Chocolate Mug Cake!

I haven't posted a recipe in a while though I thought I would post this recipe for my Chocolate Mug Cake which I love so much when there isn't any chocolate in the house (or Chris took all the Anzac Bikkies to work) and I want a sweet fix. This recipe is both sooooo good and sooooo evil but who cares. It tastes amazing!

So here it is...

Chocolate Mug Cake

Ingredients:

4 tbs Plain Flour
4 tbs White Sugar
2 tbs Cocoa Powder
1 Egg
3 tbs Milk
3 tbs Oil or Butter (I usually use Butter because it tastes better but Canola Oil is also good)
1/4 tsp Vanilla Essence

Without Ice Cream

1 tbs Choc Chips (Optional)
1 Large Mug

Method:
1. Combine the first 3 ingredients in the mug. Make sure they're well combined, otherwise it'll be a bit patchy when it's cooked.
2. Add the egg, milk, oil/butter and vanilla essence and mix really well.
3. Cook in the microwave for 3 minutes.
4. Once cooked, eat alone or with ice cream. :-)

With Ice Cream (My fave option)

Enjoy.

R
xx

Caramel Pie in the Sky

This recipe for a Caramel Pie was given to me by my husband's nan. She loves to bake and she made this Caramel Pie as one of the desserts for our engagement party, many moons ago. It's deliciously rich but not too rich for you to deny another slice.

I've made it 2 ways. Using a 20cm round spring-form tin or using 2 muffin trays lined with cupcake papers (so they are easy to remove and share).

Ingredients

Crumb Crust
250 g Crushed Plain Sweet Biscuits (I use Arrowroot Biscuits)
125 g Butter, Melted (Use butter and not margarine in this recipe)
1/2 tsp Cinnamon

Filling
2/3 cup Custard Powder
2 cups Thickened Cream
2 cups Milk
1 tsp Vanilla Essence
125 g Butter (Not margarine)
1 & 1/2 cups Brown Sugar, lightly packed
Extra cream for decoration - if you want.

Method

Crumb Crust:
Crush biscuits in either a food processor or in a bowl with a meat tenderiser.
Add the cinnamon, stir and then add the butter and combine well.
For spring form tin - Press over the base and sides of the tin
For muffin trays - Add a tablespoon of the mix per muffin cup, press well into each cup.
Refrigerate whilst preparing the filling.

Filling:
Place custard powder, milk, cream and vanilla in a 6L capacity saucepan.
Using a whisk, heat this mixture over a low heat until the custard boils and thickens. Remove from heat.
In a separate 2L capacity saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar until the sugar dissolves.
Once the brown sugar and butter mix is ready, add this to the custard mixture and whisk together well. Stir until well combined, it should look like a caramel colour (derrr).
When combine, let it cool slightly and then pour into either your spring form tin or put about 1-2 tablespoons of the mix in each muffin cup.
Refrigerated until firm.
Decorate with extra whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon if you like.

Enjoy with a cup of Earl Grey tea.

I will post a photo when I make it again. Promise.

R
xx

7 Deadly Sins of Beauty

After watching the YouTube clip titled "7 Deadly Sins of Beauty" by "From Head to Toe", I thought I would do a blog entry of the same name.

The clip is based on 7 questions relating to the 7 Deadly Sins but in relation to Beauty. So here are my answers...

1. GREED: What is your most inexpensive beauty item? What is your most expensive?

My inexpensive items are all of my Nyx cosmetics. I bought them from eBay (Joy's Cosmetics) and the prices were amazing even with shipping. I love Nyx products in general because their colours are so pigmented and they last ages, even if you don't use an eye shadow primer. The only downside with Nyx products is that they aren't sold in Australia so you have to buy them online, usually from the States and I got mine from eBay.

My expensive items are my Sigma brushes. Though in the scheme of things, they aren't that expensive but they're the most expensive thing I own. These brushes are worth every cent but the shipping was the killer. The brushes themselves weren't too bad in comparison to brands like MAC and Bobbi Brown. Another thing is you can only buy these online as well.

 

2. WRATH: What beauty products do you have a love/hate relationship with? What product has been the hardest to get?

The product that I have a love/hate relationship with is my Maybelline Dream Mousse. Depending on how my skin is, it can be a dream or a nightmare. Sometimes it looks great and it gives good coverage and look flawless but then sometimes when I use it, it looks cakey.
 
The hardest products to get  have been all of my Kat Von D palettes (I have 4 - Ludwig, Angeles, Metal Orchestra & True Love), my Urban Decay "Naked" palette and my Too Faced Products - Primed and Poreless Face Primer in Bronzed Tint and Skin Smoothing and my Shadow Insurance Anti-Crease Eyeshadow Primer. These products took me ages to find online where they would be shipped to Australia without costing a fortune but were well worth it. 

 





3. GLUTTONY: What are your most delicious beauty products?

My most delicious products are my Maybelline Baby Lips in Berry which smells divine but tastes meh but it just smells delicious and my Nyx Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Juicy Red and Perfect Red. They smell like cherry's but I think all the Mega Shine Lip Glosses smell like it because I own 6 and they smell the same. Also, my L'Oreal Perfect Clean Gentle Apricot Scrub. It smells amazing and I'm kind of tempted to eat it but I'm sure it tastes like soap. I'll let you know how that goes.

 

4. SLOTH: What beauty product do you neglect, due to laziness?

I would say I neglect this product due to laziness but if I'm doing a dark eyeshadow look where I know there will be fall out, I'll usually forget to put on my face primer.  It does make a lot of difference with me, especially in my T-zone.
My usual makeup routine is: cleanse, toner, serum, moisturiser, primer (both face and eyes), concealer, foundation (or foundation then concealer depending if I'm awake or not), face powder,  eyeshadow, eyebrows, eyeliner, mascara, cheeks then finally lips.

 


5. PRIDE: What beauty products gives you the most self confidence?

The products I use in combination that give me self confidence are: Bourjois Liner Feutre (A Felt Pen Eyeliner) to create a winged eyeliner (Retro style), I'm not sure of the name of the colour but it's the second colour from the first line in the Coastal Scents 88 Original Palette (its like a caramel/nude shade for me), L'Oreal Lash Architect in Carbon Black (which they've discontinued and that makes me a sad panda), a blush shade called "Sesame" by Gorgeous cosmetics and one of the following options for my lips. Either a deep red colour called "Snow White" by Nyx, a vibrant orange colour called "Femme" by Nyx or a glossy red called "Perfect Red" or "Juicy Red" also by Nyx. I love these products and they're just so amazing when they're put together and I feel a million dollars.

6. LUST: What attributes do you find most attractive in the opposite sex?

I don't exactly know what this had to do with beauty but I guess a good sense of humour. The more stupid, the better and if he can talk in memes (like my husband can), then he's awesome. Nice kind eyes, a cheeky smile and who smells good. Never underestimate the power of smell.

7. ENVY: What items would you most like to receive as a gift?

I would like to receive any of the Lancome Foundations as a gift. I have 4 samples of different ones and I love them all. I think I might have to splash out and buy one because they are the greatest foundations I have ever used. I have samples of Teint Idole Ultra, Teint Miracle, Photogenic Lumessence and Colour Ideal and I love them all. They all have different coverages so they are great for different vintage looks I try to achieve some-days. My favourite out of the samples, though, would have to be the Teint Idole Ultra one. It's a full coverage foundation that applies fantastically with either a foundation brush or your fingers (I've used it with my fingers but I've also used it with the Sigma F60 Foundation Brush, F80 Flat Top Synthetic Kabuki Brush and F83 Round Top Synthetic Kabuki Brush). Using either of these brushes gives you an airbrushed look and I also think it helps with staying power as well. 
I would also like any Dior or MAC products that would suit my skin tone/type as well but beggars can't be choosers. 

Until Next Post, toodles.


R

Have a look at Head to Toe... You might learn something.

From Head to Toe - Facebook

From Head to Toe - YouTube

Too Damn High!

I love to shop. I think most women do but sometimes, you wonder why you buy anything at all when items cost so much in Australia. I like to buy products and support local business but it's hard to do that when it's so much easier to have a look at it in the shops and then buy it on the internet for a fraction of the price. For instance, during my lunch break today, I went into the Chemist Warehouse to have a look at the new Revlon Lip Butters that are on sale. Chemist Warehouse usually sells them cheaper than most other stores but still, I just couldn't justify spending $18.95 on just one of those lip butters. Later on during the day, I had a quick look on eBay and you can buy them for $13 from the US with free shipping. Then, tonight I was watching a review by a girl on YouTube who is based in the US and she purchased them for less than $5. It just angers me. 

It's not just makeup, that I have this problem with but things like books. I love books and I love the smell of them but I miss going into bookstores and having a look them and smelling them. Hahaha. (I love book smell). Now I just have a look at Booktopia.com.au or the Book Depository and make a selection from there. 

I would like to point out that I still prefer to shop for clothes and shoes in a physical store because those can be tricky purchases even if you have the correct measurement. 

Another thing that gets to me is how hard it is to get products in Australia. I love Vintage inspired styles. Hair, makeup, clothes, accessories, everything. I watch a lot of YouTube clips of other people who create these styles and they give you information on where to source the products they use but when you go to possibly purchase an item, they don't ship to Australia or shipping costs more than the items themselves. I recently discovered Inspired Insanity which is an online store specialising in Rockabilly, 50's, Pin Up and other styles and purchased from them and they were great. Even gave me a refund for some shipping because I made 2 purchases and they combined the shipping. Have a look at them if you like that sort of thing. Another favourite site of mine is Belle Blossoms. I have bought so many blossoms from this site and they have been amazing. I love every single one. I'll probably do a post about the blossoms I have in the future but be sure to have a look.

In closing, shopping has become so impersonal nowadays and we wonder why younger kids have bad interaction skills. I'm not saying that shopping is their main source of interaction but being in the public and having a conversation seems like its too much effort.

Let me know what you think.

R

Cookie?

Do you love a cookie or 2? I know I do. My recipe will have you eating the dough before you put them in the oven.

N.B. If you're on a diet, don't bother looking at the fat content. Just enjoy the buttery goodness! :)

Choc Chip Cookies

I ran out of baking trays so I had to use a muffin tray instead.

 

 

 

 

Ingredients:

125g Butter, softened 
1/2 cup Brown Sugar, tightly packed
1/3 cup Castor Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla Essence
1 Egg, whisked
1 & 1/2 cups Self Raising Flour
1 cup Chocolate Chips

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 160­ºC.
2. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper and spray lightly with cooking spray.
3. Combine the sugars and butter in a bowl until blended.
4. Add the vanilla essence and the egg. Stir well. 
5. Stir in the self raising flour, half a cup at a time until a dough has formed.
6. Put in the chocolate chips and mash it together.

7. Place teaspoon or tablespoon (depending on what size you want your cookies) sized balls on the baking trays and bake for about 10 - 15 minutes. 

8. Leave to cool before consuming, otherwise the cookie will fall apart in your hands.

 

Enjoy!

R

xx

Well hello there...

After a debate with me, myself and I, I have finally bitten the bullet and created a blog. It's a pretty nerve racking thing, writing a blog. 

So here goes... My content will range from hair and make up ideas, recipes I know, love and want to share, to reviews on a variety of products and other miscellaneous items that strike my interest. If there's something you want to know, just ask away.

R
xx