Book Review: Sweetie!: 50 Delectable Treats

Sweetie!: 50 Delectable Treats is an adorable recipe book filled with 50 mouth-watering treats to tempt you into a sugar-enduced coma. Amen.

The recipes are taken from The Hardie Grant Test Kitchen and are all illustrated (not a photograph in sight) by Daniella Germain.

I found the recipes easy to follow including plenty of detail (imperial, metric and American cup conversions) with clear content that makes up for the fact you don’t really see what you are making – my only concern. However, I will hold my hands up and confess that may come down to my lack of confidence in baking – ah macaroons how you taunt me.

I’ve yet to make a recipe from Sweetie! but will be putting a few ideas together from the book when I have a little tea party this summer in our local woods. As soon as the sun pops out I’ll be paying homage with a G&T popsicle! Hurrah.

The book is compact and great for the baker (and appreciator of good illustration!) in your life. You can purchase Sweetie!: 50 Delectable Treats from Amazon for just £6.99 and I thoroughly recommend you do!

♥

P.S Thank you Hardie Grant Books for the review copy!

Review: Pink Champagne Truffles, Hotel Chocolat.

 

With one week to go until Valentine’s Day, I’m feeling romantic. We don’t usually make a big thing of the day but this year, I’m thinking we’re both going to make some effort since we’ll have the day off.

For me, on Valentine’s Day, you can not go wrong with a compilation CD made especially for you (Yes, I am 16 yr old trapped in a 31 yr olds body!) a good movie and a box of chocolates to share with your boy or gal. So I was delighted to sample a box of Pink Champagne Truffles from Hotel Chocolat to review, to put me in the mood.

I love champagne truffles but have never tried the pink version before. Not only is the packaging delightful, feminine and romantic, the chocolates are dreamy. With a subtle hint of tangy strawberry, and a creamy filling of champagne truffle encased in milk chocolate – you can’t really go wrong buying a box of these for your loved one. I think classic is the word I’m looking for. 16 chocolates for £20 is about right, I think, for boozy infused truffles but I think if you only gift a smaller box (£10 for 8) that would be perfect too.

Hotel Chocolat have a lovely range of chocoloate for Valentine’s Day suiting all purses and tastes. Take a peek!

Thank you Hotel Chocolat  for the lovely treat.

Do you have anything  planned for Valentine’s Day?

♥

Review: Hotel Chocolat

So, as I mentioned yesterday, the OH and I indulged ourselves, prior to his birthday, to a chocolate feast courtesy of Hotel Chocolat.

When I was asked to review something from their Christmas range I knew it would be hard to pick a product – seriously, how does a chocoholic choose? But I did, and I was swayed by these delightful Mini Christmas Crackers for their petit chicness!

There are 10 chocolates to a box (one in each cracker) made up of – Rhubarb Fool, Billionaire Shortbread, Berry Mousse, Cinnamon Praline and the Simple Milk Truffle.

The choice of flavours are a perfect accompaniment to the season; all luxurious and delightfully packaged in a mini cracker so you can savour each one. The Cinnamon Praline had to be my favourite – it delivered just the right amount of spice to accompany the praline and milk chocolate. Oh boy, was it good. To be honest there wasn’t one we didn’t like but it would have been even better if there were other choices than the five flavours. Perhaps some liqueurs to add to the mix, it is Christmas after all?

As they’re not just a box of chocolates, these luxurious chocolate treats could go a long way: use them as stylish table settings or perhaps to add to your Christmas tree? Another option would be to use the individual chocolates as stocking fillers, already packaged so nicely, no fuss! Alas, I wanted to test these babies out so we ate them, like any good sweet tooth would, in one setting.

The Mini Christmas Crackers are priced at £15 which, if buying as part of a dinner party or for stocking fillers, I think is very much worth it. I’m going to head over to the Christmas range once more, as I hear there’s a mulled wine chocolate in town…oh my.

♥

Disclosure – I was not paid to write this post but Hotel Chocolat did send me the chocolates to review.

Book Review: Celia Birtwell

 

When the Celia Birtwell book was handed to me by the postman, courtesy of Quadrille Craft, I was more than a little excited (I may have squealed at him – he thinks I’m crazy). Being the first book (long overdue) published on Celia,  I was curious to know more about the life and work of such an iconic British designer.

 

 

The book is hardback coffee table perfection, accompanied by sketches, artworks and personal photographs. But not only is the book a visual treat, it delivers such an inspirational kick, I wish I’d had the book years ago.

The book concentrates on the designers career span of over 50 years, from couture to home interiors and her collaboration with Topshop.  Rather than focusing on her personal life (relationship/partnership with Ossie Clark)  it is a biography that celebrates Celia’s work, ambition and inspirations.

The book makes a great gift for admirers of Celia’s work, design/fashion students or anyone with an interest in British Culture (holds hand up). The book has also persuaded me to buy this edition of  my favourite novel,Wuthering Heights, that she illustrated back in 2009. I must find a copy!

You can purchase the book from Amazon for £15.19.

Please note, I was sent this copy to review and was not paid for writing this post.

♥

Review – Everything Alice

“Oh my ears and whiskers, how late it’s getting!”

When this craft book landed on my doormat I shrieked like a little girl for I knew the book was full of makery; a collection of 50 makes ranging from Wonderland Mobiles, Vintage Cake Stands to Alice in Wonderland themed recipes.

 Created by authors Hannah Read-Baldrey and Christine Leech and inspired by Alice’s adventures in Wonderland, this book is a visual treat with substance. Full of inspiring photography and creative ideas, I am smitten (holds book close to chest).

The projects, whether you try your hand at making, baking or decorating, are inspired. Take the Mad Hatters cupcake box -  a perfect way to present a cupcake as a gift. Or the curious teapot cake that had me reaching for the ready rolled icing.

My favourite aspect of the book is the variety of projects featured, suitable for all abilities. You don’t even have to be head over heels for Alice in Wonderland (although it helps) to make aprons, cordials and cushions shaped like an envelope (swoon).

 

So, the best way to try the book out? Get my craft-on!

I picked the vintage cake stand project, picking out plates and teacups from my small collection, using some super strong glue and a wee pinch of precision. What do you think? It was an easy project to do and all you really need is make sure the cups are in the centre of the plates. Leave to dry, tier by tier, and then pop together to create a cake stand that oozes personality.

Fancy a trip down the rabbit hole? Buy the book here and visit Everything Alice for more treats!

♥