These simple Candy Cane Cupcakes are a real showstopper.  Once again I have used my ‘Very Vanilla Cupcakes’ recipe (posted 25.05.17) for the sponge cakes and I’ve topped them with peppermint frosting. To make enough frosting to decorate 12 cupcakes, combine 50g unsalted butter, 100g full fat cream cheese, 300g icing sugar and 1 tsp
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Yet again my vanilla cupcakes prove very versatile!  To make a simple ‘Grinch’ cupcake, add green food gel (I used ‘AmeriColor Electric Green’) to the frosting and use a Wilton 1A piping nozzle to give a swirly effect.  Top with the Grinch’s tiny (sugar paste) heart!  Perfect for any fans of the Grinch 🙂 ***Recipe
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In past times people would sip their gins hot to keep the chill away. Sipsmith have revisited this old tradition, to give a tasty alternative to mulled wine. To create this hot, fruity winter treat, mix 50ml of Sipsmith Gin with 25ml of tonic syrup. Stir well, top up with hot water and garnish with
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Back in February I wrote a blog post about being positive in the wake of being widowed.  I was overwhelmed by the response to it.  It is by far the most visited post on my blog, it was featured in the press and best of all, I had many people contact me to say they
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Last Saturday I hosted a Festive Gin night!  This was the night when myself & my Gin Bestie Hayley sampled Christmas themed Gins and paired them with Gin themed foods!  I’m sure this will become an annual event! First on the menu was ‘Yuletide Gin’ by ‘That Boutique-y Gin Company’.  This is a dry style
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One of my favourite recipes this year was my “Easter Rocky Road’!  It was extremely moreish!  I’ve tweaked the recipe slightly, by swopping rich tea for ginger biscuits and the mini eggs for Christmas M&Ms and Maltesers Reindeer, to give it a festive twist! Ingredients 200g dark chocolate 200g milk chocolate 50g butter 1 tbsp
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Gin has certainly been a big trend in 2018.  I, myself, have gone from a novice gin drinker to the owner of 70+ bottles!  As Christmas approaches there are lots of gift ideas for the gin lover….. hint hint! Is there any better way to start the month of December then with a gin advent
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With some green food colouring gel, sparkly sugar paste stars and edible metallic pearls you can transform basic vanilla cupcakes into mini Christmas trees!   Firstly make a batch of my ‘Very Vanilla Cupcakes’ (recipe posted 25/05/17).  Colour the frosting with green food gel (I use Wilton ‘Leaf Green’).  Pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes,
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These adorable cupcakes are always a hit during the festive season!  To make a herd of reindeer cupcakes, start off by making a batch of my chocolate cupcakes (recipe posted 19/10/17).  To decorate the cupcakes you will need edible sugar eyeballs, red smarties and pretzels!  Alternatively you could make the eyeballs and noses from sugar
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This is an alternative to Mulled Wine and is perfect for Gin lovers over the Festive period! Ingredients Cloudy Apple Juice Assorted Spices (cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, cardamon pods) Vanilla Pod (cut down the middle) 50ml Sloe Gin (per glass) A cinnamon stick (per glass) An orange slice (per glass) Instructions: Add the assorted
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