This Week's Mix it Up - No Churn Icecream, DIYTassel Throw and Coastal Interiors

Fresh Raspberries and Cookies and Cream Icecream

No ice cream maker needed for this delicious treat and if raspberries are not in season in your part of the world, you could use 'freeze dried' or frozen raspberries (defrost them first). Recipe via Bromer Bakery...click here for instructions. More inspiration....

Mix it Up - Recipes, DIY and Interiors

Above: from Kiss My Bowl Raw Blueberry Ombre Cake (Vegan, gluten and dairy free)

This week I wanted to mix things up again and share some inspiring recipes, DIY projects and a few interior spaces. Links to recipes and tutorials are of course included.

Mixing it Up - Interiors, DIY Faux Coral and Lemon Lavender Cupcakes

I used to feature weekly inspiration with recipes, diy and inspiring interiors, but somehow this post seemed to have been put on the back burner so I am bringing it back, yet again, and mixing it up with plenty of inspiration to fill your weekend.

Easter Inspiration - A Medley of Crafts and Delicious Easter Cakes

Above: Easter egg pinatas, so cute! Hop over to Oh Happy Day for instructions

Easter is looming so I thought I would select my favourite mix of Easter Ideas, links to the tutorials and recipes are included...

Tuesday's Mix - Whipped Coconut Cream, Delicious Cupcakes, a Designer's Makeover and More

Above: You will find a link at the end of this post to see more of this lovely home by designer Melanie Turner

I hope you enjoy this week's Tuesdays mix a couple of easy recipes including how to make coconut whipped cream which has got to be healthier than dairy and it tastes delicious. Also a recipe for 15 minute mint thins, (vegan and 'no bake'), now that's what I like! I have also included a couple of DIY ideas for the home and a glimpse of a designer's makeover.

My First Attempt at a Naked Wedding Cake

Hi everyone, recently I mentioned that I was attempting a cake for my son's wedding, last week I made a trial, naked cake and thought I would share the recipe, some images of my cake and a few great video instructions I discovered.

Weekly Inspiration - Interior Design, Gluten Free Cake Recipes, Plus DIY Homeware

It has been a little while since I shared a weekly inspiration post of interiors and recipes, I apologise to those of you who enjoyed the mix of ideas and images, so this week I wanted to share some new inspiration. I spotted a lovely interior and some inspiring diy, not to mention two lovely gluten free cake recipes to share.

Spotted This Week - Vibrant art, an interesting interior, and two, simple gluten free recipes

I am sorry I missed this Wednesday's post, I have been a little bit under the weather so to speak, but feeling somewhat better and back on board again. I guess this is the nice thing about working from home, it is a little easier to take a break. However, in saying this, I do feel a great responsibility to my readers and sponsors and so getting back into the swing of things with a mix of art, interiors and food to inspire you over the weekend.

Weekly Inspiration - A Gluten Free Torte, DIY homeware projects and some inspiring Blue and White Interiors

1. Torta de Sandiago (gluten and dairy free torte) from Heneedsfood

Yesterday I spent the afternoon with a friend who is re-finishing a gorgeous French table and we ended up talking about stencils and their use for furniture painting projects. Although this torte has nothing to do with furniture or painting, I am sure it caught my eye because of the stencil like design on top. Actually it is the reverse of stencilling but looks really effective. It would also look lovely with a Fleur-de-lis or maybe you could stencil a bunny for Easter. Gluten and dairy free, It is one to try.

This weeks picks include a couple of yummy recipes, some DIY homeware projects and some irresistible interiors. A list of quick links to recipes and tutorials can be found at the end of this post.

Home Inspiration No. 2/14 - Homeware, Interiors & Delicious Deserts

Spotted last week a round up of new homeware products, interiors and recipes ....

Above: Small homeware items can still make a big impact especially in neutral areas. Emily Ziz's new art cushions certainly fit into this category.

A rug can be the perfect item to unite a room or setting. As we see a growing trend for our outdoor areas to become an extension of our interior, furniture and accessories are now becoming more indoor/outdoor friendly such as these rugs below...

Above: Starfish outdoor rug from Grandin Road, perfect for a coastal retreat.

Above: The chevron design indoor/outdoor rug above is available in several colourways at Ballard Designs

Above: Oxford stripe indoor/outdoor rug from Pottery Barn

I also spotted a few pretty interiors on Pinterest that caught my eye...

 Clever colour, via 

I must be loving lavender, it was the colourful artwork however that drew me to this image - Image via 

A beautiful light filled room. The chandeliers look stunning hanging between the beams - Image Via 

I can't seem to stay away from Hamptons style, probably because I am currently re-decorating my office in this style -  Image via

And now for couple of yummy treats...

Above: I haven't tested this recipe yet but these Meyer Lemon Tea Cakes with Pomegranate glaze look divine. Find the recipe over at Weelicious.

Above: I thought I would never be able to have a smoothie again because I am gluten and dairy intolerant, so imagine my happiness when I discovered this dairy free recipe for a delicious Raspberry Coconut Smoothie from Creme de La Crumb.

If you've enjoyed this weeks inspiration and want to see more, please visit my 'Weekly inspiration' page or use the tab at the top of this page.  I hope you've enjoyed this weeks inspiration as much as I enjoyed discovering it. Now I am off to the supermarket to get some coconut milk and raspberries and try the smoothie. 

Lee oxo


Sharing this post with the following blogs

DIY Showoff
The Blissful Bee

Savvy Southern Style
Not Just A Housewife

No Minimalist Here
The Real Housewives of Riverton

My Romantic Home

The 36th Avenue

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Chocolate Coconut Velvet Truffles - Gluten Free

Valentines is around the corner and I have been looking for some gluten free delights to share. Since becoming strictly gluten free I have been trying out some recipes and replacing the ordinary flour with a gluten free mix. This recipe was originally for red velvet truffles but something went a little astray when I tried replacing the red food colouring with natural beetroot juice, they most definitely were more chocolate coloured, than 'red'. It is possible that replacing the flour may also have had an effect. Nevertheless the outcome was still delicious, albeit not red inside. A coconut, crunchy outer and a chocolaty, velvet centre. I have left out the colouring for the recipe and adapted it as gluten free. If you want it to be 'red velvet', and you are not GF, then replace the gluten free flour mix with ordinary self raising flour and add 2 tablespoons of red food colouring. The original recipe was from a Donna Hay magazine.

Image: Lee Caroline

Chocolate Coconut Velvet Truffles

Ingredients:

• 150g unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup (165g) caster (superfine) sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1 and a quarter cups (185g) of gluten free (pre mix), flour from the supermarket (if you are not gluten free use ordinary self raising flour)
• 1/4 cup (25g) cocoa
• 1/2 cup (125ml) buttermilk
• 1/4 cup (20g) desiccated coconut
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) coconut-flavoured liqueur (or a replacement such as rum or cointreau)
• 300 (10.5 oz) grams white chocolate, finely chopped (I used white chocolate baking buttons)
• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
• 2 cups (150g, 5.2 oz) shredded coconut

Method:

• Preheat your oven to 160 Celsius (325 Fahrenheit). 
• Place butter, sugar and vanilla in a mixing bowl and beat for 8-10 minutes or until pale and creamy.
• Add eggs one at a time beating after each one.
• Add flour, cocoa, buttermilk and food colouring and beat on low until just combined.
• line a 20 x 30cm pan with baking paper, lightly grease.
• Spoon mixture into the baking tin and lightly smooth the top with a knife.
• Bake for 40-45 minutes or until cooked (test with a skewer).
• Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes in the tray, then turn out and further cool 10-15 minutes on a cake rack
• Break the cake up and place in a food processor with the desiccated coconut and liqueur and process until combined.
• Roll tablespoons of the mixture into balls in your hands and chill in the refrigerator for around 30 minutes until firm.
• Place the chocolate (broken) or chocolate baking buttons and oil into a stainless steel bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, see here for easy step by step instructions on melting chocolate.
• Stir until smooth and melted, then using a spoon or dipping wand coat your truffles and immediately dip into the shredded coconut, rolling them around to cover the truffle fully.
• Refrigerate for approximately 1 hour until set (makes approximately 26 truffles).

If you are looking for more Valentines inspiration, you may enjoy this post with recipes and a free printable....or...

Valentine pavlova

Valentine heart shaped chocolates and sugar cookies

Bon Appetite

Lee oxo

I will be sharing this post with the following blogs:

I should be Mopping the Floor
The Dedicated House
DIY Showoff
The Blissful Bee

Savvy Southern Style
Not Just A Housewife

No Minimalist Here
The Real Housewives of Riverton

My Romantic Home

The 36th Avenue

Want to Impress - Fail Proof, Cheats, Black Forest Cake (never fails to rise)

Whenever I want to impress, I bake my fail proof chocolate cake. This recipe is my basic recipe with a few extras. The basic recipe is simple, easily adapted and all ingredients go into a food processor or mixing bowl. I guarantee it will rise triumphantly and taste so delicious you will never need another chocolate cake recipe again.

Ingredients:

1 cup caster sugar (extra fine granulated)

2 eggs

1 cup of black cherry yogurt or plain yogurt

3/4 cup cocoa

200gms soft butter

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 and a half teaspoons vanilla essence

1/4 tsp salt

3 cups self raising flour

1 cup coffee (strong)

8" or 20cm diameter cake tin with deep sides (spring bottom is best to be able to get the cake out easily after)

Decorating Ingredients:

Whipping Cream

Black cherry Jam or Blackberry (approximately 2/3rds cup)

Fresh cherries (about 10, stems on)

Icing sugar 

Bar of Dark Chocolate

Tin or jar of pitted cherries

Method:

• Put all ingredients except 'decorating' ingredients into a food processor or large bowl and mix well
• Turn into a loose bottom cake tin which is pre greased and lined with baking paper so that it extends about 3" above the pan
• Bake for 1 hour and 10 mins at 160 degrees Celsius (320 Fahrenheit) (check with cake skewer in the centre after one hour then again at 1 hour 10 mins to make sure skewer comes out clean, cooking time can depend on your ovens temperature)
• Allow to stand until fully cooled before removing from cake tin

Decorating:

• Slice carefully in the middle, you can cut twice if you wish to have a higher stack but once is sufficient
• Spread the Black Cherry jam over the lower layer, then spread with the tinned/preserved pitted cherries
• Place the other cake layer carefully on top
• Ice with chocolate icing (I cheated and bought some packet chocolate icing)
• Place fresh cherries in a pile in the centre of the cake
• Melt chocolate in a double boiler or use the method I used making Rocky Road Bark
• Spread melted chocolate out thinly onto a sheet of tin foil or parchment paper that has been placed on top of a thin metal tray. Place in freezer for a short time to harden
• Remove chocolate from freezer and break into shards
• dust the top of the cake with icing sugar and then place your shards upright around the cherries, see photo below
• Whip your cream and serve beside a slice of cake

This recipe can be adapted in so many ways, you can simply serve slices of the basic cake recipe with hot fudge sauce and ice cream, whipped cream or slice and fill with chocolate icing and simply dust with icing sugar. I guarantee it is a recipe that will rise every time and won't fail to impress.

Sharing this post with the following blogs:

I should be Mopping the Floor

The Dedicated House

A Stroll Thru Life

Alderberry Hill

DIY Showoff

Savvy Southern Style

Not Just A Housewife

No Minimalist Here

The Real Housewives of Riverton

Lee x

Fudgy Jam Brownies From Kitchen Confidante

I would have to say my favourite sweet treat with a cup of coffee is a brownie, that moment when you take a bite, the soft crunch of the crust breaking as you reach the chocolate centre, absolute bliss! One of my favourite food bloggers, Liren from Kitchen Confidante has come up with a "Fudgy Jam Brownie" recipe that sounds absolutely delicious. Liren has used strawberry jam, however I am sure the recipe would work with any jam. My favourite is blackberry which I think would work great with the chocolate. Extra chocolate has been added by way of chocolate chips to make a moist, jammy chocolate brownie.  Please visit Liren's website for her recipe, I have placed a link below.

Recipe can be found here

Oh My Goodness! - Salted honey and fig cheesecake

I was browsing Pinterest yesterday and spotted a beautiful recipe image, I quickly popped over to "A House In The Hills" to check out the ingredients. Salty and sweet, a divine contrast of flavours for the palate, with the added bonus that Sarah's salted honey and fig cheesecake is dairy free. I also couldn't help noticing that there doesn't appear to be any gluten in her recipe so as soon as figs are in season again I will be making this little beauty. 

When I was living in the Middle East I used to buy mini wooden crates of neatly packed fresh figs flown in from Lebanon. I would indulge in them 'au naturale' for breakfast or cut them in half and serve with yummy goats cheese and sometimes I would lightly stew them and pile on loads of thick, creamy Greek yogurt, divine! Oh and I've just remembered, Poppy's friend Pippa the schnauzer has a HUGE fig tree in her back garden overhanging their pool, I will have to offer to help pick them next season before these delicious fruits end up on the bottom of their pool ;)

If you would like to make this desert, please visit Sarah's blog for her recipe and ingredients.

Bon appetit

Inspiration No.7 Neutral Theme - Upcycling, Sweet Treats, Interiors & More

In a recent post "Boring Beige, Never!", I featured a fabulous neutral interior in an interesting Manhattan apartment. Continuing to steer away from colour for a moment, this weeks inspiration starts with a great idea from "An Oregon Cottage", a plain drum lampshade has been cleverly upcycled using natural twine. With a little help from Pinterest, keeping to a "neutral" theme I discovered more crafty ideas. Some free labels from Vinnie Pearce a fellow Kiwi blogger, a few recipes with earthy colours but definitely sweet tasting and some inspiring interiors.

Quick links to recipes and projects can be found at the end of this post.

1

2

3

4. Ferrero Rocher Brownies

5. Sea salted chocolate caramel tart


6. Chocolate & Cinnamon Meringues

7.  Free labels for your eco friendly home made products

8

9

10

Quick Links:

1. Upcycled Lamp from An Oregon cottage ...Instructions here

2. DIY sweater pillow how to by Brassy Apple...DIY instructions here

3. Great idea for upcycling crates into an innovative bookshelf, image via...Pinterest

4.Ferrero Rocher Brownies from Sky Blue's Kitchen....Recipe here (scroll down page for  English)

5. Sea Salted Chocolate Caramel Tart from Sprinkle Bakes....Recipe here

6. Chocolate and Cinnamon Meringues from Carnets Parisiens....Recipe here

7. Download these free label templates from Vinnie Pearce Blog...See details and download link here

8.Image via Pinterest

9. Image via Pinterest

10. Image via Pinterest

Sharing with the following link parties:

I Should Be Mopping The Floor

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

The Style Sisters

Open House Party at No Minimalist Here

Time Travel Thursday at the Brambleberry Cottage

Show and tell Friday at My Romantic Home

We hope you've been inspired, if you love neutrals, you can visit my Pinterest board to see lots more inspiring images.

Inspiration 5, 2013 - Pastel Inspiration, Food, Interiors and Crafts

I'm still in love with pastels after my Easter Inspiration post and consequently this week found myself drawn to all things pastel, food, interiors and crafts. On the yummy side of things this weeks discoveries, include, Banana Gelato  icecream, pastel swirl cake and a simple Rice Krispie recipe,  I've also found some pretty pastel interiors. Plenty to peruse, so take your time to browse through. You will find "quick links" to instructions and recipes, at the end of this post.

And now for some pretty pastel interiors...

Interior image sources:   

 1|2|3|4|5

Quick Links:

• Banana Gelato Ice cream from Dine & Dish...recipe instructions
• Pastel Swirl Cake by Sweetapolita - How to ice, plus Rosie's chocolate cake recipe... here
• Rice Krispies and mini marshmallows at Pocket Full of Dreams...Recipe here
• Ribbon spool - secret treasure box from clever craft blogger Mel Stampz... Step by step instructions
• Pastel Bread boards an idea from Norwegian blogger Maya, read about it over at her blog
• Tori Jayne upcycled these gorgeous drink bottles, see her colours and how to over at her blog

We hope you had a lovely weekend, we had the prettiest blue sky today, not a cloud to be seen. I spent the morning walking round the bays but not actually entering the "Round the Bays" run. I returned home and had a big clean out of my studio and a bit of a re-shuffle. Poppy is paddling around waiting for her dinner so I better get this post published quickly before she starts to get annoyed with me ☺

If you love pastels and missed last weeks Easter inspiration post, you can catch up...here



I will be sharing this post this week with:

  NIB

I Should Be Mopping The Floor

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Open House Party at No Minimalist Here

Show and Tell Friday on My Romantic Home

Show and Tell Saturday at Sassy Little Lady
What to do Weekends at Crafts A La Mode

At the Picket Fence