Tuesday 29 May 2012

Colour Me Summer

Hello my lovelies, What a few weeks we've had in Ireland, its been Fantastic weather and people are looking a lot healthier and happier. Myself included, I've got a nice glow going on. The smell of BBQ's in the air and the sticky feeling and melting Ice Cream on your fingers. The smell of Sun Cream hangs in the air with the smell of cut grass, Yes Summer is my favourite season with Autumn coming a very near second.

While on my Lunch break on Saturday I sat outside with my salad and my book (I've just started "Fifty Shades Freed") I did a little people watching. All the Summer clothes are out in full swing and the colours are bright and in your face summer. Pinks, oranges and yellows. My Favourite I must say is Tangerine Orange Oh Lord its divine and so Summery makes you feel that holiday feeling!

I went and may a few purchases the last few weeks. A divine orange eye liner, from MUA and bargain at €1.25. I love that this eyeliner has a Sharpener on the lid its fab and so handy. I would use this eye liner with a black eye shadow and blind the two together giving a lovely Smokey orange look.



I also went and got the Revlon lip butter. I went and got the Tutti Frutti shade and once i used it a few times I went and got another few. They are divine and really feel lovely on your lips. The colour is nice and vibrant and lasts a good long time. Although I do reapply a few times a day as I drink a lot of water. Its tends to come of a little more then it usually would. I love this Lip Butter. This Revlon lip butter cost me around €8 in superdrug but I think the full price is €11.80. I think it really depends where you buy it. I would totally recommend this Lip butter LipStick.


And last but certainly not least The Barry M Lip Lacquers. They are FAB!






I bought the Party Pink Colour, The reason I went for a pink one was i was thinking I was buying to many orange and I needed to stray away, And I'm so glad i did The Party Pink was fab and I got so many complaints when I went out that night with it on.

 


I think next time I will get Mandarin  and Cherry Red ;)



Well enjoy The Sun while we have it ;)
Elle

Monday 21 May 2012

Fishy Chunky Chowder



The last few weeks I've been craving Chowder, I really don't know why. Maybe because the weather we've been getting of late has not been great. Although today seemed to be a turn around. So anyway last week I went looking for a good Chowder Recipe and I couldn't really find any that really popped out of the page. None that looked yummy. So I took a few different things from a few different recipes and put them together. And the end result was amazing haha well I think it was anyhow ;)


So because I didn't really use a recipe I didn't really measure anything. But you know what sometimes winging it makes things taste a lot better, Means that its tastes your way! 

Chunky Chowder


2 Onions
A tin of sweet corn or a couple of handfuls of frozen sweet corn
2 Garlic cloves
4 or 5 Potatoes
1 Lt of chicken and veg stock together
250 ml cream
a couple of Rashers or bacon bits
100g prawns
250g cod - or any kind of fish you like
Paprika
Cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper
Sage
Thyme
A little butter
Put a little oil into a deep pan or a saucepan Fry up the onions, Garlic and bacon until soft.
Add the potatoes (cut into cubs) and a little butter and sweet corn. stir so that butter is coating all ingredients.



Add the stock, and add Paprika, cayenne pepper, sage and thyme. Also add salt and pepper to taste. Let boil until you can put a fork through the potatoes. stirring while its cooks as when you add the fish you shouldn't stir it to much.



Then add the fish and cook for about 10 minutes or until fish is cooked.


When done add cream and leave simmer for a couple of minutes.



 I hope you all enjoy this Chunky Chowder ;)

Elle

Monday 14 May 2012

And The Winner Is.....


I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported me the last couple of months. You have all been brilliant! I tried and failed to do a video vlog but i'm useless and it was taking forever to upload so I gave up! I used random.org to get the winner and the lovely winners name is Stephanie Gladden! congrats Stephenie and again I want to thank everyone for following.

Now I know this is also meant to be a Book blog and I haven't done a review of late or ever but I've been hard pushed to of late of a good book to actually warrant sitting down and writing about. But I've just started The Fifty shades of Grey Trilogy books and I will defo be doing a review. I've started the first one last night and I have to say i'm on the fence is it good? is it a bit weird? Yes to both those questions. Have you read them? Have you heard about them? I'd love to hear your thoughts! One thing I will say before I finish is these books are not for the faint hearted!


Thanks again to everyone!
Elle

Sunday 13 May 2012

Last Day! Giveaway!

Hey all, Today is the last day for my giveaway!

So if you haven't already Got on the band wagon, please do ;)



http://realtastypages.blogspot.com/2012/04/elizabeth-arden-giveaway.html


Tuesday 1 May 2012

Big Dirty Chocolate Cake



So with this awful weather we've been having in Dublin the last few weeks, I've been craving chocolate like nobodies business. I've been trying to be real good of late but its really hard when you get in from work and its lashing rain. Its cold and its miserable out. Sunday we were all meeting up in my mam's house for tea. So I decided to make a big dirty chocolate cake for the offering. Chocolate addiction runs in my family haha well it is full of girls after all. It wasn't to hard, this recipe is quick and easy. My brother if he got of his arse from the xbox would be able to do it so anyone can ;)

For the cake
2 cups caster sugar
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk 
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water

1. Preheat oven to 350F/175C. Grease two 9-inch baking pans (or line with parchment paper circles) and set aside.
2. In the large bowl of a standing mixer, stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add eggs, buttermilk, melted butter and vanilla extract and beat for 2 minutes on medium speed. Stir in hot water.
3. Pour batter evenly between the two pans and bake on middle rack of oven for 30 to 35 minutes, until toothpick(I use an old knitting needle inserted) in centre comes out clean. Allow to cool 5 minutes in pans; run a butter knife around the edges of each cake. Place a wire cooling rack over top of each pan. Wearing oven mitts, use both hands to hold the racks in place while flipping the cakes over onto the racks. Set the racks down and thump on the bottom of the pans until the cakes release. Cool completely before frosting.








Chocolate Fudge Frosting
90g Butter
1/3 cup (80ml) Water 
1/2 (110g) Caster Sugar
1 1/2 (240g) Icing Sugar
1/3 Cup Cocoa  Powder
Combine Butter, Water and Caster Sugar 
Stir over heat without boiling until sugar dissolves








Sieve icing sugar and cocoa powder together



Gradually stir in hot butter mixture a little at a time.


When all is mixed in put in the fridge for 20 minutes.


When you take it out of the fridge give it a good mixing.


Pour a little on top of one of the cakes and carefully put the other half on top.





Pour the frosting on top of the cake a few spoons at a time and then get a knife and spread it over the cake which ever way takes your fancy. The frosting should be thick in texture after being in the fridge so should slide right on with out going all over the place.



And there you have it a Chocoholic's dream come true, A big dirty chocolate cake!

Enjoy
Elle