14% off for Valentines!

I can be a bit cynical about Valentines but it is a nice thing to do and a little pressie and a card is always a good thing.

So, in the spirit of being kind and nice I am offering you all 14% in my Etsy shop, only for 1 day!

Treat yourself or buy a last minute (very last minute) gift for your Valentine.

Use discount code VALENTINES during checkout for your discount.

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Cooking - Double Chocolate Cupcakes

Things have really been busy on the food front lately, as you can see from the blog.
With it being Valentines day today and with me not needing any more excuses to make cupcakes, I made these for my husband (oh ok, and also for me...).

These are for the chocolate lover in your life, light and moist chocolate cupcakes topped with a beautiful and rich buttercream with extra dark 70% chocolate. I added a touch of golden syrup to my usual sponge recipe and it gave the cupcakes a lovely crisp top, a bit like a brownie.



For 12 cupcakes:

4oz / 100g butter
4oz / 100g caster or granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 oz / 50g self raising flour
2 oz / 50g cocoa powder (Green & Blacks is the best)
2 tsps golden syrup
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
optional - dried cranberries

Cream the butter and sugar til creamy, add in the eggs, vanilla extract and golden syrup. Combine. Then fold in your self raising flour and cocoa.

Spoon a generous heaped tablespoon into cupcake cases. Sprinkle with a couple of dried cranberries. Bake at gas mark 5 for 15minutes. Once baked allow to cool whilst you make the buttercream.

for the buttercream - thank you to Big Stove Year for the recipe, I reduced it for my cupcakes and it came out lovely!

100g butter, softened
100g icing sugar
tablespoon of milk
50g melted chocolate - 70% at least

*if you are really into your dark chocolate you could substitute a couple of tablespoons out of the icing sugar for cocoa powder for a proper chocolate kick.

Melt chocolate over a bain marie or bowl over hot water in a pan.
Cream butter and icing sugar together with the milk, use an electric whisk, this will really save your arms! Add a touch more milk if your icing seems a little dry.
Once combined add in your chocolate and whisk til very smooth.

Spread or pipe (I tried piping and it wasn't neat!) your icing over your cupcakes. Leave to set in the fridge until you can't bear it any longer and must eat one.

And obviously save one or two for the loved one in your life...

xx

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Posting dates for Valentines Day

I have lots of Valentines themed gifts in my shop, hearts and flowers, reds and pinks.

Please order by Thursday 11th February to receive your gifts in time for Valentines - if you are in the UK.

Happy Shopping!

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Sweet Treats

I think I'm a bit half way on Valentines day, on one hand I don't like the commercialism of it all - just another excuse for the shops to make a bit of money but then on the other its nice to have an excuse to curl up on the sofa with a bottle of wine on Valentines night and exchange cards and presents :)

Valentines has clearly been affecting my work lately anyway, suddenly I am reaching for pinks, reds and anything sweet and feminine! I have lots of romantic jewellery in my shop and also some simple jewellery which is perfect for a classic gift that your Valentine will keep forever.


Amongst them is my Sweetheart range, earrings and a bracelet. The bracelet has already sold but I will have it in stock again soon, once I receive more wire (the trouble with being solidly creative for a week is that I get through my supplies so quickly!). This range is unashamedly girly, feminine, sweet, sugary, romantic and bright!

I hope you enjoy my new pieces, I will be also listing more spring like jewellery in the next few weeks, the emergence of snow drops in my garden has made me yearn for daffodils and tulips!



xx

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