Friday I'm In Love With...

I thought I would start a new weekly blog post called Friday I'm In Love With... where I can share all the things I am loving each week whether it be music, clothes, food, films or whatever. The title of the blog post obviously comes from the incredible song by The Cure; Friday I'm In Love which, you can listen to below as it is an amazing song.

 

 

I am big fan of The Cure and have been since my Mum introduced me to them a couple of years ago. Thanks Mum! I also got to see them at Reading festival last year and they were amazing. I love Robert Smith. He's so charmingly odd and his songs are quirky, unusual and brilliant. My personal favourite song by The Cure is Cut Here; it's just really emotional and sweet and beautifully written.

 

On to the things I love this week. First, The Middle. It is such a good program. I love it and laugh all the time at it. I recently noticed that they were repeating all the previous series of it on Sky 1, showing two episodes a day at 5 o'clock and because I'd never really seen it before I thought I'd give it a watch. Sue and Brick are just hilarious and I have just a bit of a crush on Axl (Charlie McDermott).

 

 

This week I am also in love with New Girl! I'm so happy it's back! It just makes me so happy to watch and it's so funny. I love Jess and Zoey Deschanel; she's so pretty and has an amazing quirky style. I really want Nick and Jess to be together as they are adorable together and perfect for each other, and Cece and Schmidt too. I've always found Nick really attractive too but, in the last episode I was actually loving Schmidt more. Not so much when he was all sweaty and greasy spinning the fire balls but, before that. Okay well not at the very beginning either in his bin bag diaper but, after that he was very good looking :P. Why am I attracted to everyone?

This week I'm also loving All Time Low. Their new album; Don't Panic is amazing and I can't stop listening to it. My favourite songs are The Reckless and the Brave, The Irony of Choking On a Lifesaver, Somewhere In Neverland, Backseat Serenade and If These Sheets Were States but, I love every song on the album. Once again Alex Gaskarth is rather pretty to look at too.

On to food which, is always an important part of my week. This week I am head over heels in love with Ben&Jerry's Peanut Butter Me Up Ice Cream. Oh my god! Possibly thee best thing I have ever ever tasted. I adore anything peanut butter but, peanut butter and vanilla ice cream with jam and peanut butter cup pieces, drool. That is heaven. At the moment it's only £3 in Tesco so, make sure you get some! I'll definitely be stocking up.

 

Also, this week has been full of room decoration for me which, with painting each wall about 7 times hasn't been my most favourite time ever but, now that it is finished I am really happy with it. It's very girly and I'm looking forward to getting a few items and some little trinkets to make it all vintage and pretty. So, this week I am loving room decorating. I have just ordered a gorgeous bed from Very and now I really want some fairy lights to wrap around it. Everywhere in the room is cream and very simple so, I would like to jazz it up a bit in some places with a bit of colour like with these Rattan fairy lights from ebay, maybe put some colourful bunting around the room too.
 

 

The final thing I am loving this week is a film I watched last night with my Dad called; Midnight In Paris with Owen Wilson. I really enjoyed it and thought it was a really sweet film. If you love anything vintage and nostalgic and French you should definitely watch it. It's just a nice, simple, feel good movie and I love that all these famous Artists and Authors just keep popping up like Picasso, Salvador Dali and Ernest Hemingway. I'm not even that knowledgeable on any of them but, I still found it really exciting. I have always thought it would be incredible to experience some era's in the past like the 1920s or the 1950s. Everything was just so different then. All the women dressing up every day in beautiful dresses with their hair and make-up done. It was just so glamorous and I love it! Obviously I love today as there is so much more available to us now in terms of everything really; healthcare, technology, opportunities but, still just to experience the 1920s would be amazing. Paris also looks absolutely stunning, I would love to go there. Maybe this cupcake bakery in New York could now be becoming a little French Patisserie in Paris. One can dream. 

 

 

 

Thankyou for reading!

Love Courts x

Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes.

 

Do you ever find that some things are just too sweet, sickly and chocolaty? Yeah, no me neither! These cupcakes are gorgeous! I use Hayley Tamaddon's (an actress who used to be in my beloved Emmerdale and who also won Dancing on Ice) chocolate fudge cake recipe from the Celebrity Britain's Best Dish. It is the best chocolate cake I have ever tasted and so, rich and moist! The trick is to include sour cream in your chocolate cake recipe, it makes perfect chocolate cake and somehow, and I don't really know why, but, it makes a gorgeous light, moist sponge and enhances the chocolate flavour. Thank you sour cream!

 

I decided to convert her cake recipe into cupcakes though so, I filled them with her rich chocolate ganache topping and then topped them with her sweet, sugary chocolate coffee fudge cream filling. I then scattered over some tiny fudge pieces as I thought it would look quite cute. I bought these tiny fudge pieces from Sainsbury's for I think it was £1.39 which, is quite expensive really so feel free to buy proper fudge and then just crumble it up or chop it up into tiny pieces as I would imagine that would work out cheaper. I was just a bit lazy but then after making three different components to make this one lovely cupcake I think that can be forgiven.

 

If you are a chocolate lover like myself and have the time then please give them a go as they are so yummy and if you do try them I hope you enjoy them!

 

Recipe - makes 12 cupcakes

 

Chocolate Cake

110g (4oz) butter at room temperature
220g (8oz) dark brown sugar
2 eggs
165g (6oz) self raising flour
55g (2oz) cocoa
½  tsp bicarbonate of soda
½ tsp baking powder
140ml (1/4pint) sour cream

Chocolate Ganache Filling

200g (7oz) dark chocolate
140ml (1/4 pint) double cream
1 tbsp cocoa powder

Chocolate Coffee Fudge Frosting

 (5oz) Butter, at room temperature
165g (6oz) icing sugar
½ tsp ground coffee beans
Few drops vanilla essence
2tbsp cocoa powder
 

 

 

Method

 

Oven – 180°c.
You will need 1x 12 hole cupcake tray.

 

Place 12 cake cases in he cupcake tin.

 

For the cake, cream together the butter and sugar using an electric whisk. Gradually beat in the eggs. Add the sour cream. Sieve together the flour, cocoa, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda. Fold in to the mixture.

 

Divide the mixture between the cake cases and bake for 15 minutes or until risen and just firm to touch. 

 

For the ganache filling, warm the milk on a low temperature until hot. Remove rom the heat and add the broken up chocolate stirring constantly until melted. Make the cocoa into a paste by adding hot water. Add the cocoa to the melted chocolate and leave to cool.

 

Meanwhile, make the frosting. Sieve icing sugar, coffee and cocoa into a bowl. Add butter and mix together until creamy. Add a few drops of vanilla essence. (If you don't like coffee flavours then just leave it out as the frosting still tastes lovely without.)

 

Once the cakes are cooled, dig out a hole from each cupcake using an apple corer

 

Put 2 tsps. chocolate ganache filling in each.

 

 

Put 2 tsps. of the frosting on top of each and use a pallet knife to smooth over and decorate with the fudge pieces.

 

Thankyou for reading!

Love Courts x

 

Ho Hey.

 

 

 

Dress: Topshop via ebay

Jacket: ASOS marketplace via ebay

Creepers: New Look

Tights: Tesco

Earrings: Tesco

Bag: Matalan

 

I find that most of my wardrobe is made up of ebay purchases. Nearly every item I own in fact. I have a slightly worrying addiction to ebay which, is going to have to stop now I am unemployed again but, I just love it. You can get anything and you can get so many bargains as well. I got a 100ml Morgan Love Perfume the other day; brand new for £2.42. I was so happy. I think it's because people go for the big brand name perfumes though over something like Morgan and don't get me wrong, I love the Marc Jacobs Daisy and Oh Lola! but, honestly Morgan Love is so pretty, girly, fruity and gorgeous so, if you're are looking for a new, inexpensive perfume look out for Love on ebay. At £2.42 you will be so impressed and it doesn't at all break the bank like a £45 one.

 

I fell in love with this dress when I saw it with it's deep, rich, intense blue colour and vintage, girly, lace white collar and I looked at lots going on ebay until I finally saved up enough funds and bought this one for £21 which, again is a bargain as originally I would imagine it was selling for about £40 in Topshop. It is really beautiful and pretty with the intricate lace detailing and my little three year old nephew Charlie told me I looked like ballerina in it which, was very cute. As I went out for dinner with my two lovely friends Jamie and Michelle yesterday I thought I'd dress it up a bit and give my usual girly outfit a bit of a tough edge. I did consider a blazer and brogues but, instead went with Creepers and a quilted, faux leather jacket. Just a bit different. 

 

I'm still unsure about these creepers. I have always loved them but, for some reason I love them on other people and always think I look a bit silly in them. I just feel like they look a bit clunky on me. I got these ones though in the New Look sale for £15 which, I thought was really good value and I really liked them so, that's why I kept them but, I'm still not convinced they look great on me. I think I would have preferred them in black but, they weren't in the sale. Maybe they'd look better with something a bit more casual like disco pants or skinny jeans and a t-shirt or something. I love this quilted, faux leather jacket too which, was again an ebay purchase for £20 which, again I think is really good value as similar ones in Dorothy Perkins or Topshop or somewhere would probably cost between £30-£50. I love the quilted look and slightly cropped style.

 

It was bleddy freezin' outside yesterday! so, I think I'm  just going to spend today snuggled up nice and warm indoors. I should really finish painting my room but, seeing as how a wardrobe full of clothes needs to be moved out of the way first and Mum and Dad are going out in a minute, I'm not sure that will happen. I did suggest painting around it but, that didn't really go down well :/. Maybe I can just tidy instead and be at least a bit helpful. Anyway, I will leave you now with this lovely song. I love the singer's voice and the cute lyrics and I'm pretty sure everyone loves this song at the minute so, please enjoy Ho Hey by the Lumineers and have a lovely day!

 

 

 

Thankyou for reading!

Love Courts x

 

Tuesday Tunes.

 

Song of The Week: American Hi-Fi - Flavor Of The Weak

 

I was hoping to do an outfit post today as although it was very chilly outside, the sun was in the sky and in England we never can be sure of how long the Sun's going to stay when it finally arrives. However, I've been a busy bee the last two days painting my room with my lovely Mum and so I just haven't had the time and I have also spent the whole of yesterday and today in a pair of tatty old paint splattered jeans and a paint splattered shirt anyway so, I don't think anyone would have found that outfit too appealing really.

Hopefully though I can take some outfit pictures tomorrow instead, as long as it doesn't decide to chuck it down with rain which, it very likely could. Fingers crossed for sunshine :)! I am actually a terrible painter though I have found. I know, is that even possible? I didn't know there was any great skill needed to paint a wall with a roller but, apparently there is and I don't have it :/. My painting just looks all blotchy and the wall is somehow all different colours even though I've been using the exact same cream paint. Luckily Dad has now gone to salvage it for me though and to say thank you to the Parents I have just baked them some chocolate cupcakes to make chocolate fudge cupcakes later so, hopefully that recipe will be coming up soon too.

I am also on cooking the tea duty which, is fine by me as cooking some pizza whilst, watching The Middle sounds far more appealing than painting a wall cream ten times. Anyway, before I go do just that, here is my Tuesday Tune for the week. I am a big fan of American Hi-Fi and own three of their albums. I have actually only just found out that they have another album as well so, hopefully I will soon be either purchasing or downloading that too. They are honestly a really great band with some really amazing songs but, I find them to be really underrated and I also find that a lot of my friends don't know who they are either. I love them though so, if you have never listened to them before give them a good listen to and I am sure you will really like them. This song is teen pop punk perfection with really great, sweet lyrics. They also have lots of other incredible songs too such as; The Breakup Song, I'm a Fool, The Art of Losing, Another Perfect Day and Hell Yeah! etc. Enjoy!

 

Thankyou for listening!

Love Courts x

Pesto and Pepper Gnocchi.

This Gnocchi is super tasty and super easy to make. It is probably one of the quickest, simplest and tastiest little meals I've ever made actually which, is why I love it so much. It literally takes like 15 minutes to whip up and has lots of flavour to it. I love pesto too but, not in massive doses which, is why this dish is lovely as it just has a light pesto-eey and cheesy flavour and the peppers add a lovely sweetness and bright vibrancy to the dish as well. I definitely recommend giving this dish a go and I'm sure I'll be making it all the time at Uni myself as it is really cheap to make with hardly any ingredients needed. It is also perfect served alongside some garlic bread so, if you do give it a go I hope you enjoy it and are as amazed as me that something so delicious and simple can be whipped up in barely any time at all!
 

Recipe

 

1 Pack of Gnocchi, 500g (65p Tesco)

1 Red Pepper (80p Tesco, currently two for £1)

1 Yellow Pepper (80p Tesco)

1 tbsp. Butter

3 tsp. reduced fat pesto (£1 Tesco)

50g Grated cheddar

 

Method

 

Chop the peppers into quite chunky pieces and place in a saucepan with the butter and cook over a medium heat for 10 to 15 minutes until softened slightly.

 

After about 10 minutes of cooking the peppers, place the Gnocchi in a pan of boiling water and cook for about 3 minutes until the gnocchi is softened and floats to the surface.

 

Drain the gnocchi. Tip the melted butter and pepper pieces into the gnocchi and stir.

 

Add 3 tsps. of pesto to the gnocchi and stir.

 

Then add the grated cheddar to the gnocchi and stir again as the cheese begins to melt. (I never actually weighed the cheese, I just put about 2 handfuls in so, feel free to add in as much as you want to make it as un-cheesy or cheesy as you like.)

 

Serve in a bowl topped with some more grated cheddar and serve alongside some garlic bread! Finally, enjoy!

 

Byee.

Thankyou for reading!

Love Courts x
 

Cream Tea Cupcakes.

 

 

A couple of weeks ago I made these very yummy cream tea cupcakes as a little Mother's Day gift. I also made my family a fried breakfast in the morning which, was quite an experience. It actually worked out really well in the end but, it got me running around the kitchen like a mad woman first trying to plate everything up and I also learned that fried eggs are really not my specialty. In fact, I am a terrible egg fryer. I'll stick to scrambled eggs from now on I think. Also, oil gets really hot... and spits ALOT!
 

Then in the evening I also made a Tortilla bake and some Enchiladas for tea which, were also very tasty as Mexican food always is so, I like to think I was quite a good daughter for my lovely Mum for the day.

 

These cupcakes were also delicious. They are very cute and girly and also really quick and easy to make which, is always great and they are basically like little scones, especially with the addition of the raisins and the crumbly texture of the cupcakes. Scones are always delicious and these cupcakes didn't disappoint either! Slathering anything with clotted cream and jam is a winner in my book.

 

Recipe

 

Makes 10 cupcakes

 

85g/ 3 oz butter, softened

85g/3 oz caster sugar

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

85g/ 3 oz self-raising flour

1tbsp. milk

40g/ 1 1/2 oz raisins

 

To decorate -

115g/ 4 oz small strawberries, hulled and sliced

1 tbsp. strawberry jam

115g/ 4oz clotted cream

icing sugar, for dusting.

 

 

Method

Preheat the oven to 190C/ Gas Mark 5. Put 10 paper cases in a bun tray.

Place the butter and caster sugar in a large bowl and beat together until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the egg and vanilla extract. Sift in the flour and, using a metal spoon, fold gently into the mixture with the milk and raisins.

 

Spoon the mixture into the paper cases. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until risen, golden and just firm to touch. Transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool.

 

Using a serrated knife, cut a circle from the top of each cupcake. Gently mix together the strawberries with the strawberry jam and divide among the cupcakes. Top each with a small (or generous :P, whatever takes your fancy. Generous definitely took mine.) dollop of clotted cream and place the cupcake tops back on. Finally, dust with icing sugar and enjoy!

  

 Byee.

Thankyou for reading!

Love Courts x

 

Somewhere In Neverland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jacket : Dorothy Perkins

Shirt : Criminal Damage

Skirt : Boohoo

Leggings : New Look

Shoes : New Look

Bullet Necklace : Ebay

Polka Dot Satchel : Ebay

Lipstick : Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick Heart Breaker

 

Today I decided to do an outfit post as I got myself all dressed and make-upped up for no reason (I say for no reason although I did get to go on a nice trip to Tesco, not very exciting you say :/?) so, I thought why not do an outfit post. The sun was shining too which, was nice although after taking about 10 or so pictures it did innevitably start to rain and so me and the camera did get a bit soggy. I love check shirts, especially thrown on over a cool t-shirt and some leggings - casual and comfy; perfect combination. However, I always feel like a bit of a boy in this one which, could possibly have something to do with the fact that it is a Criminal Damage Men's shirt but nevermindd, I like it. It's rather old now; about two or more years and after some extreme tidying of my room and literally getting rid of like half the stuff that my room has been housing for the last ten years, I stumbled across this shirt and so popped it on with my boohoo faux leather skirt in the hope that it would make me look a bit more girly. I also popped on my New Look moccassins which, were another 'buried under the bed for a year or more' find which, I thought would add another cute, girly edge to the outfit too.

 

 I've also been wondering for a while now whether or not I should invest in a khaki military jacket with  faux leather sleeves as they were everywhere a few months ago and I still really love the style but, I think it would be a bit of an unessecary purchase as I do like my military jacket from Dorothy Perkins and as I am once again unemployed (no more night shifts yayy! Here I come bed! (: ) I feel like I should be saving. Especially as Uni calls this September. Finally, I am in love with this satchel. Aren't polka dots and satchels adorable? Match made in heaven if I do say so myself! Finally, I leave you with this lovely song from the incredible All Time Low and the rather gorgeous Mr Alex Gaskarth so enjoy and I am off to watch a couple of episodes of my new favourite program The Middle!

Byee.

Thankyou for reading!

Love Courts x