Recommendations: Scrummy Swirly Marble Muffins

Never one to like waste and with a pack of 6 eggs that were about to expire, I decided to make our home-made recipe of chocolate and vanilla marble muffins yesterday. My mum is usually the perfector of these when she gets the time but recently I made a batch that actually excelled her little muffins in that they grew ginormously in the oven and overflowed onto the baking tray – my secret...put them in the main oven mum! Yes the piddley little thing on top has a light and saves from heating the bigger oven for one tray of cakes but they don’t cook as well, and everyone likes a big muffin top.


But instead of hoarding these beauties all to myself, I’m going to share with you our recipe so you can make your very own ‘Fordham Family Marble Muffins’. What an honour! Now I’m no cake or cooking expert but this recipe works wonders for us and if you’d like to try it, this is how I make them:

• I made a 12oz batch yesterday just because I had 6 eggs to use up and however many eggs you have, you double that amount to determine how much flour, sugar and butter to use. I usually do a 10oz so let’s base this recipe on that (however if you want to do more just remember – however many eggs you’re using, double that amount for the other ingredients. 10oz makes 12 muffins)
• PRE-COOKING – Pre-heat the MAIN oven to 180°C and place your muffin cases into a muffin cake tray (this is deeper than a fairy cake tin, don’t get the two mixed up)
• Sift 8oz of self-raising flour into a mixing bowl (it will become apparent why only 8 and not 10 at this point but basically it’s to leave room for the chocolate powder)
• Add 10oz of cooking butter
• Add 10oz of caster sugar
• And finally crack your 5 eggs in the bowl too (...I know usually you’re advised to cream together the butter and sugar first before adding other ingredients but this is just how we make them and it works very well, however alter as you may wish...they’re your cakies)
• Sprinkle in a teaspoon of baking powder and 4 drops of vanilla essence
• Use an electric mixer (and a bowl cover might be handy if you have one) and whisk it all together until it’s smooth, creamy and there are no visible bits of ingredients
• Spoon the mixture into the muffin cases but only filling them half way. Once this is done you should have, and need to have, half your cake mixture still in the bowl
• Then add 2oz of cocoa powder and mix together until the mixture has gone chocolatey
• Fill the other half of each muffin cases with the chocolate mix, filling them almost to the top, and using all your remaining mixture
• Then with the end of a teaspoon or a skewer, swirl each muffin case mixture slightly, just enough so that you can feel the two colours have entwined but that the top is still very much just chocolate, not vanilla


• Pop in the oven for 15mins (the bigger mix you do the longer it will need)
• You know when they are done because if a skewer is poked through them, it comes out clean, they are firm when shaken and springy when touched (when you take them out, if there have been any spillages onto the baking tray, try them, they are delicious especially as they’re still warm and crunchy from the oven!)
• Leave to cool for 30mins

IF YOU WANT TO MAKE CHOCOLATE BUTTER ICING FOR ON TOP OF THE MUFFINS FOLLOW THIS:


• Sift 6oz of icing sugar into a bowl (remember if you’re making a larger batch you may want to increase this amount)
• Add in 2oz of cocoa powder (sometimes I do a little less as this amount can make it quite a rich icing)
• Add in 3oz of cooking butter (however much icing sugar you choose to do, always half this amount for the butter)
• Cream together manually with a spoon – this can take a while and it looks as though there is too much powder for the butter to make creamy but trust me, persevere with it, it will come together so don’t add water or milk or more butter out of impatience...it makes a gooey mess!
•Once your butter icing looks like icing – fairly thick, creamy but perhaps slightly lumpy (don’t worry about the lumps) – it’s time to ice your muffins! Do this in whichever way takes your fancy. I usually just cover the entire muffin tops with no fancy decoration but then afterwards add chocolate drops, sprinkles or sweets...it’s completely up to you.


And hey presto! You have yourself 12 (maybe more) delicious marble muffins! When you eat them you’ll notice how the two different mixes entwine as they cooked to create a marble effect...so what are you waiting for, go and offer them round.


Ps, Let me know if you make them and how they turn out, I love receiving your comments. Would you like to see more recipes on here at all?

(Sorry for a long post today but you can't really make a recipe post short!)

Essentials: My Daily Jewellery Fix

As much as I love the sparkles, the cute charms and the quirky characters that so beautifully decorate an outfit as well as a wrist or neck, I must admit I’m not a huge jewellery junkie. However I have my three daily essentials that go absolutely everywhere with me, glittering my wrists and middle finger. They include a Return to Tiffany Heart Tag bracelet, a Links of London Sweetie bracelet and a white gold ring from John Lewis. All of which were 18th birthday presents, and the priceyest (most adored) items I own.


Going to the Tiffany shop in London was amazing, I found it so exciting and walking out with a signature little green bag was even better! As for my Links lovely, that was a complete surprise present from my dad and a very good one at that. I was lucky enough to have had three charms brought for it too and since then, an extra one for Christmas in the apt shape of a snowflake. And the ring, another chosen present (but his idea) from my uncle. It was between a gorgeous sparkler or, being the brinking on eighteen teenager I was...ipod speakers! Safe to say I’m soo pleased I opted for the jewellery. A bit more memorable don’t you think?


Apart from these gifts (that I feel are lucky as when I wore them for my second driving test, and I passed!) not many chains, beads or buttons are usually seen on me. I have five long necklaces that actually I love but just don’t wear that often. As you can probably tell from these I’m not a huge lover of shorter necklaces, however I love the new craze of short chains with a darling charm accessorising it such as a tea-cup, a rabbit or a cupcake (yes they are all Alice in Wonderland merchandise). And I’ve seen two Tiffany necklaces of a similar style that are gracing my 21st birthday list...please boyfriend, mum or dad??

The one other jewellery item I would absolutely LOVE to wear is earrings but unfortunately that’s a no go area as I’m majorly allergic to them. So everyone wear a gorgeous pair of Accessorize earrings for me please.

Ps. Where are your favourite places to buy cute jewels and accessories? Keep reading for more R U and E posts...my next one's definately for a sweet tooth...

Update: Transitioning from S/S to A/W

With September fast approaching, the highly anticipated a/w full lines are nearing ever closer. As a sale-hater (I know it’s strange but I just can’t stand all the mess and rummaging in predominantly last years old rejects) and a winter lover (again strange but hey!) I cannot wait to walk into shops and be graced with the presence of non-sale, new season items everywhere.

But for this awkward in-between stage where we’re faced with the dilemma of dressing summery to accommodate the warm weather...unless you’re in England enjoying the heavy, unwanted rainfall that is (and I didn’t even get to wear my maxi dresses, sob!)...and suppressing cravings to adorn the new season’s delights, we are all left slightly baffled. Do we go with knits and tights to keep warm but ensure they are layered so we can easily cool down? Or stick with the floral tea dresses and squeeze as many days out of our summer wardrobe as possible?

Enter the high-street’s summer meets autumn pieces that make the transition between seasons easy and bearable. No more hiding indoors on a rainy day for lack of appropriate clothing girls! Here are just a few key pieces that I fully intend on treating myself to...after-all, there are only so many outfits you can create with leggings, jeggings and harem pants!


(Images from Topshop.com, Riverisland.com and Missselfridge.com)

From top left-bottom right (descriptions taken from websites)–
Caramel knitted twist hem top - Topshop £28
Cream bow jumper – River Island £34.99
Knitted cocoon shrug – Topshop £38
Karl print t-shirt – River Island £19.99
Long sleeve tri marl tee – Topshop £16
Dark grey peg leg turn up trousers – River Island £29.99
Black peg leg soft trousers – River Island £29.99
Tan leather shorts – River Island £59.99
Knitted bunny ear pom pom hat – River Island £12.99
Brown embossed barrel bag – River Island £79.99
Cream masculine lace up brogue shoe – River Island £24.99
Brown leather slip on loafer shoe – River Island £29.99
Brown leather ankle boots – River Island £29.99
Praline high loafer shoes – Topshop £80
Black suedette bow wedge - Miss Selfridge £50

Now I know there's a lot of shoes on this wish list and there not gonna be great for those transitional warm days or freezing evenings but I couldn't help but include them! Aren't they gorgeous? Obviously all these beauties will total up some hefty receipts so maybe I'll have to be a bit more stringent...oh the woes of being a student! However, handy birthday ideas fellow friends and family!!

Ps, How did I do with my first fashion post? Likey or no likey? Let me know and I can post more, or not...

Recommendation: YOU magazine

As a fashion journalism student (and a girl) I love reading magazines. My favourite glossy is Elle, as you can tell from my profile but I also enjoy the occasional secret peek at the hybrids...Closer, Heat and Reveal being among some of them but sshh don’t tell!

But my favourite one of all would shock a lot of my fellow course mates as it’s not a regular among our reading lists, or a regular among the fashion shelves for that matter, actually it doesn’t even cost a penny (unless you count the big mark up from buying the Daily Mail on a Sunday compared to every other day of the week!). Yes you’ve guessed it, I’m a self confessed YOU mag junkie.


(There's beauty...)

I adore this magazine and was shocked to find that some of my friends had never even heard of it! So in my first Recommendation post, I give you YOU.

Now don’t be put off by its link to the Daily Mail (which is another favourite of mine). Although there are some story links between paper and mag, the supplement is completely established enough to hold its own audience and win the title of ‘Best Supplement of the Year’ repeatedly. It houses everything your favourite magazine does (unless your fav mag is sporty, or photography/car orientated).


(...there's great feature articles...)

There is always a top A lister celeb on the front and a full double-page interview with them inside. The fashion pages are always crammed with the latest trends (albeit slightly pricey products but no more so than those featured in the likes of Vogue, Harpers Bazzar or Marie Claire), and they have a little fashion gem there who goes by the name of Mimi Spencer. Her weekly fashion column is genius and an all anticipated read of mine.


(...there's fashion...)

I also love how they feature articles about real life people, issues and problems and not just on celebs, the ultimate body or fashion, fashion, fashion! The reason I like it so much is because the creators are the type of writer I aspire to be, and they write about the topics I dream to write about.


(...there's lifestyle...)

It may be deemed an older woman’s magazine by some, and they would be right. A twenty-year old student is not the intended reader of a wealthy, conservative woman’s magazine but all the same, I adore everything about it and I’m sure as fashion conscious, open-minded young women, you would too.


(...and food.)

PS. If you have a family member who regularly buys the Daily Mail, just ask them to save the supplement for you. Or simply read it online! There, you have an enjoyable read that didn’t cost a penny...how often does that happen!

Essentials: Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish

I’m so excited about starting my new three blog topics, and these are just some of my daily Essentials that I'll be sharing with you (don't worry it's not just products that I have on my agenda). So that leads me on to my very first Essentials post.

It was through QVC that my mum actually discovered the Isle of Wight born Liz Earle and her (then) small array of naturally active skincare products...thank god for the creation of boring shopping channels on sky! After a phone call, an order and a prettily wrapped delivery, I was introduced to my friend ‘Cleanse and Polish-Hot Cloth Cleanser’. At the time I was a spotty little teenager so my mum thought the natural ingredients of Rosemary, Chamomile, Cocoa butter and Eucalyptus oils would be good for my skin. I’m now twenty and this unique cleanser has never left my product shelf.

It comes in a pump form and has quite a thick texture but is easily applicable to the face, even in a hurry. Once applied, you warm the provided muslin cloth in warm/hot water (I use hot personally as I feel it open my pores and cleanses more deeply) and gently remove the product from your face. Then simply splash with cold water to seal those pores back up again and prevent dirt from seeping in.

I use this in the morning and before bed once I have removed my make-up, although if you don’t mind dirtying the muslin cloth, this can also be used to remove make-up. It leaves your skin feeling fresh, soft and smoother as the removal with a cloth gently exfoliates too. A three-in-one hey girls! It is great for the skin too and for me, it really helps when I have break-outs or blemishes.

At £13.00 with two muslin cloths included, this beauty is a bargain! And you can always find it in double packs or on offer at QVC. A 100ml bottle lasts me about two months too if used twice daily.

To compliment this product use Liz Earle ‘Instant Boost Skin Tonic’ (it smells delicious!) and the ‘Skin Repair Moisturiser’ which comes in two types. Liz Earle is now avaiable at John Lewis for those that would rather shop instore opposed to online. If you would like me to post about these, just leave me a comment and I will be happy to!

A Fresh Start Take Two - the R U E philosophy!

Ok so no one likes failure, especially me. Trust me if I’m criticised or don’t succeed at something it makes me feel miserable. I openly accept constructive criticism and am all ears on how I can improve but when it’s just plain wrong, the sad face comes out, and stays there, and stays there...

That is how I have come to feel about my blog. Clearly my initial idea of writing a wide variety of topics and article shapes has backfired on moi so I am going to try a new approach. An article I recently read in ‘YOU’ mag encouraged an ‘If you don’t succeed, give up!’ attitude and that is what I am going to do. Not give up completely; because as well as hating failure, I am also very determined and unlikebly stubborn so I am going to persist with slow moving ‘Written and Posted’ and aim to make it a fast moving traffic magnet!

So after (another) unsuccessful bid to improve my blog with a questionnaire, the few that responded have opened my eyes to the fact that simply A) my posts are toooooo long, and B) there needs to be more fashion.

I 100% agree, my posts are too long so from now on I will save my ramblings on certain matters for my articles rather than on here. But although the majority of the most successful blogs in the blogosphere are fashion based, I am quite reluctant to follow the crowd. I really hoped that a fashion based blog could be avoided just because there are already so many amazing ones out there and I wouldn’t be able to compete with their quirky styles or NYC lifestyles. And for once, I wanted to be different.

So I think a compromise is in order. I have a new idea for my blog that will give it a better structure, more of a theme and hopefully a larger following. The R U E idea.

Recommendations. Updates. Essentials.

Each week I will bring you my top recommendations for just about anything from gift ideas, weekend getaways and the best buys. Teamed with regular updates, whether they be news from my life or the latest media frenzy, plus my can’t-live-without everyday essentials.

This will mean my blog is more tailored instead of my running riot with topics from here, there and everywhere, and still allows for me to cover a variety of topics from beauty products, fashion (I’ll try my best!), media alerts and foods, which will all sit very nicely under the fashion, beauty, lifestyle umbrella of the female blog-society.

So there you have it. All that’s left is for me to put my plan into action and keep my fingers crossed it works!

Let me know – what do you think of my blog-makeover idea? What type of things would you like me to write about under my new R U E blog-style??

PS. Once I have established a solid writing technique under R U E and determined whether or not reader’s like the new theme, I will open up a GIVEAWAY so keep checking for updates!