday everyone :)

x

Something for the Weekend #5

Posted on March 26, 2011  

This Paper Ship

Hope your weekend is full of happiness!

x