Just a little note

Source

Just wanted to say Thank You for caring about my boyfriend. He is now ok and life here is pretty much back to normal.

We’ve re-booked our plane tickets to go to France (we’re going in October). We were supposed to go and visit my family while he was at the hospital. As we didn't go there, my sister came over to stay with me.

Now, we’re getting ready for a nice long weekend. Ahhh, 3 days. I've been waiting for this little break! We don't have much planned. We’ve got a few things to sort out in the flat and then, it will depends on the weather. Maybe London or Brighton. We’ll see

                   

And you, what have you got planned for this weekend?

Things I love Thursday

Source

As I'm now getting back into blogging, I've decided to jump on the TILT bandwagon.

So, what do I love this week then?

• Great British Bake Off

This is my new favourite program. I absolutely love it! I've watched the 2 episodes and every time it makes me want to bake.

My favourite contestant so far is Holly Bell. I've liked everything she’s made apart from her green quiche. My least favourite contestant is Rob. He annoys me so much. I don't know why he is still there. He cant manage his time and his cakes always finish with a disaster.

Remember, Great British Bake Off is on Tuesdays @ 8pm on BBC2

• Snickerdoodles

You know what they are don’t you? I’m just asking as the other day on Twitter, I mentioned I’d baked them and I got a reply from Delicious magazine, asking what it was.

Well, Snickerdoodles are cinnamon coated sugar cookies. I made a batch to sell at work on monday and they were gone in no time. People loved them and I was asked a few times for the recipe. I followed the recipe I found on Joy of Baking and it was just perfect. I think these little snickerdoodles are my new favourite biscuits.

A taste from Home

I just couldn't resist. I have to show you what I'm having for desert tonight. It’s something that was in a parcel full of French goodies sent by my parents.

I'm having 2 mini Kouign Amann and some Ben&Jerry’s Baked Alaska.

What is a Kouign Amann you’re asking? A Kouign Amann is a traditional Breton cake (remember I'm from Brittany, France) made of butter and sugar.

That was a quick one. I'm now off to watch the Great British Bake Off and eat my delicious desert!

Red Velvet Cupcakes

I first discovered the Red Velvet cake/cupcake when I bought the Hummingbird Bakery book. I was quite intrigued with this funny red cake.

From intrigued, I became obsessed. I was reading about the history of this cake (nerd alert), kept looking for different recipes and obviously was trying different recipes.

I love this cake because it’s red, its chocolate taste is subtle and it’s got a little je ne sais quoi that I really love. Also, every time I make it, people are impressed and I get lots of compliments What? don't tell me you don't like when people compliment you on your baking.

Out of all the recipes I've tried, the Hummingbird one’s is actually the best. Only the recipe though. I'm not a big fan of their cake. Maybe because I find it tastes a bit artificial and they have too much icing on it. They are really pretty though.

I made some for work the other day but as I'm only getting back into blogging, I forgot to take some pictures

Anyway, here is my recipe: Helene’s Red Velvet Cupckaes (adapted from the Hummingbird Bakery cookbook)

Ingredients:

• 70g butter at room temperature (I always use salted butter)
• 170g caster sugar
• 170g plain flour
• 12g cacao powder
• 135ml buttermilk
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 1 tsp cider vinegar
• Red food colouring (paste)

Method:

• First, cream the sugar and butter together for a few minutes.
• Then, in a separate bowl, mix the flour, the chocolate, the salt and the bicarbonate of soda.
• Add half of the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Once combine, add half of the buttermilk. Mix gently and repeat this process.
• Once well combined, add your food colouring until the reaches a nice and vibrant red and then, finish by adding the vinegar.
• Bake for about 25 minutes at 150 degrees

A lovely Sunday

Source

What I've done on this lovely Sunday

• Had a nice lie in (till 10am)
• Baked a dozen of Red Velvet cupcakes
• Had lunch at Boyfriend’s parents
• Came home to do more baking (snickerdoodles)
• Did a bit of tidy up around the flat
• Had a look around on the web
• Had a nice Sunday tea
• Talked to my parents on the phone
• Spent time with Boyfriend
• Now going to bed

The Regular Irregular Blogger

That’s how I should have called my blog. My last post was at the end of June, which is like 2 months ago and before that, around February/March I also had a long break from blogging. Why, what do I do???

Well, in February/March, As you may remember, Boyfriend and I moved into our new flat and it took us aaaaages to get the internet.

This break was a bit different. I'm not gonna go into too much detail but at the beginning of July, Boyfriend and I went to the gym and unfortunately, he had a cardiac arrest there. Don't worry, he’s now recovered, he’s back with me and we’re slowly getting back to our normal life.

So, needn't to say that life’s been a bit disorganised lately:

• My diet’s been down and up I would say: while he was at the hospital, I lost my appetite and lost a few kilos but then I went back to work and started eating junk food to keep me going. You can guess I put all the weight I lost back on.
• Since the accident, our gym membership's been frozen and I haven't exercised at all. I quite miss it but I don't know when I’ll be able to go back. I'm a bit scared to be honest.

The only exercise we have planned for now is the Windsor Great Park Walk at the beginning of September, a sponsored walk we’re doing to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.

In order to raise money, I'm selling homemade cakes and biscuits at work so I keep on with my baking. So far, I've been baking Burnt butter cupcakes, Chocolate cookies, Banana bread, Madeira cake, Chocolate cupcakes, Chocolate chip cookies and some Lemon cupcakes.

The lemon cupcakes didn't get to work as they were a total disaster. They were from the Primrose Bakery cookbook. Weird, I've made a few cakes from their book and none ever turned out well

Btw, if you have any idea of quick and easy cakes/biscuits I can make, please don't hesitate. I’ve already spotted Alex’s Nutella cookies

So, that’s it for now. Now that life is getting back on track, I should be able to post more often. I don’t want to wait another 2 months

Oh, before I go, Boyfriend and I have set up an online just giving page so if you want to donate, please do so. All the little £ add up