Blonde Ambition

I think if I wasn't a red head I would definitely want to be a blonde. I just love this idea that a hair colour can embellish your life and make it more fun! Also Ms Monroe chose to be a blonde so there must be some sense behind it. I tried to dye my locks once in my youth but due to my incessant aubern-ness it just went the most vile shade of almost eggy yellow; needless to say I was a red head again almost immediately. So in homage to the great blondes out there, I have made my great blonde cake. It had to embody that blonde persona, light and bubbly but with a bit of somethin' somethin'. Originally I wanted to to do a cheesecake but it is January which is my month of frugality due to Decembers over indulgence so I needed something more feather-light? I thought what is more feather light then marshmallows. Easier on the calories then cream cheese but giving the same, possibly even more pleasing texture. 

Ingredients:

For the base:

300g butter biscuits 

60g softened unsalted butter 

For the filling:

100g good quality white chocolate

150g white mini marshmallows

125ml skimmed milk

300ml double cream

12 tsp of ginger syrup

2 tsp lemon juice 

50g pine nuts, toasted

a 10 inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom

• put your biscuits in a food processor and blitz till you get a rubble of sandy crumbs
• add the butter to your processor and pulse together till the mix starts to come together and forms a buttery clump
• take your biscuity clump and push it into the tart tin making a smooth base and sides with the back of your hand or a spatula, pop it in the fridge to chill
• in a pan, warm the milk and the marshmallows together, never letting the mixture boil. it will rise slightly and form a foamy white lather. splodge this pleasing mixture into a heatproof bowl and stand aside to cool 
• whilst your milky/mallowy mixture is cooling, melt your chocolate. whip up your double cream and ginger syrup in a separate bowl till it forms nice soft peaks. 
• add your cooled marshmallows and your melted chocolate to your cream mixture and fold together. the mixture should be deliciously oozing and bulging
• spread your mix onto your chilled biscuit base filling the pie evenly
• stick the whole thing back in the fridge and chill for at least 5 hours, I left mine overnight
• when your ready to eat the cake, top with your toasted pine nuts and serve yourself a nice wedge. glorious! This cake tastes like a grown ups milky bar! "The ambition cakes are on Bea!!" (see what I did there.... brilliant wasn't it!) 

(for the ginger syrup, I just buy a jar of stem ginger in syrup and take it out of there, makes life a bit easier ) 

xoxo

photo challenge day 3...

Well today is of course day three of this lovely little photo challenge. I really hope that others are doing this too and I'm looking forward to putting a little montage together at the end of the month. Today then is as follows-

Day 3 – Your idea of the perfect first date
and as you can tell I'm a girl that dreams big....

This is of course a scene from the glorious "An Education" one of my most favourite films of all time. And I want to steal David and Jenny's Paris date. I know that it wasn't their first date but it would be my ultimate first date, hands down; no contest... To wander around Paris, finding antique book stalls, smoking Russian Sobranies, eating a picnik on the banks of the river with perfect French bread and beautiful wine listening to the dulcet tones of Juliette Greco- perfection. Of course, it goes without question that my date would be set in the 60's. The Man-Friend would be wearing, as did David an immaculate navy suit but with Raybans and I would undoubtedly be working a Chanel summer dress..

I don't think so much this is my idea of a first date, this is my idea of what heaven is; but there you go, it's my dream and as I said, I'm a girl that dreams big. 

xoxox

oh my kitty christ!

This has made my actual year!! Most bizzare cat ever!!! love! 

cutest cake ever????

It doesn't even need words!! I just love it so much!! Needless to say, this will be made at some point! 

xoxox

Photo challenge day 2....

Hello my lovely little baguettes!! Today is day two of the photo challenge:

Day 2- something that you ate today- 

This isn't all I have munched on today but by the time I had checked on what I was meant to be photo-ing today, it was already in my tummy! So this was my desert this eve... and it was delish! You just can't go wrong with a good old Date and Walnut loaf, especially in these bleak winter months, something with a little sustenance to see you through. 

xoxox

Recipe to come...

Just had a little look through my posts and it seems that I haven't posted a recipe in an age! This is how good I am to you, I haven't just gone through my recipe cards and found an oldie but goodie, what I have done is created a brand new recipe for you'se guys! I know, stop! No you stop!! It occurred to me that my main postings are obviously cakes, cats and hairdye. Clearly Im not going to make cat pie, I do have an excellent cat jelly mould though that's about as far as I'm stretching cat wise... But I thought about trying to combine hairdye and baking and what I have come up with as so far, is the "Blonde Ambition Pie". Basically I intend to do a series of blonde, ginger, brown and black cakes... I don't want to be predictable and give you a ginger carrot cake so it's going to take me a little while to get the old noodle round it, so firstly I shall present to you "Blonde Ambition". It's just chilling in the fridge at the moment, I think its going to need an overnight set, so no pics as yet but I will get them to you tomorrow I promise. Hopefully also as the recipe is blissfully simple I may also be able to add this to the party saviours series

xoxox

defective cat, photo challenge

So today I got a comment on my blog from a lady in Canada!! Canada can you imagine! Terribly exciting!! Anyway it would seem that "Miss R" is much like myself, obsessed with, well complete and utter rubbish really! I always find this is the best kind of thing to be obsessed with if Im honest and I was thrilled that it means that my blog is marginally relevant to not just myself and the cats. By the way, Winnie has taken to sleeping in the sink (I think she's slightly defective!)

Anyway, anyway, anyway... So Miss R had a brilliant suggestion on her own blog (http://kawaiikitschlifestyle.blogspot.com/) that was basically 30 days of photographs and seen as I find myself taking pictures of the most random things I thought it would be nice to document my photos for a month. So I take up the challenge and document it to you, my fellow bloggetts - not to be confused with baguettes!!! So the list is as follows...

Day 1 – A photo of yourself and a description of how your day was.
Day 2 – A photo of something you ate today.
Day 3 – Your idea of the perfect first date.
Day 4 – Your favorite photograph of your best friend.
Day 5 – A photo of yourself two years ago.
Day 6 – A photo of an animal you’d love to keep as a pet.
Day 7 – Your dream wedding.
Day 8 – A song to match your mood.
Day 9 – A photo of the item you last purchased.
Day 10 – A photo of our favorite place to eat.
Day 11 – What’s in your makeup bag?
Day 12 – A photograph of the town you live in.
Day 13 – Your favorite musician and why?
Day 14 – A TV show you’re currently addicted to.
Day 15 – Something you don’t leave the house without.
Day 16 – Your celebrity crush.
Day 17 – A photo of you and your family.
Day 18 – Something you crave a lot.
Day 19 – Another picture of yourself.
Day 20 – The meaning behind your blog name.
Day 21 – A photo of something that makes you happy.
Day 22 – A letter to someone who has hurt you recently.
Day 23 – 15 facts about you.
Day 24 – A photo of something that means a lot to you.
Day 25 – What’s in your purse?
Day 26 – A photo of somewhere you’ve been to.
Day 27 – A picture of you last year and now and how have you changed since then?
Day 28 – Your favorite movie.
Day 29 – Something you could never get tired of doing.
Day 30 – A photograph of youself today + three good things that have happened in the past 30 days

So I would like to invite you as did Miss R, to take up the 30 day challenge! I think its going to be a treat to look back on in a months time and possibly slightly revealing too. Today is-

Day 1 – A photo of yourself and a description of how your day was- 

Well today was completely pants truth be told!! The dog shredded a full bin bag all over my kitchen, ate most of the contents then rolled in the rest- horrific! Secondly my laptop is going a bit squiffy and not working properly and thirdly, I dropped my mobile phone and the screen shattered. I think you will agree with me, horrific in every which way. I also getting properly back into my gym routine but was running like I had callipers attached to my legs and was wheezing like an old train on a steep incline... not my best look it must be said. I found this photo, and though I think I look slightly manic, it has confirmed to me that I do desperately want to get rid of this red hair and be orange again. So that's why I chose this as my first picture and hopefully by the time I post my 30th day picture, my noggin shall be gloriously orange once more! 

                                                                    xoxox