Naughty cheat chocolate fudge cake

As you know I enjoying baking cakes, however, the other week I decided to cheat when making a cake for work.

I didn't buy one and pass it off as my own, but I did buy cake mix. All you have to add is water and vegetable oil, mix it up put it in a tin and cook.

Very easy and well just easy really when you have been working but promised a chocolate cake.

I used Wright's chocolate fudge cake mix, which contains real chocolate crumb to produce a rich and indulgent cake.

It came out really and for once I didn't burn the bottom. It was rich and moist and delicious.

I know it is a cheat but it was really nice and everyone at work appreciated it as well.

For more on Wright's you can visit the website: http://www.wrightsflour.co.uk/index.aspx

The F-word

No that F word but fraud.

For over a week now I have been without my bank card, did I lose it? No. I was a victim of online card fraud.
I still had my card up until the bank cancelled it and I cut it up so how someone got my details is beyond me but left me very angry and frustrated.
What annoyed me also was people saying 'you will get the money back', 'it isn't personal'. 

However, it was my debit account so it was my money I had earnt it, it wasn't credit on a credit card, also it is a pain having no bank card so having to borrow money.

I suppose you could say it is a victimless crime. The people who commit it don't see the impact on the people. Ok so it may not be devastating but it is just an awful feeling knowing someone can take your money in that way.
The bank were the ones who noticed the strange actions for my account and they  have been brilliant, but it is just frustrating people spending others people's money. Hello we are in a recession everyone is feeling the pinch, don't take from others!

Sorry rant over!

Film reviews - Snow White and the Huntsman; Prometheus; Crazy, Stupid, Love

In the last week I have watched three very different films but each in their own way equally brilliant.

Over the Diamond Jubilee I saw Snow White and Huntsman starring Charlize Theron, Kristen Stewart and Liam Hemsworth.

Based on the Brother's Grimm fairytale it tells the tale of Snow White, kept as a prisoner after her father the King is killed by his beautiful new bride Ravenna (Theron). She desperately wants to be the fairest of them all, however, when Snow White comes of age it becomes apparent that not only is she the fairest of them all but will be the undoing on the Queen.

To survive the Queen needs Snow White's heart, so she hires the Huntsman to do so but instead he trains her ready for battle to reclaim her throne.

Stewart does a fantastic English accent, but with an English boyfriend I'm not surprised, however, even though she is the title character she doesn't really steal the scenes. I would say the three characters are of equal footing but for me Theron does steal the show as the man-hating slightly mental Queen Ravenna.

It is a great adventure tale and you will find it hard not trying to name the famous faces playing the eight, yes eight, dwarves.
Visually breathtaking and a true fairy tale adventure, without the happy ending, well it ends happily but Snow White does not ride off in the distance with a Prince, which I thought was great. A great strong woman film.

Next on the list and again starring Charlize Theron was Prometheus, the prequel to the Alien films by Ridley Scott.

We watched it in 3D and I think I was expecting a lot from this film and I'm not totally sure it delivered.

 

Set in the future it tells the story of a crew looking for the start of the human race in another universe. IMDB plot line describes it quite well 'A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.'

Visually with the 3D it does look amazing and you feel you are looking into a window of reality. The story on the whole is good but there are some obvious plot holes which leave you a little confused. It makes me wonder if Scott made a three hour film and was told to cut it down.

It is slightly jumpy but at a 15 doesn't pack the same punch as Alien and Aliens, both of which were 18 certificates. It has a stellar cast which I feel makes you want more from the film, an unrecognisable Guy Pearce, Noomi Rapace, Idris Elba, Theron, Michael Fassbender and other recognisable faces and Tom Hardy doppelganger Logan Marshall-Green.
If you like sci-fi you will like it and the ending does link with the Alien films but don't expect any big questions being answered as you may be disappointed.

The final film I caught was Crazy, Stupid, Love starring Julianne Moore, Ryan Gosling, Steve Carrell and Emma Stone.
I suppose the best way to describe this film is as a rom-com but I watched it with my boyfriend and he seemed to enjoy it. I feel it is more a drama-com as it doesn't follow the usual boy meets girl, loses girl blah blah blah.

 

Basically the story is Emily (Julianne Moore) and Cal (Steve Carrell) are a married couple, until Emily informs him she has slept with a colleague and wants a divorce. With the help of new friend Jacob (Gosling) he re-discovers his manhood.

It is a greatly funny film with some twists and turns, one of which I didn't see coming but it is light hearted and really good. It does centre a lot on soul mates and your one true love with different story lines on the same theme, however, unlike say the film Valentines Day, there are only a few interlinking characters. Really good funny, easy to watch film.

Three great films my top pick would be Snow White and the Huntsman. I got The Help for my birthday so if I get the time I'll write a review of that having read the book last year.

Saved by the Cake - Blondie cupcakes

For my birthday I was given  Marian Keyes' new book 'Saved by the Cake' - a cake cook book.

I am a big fan of Marian Keyes' other books including her fiction and journalism articles so it was a no brainer when I saw she had a cook book I asked for it for my birthday.

There are a load of great recipes, and as Marian is not a cook they are laid out in easy terms that even a novice won't be put off.

Flicking through I was tempted to do quite a few the cheesecakes look amazing but instead I decided on Blondie cupcakes.

Blondies are like brownies, but use white chocolate instead of milk. In this instance as well Marian has decided to make cupcakes. Best of all they have no icing as at the moment icing sugar seems to be my nemesis.

Over the weekend at a bit of a loose end I decided to give them a go.

You melt butter and the white chocolate together, I did it in 30 second blasts in the microwave, the smell of butter is not nice though I really didn't like.

You only use the electric whisk to mix the eggs and sugar, you fold the flour and everything else together with a spatula which is a little different from other recipes. It did make it lighter though, you then add the nuts and the rest of the chocolate, put it in the cases and put in the oven.

They are delicious lovely creamy chocolate and the hazelnuts, the recipe said you should use macadamia nuts or hazelnuts.

They were easy to make and really nice.

Give them a go.

The day I met the Queen

When I started at Admiral Lord Nelson school in 1997, there were already two years above us but they had been in another building. So when I started in September 1997 we were the first pupils to step inside the brand new building and also the first year to go from year 7 to 11 in that building.

To celebrate the brand new school opening The Queen was invited to open the new building.

Students were selected to welcome her with flags and dotted around various classrooms. I was picked to be in the IT suite and was told to work on a new project.

We were told that when the Queen came in we were to carry on with our work and not turn around. Try telling a bunch of 11-13 year olds not to turn around and look at the Queen though. You can probably guess what happened when she came in, we all turned around to catch a glimpse of the woman on coins, cash and stamps.

It was surreal and passed in a bit of blur, I remember she was short but looked regal, strangely enough.

I did get to talk to her people though, who came and asked about my work.

It was one of those moments I will never forget and as it is the jubilee today I thought it was quite fitting to write about when I (kind of) met the Queen.

Land of hope and glamour - Diamond jubilee macaroons

Now I have said it before and I will say it again. I love the Royal Family, so as the UK celebrates the Diamond Jubilee I thought I would share with you a little treat.

In M&S the other week I stumbled across some macaroons. 

I knew instantly I had to buy them, after my recent trip to Paris I have become slightly obsessed with the sugary treats.

Also they had crowns on and were metallic!

The flavours come in salted caramel, dark chocolate and praline.

I have never had salted caramel before so was keen to give them a try. It is very similar to the praline flavour, so my quest to try salted caramel continues.

They were really delicious, they were of the same almond consistency of the ones I tried in Paris and were just little delights. However, I will admit the ones in Paris were better but than you can't compete with a patisserie really.

All three were delicious, especially the dark chocolate flavour.

They were about £4 for six, so not exactly cheap but still for a jubilee treat worth the money.

I think if you haven't tried macaroons before you are probably better getting more normal flavours, M&S also do 24 macaroons for £10 (http://www.marksandspencer.com/Marks-and-Spencer-Mini-Macaroons/dp/B005OT5I18) in vanilla, raspberry and chocolate. Whereas these ones are probably more of an acquired taste.

So if you want to add a little glamour to your Jubilee party give these a whirl.

On offer you say, 3 for 2 on cosmetics, well if I must

I love a bargain and due to the recent bout of good weather we have been having I decided I needed a pastel yellow nail polish.

Off I went one lunchtime to have a look at what Barry M had to offer when I saw a sign every girl loves to see, '3 for 2 on all cosmetics'. It was like a beacon of light descending from the heavens. Now the only challenge was picking three items, as opposed to six or 12.

I went for one MaxFactor and two Barry M.

It took me a while but I eventually found a yellow I was happy with, MaxFactor - Max Effect mini nail polish in Mellow Yellow. I tried it later that day, it took three coats to get a good enough coverage but didn't chip as quickly as I thought it would. The more coats you put on usually the more likely it is to chip.

It is a really nice mellow colour and looked great in the sunny weather. I think it would also work well if it is grey outside adding a little mini sunshine to your day. It costs £3.99

For my next two choices I went to my old favourite Barry M.

My first choice was another of their magnetic nail polishes, the red with the diagonal stripes. I have yet to try it out but loved the ruby red colour and thought it would also look great with the Union Jack style magnet I bought recently. Priced at £4.99.

My third choice took a little longer, but eventually I decided to try out Barry M's croc effect nail polish. I already have the shatter one and really loved it. Also after having seeing Barry M's TV advert with the croc pattern I knew I had to try it out. Priced at £3.99.

So the other night I applied Barry M's Pink Flamingo polish and then the crocodile print. It says a thin layer but I did quite a thick layer as it makes it stand out a lot more.

Within minutes it starts to crackle. It is different from the shatter as the pattern is quite small so the colour beneath doesn't completely show through. It looks more like a wrap than a polish, but I would advise putting clear polish over the top as after a couple of days it starts to wear off and fade rather than chip.

It will be great over the summer and  change from the shatter polish. Also croc print is in trend this summer, with bags, leggings and shoes getting in on the act. So this nail polish is a cheaper way to get in fashion.

Overall I was more than happy with my purchases, now I just have to avoid Superdrug until the offer is over for fear of being more polishes.

To have a look at what they have on offer check out the website:

http://www.superdrug.com/3-for-2/3-for-2-mix+match-across-all-cosmetics/icat/2012e6_mixedcosm/