Chocolate Mug Cake

Hi everyone! How are you all today? I have seen lots of recipes for microwave mug cakes on the internet but have never got round to making one myself. I love the idea of them and how quick and easy they are to make, as well as the fact that you can just make a small enough portion for one. Here is my recipe for a Chocolate Mug Cake, the perfect indulgent dessert.

To make one mug cake, you will need:

• 1 tbsp margarine/butter
• 3 tbsp plain flour
• 1 tbsp caster sugar
• 6 squares of chocolate (I used dark chocolate for a richer chocolately flavour)

1. Melt the butter in the mug.
2. Add the chocolate, sugar and flour and stir well.
3. Place back in the microwave and cook for consecutive 20 second slots until it reaches a cake like texture. This is so that you don't overcook it!
4. Be careful when you come to eat as the mixture will be very hot!

I turned it out into a bowl to take a better picture! Although it might not be the most attractive looking dessert, it was literally the gooiest, tastiest cake mix!

What do you think?

Thanks for reading!

Oatmeal Cookies

Hello everyone! Hope you are all okay? While I was back home for a couple of days, I decided to do some baking - the perfect way to relax. My mum loves baking and cooking too so it is the perfect place to rummage through some new ingredients and recipes! One recipe I decided to make was for oatmeal cookies - I can't take ownership for this one as it is one that has been passed down but I thought they looked yummy.

To make approx 12 cookies, you will need:

• 5 oz self raising flour
• 5 oz plain oats
• 6 oz caster sugar
• 4 oz butter/margarine
• 1 tbsp golden syrup

1. In a large bowl, mix the flour and butter together using your hands.
2. Add the sugar and oats and stir well.
3. Finally, add the golden syrup. The mixture should be quite thick and dry, but stick together.
4. Roll the mixture into balls and place on a baking tray.
5. Bake at 180c for 10-15 minutes.

What do you think?

Thanks for reading!

Simple Courgetti

Hello everyone! How are you all today? Today's recipe is for a simple courgetti dish. I absolutely love pasta dishes but sometimes I fancy something a little fresher and courgetti is the perfect, healthy alternative. I served mine with fresh tomatoes, cheese and balsamic vinegar but you could add whatever you like.

To make, you will need:

• 1 large courgette
• 1 large tomato (sliced)
• Cheese (as much as you enjoy)
• Balsamic vinegar
• Black pepper (to season)
  

1. Peel the courgette using a vegetable peeler and place in a pan of boiling water.
2. Simmer for 2-3 minutes before draining.
3. Serve with tomato, cheese, seasoning and a generous drizzle of balsamic vinegar.

It is as simple as that!

What do you think of this dish? I hope you like it!

Thanks for reading!

Race For Life

Hello everyone! Hope you are all okay! Half term is here woohoo. I am looking forward to having a chilled bank holiday with my boyfriend, as well as a visit home next week to see my family! But whilst I will be relaxing, I also need to start training (eurgh, the word training and me don't seem to go together!).

This is because I have signed up for the Race for Life in July. I am in no way a runner, nor a jogger for that matter. However, after recently meeting such a brave little girl who is sadly losing her battle against cancer at just 9 years old - I felt I had to do something. It is something that just can't be ignored and any breakthrough in cancer research will be a positive one, no matter how small.

Mainly, I need all the luck I can get for running because if I'm going to do this, I have got to put everything I can into it! But if you would like to sponsor me too then I have a just giving page over at https://www.justgiving.com/laurentaylor53.

Thanks for reading!

May Favourites

Hi everyone! Hope you are all okay. This post is all about my favourite things this month - they aren't all food related but I think it is important to include some different things too - I hope you agree!

Heath and Heather - Pomegranate Tea
I have been trying out some different fruit teas recently and couldn't resist the sound of these tea bags when I saw them. They were £1.50 for 20 tea bags but you could get at least a couple of mugs from each bag. They are really refreshing and sweet enough to satisfy a sugar craving.

Nakd wholefood bars - Apple Pie flavour
I have been buying Nakd bars for a while (although this tends to be when they are on offer as they are quite pricey!) but I had never tried this flavour before. I picked up this box of 4 bars for only £1.61 at a local food store in Brighton and they are yummy. It's also satisfying to be able to have a sweet snack which you know is also full of goodness.

The sunshine!
I am loving the recent weather we have been having here so much - I hope you have all been just as lucky! It has really made me realise what good the sunshine can do for your health and well-being. Waking up to the sun beaming through the curtains rather than the rain pattering on the roof makes getting out of bed (one of my hardest tasks) and facing what the day ahead holds a whole lot easier doesn't it?

Thanks for reading!

Handmade Jewellery

Good evening everyone! How are you all? I hope you are all well. I have been busy at school and am looking forward to what I feel will be a deserved break at half term. I have been trying hard to keep busy with hobbies to make sure I can relax in an evening - I read, crochet, and blog but I thought I would have a little go at creating some handmade jewellery too. I'd love to know what you think?

Let me know!

Thanks for reading!

Pulsin' products

Hi everyone! I hope you are all okay. I was recently sent some products from Pulsin'* to try out and review on my blog. I am always looking for natural, healthy snacks to try out as alternatives to the chocolate biscuits I always tend to turn to so I was keen to give these a go.

Here are the products and what I thought about them:

I was sent* - Pea Protein sachet, Vanilla Protein Snack, Mint Choc Chip Protein Bite, Raw Choc Brownie, Pineapple Bite, Acai Berry Bar.

Overall, I was so impressed with these products - they were yummy little snacks! They kept you full for a long time and benefit from the use of natural, organic ingredients. My favourites were the raw chocolate brownie and the acai berry bar. They were super sweet and satisfied my constant sugar craving, yet were also one of my five a day - what could be better? I also really liked the packaging and I will definately purchase these again!

Thanks for reading!

Baked Cod with a Vegetable Medley

Good morning everyone! How are you all today? I hope you are well. Today's recipe is for baked cod with a vegetable medley. I served this with a side of Sainsbury's crispy potato slices. This dinner is lovely and fresh and you could easily use any vegetables you have in.

To make, you will need:

• 2 cod fillets (skinned and de-boned)
• 1 handful of fresh basil
• 2 large carrots (peeled and chopped)
• 100g babycorn (finely sliced)
• 150g plum tomatoes (chopped)
• Half a mug of lentils
• Half a mug of hot water
• 3 tbsp of tomato puree
• Salt and pepper to season
• A pinch of oregano
  

1. Season the cod as desired and wrap in foil. Place on a baking tray and pop in the oven at 180c. The cod will take around 20-30 minutes.
2. In a pan, on a medium heat, gently fry the carrot and babycorn for 3-4 minutes.
3. Add the lentils, hot water, plum tomatoes, tomato puree and seasoning and leave to simmer on a low heat. 
4. Serve with some extra fresh basil and any sides you wish to add.

Thanks for reading!

Taylors of Harrogate

Hello everyone! I hope you are all okay. As you may know, I am a big fan of tea and I am always looking to try new brands and varieties. I find that fruit and herbal teas can be a really good alternative for settling my IBS and helping me relax, particularly when I have had a stressful day. I was recently sent some samples from Taylors of Harrogate* and I was excited to try them out.

I was sent: Sweet Rhubarb Tea, Spiced Apple Tea and Blackberry and Elderflower Tea*

I was sent: Lazy Sunday Ground Coffee*

Overall, I really enjoyed the samples. I loved the fruit tea especially and the Sweet Rhubarb and Spiced Apple flavours reminded me of Christmas. They were a nice, refreshing drink to have as an alternative to a normal cup of tea. My boyfriend and I tried the coffee together. Admittedly, we aren't massive coffee drinkers so I don't think we could appreciate it the same - but that being said, it was definately the nicest coffee I have tried at home (I also felt pretty fancy using a cafetiere! The simple things...)

Have you tried any of Taylors tea's or coffee's? What did you think?

Thanks for reading!

Strawberry and Chocolate Brownies

Hello everyone! How are you all doing? I hope you are having a good week. Today's recipe is for strawberry and chocolate brownies. I absolutely love strawberries so I thought I would have a go at creating a recipe using them in my next favourite sweet, brownies! These work really well and I love the little chunks of strawberry you get with each mouthful.

I made a small batch of these (need to get my summer body, oh how we laughed) so feel free to double up this recipe...

To make, you will need: 

• 150g strawberries
• 60g butter
• 90g plain flour
• 3 tbsp cocoa powder
• 130g caster sugar
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• A splash of milk

1. Finely chop your strawberries leaving around 4 to the side for later. 
2. Place the chopped strawberries in a pan with a spoonful of your caster sugar and leave to simmer on a medium heat until it starts to look like jam. Allow to cool.
3. In a bowl, blend the rest of the ingredients together.
4. Gently fold in the strawberry mixture.
5. Place the mixture into a lined baking tray. Chop the remaining strawberries and place on top of the mixture.
6. Pop in the oven at 180c for around 20-25 minutes.

These would be perfect served up with some cream or ice cream! Yummy!

Thanks for reading!

Happy blogging!

Hello everyone! Hope you are all okay on this lovely sunny bank holiday Monday?

I have realised that I have now been blogging for over 2 months! I know that isn't very long but it seems to have flown by. I feel it is an amazing accomplishment that in that time I have established my own little theme of writing, become part of the lovely blogging community and transferred my blog to it's own domain. I also feel so lucky for the recent opportunities I have been receiving to work with some great companies too.

I didn't realise just how addictive having a blog would be and I get so much enjoyment out of doing it. After being signed off back in January, it has helped me to get focused, positive and motivated during a time where I could have become quite down and depressed. So thank you to all my friends and family for supporting me with this little endeavour, and thank you to all the lovely comments I receive off my fellow bloggers and followers.

As I get back into my teacher training this week, I am more determined than ever to keep this blog going so don't think I will be disappearing - I just might need reminding sometimes to take a step back from the lesson plans!

I hope you enjoy reading my blog as much as I enjoy writing it! I really am grateful!

Thanks for reading!

GettingPersonal.co.uk

Hello everyone! Hope you are all okay?

I was recently contacted by the lovely Helena over at gettingpersonal.co.uk to see if I would be interested in trying any of their personalised products* for my blog and I was very excited to take up the opportunity. There were so many products to choose from but I eventually decided on the Jamie Oliver serving board and a personalised apron. After letting Helena know what I was interested in trying I was pleasantly surprised and very grateful when they turned up on my doorstep the very next morning! Fantastic service!

Here are my personalised products and what I thought:

Personalised Natural Apron *

I have been after an apron for a long while, I'm not really sure why I didn't have one to be honest with all the cooking I do. I loved the look of this apron and took the opportunity to get it personalised with my name and blog name! I like how the material around the neck is adjustable so that you can fit it to how you prefer. The only thing I would change is the smaller personal message doesn't stand out as much as I had hoped. Apart from that, I love this apron!

Personalised Jamie Oliver Serving Board *

This product would make a perfect gift and is ideal for serving snacks or nibbles, especially if you have friends over. I love the quality of this serving board and I can tell that it will be very durable. It is one of those handy items that can be used to serve all types of foods - not just antipasti.

Overall, I would definately recommend gettingpersonal.co.uk - their products are great quality and I was really impressed with the service.

Thanks for reading!