Blog Loving

I think my real passion for blogging came after finding Cupcakes and Cashmere a few years back and, in doing so, I finally found someone who really inspired me. 

I think the thing with Emily Schuman is, that although she is much skinnier and lives in beautiful California, she has very similar colouring and style likes as me.

When I started writing the blog I wanted a way to share everything that I do.  People often asked for recipes, or 'how to' of DIY bits and bobs, or commented on my outfits.

I wanted a platform where I could share all things cool, but also somewhere to have a quick ramble.

I get a bit depressed sometimes and I find it easy to forget how good I have things, and how much I do get up to.

I've been so inspired over the last couple of years and have found some fantastic blogs that I really relate to.

Check out these fantastic bloggers and see what you think...

Rachel Schultz

Cupcakes and Cashmere

Cup of Jo

Fossil

Alana Jones Mann

Once Wed

Recipe: Apple Cinnamon Rings

Wow these little tasty treats were very welcome last night.  I was inspired by the link that Emily posted this week on Cupcakes and Cashmere.  Mine don't look quite as delicate and perfect as these ones, however this certainly didn't detract from the taste!

I used cooking apples as it meant that they had a sour taste that cut through the sugar and oil, and I substituted the sugar on the outside for icing sugar for an extra bit of sweetness.

Ingredients

4 large apples (any variety)

Batter:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp baking powder

2 tablespoons sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 large egg

1 cup (250 ml) milk (I used lactofree)

1/2 cup oil, for frying

• Pour enough vegetable oil into a frying pan to cover the bottom of the pan by an inch and heat.  The oil needs to be really hot before you start. (You could always use a deep fat fryer).
• Cut the apples into slices (about 5mm - 1cm thick)and then cut out the core and cut off the peel.
• Mix icing sugar and cinnamon onto a plate ready for dipping the rings once they are cooked.
• Mix up the batter and have a sheet of kitchen roll at the ready.
• Dip the apple rings into the batter and drop into the hot oil, about 4 at a time depending on how big your pan is.
• Fry on each side until brown (it only takes a couple of minutes on each side), remove from the oil and place onto the kitchen roll to absorb some of the oil.
• Roll into the cinnamon sugar mixture and serve while still warm.

We served ours with toffee yogurt, but they would go fantastic with toffee or vanilla ice cream.

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Halloweeeeeeen...

Feeling totally inspired this year to embrace the Halloween Season.  I have never really done Halloween before, as we grew up in the countryside we never really went Trick or Treating, and it just wasn't something as a family we embraced.  Since meeting G we have never really celebrated Halloween either as it falls two days after his birthday so we always celebrate that instead

However, this year I wanted to try something new and embraced that fact that the two fall within days of each other and took over G's party ideas and through a fantastic Halloween party.  I have been inspired over the last couple of years having read the fantastic Cupcakes and Cashmere as Halloween plays a prominent part of the year.  This post especially made me want to embrace all things food for the Halloween holiday.

As I lost my job last Friday I embraced being at home (along with applying for lots of jobs) and did all things party!  I themed our food, made lots of Halloween craft decorations and generally got excited about the season.

I think my favourite additions to the party were the pepper puking chutney, the raspberry and milk jelly brain (mould from Asda), and silver skull candles from Asda.

Happy Halloween folks x

(and Happy Birthday G)