Apple Crumble & Custard Cupcakes

It's the New Year and I'm back with another recipe for you guys today. It's no surprise that I LOVE baking and I'm always looking for new recipes to try. I stumbled across this one a few months ago and thought I'd give it a try because it just looked too good. I didn't realise that apple crumble and custard cupcakes were a thing but they are and oh my are they delicious! What could possibly go wrong?! They were a little complicated to make, especially since you need to prepare the custard the day before but they were sososo delicious so it's totally worth it. It really is the perfect cross between a cupcake and an apple crumble and custard pudding. If you'd like to know how I made them then just carry on reading!

INGREDIENTS:

For the custard cream icing:

• 100g icing sugar 
• 3 tbsp custard powder
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 600ml double cream

For the cupcakes

• 3 small dessert apples
• 3 tbsp custard powder
• 140g slightly salted butter, softened
• 140g golden caster sugar 
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 140g self raising flour 

For the biscuits and crumble topping

• 75g golden caster sugar 
• 100g slightly salted butter, chilled 
• 140g self raising flour
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 
• 1 1/4 ground cinnamon

METHOD

1. NOTE: The icing will need to chill in the fridge overnight, so make it the day before you want to serve the cakes. Sift the icing sugar and custard powder into a large bowl, add the vanilla extract and 4 tbsp of the cream, then whisk until smooth.
2. Tip all but 2 tsp of the remaining cream into a medium saucepan and heat gently until small bubbles start to appear around the edges of the pan – the cream should be hot, but not boiling. Gradually pour this into the bowl with the custard powder mix, whisking all the time. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan and return to the heat. Cook gently for 4-6 mins, stirring all the time, until the mixture has thickened and the custard powder has dissolved. Transfer to a bowl and cover the surface directly with cling film. Leave to cool, then chill overnight.
3. The next day, heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with muffin cases. Toss the apples and custard powder together in a bowl and set aside. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together, using an electric whisk, until light and fluffy. Slowly add the eggs and vanilla extract, whisking well after each addition. Fold in the flour, then stir through the custard powder- coated apples. Divide the mixture between the muffin cases and bake for 18-20 mins until lightly golden, and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool on wire racks.
4. Blitz all the ingredients for the crumble together in a food processor until the mixture resembles fine crumbs. Tip half the mixture onto a baking tray lined with baking parchment and bake for 5-10 minutes until lightly golden.
5. Continue to mix the remaining half of the crumble topping mixture until it comes together to form a dough, adding 1-2 tsp of the reserved double cream to bind, if needed. Form the dough into a ball, wrap in cling film and chill for 30 mins, or until firm.
6. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to the thickness of a £1 coin. Using an apple-shaped and a leaf-shaped cutter, or a sharp knife (which is what I used), cut out 12 apple shapes and leaves. Lift the shapes with a palette knife and transfer to a baking tray lined with parchment. Bake for 8-10 mins until lightly golden. Leave to cool for 5 mins, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
7. Whip the chilled custard cream icing to soft peaks, then transfer to a piping bag fitted with a large round nozzle. Pipe some icing onto each cupcake, then smooth the surface using a small metal spatula or the back of a spoon. Sprinkle over some crumble, then insert an apple biscuit into the top.

I hope you enjoyed this one. Like I said they are a little trickier to make and they're not something I'd make often but as a one off treat they were fun and delicious to eat! This post is longgggg overdue but you know what they say - it's better late than never. 

Lots Of Love,

Meg X

Hello, Autumn!

Autumn. My favourite time of the year has arrived once again and I couldn't be happier to ditch my practically non-existent summer wardrobe for all things that bring me warmth and comfort. I love everything about this season - from the fashion to the food and we can't forget about those dark and cold nights where we're all snug in the cosiest pyjamas with a hot drink and Netflix. I've always said that I feel the most me around this time of year. I feel comfortable and content most days and that's down to many things, most of which will be included in this blog post today. I've decided to join the blogger train and write about the reasons why Autumn is in my personal opinion the most wonderful time of the year.

Fashion / Accessories 
Autumnal clothing allows me to feel so much more comfortable in my own skin and conforms to my own style way more than summer clothing does. I love the colours - mustard yellow, burgundy, dark forest green (my ultimate fave), orange, reds, golds, black. I just prefer the variety of shades and I'm definitely not the only one. Oversized scarves, bobble hats, layers (lots of layers), chunky 'throw on' jumpers that later on become far too warm despite the fact that they're super soft and cosy to wear, boots, tights, coats. I just bloody love Autumn fashion and if I could wear it all year (which in the UK is possible) then I definitely would! We haven't even made to October yet and already Zara are killing it with their Autumnal pieces this year! I just love it! I also prefer doing my make up during the colder months because I tend to be more adventurous. I love being able to do my dark purple / berry lip and golden eyes at this time of year. I just feel like there is so much more you can do and so many different looks and colours to experiment with (that's if I've got the time)!

Cosy Nights In
I love love love finishing college and walking outside to see that it's almost pitch black and the weather is gloomy and miserable. I personally love the rain and being able to wrap up warm. There's nothing better than putting your lounge wear or pyjamas on (I'm absolutely loving THESE at the moment that I got from Next the other week. Who doesn't want pyjamas with hedgehogs and squirrels in dressing gowns drinking tea on them?!) and making yourself a hot drink and snuggling up on the sofa with a film or your nose in a book whilst being surrounded by cosy lights and candles. Candles are another highlight of Autumn and Winter for me. There is such a variety of scents these days it's almost impossible to decide which ones to light. Pumpkin and Gingerbread scents always go down well with me. Christmas Eve by Yankee Candle is one of my faves too. I love cosy nights in and being able to do them often during the Autumn is heavenly.

Skincare
You might think that this is a weird one but bare with me! Naturally, my skin becomes way more problematic in the colder months than it would during the summer which means that I spend more time doing my skincare than I usually would. Even though it's way more effort (sigh) my skin thanks me immensely for doing it. Also tied into this category is LUSHHHH! My absolute fave. Their Halloween and Christmas range never disappoint and I've already started to stock up on old time classics and personal faves for a relaxing night in. I have way more baths in the colder months a) because I'm constantly cold and b) because they really help my skin when it's dehydrated and struggling. The Body shop also do an amazing collection at this time of year. The spiced apple shower gel is dreamy and instantly reminds me of Autumn and Winter. (Just an fyi but I might be doing a 'my current skincare faves' post over the next couple of weeks!) 

Food / Drink
Yes, I am one of those people who loves a Pumpkin Spice. Not because it's Starbucks or because it's the drink of choice at this time of year but because I bloody love pumpkin anything. Along with gingerbread and cinnamon, it's probably my favourite scent / taste for Autumn. It's not too sweet yet it's not too overpowering with spice and flavour either. Bluebirds do the BEST spiced pumpkin pie flavoured tea and it's the best thing I've ever 
tried. I also tend to live on homemade soup during these months - whether it's mushroom, butternut squash, classic tomato or winter vegetable, it's the nicest thing to have on those cold nights. M&S have also upped their game this year and they're apparently introducing a load of new vegetarian food for the Christmas period. Just an fyi to anyone who's veggie like me!

TV
I've always said that Autumn is when all the really great dramas are on TV! Not all of them, I mean loads of my faves have already aired this year but the point is that there is always something on! I'm currently watching at least 5 things and it's great to have something to look forward to during the evenings! I'd highly recommend Victoria (Sunday, ITV 9pm UK)! One of the best series I've EVER seen. Anyone who knows me will know that I bloody love my historical films and series (I'm well aware that a lot of what is shown has been included for dramatisation purposes but STILL). Safe House is brilliant and so gripping. I'm literally on the edge of my seat watching that show (Thursday, ITV 9pm UK). Doctor Foster which is also an incredible series starring the phenomenal Suranne Jones (Tuesday, BBC1 9pm UK). Strictly Come Dancing which is just a classic (Saturday, BBC1). And we can't forget about Great British Bake Off which just screams Autumn is coming every year (Tuesday, Channel 4 8pm UK).

These are some of the endless reasons why I adore Autumn so much and I'm so excited for the upcoming months! I've already created loads of new content for my blog and I can't wait to share it all with you. I hope you enjoyed this one and don't forget to stay hydrated and wrap up warm!

Lots of Love,
Meg X

Put The Kettle On : Bluebird Tea

Anyone who knows me, actually, you don't have to know me very well because I announce my love for tea that much that even the stranger I bumped into in the supermarket yesterday knows. Tea, tea, tea. I bloody love the stuff. It doesn't matter what day it is or what mood I'm in, I am always craving a cuppa. Up until last year, I'd been pretty boring with the type of tea I drank and I tended to stick to good ol' trusty English Breakfast tea. You can't go far wrong with that. I still love that, but I've started stepping out of my comfort zone and trying different types of teas and different flavours. I've been writing this post for about five minutes and already I'm starting to see how much of a middle aged woman I am. But please trust me when I tell you that I have discovered the most delicious tea. The brand is called 'Bluebirds' and I'm sure I'm the last to have discovered this place but the tea is THAT good that I'm dedicating a whole blog post to it (it didn't take much persuading but STILL). I discovered the brand a good few months ago but it was only last month that I placed my first order. I would have written a post straight away but I wanted to try everything properly and give you my honest opinion. Of course, I ordered far too much but I wanted to get a flavour of the types of teas I liked and didn't like. The parcel arrived and I'll hold my hands up and admit that I was wayyyy too excited about it. Without rambling on too much, I'm going to VERY briefly talk through some of my favourites and I bet there is at least one of you out there who is just as excited as I am about this...

Bonfire Toffee

This one is a black tea, you brew it for around 4 minutes and it's completely up to you if you want to add milk to it. As soon as I read the description for this tea, I was immediately intrigued as to what it would taste like. Any tea with a hint of apple is a winner in my eyes and this one was no exception. It's a rich mixture of caramel, apple and toasted cinnamon which to me is just Autumn in a mug. The smell instantly reminded me of mince pies, which of course, I was very happy about. It may be rich with flavour but at the same time it's not too overpowering and therefore is one of my favourites.

Peppermint Cream

I bloody love peppermint tea and I've always got some in the cupboard. Therefore, I couldn't wait to try this brew and I was curious about the 'cream' element in the title. It's an Oolong tea that you brew for around 3 minutes and again it's up to you whether you add milk or not. I personally don't add milk to this one just because it tastes quite creamy without due to the cocoa and naturally sweet blend. You can't go far wrong with this one, it really is gorgeous and perfect for all year round in my opinion.

Gingerbread Chai

This was the tea that I was most excited to try due to my love of winter spices and flavours. I'm a huge fan of Chai tea and this one is exceptionally delicious. This is a Roobios tea, brewed for a minimum of 4 minutes (I'll often leave the tea bag in while I'm drinking it) and you can add milk if you wish. As you can imagine, this one is packed with flavour and all things spice. With a hint of cinnamon, this one is perfect for the colder months. I had a sore throat last month and I found this brew to really help with that which was brilliant. It's not an award winning tea for nothing you know!

These are just 3 of the teas I ordered. If you click the link here it'll take you to the Bluebird website where you are free to browse through the many different types of tea and flavours that are available. I'm also completely obsessed with one of the free samples Bluebird kindly sent me which is called 'Spiced Pumpkin Pie.' It's not on their website yet so I'm assuming it won't be available to buy until Autumn but it's probably my favourite one that I've tried. If you love tea and you're keen on trying something new then I can't recommend Bluebirds enough. Not only is the tea absolutely delicious but the service and staff there are so friendly which makes such a difference.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this one. Please feel free to let me know what content you'd like to see during the upcoming months!

Lots of Love,
Meg X

What To Do When Life Gives You Lemons...

...don't just make lemonade, MAKE A LEMON DRIZZLE. One of my favourite things to bake is a classic lemon drizzle cake and summer is the perfect time to do that! I was baking some brownies last week (I'll be uploading my fave recipe soon) and I spontaneously decided to bake a lemon drizzle cake for my grandparents because I thought they'd appreciate it. Whenever I bake, I either adjust recipes I have used before OR I'll almost always use Mary Berry's because she is the ultimate baking Queen, let's be honest. This recipe is super quick and easy to make plus it is SO delicious (if I do say myself). So, carry on reading if you're interested in finding out how I made it!

You will need:

• 225g (8 oz) butter, softened
• 225g (8 oz) caster sugar
• 275g (10 oz) self-raising flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 4 eggs
• 4 tablespoons milk
• finely grated rind of 2 lemons

Icing

• 175g (6 oz) granulated sugar
• juice of 2 lemons

Method:

1. Begin by greasing the tin and then line with the paper, pushing it neatly into the corners of the tin. Pre-heat the oven to 160°C/325°F/Gas 3.
2. Measure all the ingredients for the traybake into a large bowl and mix well until everything is blended. Turn the mixture into the prepared tin, scraping the sides of the bowl with a plastic spatula to remove all of the mixture. Make sure to level the mixture so it doesn't come out of the oven super uneven. 
3. Bake in the middle of the pre-heated oven for about 35-40 minutes or until the tray bake springs back when pressed lightly with a finger in the centre and is beginning to shrink away from the sides of the tin.
4. Allow the tray bake to cool in the tin for a few minutes and then carefully remove it from the tin by lifting the baking paper.
5.  To make the topping, mix the lemon juice and granulated sugar in a small bowl to give a runny consistency. Spoon this mixture evenly over the tray bake whilst it is still just warm. And there you have it!

There you have it! It's pretty easy once you get the hang of it and it's honestly one of my favourite things ever, even though I'm not that keen on citrus flavours. 

I hope you enjoyed this one and please feel free to give me some recommendations for new blog posts! I'd love to try something new.

Lots of Love,

Meg X

Super Easy Iced Coffee

I feel like I'm completely betraying my love for tea here. I drink tea all year round but it's very rare that I'll make myself a coffee or even fancy one when I'm at home. Of course, if I'm in Starbucks then I'll almost always order some kind of coffee. But recently, and I'm blaming the unexpected warm weather we've been having in the UK for this, I've been craving iced coffee and it's honestly SO easy to make. So, I thought I'd share it on here just in case you haven't thought of making it before or you didn't know how.

You will need: 

Milk (I'm using Soya milk) 

Coffee 

Ice

Hot Water

A mug / glass (preferably a double walled glass / heat resistant) 

Note: I haven't put any measurements there because how much coffee and milk you use depends on how strong you like to have your coffee. 

1. Firstly, pour milk into the glass so it's just over half full before putting in a couple of ice cubes.
2. Boil the kettle and measure out around 1 and a half tea spoons of coffee into a separate mug before adding around 50ml of the hot water. 
3. Stir the coffee and hot water just like you would if you were making a normal coffee and then add the coffee to the glass with the milk and ice.
4. Stir it once more and there you have your iced coffee! You could leave it like that or if you like the flavoured syrups, you could add a tea spoon to add more flavour. I personally like the vanilla one for this time of year.

Like I said earlier, it's super duper easy and quick to make and it's so ideal for this time of year when the weather is a little warmer. I am so dependent on my cup of tea in the morning to wake me up but I'm never in the mood for it when it's warm so iced coffee is beaut!

I hope you're having a fab day!

Lots of love,

Meg X

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Crumbs and Doilies

It was around March last year, just before my 17th birthday, when I was told about this amazing little cupcake shop in Soho, London. My friend had showed me their Instagram account (see it here) and I fell in love with how cute the cupcake designs were. We didn't really hesitate when deciding that we should go there on our next trip to London and that's exactly what we did! I had never really explored Soho before so it was like a maze to me at first. Let's just say that my friend and I aren't the best navigators and so it took us a little longer than expected to find the shop, which, by the way, is the CUTEST little cupcake shop I have ever seen. If you didn't know about it then you wouldn't really know it was there as it's tucked away in Kingly Court which is a beautiful little place in Soho that has a brilliant mix of established chains, independents and gift shops. Anyway, the shop itself is small but cosy and the range of cupcakes is never ending. The staff are always so friendly and it's just the perfect place to visit with friends! Crumbs and Doilies don't just do cupcakes but a whole range of different treats that you can order and take away. You can click here to see their website and see for yourself! 

I was in London on Saturday for Pride (best experience EVER) and I saw on their Instagram that they were doing a range of different treats in honour of Pride which was amazing!  I thought since I was near Soho watching the parade that I'd check it out, especially since I hadn't been for so long. I don't know whether I've got an great memory or what but I managed to find the place so quickly compared to the last time (which was great because London was even busier than usual). As expected, the shop was full of people in London for Pride which put the biggest smile on my face. Everyone took their time deciding what to get because there was just so much choice. I ended up getting (forgive me because I can't remember the exact names) the Unicorn Vanilla Cupcake, Salted Caramel with Pretzel Cupcake and the Rainbow Caramel and Chocolate Slice which all looked SO DELICIOUS. I mean, I could have bought the whole shop but I did manage to restrain myself, a little bit anyway. And if you're wondering, the cakes do taste just as good as they look!

I absolutely LOVE that Crumbs and Doilies do cakes and treats for special occasions and Pride was no exception which makes me so unbelievably happy. If you're ever in London near Soho, definitely check out Crumbs and Doilies because I honestly can't recommend them enough. You'll only be sorry that you didn't discover it sooner. 

Anyway, I hope you all had a lovely weekend. Mine has been full of love, laughter and colour! 

Lots of love, 

Meg