Things I Love - Picks Of The Week

Today I've been in the kitchen most of the day making chocolate fudge & vanilla cupcakes plus a birthday cake for a friends nephews birthday. I spent a good 5 hours baking, decorating them all and placing them in cute boxes. My friend was so happy with them when she picked them up earlier. I love making people happy!!

I've finally had chance to sit down and chill out for the evening. Paul is on the late shift today so he wont be home until about 9pm. This gives me time to do my blogging and do a few more things around the house. Here are my picks for this week!

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1. Gorgeous mint wedges from Bait footwear (They do amazing fifties inspired shoes!)
2. The sneezing baby panda haha! Its been around on YouTube for years and I love it!
3. This blouse is super cute from Lala Magic 
4. I've been on the hunt for a UK site that sells these Saltwater sandals.
5. Dying to have a waffle maker!!

This coming Wednesday I'm going to an art exhibition on Brick Lane to support my lovely friends over on the Breathe Happiness blog. I've been looking forward to this for a few months now and cant wait to spend the day/evening in London with Paul.  This will be the last day out for us both until after the wedding and I couldn't be more excited! :)

Lulu xx

Bake Days - Eldeflower & Orange tea cake

Hello dears

Today was World Baking Day so I wanted to bake a cake I hadn't done before so I spent yesterday looking through my cook books. I came across this Elderflower & Orange tea cake recipe in a book my friend gave me and really wanted to try it. My little sister Tilly helped me with baking today and I really enjoyed her company. We also made ice cream cupcakes at her request too and I shall be sharing that in my next bake days post. I loved how this cake turned out and it tasted AMAZING! No accidents in the kitchen this year and I remembered to add all of the ingredients wooo!!!

Here's what you'll need -

6oz softened butter plus a little for greasing
6oz golden caster sugar
3 good quality free range eggs
5oz self-raising flour
3oz ground almonds
1/2 tsp baking powder
100ml milk (i used soya)

For the elderflower drizzle -

4 tbsp elderflower cordial
1 fresh grated orange rind
4 tbsp golden granulated sugar

1. Heat the oven to 160c/fan 140c. Grease and line a 900lb (2lb) loaf tin with nonstick baking paper and have the paper hanging over the tin slightly.

2. Cream together the butter and sugar with a wooden spoon or electric whisk until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, flour, ground almonds, baking powder and milk until all of the mixture is smooth. Try not to over whisk or you'll trap too much air in the batter.

3. Pour the batter mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 45-50 minutes until the cake is golden and a skewer that's inserted into the center comes out clean.

4. Meanwhile, heat the cordial ingredients over a medium heat for about 5 minutes until the sugar dissolves and the drizzle takes on the flavour of the rind. Set aside until the cake is ready.

5. As soon as the cake is cooked, carefully pull it out of the tin, using the overhanging paper and place on a wire rack. Using a skewer prick the cake all over and pour over the drizzle mixture. The pieces of the orange rind will stick to the top for a pretty burst of colour. Allow the cake to cool completely, then slice and serve. 

Serves 10 - 12. Enjoy! (Adapted from The vintage tea party)

Much love

Lulu xx

Pinterest Weekly - Friday Favourites

Hello dears!
This weeks Pinterest favourites are mainly wedding photos that I've pinned for photo ideas for our big day and the others are pretty things I've seen. My plan for tomorrow is to make a list of all the photos we'd like done on the day so my dear Keri-Anne knows what were after. All pictures are from Pinterest.

 

 

 

I'm getting butterflies just looking at these pretty brides in their dresses! In just under 6 weeks I'll be marrying my handsome! Excited is an understatement!!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! Look out for my World Bake Day post tomorrow, I've finally decided what I'm making and I cant wait to bake it!!

Much love

Lulu xx

World Baking Day ideas

This Sunday 19th May is World Baking Day and its a day where you bake something out of your comfort zone. I am a huge cupcake baker so baking an actual cake is scary to me! I've been looking at different recipes this week and trying to decide what to bake. Last year I tried making a red velvet 3 layer cake but failed miserably. I missed something out of the recipe and it exploded everywhere in my oven, I then spent the next hour cleaning the oven which wasn't fun!

Here's what I'm thinking of baking from some of my favourite bake books but will decide on the day which one I will do :)

Caramel Slice

Chocolate and Banana loaf

Maraschino Cookies

Elderflower & Orange teacake

Will you be taking part? What are you thinking of baking?

Much love

Lulu xx

New Facebook Page!

Happy Wednesday everyone!

Well I finally got round to adding a Facebook page for my little blog and would love it if you all could come over and 'Like' it! :) I'm so grateful for everyone that follows my blog and it really does make me smile when you leave comments or view my posts. I'm excited for what the future holds and to share parts of my life with you all. I'm still figuring out how to use my page and make sure everything like links are all connected. Bare with me as I add my Facebook button to my blog and I'm hoping to have it added by tonight.

Come over to Lulus Wonderland page to say Hello! :)

Oh and I cant get enough of A Beautiful Mess iPhone app! Love it!
 

Much love

Lulu xx