Secret Treasure Box - Tsar Emporium, Bakewell

With the sun making a welcome debut this weekend, me and the fiancé decided to drive into the Peak District and enjoy a bit of country-side scenery. We visited Bakewell, possibly our favourite place to visit in the Peaks and stopped for an obligatory slice of Bakewell Tart in the courtyard garden of our favourite little cafe (which incidentally does mail order - genius!). 

Mmmm so good!

We were both feeling rather worse for wear after going out with our friends the night before so, whilst we often go hill-walking at weekends, this time we just took a leisurely wander around the shops. In another little courtyard I found the most amazing shop called The Tsar Emporium which was full to the brim with vintage and vintage inspired trinkets, furniture, chandeliers, mirrors - you name it, they probably have it! Whilst I was squeaking with excitement and declaring that when we have our own house it will look like this shop, Alex was joking about calling the wedding off... sadly his tastes in decor are simple and modern - probably the opposite of mine!

There was so much I could've bought in that shop but I restricted myself to choosing just one item and I chose this little keepsake box. I love how it looks like something straight out of a fairy tale! I haven't decided what to use it for yet but for now it's taking pride of place on my dresser.

I now have less than 5 weeks til my final university deadlines - that's why the blog has been so quiet! I'm definitely looking forward to blogging more often though and might even be posting a few wedding-related posts as wedding planning is officially beginning when I hand in those essays! 

Did you get out and enjoy the sun this weekend?

Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting

I have 10 weeks left before my final deadlines for my degree, hence why the blog has taken a backseat lately. I've even taken photos for blog posts but just not had chance to write them up! But I've given myself the day off from studies today and took the opportunity to do some therapeutic baking.

I've been perfecting this recipe for a little while now, the frosting has always been a perfect peanutty soft whippyness but the sponge has sometimes been a little bit dry. This time I used a recipe from the Hummingbird Bakery which has quite a bit of milk in it and it's much more moist. Perfection!

 Recipe

Ingredients 

For the Cupcakes (recipe taken from the Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook)

100g plain flour
20g cocoa powder
140g caster sugar
1 1/2tsp baking powder
a pinch of salt
40g unsalted butter, at room temperature
120ml whole milk
1 egg
1/4tsp vanilla extract

For the Frosting

125g butter, at room temperature
125g peanut butter (I used a combination of smooth and crunchy)
250g icing sugar, sifted
drop of vanilla extract
whole milk

Method

Preheat the oven to 170c or Gasmark 3

Put the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, salt and butter in your mixer and beat on slow speed until everything is combined.

Whisk the milk, egg and vanilla extract together in a jug and add half to the flour mixture, mixing until smooth. Add the other half and mix again but don't over mix.

Spoon the mixture into paper cases and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the sponge bounces back.

Meanwhile to make the frosting, cream the butter and peanut butter together with the vanilla extract. Add the sifted icing sugar (to avoids lumps) and mix until smooth, adding milk to reach the desired consistency (you don't want it too runny if you're going to pipe it).

When they are cooled, spread or pipe the frosting onto the cakes.

Let me know if you try it and enjoy your Sunday. 

My Calorie-Counted WIAW #2

Breakfast

Naughty Porridge - Oatso Simple made with Almond Milk, PB2 and a splodge of Nutella - 234cals

Innocent Smoothie - 81cals

Lunch

Red Pepper Houmous Wrap with Red Pepper and Baby Leaf Salad - 234 cals

Snack

Nakd Bar - 135cals

Dinner

Chickpea, Apricot and Red Pepper Curry served with Cauliflower Rice, Cucumber and Yoghurt - 337cals

Supper

3 (mini!) Creme Eggs - 150cals

Total Calories - 1171

I'm enjoying photographing everything I eat on a Wednesday - it definitely encourages me to eat better! Yesterday I had a really really good day until 11pm when I destroyed a whole tub of Cookie Dough ice-cream and doubled my calorie intake! Damn you Ben & Jerrys for being so yummy.

If you read my post last week you'll see me giving up chocolate for lent didn't last very long! I've still given up crisps but that's definitely not as hard.

Now I'm going to curl up with those mini eggs and One Born Every Minute - bliss!

Valentines Night

We decided to beat the crowds last night and simply cook together at home. Never one to pass on an occasion to dress up however I thought I'd share a few photos of my outfit. And of course the food.

Playsuit: Topshop

Faux Fur Gilet: H&M

Boots: New Look

I've wanted a faux fur gilet for ages now but I tried a few black ones and they made me look like a huge hairy gorilla. This one makes me feel like a cuddly sheep instead :)

Home-made 'melt in the middle' Stilton Burgers - Nom Nom

So we cheated with dessert and bought some Vanilla Slices - decorated with hearts of course. 

Alex treated me to Seasons 1-5 of Gossip Girl on DVD and he received a 10 year old bottle of his favourite whiskey <3

Do you celebrate or do you think the whole thing is too cheesy?