Rather fabulous Nutella cupcake frosting

I made chocolate cake. I had Nutella. FROSTING MAYHEM ENSUED.

I like this frosting because it is delicious, my sprinkles stayed on nicely, and it set to a nice hard-ish consistently so the cupcakes shall not be ruined in transportation.

75g dark/milk chocolate (as preference)
4 heaped tablespoons of Nutella (woo hoo!)
40g butter
50g icing sugar

Melt chocolate, then add the other ingredients to the bowl whilst the chocolate is still warm and beat together until the mixture has a glossy texture. Use a palette knife to spread on the cakes. Try to only eat frosting from the bowl after all the cakes are iced (I failed at this).

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Happy Pancake Day!

Now I am certain that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year but I am equally certain Pancake Day is the best breakfast/lunch/dinner time of the year...

And the best recipe to use? Delia's of course! I use this recipe and I am satisfyingly stuffed every time :)

As for fillings, it is all about sweet or savoury. Unless you are a master of creating those ultra thin crepes (in which case it is law to fill them with Nutella, or see below) it is lemon and sugar all the way for me.

This pancake was chocolate, flaked almonds, icecream and Chantilly cream... *salivates* Sadly maybe a bit out there for homemade pancakes!

However I am also a big fan savoury pancakes, probably because I feel like I am slyly having dessert for my mains. I had the most delicious bechamel, spinach and mushroom crepe at Le Cafe Gourmand and been a bit obsessed every since.

Delicious magazine has some great pinspiration here for some savoury pancake feasting if you are interested.

Whichever way you go - HAPPY PANCAKE DAY!

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Queeniecakes

The Victoria Sandwich. It is said that Queen Victoria liked a slice with her afternoon tea. Traditionally, it is two large plain sponge cakes filed with jam and cream and is undoubtedly delicious... But this is the cake of a Queen! Where is the bling?! I thought it was time for a revamp. Then I found mini tiaras for children’s parties.

Queeniecakes

Now I know the tiara IS optional – who needs jewellery when you have a light-as-air sponge and rich buttercream contrasted with tart jam - but I do feel more stately when I’m eating cake with a crown on.

 

Cake base ingredients:

112 grams cooking margarine

112 grams caster sugar

2 large eggs

112 grams self raising flour

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Filling:

75 grams of a raspberry or blackcurrant jam

Splash of hot water

Butter Icing recipe:

Few drops vanilla extract

392 grams sieved icing sugar

Splash water

112 grams ounces butter

12 mini tiaras

Method for cake base:

1.       Cream butter and caster until very pale and fluffy.

2.       Add the extract and then beat in the eggs one at a time, scraping the bowl as you go, until the mixture is quite thick.

3.       Add the flour gradually until combined.

4.       Divide the batter into twelve cupcake cases.

Bake in a preheated fan oven at 160 degrees for 14 minutes, or until just golden. Leave to cool.

Filling:

To add the filling, use a cupcake corer to remove the center of each cake, although do not core right to the bottom. Mix the jam with a splash of hot water and mix. Add a teaspoon of jam into the hole of each cake, then replace the remaining tube of cake into the hole (you may have to trim some of the cake to fit it back in).

Topping:

Put all ingredients in a bowl and beat together hard until of piping consistency. Swirl onto the top of each cake. Push tiara between cake and icing.

Eat then wear mini tiara. 

Happy regal noms

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Girl makes DIY Jersey Lace Scarf

So I was having a pinteresting evening and I came across a lovely picture of a DIY scarf made by Sea lo que sea. It was so pretty, and I had all the materials so I thought I must give it a go :)

The result was so pretty I thought I would give it away as a present!

All that is needed to make your own lovely scarf is a strip of jersey fabric (which you do not even have to hem, yay!), some lace and needle and thread.

I chose a nice blue colour as I thought it would suit the lace. I cute a long strip, enough to wind round my neck and hang a little. 

I then cut enough lace to go all the way around the piece of jersey - this is to ensure that when finished the stitches would be invisible.

I then sewed started sewing the lace on to the bottom of the jersey, positioned so as to hide the raw edge of the fabric.

Sorry about my nails! They are never nice when I am DIYing for blog haha!

Eventually you shall have sewn the lace to each end of the jersey on both sides :)

And that's it! So easy!! Thank you to Sea lo que sea for some lovely scarf inspiration :) Also, I get to be very smug now for being one of the minority who do the crafts they see on Pinterest :P

I would love to know if you have ever done a craft found on Pinterest and if it was a success or not :)

Nearly the weekend folks!

Blog love

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Girl Eats at Le Cafe Gourmand

I have found my perfect cafe. It was a long and delicious search but I think Le Cafe Gourmand exceeds all my requirements for this prestigious accolade.

My first clue was in the name. 'Gourmand' means greedy in French, which incidentally describes my cafe eating habits quite sufficiently. The menu also encourages greediness. The range of drinks was quite unbearable for me: I had to choose between Nutella hot chocolate and white hot chocolate. Nutella hot chocolate won by recommendation of the waitress. I did not regret taking her very kind advice. It was delicious. If you would like to get an idea of how delicious, I recommend you microwave a mug of milk and Nutella until sufficiently warm and stir well. HEAVEN. It looks good too...

Somewhat surprisingly, I chose a savoury crepe (I had had cake for breakfast though). For an incredibly good price of £3.90, I had a spinach, mushroom and bechamel sauce crepe.

There was the perfect amount of filling to crepe and needless to say I incredibly happy with my choice.

The range of crepes, sweet and savoury, meant that I could satisfy my mood whatever I fancied. They also served croque monsieurs, pastries, macaroons, cakes, as well as a tasty looking weekend breakfast selection. The selection, surroundings and atmosphere made for a lovely little slice of French cafe in Edinburgh. 

The chalkboards were too pretty not to take lots of photos!

I sat in a comfy chair and red my book in decadence - the smell of nearly burning butter was divine. This cafe is a blueprint for a marvelous eating experience.

 Happy October :)

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Girl...watches cake

It has been very chilly here of late and it is time for snuggling under duvets with hot chocolate, cake and a film. I LOVE food in films... the chocolate cake in Matilda, croissant in Breakfast at Tiffany's, the icecream marshmallow chocolate concoction created by Kevin when he is first left Home Alone... that sort of thing. Here are some of my favourite film and food combinations for a jolly good evening:

Kiki's Flying Delivery Service
A beautiful Studio Ghibli film about a young witch who travels to a new city and starts a delivery business accompanied by Jiji the cat and her broomstick.
The cute food factor: Kiki lives in a little bedsit in a bakery and also makes a lot of pancakes. I quite envy her lifestyle.
Watch this film whilst eating: Pancakes and Nutella, like so:

Ratatouille
A charming Pixar film where Remie the rat goes to Paris and becomes a chef, which causes quite a bit of bother.
The cute food factor: The perfectly arranged ratatouille, cheese and Paris at night.
Watch this film whilst eating: I recommend profiteroles for this one although good cheese and biscuits would do it.

ULTIMATE PROFITEROLES

Chocolat
Juliette Binoche opens a chocolate shop in a little French town. Johnny Depp is there. 'Nuff said.
The cute food factor: A shop full of exquisite chocolates - truly makes me want to be Willy Wonka.
Watch this film whilst eating: A chocolate souffle made with high percentage cocoa chocolate.

Beauty and the Beast
My favourite film ever ever in the whole world. Belle is imprisoned in an enchanted castle in order to free her father.
The cute food factor: The song 'Be Our Guest' is accompanied by a feast for the eyes of entrees, dishes and deserts.
Watch this film whilst eating: WAFFLES.

I hope you have enjoyed my post and having a good start to the week :) Also if you have any recommendations for films and food I would love to expand my repertoire please!

Happy film and noms!

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Girl makes.. DIY Embellished Collar Necklace

Alas, I spend far too much money on cakes, crepes, and sprinkles to have many pesos. Therefore when I saw a pretty embellished peter pan collar necklace in a magazine I resolved to make my own. This is my version: 

Sparkly huh? It was very simple to make, and due to my craft hoarder habit, completely free!

If you want to make one too, you shall need:

• Felt 
• Ribbon
• Paper
• Pins
• Craft glue (that can be used on felt, plastics, etc.)
• Needle and thread
• Pearls, gems, or anything that you would think look pretty on your collar. 

I first drew a collar shape onto a piece of paper. I measured my neck and then used a plate little bigger as the inside of the collar shape, and drew the peter pan shape around it. I cut the shape out and pinned it to the felt. I folded my felt and pattern in half, and pinned it so it would be identical on each side in one piece like so:

Cut cut cut cut....

Ta da!

I then arranged my gems and pearls to get an idea of how I would like them to look when it is finished.

I started gluing the beads and sewing the pearls on. On both the pointy tips of the collar I sewed a little piece of ribbon. 

And that is it! You have a lovely sparkly embellished collar necklace.

And can make pose-y camera shots with it on like this :P (Sorry no one was in the house to take a shot of the collar on with a tee!)

ANYWAY. Hope you enjoyed my crafty post, I would love to know what you think - if there is anything you would do differently or if you are going to have a go etc. :)

Eat cake and prosper

Erin Lian

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