happy happy

Such a cute video. Really inspires you to want to get up and create something! I can't seem to post the video up, but here's the link! =) Even her album name and cover is adorable!

Lisa Hannigan - I Don't Know
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSaPbVjcrp4

Enjoy!

Easy Orange Loaf Cake

I have finally christened my new kitchen! Woo! =)

I was feeling restless and decided to do some midnight baking!
This recipe is for a wonderfully moist and fragrant orange cake with an orange drizzle on top. SO GOOD! And perfect to have for tea the next day.
You can always opt not to add in the drizzle or substitute it with any other frosting of your choice. I baked mine in a loaf tin, but it can be baked in a 9inch round tin as well.

Easy Orange Loaf Cake
Serves 6

• 165g all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons grated orange zest
• 1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon

Drizzle

• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 3 tablespoons orange juice
• 1 teaspoon orange zest

1. Preheat oven to 175 degrees C. Grease loaf pan.2. In a measuring cup, combine milk, orange juice, oil, beaten eggs, lemon juice and orange zest together. Mix well and set aside.
3. Sift flour, salt and baking powder into a large bowl. Stir in the sugar and cinnamon.
4. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk and orange juice mixture. Stir until smooth.
5. Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool.
6. To make drizzle, combine the sugar, orange juice and orange zest together till it becomes slushy, but not stiff. Pour over the top of the cake and serve.

Enjoy!

Moi Je Joue

Absolutely adore this commercial!



Love the sheer playfulness of it and the beautiful pale colours. It makes me want to ride a bike down the streets of Paris with a handful of balloons. =)

Why Sundays make me smile...

A day at Columbia Road Flower Market...

"too blessed to be stressed"

Hope you had an inspiring weekend =)

Mine all mine =)

Living with flatmates with clashing schedules tends to lead to a 'cook for yourself' system we have established. Truth be told, as much as I enjoy cooking with/ for friends, I honestly love and prefer cooking for and by myself, I find it harder to make dishes for many people than I do for just one. You can afford to be decadent, and as selfish as it sounds, when cooking for one, the only person you have to please is..well...yourself!

Beef Stroganoff for One
Serves 1

• 120g Beef stewing steak, cut into chunks
• 15g butter
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• half an onion sliced
• 1 very large button mushroom
• 1 tbsp flour
• 1 tsp paprika
• 2 tsp white wine vinegar
• 3/4 cup beef stock
• 1 tbsp cornflour
• 1 tsp mustard
• 1 tbsp white wine
• 2 tbsp sour cream
• salt and black pepper to taste

1. In a pan, heat oil and melt the butter. fry beef chunks till brown. Season with salt, pepper and paprika
2. Push the beef to one side and stir in the flour with the beef juices. Add the onions and mushrooms and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, then push to the side with the beef chunks.
3. Pour in the beef stock and vinegar, stirring constantly. Bring to the boil then lower the heat, stir in mustard. Then cover and simmer gently for about 30minutes or until meat is tender. If sauce is too thin, stir in cornflour.
4. Five minutes before serving, stir in the sour cream, and white wine. Add salt and pepper to taste.
   
   
   Serve with rice or noodles.
   ..enjoy =)

Today I baked...

Almond topped coffee cake

I haven't baked in weeks due to being swamped with work. But its all done now!! =) I made this as a treat to myself and a pick me up for my sister who is swamped with projects now.

This cake can be prepared overnight and stored in fridge to be baked the next morning, so its perfect for those busy mornings. Admittedly I'm not much of a morning person, for some reason my mind and body just don't seem to agree with it haha. I don't have problems waking up, but getting me out of bed is a nightmare. I' m a serial lazer, I have to laze in bed for approximately 45minutes before I'm adequately awake. However THIS morning, the thought of waking up to the smell of cinnamon-y, almond-y goodness got me snip snap out of bed! The sour cream in the recipe is what gives it a wonderful moist texture and it contrasts beautifully with the cracked brown sugar and almond topping.

Almond topped coffee cake
Serves 6

• 85 g butter, softened
• 100 g sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar (I used a mixture of muscado dark sugar and light brown sugar)
• 1/4 cup chopped almonds
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Glaze

• 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 tablespoon milk

1. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Add in egg and beat well.
2. Combine the flour, baking soda, salt and nutmeg together. Gradually add the flour to the creamed mixture alternately with the sour cream. Pour mixture into baking dish.
3. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, chopped almonds and cinnamon; sprinkle over coffee cake. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
4. Next day. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake, uncovered, at 170 degrees celcius for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
5. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Stir confectioners' sugar and milk together; drizzle over warm coffee cake.
   
   
   Enjoy with a warm mug of coffee =)

'Amazing grace how sweet the sound'

I just watched an interesting documentary on BBC.
Deborah Drapper a 13 year old girl, devout Christian who has absolutely no clue about things like who Britney Spears is, ask her who Victoria Beckham is and she replies “Someone married to a Mr Beckham? I don’t know her, I’m sorry.”
It's amazing, she's intelligent, completely confident in herself and most of all devoted to God. It's almost enviable how self confident she is with herself. At aged 13, she holds intelligence and an amazing maturity far beyond her age. She doesn't care what the world thinks of her, only how God perceives of her is important. It's utterly amazing...and truly inspiring. I myself wish I had her boldness...All I can say is that I'm completely humbled by this little girl's faith and by God's amazing grace and forgiveness.

God Bless you all =)
If you are interested the documentary:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00j6l77/Deborah_13_Servant_of_God/