CURRENT NON-BEAUTY FAVOURITES

Hello everyone! It came to my attention the other day that it has been a hot minute since i last did a non-beauty related favourites post, talking all things non beauty related obviously. Seeing as it is December i am loving a whole bunch of different festive related things like food, music and tv/movies, as well as a few fashion favourites. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share my current non-beauty favourites.

| fashion favourites | miss selfridge checked scarf (similar linked) |

During "Black Friday" week i picked up this scarf (shown in image) in House of Fraser, i was looking to stock up on a few different scarves for the winter months anyway but when i spotted this particular one, i just couldn't leave it in the shop. I love all the different shades of pinks, with the slight blue and yellow accents as i don't really have anything like this in my wardrobe. It was also such a bargain, as it was £8 down from £16.

| fashion favourites | prettylittlething + boohoo |

For clothing at the moment i have really been loving both pretty little thing and boohoo also, they both have so many great knitwear pieces, coats/jackets and especially this boohoo faux fur gilet. I love faux fur jackets/gilet's, as they can add a little something extra to a plain outfit during the cold months. I also have a similar black faux fur gilet that i have been wearing again, which i picked up last winter from pretty little thing.

| music favourites | mariah carey merry christmas (spotify link) |

So towards the end of November and during the whole of December, the majority of music that i have playing on my Spotify is Christmas music and of course the most played album the same as every year is Mariah Carey's classic Merry Christmas album. I also love all the classics pretty much the same as every year, Spotify have some really great festive playlists under the Seasons Greetings genre.

| movie favourites | christmas movies (netflix link) |

Just like with music, from November right up until January i am constantly watching Christmas movies as they are just the best aren't they? I love how feel good a lot of them are and the Christmas24 channel is constantly playing on the TV, as i love the tv Christmas movies the best and the classics of course. Netflix also have a bunch of new festive films which have been recently added, along side a few other channels. If you want to know a huge list of some of my favourite Christmas movies, then tweet me @iamkatiee_ and i will do a separate post.

| food + drink favourites |

Is it just me of does anyone else use the whole of December as an excuse to nibble on something naughty more than usual? by saying "ok seeing as it is Christmas" ha! With that in mind at the moment food-wise i am living for all of the sweet treat snacks, especially mince pies, terry's chocolate orange (these popping candy ones are amazing) and also white chocolate covered oreo's, which are the best thing in the whole world anyway. Drink-wise which i have mentioned in a different post, i am living for the Starbucks festive drinks made with soy milk.

Catch up on last weeks blog post instalments...

| winter wonderland | christmas homeware picks | quick no makeup, makeup |

xo. 

CHRISTMAS BAKING #1: CHOCOLATE HOLLY CUPCAKES

Hello everyone and welcome to the first baking instalment of December! I wanted to kick Christmas baking off with something simple, yet obviously yummy and chocolate cupcakes tick both of those boxes. This recipe could of course be used at any time of year, all you would have to do is switch up the decoration on top and you would be good to go. Also this particular chocolate "frosting" topping is a new recipe and it is literally heavenly.

to make the cupcakes you will need:

| 12 cupcake cases | 125g self raising flour | 50g cocoa powder | 175g softened unsalted butter | 

| 175g caster sugar | 3 eggs | 1tsp baking powder |

method:

First things first, you are going to want to pre-heat your oven to gas mark 4/180c/350f and then line your baking trays with the cupcake cases. Then you are going to want to start on your cupcake mixture, take the sugar, butter and eggs and place them all in your mixer or bowl whichever way you prefer to make your mixture up. Then you are going to want to start mixing the ingredients on a low speed and gradually add the sifted flour, cocoa powder and baking powder, then slowly start to speed up the mixer. Mix all together until combined and smooth. Next you are going to want to take your mixture and spoon them into your cupcake cases and place in your pre-heated oven for 22-25 minutes, once out of the oven leave to cool completely.

to make the frosting you will need:

| 75g dark chocolate | 35g unsalted butter | 100g mascarpone | 165g icing sugar |

method:

First things first you are going to want to melt the dark chocolate in a bowl, over simmering water and leave to cool. Then to make the frosting/topping you are going to want to beat the butter and the mascarpone together before adding half of the sifted icing sugar, then beat until well combined before adding in the other half of the sifted icing sugar. Add in the cooled melted dark chocolate and mix again until well combined, by adding the dark chocolate it makes the frosting this beautiful moose-like topping that honestly tastes so delicious. All that is left to do then is decorate using some red and green ready roll icing cut into holly shapes and dust with a light sprinkling of icing sugar for a Christmas-y/Snowy effect.

See you tomorrow for an all new post at 5PM GMT...

xo.

CHOCOLATE PRETZEL CUPCAKES

Hey guys, i hope you are all having an amazing day. I felt like i was in the mood for something chocolaty but different and easy to make. So seeing as i haven't uploading a baking blog post since back in December for Blogmas or baking at all since then, i thought i would give these chocolate cupcakes a go. If you want to re-create these "chocolate pretzel cupcakes" then please keep reading...

To make the cupcakes you will need:

175g caster sugar

175g butter

3 eggs

150g self raising flour

25g cocoa powder

1 level tsp. baking powder

12 cupcake cases

To make the topping you will need:

250g mascarpone cheese

2 tbsp. icing sugar

2 tbsp. freshly squeezed orange juice

1 bag cadbury's pretzels

Firstly before you start you are going to want to make sure you have clean hands. Then you are going to want to pre-heat your oven to gas mark 4 or 180°C/350°F and taking your baking tray you are going to want to line it with 12 cupcake cases.

To start off the cupcake mixture you are going to want to take you sugar, butter and eggs into your mixer and the sift in the flour, cocoa powder and baking powder.. then mix all together until combined and smooth.

Next you are going to want to take your mixture and spoon it into your cupcake cases, then place in the oven for 20 minutes. Once your cupcakes are cooked remove from the oven and leave to cool on a cooling wrack (you are going to have to make sure they are complete cool before moving on to the next step). 

So once cooled you are going to want to make your topping for the cupcakes, take your mascarpone, icing sugar and orange juice and mix it all together. Once the mixture is all combined either spoon or pipe your mixture onto your cupcakes then finally add your chocolate pretzels to top it off. When you have done all of this all there is left to do is eat, so enjoy!

Hope you enjoyed this type of blog post, if you ever decide to re-create this recipe then don't forget to tweet me a picture to @iamkatiee_

I would also love to know what your favourite thing is to bake?

CHEESECAKE BROWNIES

85% of the time if brownies are on the menu at a restaurant and i'm having dessert i will have them. I love me some brownies. Here is a quick and easy cheesecake brownie recipe to cheer you up if you are either having a rubbish week, fed up with this winter weather or you just love you some chocolate goodness.

For the brownie mixture you will need:

225g/8oz dark chocolate (minimum 70%)

150g/5½oz unsalted butter

3 free-range eggs

225g/8oz caster sugar

100ml/3½fl oz strong espresso

100g/3½oz plain flour

For the cheesecake mixture you will need:

150g/5½oz full fat cream cheese

50g/1¾oz caster sugar

1 free-range egg

Method:

Pre-heat the oven to 170C/325F/Gas-Mark3. Grease and line a 8in/20cm square cake tin. For the brownies, melt the chocolate and butter in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water (Making sure the base of the bowl isn't touching the water.) Remove the bowl from the pan and set aside to cool slightly. Whisk the eggs, caster sugar and coffee in a bowl until well combined. Sift in the flour and chocolate mixture and mix until well combined.

For the cheesecake, beat the cream cheese, caster sugar and egg until smooth.

Spoon the brownie mixture into the cake tin then spoon the cheesecake mixture on top and use a knife to cut lines into the mixture to create a marble effect.

Bake in the oven for 35-40 minutes, or until just set. Remove the tin from the oven, set aside to cool completely, then cut into squares.

When all the above is completed all that is left to do is sit back, relax and enjoy.

Hope you are all having a happy Wednesday...

Katie♥

BLOGMAS DAY SEVENTEEN AND EIGHTEEN: CHOCOLATE CANDY CANE CUPCAKES

Today's blog post is combined from yesterday and today, as yesterday i didn't feel too good when i got home from catching up with a friend and doing some shopping. So here is an extra special recipe for the third and final installment of my Christmas Baking blog posts i have been doing on Wednesday's. Christmas is just a week away now, exciting much!! 

So here is a recipe i used to create chocolate candy cane cupcakes...

To make the cupcakes you will need:

125g soft butter

125g caster sugar

150g self raising flour

2 large eggs

2tbsp cocoa powder

25g melted chocolate 

Cupcake cases (12 as the recipe makes 12 cupcakes)

To make the butter-icing you will need:

100g unsalted butter (Softened)

225g icing sugar (Sifted)

1tsp vanilla paste

1tbsp milk

Candy canes (12) or Decorations of your choice

Pre-heat the oven to 180c/350f/gas mark 4. Place 12 paper cupcake cases in to a shallow bun tin. Place the butter, caster sugar, flour, eggs and cocoa powder into a large bowl and beat with an electric whisk until the mixture is just smooth and then beat in the melted chocolate.

Spoon the mixture into the cupcake cases filling them 3/4's full. Bake in the pre-heated oven for 15 minutes or until springy to the touch. Transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool completely.

To make the butter icing, place softened butter into a mixing bowl. Gradually beat in the sifted icing sugar with the vanilla paste and the milk. Beat until fully combined. Spoon or pipe the mixture onto the cupcakes and decorate them with candy canes or as you desire.

 If you're like me and love chocolate, cupcakes and candy canes you will love this. 

Hope you are all having a Happy Wednesday...

Katie ♥