5 minutes to heaven... apparently

Mention the word diet and suddenly your body craves all sorts of sugary treats. With nothing in the house and refusing to just accept the cravings we decided to try the cake in a mug. 30 seconds and one google search later we had our ingredient list and recipe. 

We mixed everything together and banged it in the microwave for 3 minutes. And poof we're done. One (well two) chocolate cakes. Mike had the first bite, and loved it. Forgetting that I'd previously nicknamed Mike the rubbish bin, my experience was not as good, but being the picky eater that I am I didn't expect anything else really. I'm thinking that nuked food is not a good choice for me, who'd guessed? haha. On the plus side the cooking process was fun, and I no longer have my sugar cravings (probably due to a burnt tongue.) 

Have you ever tried the cake in a mug?

If so what did you think?

Speak Soon, 

Katie

x

Baking for my Husband

After my thank you cupcakes from yesterday's post I decided to bake a cake for my husband as he felt slightly left out. So he got his very own special cake. 

 This turned out 100% better than I imagined. I can bake amazing cupcakes until them come out of my ears, but cakes have never really been my forte. I may not look amazing, but I love using buttercream, and I love the messy effect it gives the cake. Good job really. haha.

We had to have a picture of the boy cutting his cake. He cut right through the centre of the heart, luckily not through mine. I love this man more than anything on the face of this earth, and nothing says I love you more than a homemade cake. Like they say, 'the way to a mans heart is through his stomach.' haha. I'm becoming a right little housewife. Shame it only extends to baking and not the cooking and cleaning. 

Speak Soon, 

Katie 

x

Seeing Double

I mentioned in a previous post that I had been asked to make a batch of cupcakes for the vicar's (who married us) birthday. Once I got home from work last night, after watching Doctor Who of course, I got cracking with my challenge. 

I was asked to make 24 which was pretty easy really. My Nanna lent me her muffin tray which matches mine, and I just doubled the recipe. I was a little bummed out that I didn't make a few more so that we all could have a taste test, but I will remember that for next time. haha. 

Once thing I should add is that I alway try to use happy eggs... and not just because of how happy they are in the bowl...

but because happy uncaged chickens make happier eggs. And I believe that you really can taste the difference, and I must say that the texture is also different. 

I love baking so much. I find it so relaxing and would love to one day turn a hobby into a career, but until then I'll just share all my creations with you guys. I'm also not even ashamed to say that my buns taste incredible. The sponge is light and fluffy and the buttercream is rich but not sickly. Let just say that I have been known to crave my own cupcakes... and Mike pesters me for some all the time. 

I got cracking with the recipe at about 7:30pm so that were as fresh as they could be. 

I've actually got to the point now where I don't time my cakes. I just let them cook and take them out when they are ready. I never thought that this was possible, but it is!

And there we have it. All lined up like little soldiers, with flags. haha. I'm obsessed with having flags in the buns. Mike makes them so I can concentrate on the decorations. 

When I finally woke up today (see how I didn't mention this 'morning'. haha) I had received two phone calls, both leaving a message. 

One from my Nanna and one from the vicar saying just how much they loved my cupcakes and that they went down a treat. This sounds awful, but if old people say that they are good... then they must be. Personally I think that old people are the worst critics because they just don't care. haha. 

Overall I am so happy with these. The phone calls made my day and I felt so proud. Just a shame that I didn't get to try one! 

Speak Soon, 

Katie 

x

Wedding: Cupcakes

The cupcakes I made for our wedding went down a treat. Everyone loved them. And I must admit so did I. I made them on the Friday night before our wedding day as I wanted them to be as fresh as possible, and so that the sponge was still moist. I planned on making my own cupcakes from the day we set the date for our wedding and I'm so glad that I did. The little flags in each cake were also handmade by the now husband. I told him what to do, and he made them perfectly. I am such a proud wife. 

Most people were in utter shock to find out that they were homemade, and my Nanna even wants to learn how to make them! Now this came as a complete shock to me, as it will do to you when you see the cake she made for our wedding day...

This fabulous creation was made by our 88 year old Nanna. I always wanted her to make my wedding cake, but never thought that she would be able to. I loved it. Unfortunately I don't like fruit cake, or I'd be wolfing it down. (though she did give me a bag of icing from it that I can munch on... shhhh!)

Overall the cupcakes did take four hours to make, but I loved every second of it, and wouldn't change it for the world. I think that even if I had more money than sense I still would have made my own. The whole process relaxed me, which is just what I needed the night before the wedding, it also kept me busy so I didn't think about the day ahead. 

The tricky part was transporting the cakes from our house, a 25 minute drive down the road to my parents house. haha. We had the best man in the back seat guarding two trays full of cakes spread out across the back, while holding two more, and a cake stand with more cakes between his knees. I was in the front seat with my Nanna's cake and more cupcakes balanced on top, and finally Mike driving as carefully as possible. But don't worry he didn't have any balanced on his head, though I would be surprised if he did. haha.


I've now been asked to bake some cupcakes for the Vicar's Birthday, and for me this is an honour. It'll be my way of thanking her for marrying us, and holding such a beautiful ceremony. I'd love to start my own mini business from baking, but for now baking for the Vicar's Birthday is more than enough. 

As you can tell we held our wedding reception at my parents home, and we loved every second of it. There are even people who didn't go to our wedding that are still talking about our day now. As each day goes by we hear from someone else how much they enjoyed it. 

There's definitely more to come,

Speak Soon,

Katie 

x

Homemade: Wedding Invitations

As I sit/lay here making good friends with my hot water bottle, I thought that I'd post my wedding invites. I still have more to make, which have all been baked and just need sanding and painting.

I've been pretty determined to make our wedding 'us.' At first when we started planning, the details I chose were the standard items, which were not necessarily me, but more of the norm. 


For example, the first invites I made were pretty traditional. They were nice, but I became frustrated with them because I didn't actually like them. It them took me a good few months to come up with the idea of using salt dough. It was like a light bulb moment, and from that point there was no going back. They are relatively easy to make, just be warned that they can be rather temperamental, and can rise unexpectedly. The way I found to help with this was to turn the heat down and bake for longer. And to mask the awful baking smell... I used a Yankee Candle which worked a treat.


Heres how to make them. Of course you don't have to make wedding invites, they can make supper pretty decorations. I have made them in a few sizes for wedding decorations, so be creative, and you never know what you might come up with.

Salt Dough

2 cups plain flour

1 cup of salt

1 cup of water

2 tablespoons of oil

This was the first time I had worked with cups for measurements rather than weight, and it turned out to be so easy. I bought simple red ones from Asda a while back, so it was also nice to finally put them to use. I'm still on the look out for some heart shaped ones though. 

Step one - Preheat oven to roughly 120°C then mix all the ingredients together. 

Start by mixing the salt and plain flour. Once mixed add the oil, then gradually add the water until you have a clay like consistency. Don't be afraid you get your hands dirty... it's actually more fun that way.

Step two - Next you want to roll out your dough. If you don't have a rolling pin, a wine bottle or a hairspray can works just as well. Just use your imagination. You want to make your hearts roughly 5mm thick, though trial and error, these worked out to be the best size. (always make sure to add flour to the counter to prevent the dough from sticking - this can turn into a nightmare without it)

Step three - Cut out your hearts. 

Step four - Place your hearts onto a floured baking tray ready to bake. Don't forget to make your holes before baking, so you can hang them later. You then want to bake them for at least an hour, or until these dough is hard with no soft spots. Mine took two hours in the oven each time. 

Step five - Once ready take them out of the oven and let them cool.

Step six - Sand all the edges, and top if necessary depending on how you want your hearts to look.

Preferably outside in the sun while listening to you favourite music

The top part of one of my batches did rise, so to save them I cut off all the bubbled parts, and sanded away to create a smooth finish. Now they just look like it was my desired effect. 

Now you are ready to paint.

Step seven - Paint and add text.

I chose white, but this may change as I've noticed that the paint has started to crack slightly (I'm a perfectionist when it comes to things like this.) I did make a batch for other decorations which I painted gold, and these have turned out perfectly. 

Step eight - Add a coat of varnish to keep your work looking amazing and fresh for years to come. 

Ignore the messy table - I like to keep things natural

Mine look slightly blurred in parts, but that's only where I've edited out our wedding reception venue. This is because ours is being held at my parents house, so it's not really fare to share their address with the world. 

Finally add a ribbon or some string to hang your decoration... and you're done. 

I also chose to add each guests name on the back of each invitation, and I will also add a little poem to each heart tied with a bow for that personal effect.

I can't wait to show you my other salt dough creations, so watch out for those.

Hope you enjoyed this post.

Speak Soon,

Katie 

x

Feeling slightly under the weather

I've had a lovely day today, but now I'm not feeling quite myself as the title suggests. I think I'm starting with another cold. Fingers crossed I'm just imagining things, and I wake up tomorrow morning feeling on top of the world. For now, I'm going to stay cuddled up in my quilt on the sofa, with Millie, and Mike, enjoying blogging. (My favourite place to be to be honest.)
I've got a post to upload after this one that I'm quite proud of.
I wrote it while waiting for these picture to upload, so look out for that one. But in the mean time, heres what I got up to today.

























As usual my Sunday morning started with pole dancing. Not so usual, is that my Mum had to take me, as we suffered a major oil leak at the beginning of the week, which will keep me off the road until next Sunday. Which is probably good news to other drivers. I should make a public announcement really.

Once home, I decided to bake, which I'm loving at the moment. Since giving up chocolate for lent, I've chosen to replace the calories with homemade cakes and biscuits. I can see the flaws in this plan, but it's worth it.

They tasted so good. I wanted to make them to take round to my Nanna's. Earlier on in the week I had made some biscuits (in fact the one's mentioned here) which I'd told my Nanna I'd take round for her to try but instead I accidentally left them at my Mum's. So I made her, her very own, personalised biscuit.

Don't worry that's how we've always spelt Nanna, since I was a little girl.

I also thought I'd take advantage of the cake stand my Auntie bought me for Christmas, and while I appreciate the thought, it's bloody useless.

Why is picture tilted? I hear you ask. Because that's the only way to take a picture of it without fearing for the safety of the cupcakes. I didn't want you all worrying now did I?

Yes, the sneaky bugger is helping me with the cleaning.

Add feeding it to the dog. Licking the bowl doesn't actually count as washing the pots Mike.

And there you were thinking I'd left Mike out of all the personalised biscuit making session... or whatever you want to call it.

We then headed to my Nanna's. Walking of course, due to my car being poorly. We took Millie who insisted on inspecting everything at my Nanna's. You'd think she'd never been before. At least she enjoyed herself. It was also the first time we'd ever heard Millie belch. Shocking, but so very, very funny.

More insisting occurred, when my Nanna's gave me her high street vouchers so I could pick up some bits for our wedding. Half of me (the selfish side) is very excited to pick up my foundation, and a few other bits, the other half wishes that she had spent them all on herself. Either way I didn't have much choice in the matter, so the only way round is to pick up a few treats for her with the vouchers, as well as the bits for myself.

Once back home, and settled we realised that the only food we'd had was breakfast, and cakes, so real food was needed.
So we decided upon cheese on toast. Haha.

The husband-to-be took this one for my blog. He's such a sweetheart.

Followed by an apple. He asked if I wanted one for pudding (well we did have cupcakes for lunch) I said yes, as long as he cut it up for me. I didn't think he'd actually do it. I really have found a keeper.

Anyway, that's our day over. And what a lovely day it has been. Quiet and family orientated, just the way I like it.

Speak soon,
Katie
x

I made biscuits

When we got home from my first wedding dress fitting I decided to make some biscuits. 

I originally wanted to make them for Valentine's Day, but I'm always so far behind, that today became the day.

I used a basic biscuit recipe. 

175g Plain Flour 

100g of butter/margarine (I used Stork)

50g Caster Sugar

I'm loving my blog so much at the moment that I decided to make a picture instructional post.

Take this as a warning... this will be a photo heavy post.

(I personally love photo heavy posts)

Step 1

Collect your ingredients and preheat the oven to 150°C.

We have to guess the temperature as all the numbers have rubbed off our oven, thanks to flash.

Step 2

Weigh your ingredients referring to the recipe

Step 3

Mix together both the margarine and the caster sugar until light and fluffy.

Make sure you do this whilst wearing your PJs and smiling at a camera.

Add the flour gradually. I stir this into the mixture. I'm sure you could whisk it but you're aiming to create a dough texture, so I'm not sure how well that would work out.

Once the mixture is too thick to stir, get messy and work with your hands...

... and kneed the dough to form a ball.

Roll out the dough and use your preferred cutter to cut out your biscuits.

We don't own a rolling pin, so we used a very clean can of hairspray. 

You could also use a bottle of wine.

If the dough sticks to your 'rolling pin' sprinkle the dough with a bit of flour which will prevent it from sticking.

(We seem to have lost our steps somewhere... but I'm sure you're still following)

Grease & flour your baking tray, add the biscuits, and bake for roughly 25 minutes at 150C

Keep an eye on them, you don't want to burn the poor things.

Once ready, place on a baking tray and leave to cool.

This really won't take to long.

Luckily.

I'm so impatient. 

Here comes the fun part

Decorate however you want.

Here are my creations.

Be careful not to eat them all at once.. it's very difficult.

And to all my lovely followers, especially the one who leave such sweet comments...

Katie

xxx

Oh and a few pictures just for your amusements.

Don't ask.

Not such Lovely Bones

Have you ever had that feeling when reading a book that you've missed something? I don't mean like half the book missing (which I have experienced) but that the plot isn't quite what you expected it to be. 
Now I'm the type that loves a good read, 
         I love to get lost in a book,
         I love to be entranced by the story so much so that I can't wait to find out what happens, but that I also want to treasure each moment and wish for the book to never end.
         I love being excited for an author to release a new book and without out even reading the blurb, buy the book and bury myself within it's words.                                                                          
         I love buying a new book upon someone else's recommendation and being so grateful, having found a new love. 


But what I don't like is the feeling of being lost, the feeling of something missing, the feeling that I've missed something that everyone else has got. Now some of you may be offended by what I write next and rightly so, for a book that has had such great reviews, become a best seller, and even been made into a movie, these word may come as a surprise. But I just didn't like Lovely Bones. 


I didn't go into this book expecting much at all. I hadn't heard much about the books success, or about the movie. All I really knew was that there was a movie. I read the blurb on the back and though it was an interesting concept for a story, not something I would usually opt for, but as I had been looking into reading something other than an easy read, I though it was the perfect option. I bough this and 'The time traveler's wife' on a  2 for £7 offer in Sainsbury's. I love these offers, and I always take advantage of them. I'm not to sure whether this is a good thing? Out of the two I picked up Lovely Bones first as I had heard fantastic reviews about 'The Time Traveler's Wife' and knew I would find a new love within it's pages. 


I read the book within a week, and yes the story has stuck with me. The story was good, and as a book to look back on and pull sections out to think about, it's great. But... and it's a big but.... to me the story was slow. It got off to a great start, and within the first few pages the scene had been set,  you know that the main character had died an unfortunate death, you also know how she died, and by the hands of whom. All of this you also find out on the back of the book, so I'm not actually spoiling the story for anyone. From here on out I thought that I had hit gold, I thought that I would be recommending this book to everyone I met, but I thought too soon. 


As I got half way through the book I got to the point where I was getting into a huff as the story didn't seem to be going anywhere, but I persisted as a great hit has to come from somewhere and if so many people recommend it then I just must be missing something. In the end I ended up completing the book that evening as I couldn't put it down as I needed to find out if anything happened. Now don't get me wrong a story was told, the characters faced a lot, and to some I'm talking complete bull... but to me this book felt like a chore. In fact I don't think that before now I have ever refereed to finishing a book as completing, like completing an assignment, but that's just how if felt. Overall I don't think it was my cup of tea. 


I don't want to write too much relating to my reasonings behind my dislike, as like I've mentioned above I'm not completely sure why I dislike it so much, I just feel like I'm missing something major. I also don't want to put anyone off reading this book who may end up loving it, and if by writing my real thoughts it would mean that they would never read it, and consequently never find out how much they could love it, then that would be awful. 


But for the few people out there that don't mind spoilers... (these people that I'm yet to meet) a few points in this book did confuse me.


The way in which Susie died was traumatic to say the least. She was raped and murdered by a neighbough. Now I'm not quite sure of her actual age at death (it may be stated in the book, but I guess I also missed that) but I saw her at roughly 13. In her idea of heaven or at least a stepping stone toward heaven, she never actually aged. She never actually grew up. To me to be able to grow up and to mature you need to experience life, have life experiences, something which she could not do, as her life had been cut short. She did on the other hand watch her family, friends, and significant friend grow, age, and mature. This to me only makes my imagination picture her as a watcher. So why when she gets the opportunity to switch places with Ruth does she end up sleeping with her crush? She was raped just before she died, didn't age but needed to have sex before she could move on. I just don't get it. I did watch the movie, on a recommendation, and the producer did seem to grasp this part slightly better, and instead of feeling the need for her to sleep with him, she needed to have her first kiss before she could move on. (I know I have not mentioned his actually name.. mainly because I've forgotten it.) 


In relation to the recommendation for the film, I didn't rate that very highly at all. It was all too far fetched for me. The images created by the book, to me saw her heaven as pretty similar to earth, minus her family. I had created these pictures of this place where she easily adapted herself, she knew she was no longer alive, but at the same time it was real enough to create a smoother transition. A place where everything she wanted she could imagine and it would appear, not making her truly happy but not terrified constantly. The movie on the other hand created this strange place where she just seemed scared or confused most of the time. I was recommended the movie by someone who had not read the book, but who suggested it after I told them how the book didn't live up to my expectations. They thought the movie was fantastic... to me the book was better. If I hadn't read the book and felt the need to constantly compare the two I would have switched the movie off half way through. All least with the book you found out she had died pretty soon... with the movie 50 minutes had passed and finally I found out she had died. 


I'm sorry for this lengthy post I just needed to get that off my chest. 

Katie and Cupcakes

For Christmas at our work, we had a large selection of food and each item was brought in by a different member of staff. So I decided to take cupcakes. Oh my gosh they were as good as they looked... amazing. If I do say so myself.

Being Katie n all I decided to make them in my PJs :D Off course. I live in PJs.

I loved making them and I will def be making more soon.

I used a normal sponge cake recipe then poured the mixture into muffin cases, which made them into huge buns :D

Below are a few pictures

The hardest bit was trying to find enough boxes to take them to work in

I love my buns lol