Baking Time: Gluten Free Chocolate Fudge Cake ♡

Hey there!

Well I said I'd be back with something a bit different - today I've got a recipe for you!  I'm gluten intolerant, which I can't say I'm pleased about, but it means I've got really into baking lately since I can't eat most things you buy in a supermarket (apart from in the allergy sections).  I've trialed making a few of my own gluten free foods, and I can say gluten free bread is just not the same as the real thing, but this cake on the other hand is amazing!  You honestly wouldn't know it's not a normal sponge.  There will be/is a video of me and my lovely friend Man Yee making this cake on her YouTube channel, which I will add into this post when it's up!

Here's the cake me and Man Yee made!

Anyway -  here's the recipe!

Ingredients: 

• 200g butter or margarine
• 200g caster sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 200g gluten free self raising white flour (I use one from Doves Farm)
• 3 tsps cocoa powder
• 3 tsps milk

Preheat your oven to 180°C/Fan 160°C/350°F/Gas 4

Method:

1. Beat together the butter/margarine and sugar.  I use an electronic food mixer to make this (shown in the video) but you can easily do it with a spoon - it just takes a bit longer!
2. Now beat in the eggs, vanilla extract, cocoa powder and milk.  Keep mixing until it looks smooth - don't be put off if it doesn't seem quite like 'normal' cake mix, once it's cooked you won't know the difference!
3. Now line or oil two cake tins and pour the mixture into both, so both tins contain an even amount.
4. Bake in a preheated oven for 20/25 minutes.
5. Leave to cool on a wire rack before making icing! 

Now it's time to make the icing!

Ingredients:

• 50g dark chocolate
• 100g unsalted butter (get this out the fridge a while before you need it, so it;s soft enough)
• 200g icing sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tsp milk

Method:

1. Put the chocolate in a bowl over a small pan of simmering water.  Stir gently until the chocolate is melted.  Now allow this to cool off before doing anything else.
2. Beat the butter until it's soft.  Now gradually add the icing sugar and beat that in.  
3. Add vanilla extract and beat again.
4. Next add the melted chocolate and fold it in until everything is fully combined.
5. Add the milk if the mixture is stiff.
6. Spread the icing on one of the sponges, then put the other on the top, and spread the icing on the top layer as well.  I usually spread any left over icing around the sides of the cake.

Now it's time to decorate!  We put Daim and melted white chocolate on top of ours. Yum!!

Good luck baking!  See you next time, love from

What's In My Bag? - Everyday Essentials ♡

Hiya!

I thought I'd do a nice little 'tag' type post today.  Obviously I'm new to blogging so we are still getting to know each other - and what better way is there to tell you about myself than letting you look into my bag?   These are the things I carry about with me on a day to day basis.  Hope you enjoy rooting through my bag!

My everyday bag is the 15" purple satchel from The Cambridge Satchel Company.  It was a present for my 17th birthday, so I didn't buy it for myself, but the link to it is here if you wanted to take a look!  I love this bag so much, it's so hard wearing!  I use this bag for college, so I'm often carrying huge heavy folders in it.  I used find with cheaper bags that I'd need to replace them every few weeks because of straps breaking etc, but this shows no signs of wear, and I've had it for about six months now.

And here's the contents of my bag!  There's a Cath Kidston handcream (I get bad eczema), a Nivea lip balm, my 2014 Moleskine diary, my phone (iPhone 4s), purse from Cath Kidston, earphones, keys, and my pencil case.  

I only just got my Moleskine diary, but I love it! I've decided I need to be more organised, and but I knew if I had a larger diary I'd not want to put it in my bag.  The one I have is about the same size as my phone, and it's so convenient to keep all my deadlines, days I'm working, and other plans written down in!  

I keep a pencil case in my bag (which some might think is a bit excessive) because I'm a student Monday - Friday, so I need all that stationary!  I also carry it with me on weekends because it's nice to be prepared! 

The rest of these things are pretty trivial to keep in a bag, so I won't go into detail.

Here's my phone case in case you're interested!

And here's a better look at my Moleskine!

  I also pretty much also have a camera on me at weekends, and at the moment I'm really into shooting films.  This is my Pentax k1000 film camera.  I shoot digital with a Nikon D60.  I'm currently studying photography at A Level, so I need a camera where ever I go.  This camera was my mums, so I just got given it, which I know is very very lucky!

I hope enjoyed this post! I'll be back soon with something a bit different!

See you then -

OOTD 13/02/14 ♡

Hiya!

Here's my first outfit of the day post - not particularly exciting, why not?  Today I just layered up a denim shirt with a green cropped jumper and a heart print skirt.  I'll put links to items that are still stocked online.  Also my cat friend decided to get in on the photo taking! 

 // Denim shirt - hand me down // Jumper - H&M (can't find it online, but I've seen it in stores recently!) // Skirt - H&M // 

// Boots - Topshop // 

// Rings - Hand me downs //

// Tote bag - Summer Camp merch //

Not the most exciting outfit, but I liked the contrast of the slightly more masculine collared shirt against the dainty heart print on my skirt.  My boots are looking pretty battered now, but they are so comfy, I can't bear to throw them out!  I live for tote bags, I have a pretty ridiulous collection, but they're just so handy and go with pretty much any outfit.  My normal 'everyday' bag is a lilac satchel bag, which doesn't always go with everything I wear!  The bag I chose for this outfit is a Summer Camp one.  Summer Camp are one of my favourite bands, and I just think the bag is really cool.  

I hope to post some sort of haul (pay day is on the horizon) and probably a 'What's in my Bag?' post, so keep your eyes peeled for those!

Hope you're having a lovely day - lots of love

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February Beauty Wishlist ♡

Hello you!

I'm new to beauty blogging, but I thought a nice way to start would be to put together a little list of the products I'm planning on treating myself to when I next have some money to spare.  I recently had a bit of a dramatic diet change, which has caused my skin to go a bit crazy, meaning my old favourites aren't working quite as well or having the same effect as they used to.  I'm on a student budget, so my make up bag is strictly drug store, so as much as I'd like to try high end products, I struggle to justify spending more than £15 on a make-up product...

1. Bourjois Flower Perfection Foundation (buy here)

I really struggle to find a good foundation.  The main problem I have with my skin is random blotches of redness, and I can't seem to find a foundation that covers my blemishes as well as I'd like.  I obviously use concealer too, but sometimes I feel like a foundation should be able to cover faint redness.  This foundation also claims to stay on your face for 16 hours - a rather bold statement to make - but I am completely for any long stay foundation, as I often find I don't have time to top up my make up on a normal day.  I have never tried a Bourjois foundation but have heard many good things about them around the internet, so hope to get my hands on this asap!

2. Sleek Face Contour Kit (buy here)

I have been after this product for weeks, but every time I go into my local Boots or Superdrug it's sold out!  I would buy online, but I always like to see make-up in person before I buy, to be sure I'm getting the right colour for my skin tone.  I feel like this would bring a little bit of life to my face, as I have quite dull skin.  

3. Revelon® ColourBurst™ Matte Balm (buy here)

I really like a bold lip, and I find when I'm being a bit lazy with my make-up, a quick swipe of colour across my lips can really bring my face together.  I'm not too keen on a glossy lip, so I'm hoping this will give the matte effect of a lipstick, without the performance of lip liners etc.  I also find any lipstick I use just does not stay on my face, and I usually am too lazy to re-apply so now I rarely bother with lip colour in the first place.  I hoping these will live up to what the internet beauty community says about them!

4. Soap and Glory Supercat Eyeliner Pen Carbon Black Extreme (buy here)  

I love winged liner, but any other felt tip liners I've tried have let me down.  I always seem to get a weird grey-ish colour line when I apply the liner to my eye, and I've tried the Bourjois and Collection felt tip liners - both disappointing.  Although for some reason, I've not completely lost faith in felt tip liners, and I'm hoping this Soap and Glory product will be the one to show me that they can work!

5. theBalm Nude 'Tude Eyeshadow Palette (buy here) 

This is probably the most pricey make-up purchase I've ever considered making, but I think I might go for it.  It seems like a cheaper alternative to the Urban Decay Naked Palette (which I will never be able to justify buying!!).  I really love a nude eye look, but find drug store eyeshadows aren't pigmented enough or just don't stay on.  I think this is something I'm going to have to save up for (almost £30 - eek!!)  but I reckon it will be worth it, and will be nice to have an eyeshadow palette I can rely on to create lots of different looks with.  

Hope you enjoyed my first post!! I hope to be back again soon for another - see you then!