Friday Fancies..

Soap Flakes - source [Nathalie Stämpfli]

Ice Ball Mold - source [Japan Trend Shop]

Universal Packaging System - source [Yanko Design]

Hidden Bed - source[trends-now]

Cherry Chomper - source[Amazon.com]

improvised Washi Tape

Okay, so not quite the same thing, but this is my cheap version of Washi tape (which is being used all over blogland right now) - 6 rolls of electrical tape for £1 from your local 'Pound' store...

It'll do me for now...

Easy Choccy Cake Recipe

I made a cake today - this chocolate cake, which is in fact the only chocolate cake I ever make as it is fail  proof, as well as being moist and quick to make  - I have made this cake literally hundreds of times and it never fails...

I usually bake the cake in just one tin as it always rises to a good height, but I was feeling fancy today so split the mixture between 2 tins and sandwiched the sponges together with a custard butter cream..

So, here's the recipe because you know everyone should have a really good chocolate cake recipe in their repertoire..

Moist Chocolate Cake

275g (10oz) self-raising flour
pinch of salt
3 tbsp of cocoa powder (not drinking chocolate)
150g (5oz) Sugar
1 tsp Bicarbonate of soda
1/2  pt (300ml) milk
1/4 pt (150ml) Oil (vegetable or rapeseed or some other light oil)
3 tbsp of Syrup (I use maple or honey, sometimes date)

Heat oven to 350F or 180C (Gas mark4)

- Sift flour and cocoa into bowl, add sugar, salt and bicarb - mix
- Add milk, oil and syrup to dry ingredients and mix well
- Pour into a large baking tin, or 2 smaller ones
- Bake in oven for approximately 30mins or until skewer comes out cleanly

I made the custard cream filling up, but to give and approximate idea I just substituted a couple of tablespoons of custard powder for the icing sugar when making a standard butter cream.  Try this recipe for a really good chocolate icing:-

Easy Chocolate Icing
1 tbsp Cocoa
3 - 4 tbsp hot water
1 tbsp butter
100g (4 oz) icing sugar

put cocoa in a bowl and mix with hot water - beat in butter until smooth and then mix in the icing sugar - beat again until smooth

I reckon tomorrow would be a good day to make a cake.....!

Friday Fancies...

A little bit of Friday eyecandy from around the internet...

Figure Supported Floor - source[imamuseum]

Lego Back to the Future - source[Flickr]

Lace Bracelets - source [Lost at E Minor]

Onuma Honey - source [akaoni Design]

Crochet lampshades - source [curiosites-en-tissu]

Findhorn

Just back from 3 nights in this sweet little chalet (the blue one) nestled behind the dunes at the small village of Findhorn .

We went for lots of walks along the beautiful clean beaches.

...
climbed the look-out tower in Culbin Forest

Visited the Foundation and admired all the quirky little dwellings

Introduced the boys to the delights of the village pub (lemonades only of course)

and spent peaceful evenings in front of the woodburner...

..a perfect getaway.