Spring me eggs - HOT CROSS BUNS

EASTER 

It's Spring! The baby animals are being born and flowers are blossoming. This Christian holiday is celebrated with food. Food food food. For some reason chocolate gets mega cheap and everyone eats loads of it, why are chocolate eggs so cheap? This is a celebration for me because its a 4 day weekend so I thought it would be lovely to make a batch of hot cross buns. Fruity and sweet hot cross buns, simple easy good food.

(You may want to have a book/zine handy, you'll find there is lots of bun rising time).

THE BUN RECIPE

Ingredients: (makes aprox 20 buns)

625mg STRONG flour

2 tspn mixed spice powder 

45g butter/soya spread

1 lemon zest

1 egg (use no-egg for a dairy free alternative)

150ml milk (cow or any dairy free alternative)

75g sugar

1 1/2 tbsp yeast

125g dried fruit

golden syrup 

oil

butter/soya spread

baking paper

1 plastic bag

a large baking tray

oven

MAKE

1. Sieve the flour into a large mixing bowl and crumble in the butter (make sure the butter isn't too hard).

2. Make a well in the center, add the sugar, lemon zest and yeast.

3.Beat in the egg and pour in the milk. This should form a bread like dough. (Add water to your mixture if its too wet).

5. Work and knead your dough for 5 minutes adding in your dried fruit.

6. Grease a large warm bowl with butter and place your dough inside with a tea towel over the top, in a warm place for an hour.

7. Read and tea break.

8. Knead and knock your dough about for a few minutes then put back into the bowl for a further 30 minutes.

9. Brake the dough into about 20 pieces and roll each piece into a bun shape then cover with your tea towel and rest for 10 minutes.

10. Grease your baking tray and place your buns onto the tray.

TOP TIP: Wrap the bun covered tray in baking paper and put a plastic bag around it, seal so not air will get in for the last rising.

11. Leave your buns to rise for 40 minutes and set your oven to 240oc.

12.Mix 2 tbsp of flour with 2 tbsp of water and mix into a paste. Make a small paper cone with your baking paper and pipe a cross on top of each bun.

13. Finally pop your buns in to the oven for 8-12 minutes and once they are golden brown bring them out and brush with golden syrup immediately.

EAT.

Happy Easter feasting!

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How did the buns go down?

I'm looking for a great bun recipe with chocolate and orange. If you have one please tweet it my way.

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Perfect Party Dress - Valentines Special

PARTY DRESS SEASON IS HERE!

Valentines day (puke) should be a party occasion. Here I have found the perfect party dress for any lady.

This beautiful dress will make you sparkle, the sweetheart neckline flatters any shape and this dress feels lovely on. You can dance, dine or date in this lovely number and 2013 is the year for sequins!

This dress is available in silver or purple in UK sizes 8-18 and is currently on sale!

originally £55.00 now ONLY £24.50

BUY ME <3

visit ASOS here

Once I put this dress on, I didn't want to take it off EVER!

Mmm sequins...

Dress companion

What do you think of this number?

Rate my dress on TWITTER or FACEBOOK

BUY ME <3

Shop at ASOS for hundreds of beautiful dresses.

www.asos.com

Dylan

On Wednesday afternoon I was informed that a box of Lurcher cross puppies had be dumped next to an A road in Lamberhurst, Kent. There were 5 puppies in total and they were probably 3 months old. After hearing this, of course I wanted to save 1 or even all of them! Luckily my boyfriend & Jackie (his mum) felt the same so say hello to DYLAN! (named after Bob)

We found out later at the vets Dylan is only 9 weeks old and should still be with his mother so we can't take him outside for a few weeks.

All the puppies were homed the day they were dumped which is great.

How does this still happen?

Tweet me!

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2012 magically transformed into 2013

Welcome to 2013 and i've invited all of my favorite things so far....

LIFE OF PI

A young man who survives a disaster at sea is hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery. While cast away, he forms an unexpected connection with another survivor ... a fearsome Bengal tiger.

This is a beautiful film of survival, hope and the cinematography is AMAZING.

HAIM

This indie folk trio are my favourite sound taking my into the new year. Also they're sisters from California and they remind me of British seaside and the 90's.

MR IPHONE 5

I have never been one to follow to crowds on technology but being a lover of instagram, floral phone cases and solitaire the new iPhone won me over. I have no idea how I got by before. I think its lovely slim tall design suits any hand/manbag and white phones are wicked!

EAT MORE FRUIT

If i am bad at something, it's eating fruit. it's my official new years resolution is it eat more!

My new instagram site....

Followgram!

Happy late New Year!

It's 2013

Oh my I have just spent 7 weeks running a lovely pop up basil cafe alongside an ice skating rink in tunbridge wells and haven't had a second to myself or my laptop. My 2013 treats will be with you THURSDAY!

Love h&h x

LONDON Fashion Weekend - Review & Snaps

I spent the day at London Fashion Weekend yesterday and it was immense!

After going last February in the evening I opted for a daytime ticket this time to catch all things Autumn/Winter in the light.

 Somerset House was jam packed with fashionable attire starting with the south wing full of heritage brands such as Pringle of Scotland and Aubin & Wills, the west wing had the more premium brands such as House of Holland and Ducie and the east wing was full of upmarket brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, Robert Cavalli and many more.

The Showspace was full of sparkling jewellery, hair and beauty treats and the Vodafone lounge was in the back.

With all of that there were also lots of pop up shops in the first floor such a Levi's Curve ID store & bar!

Vodafone Lounge talk - Twitter with special guests:

Henry Holland - Designer

Carrie Tyler - Editor elleuk.com

Rosanna Falconer - Digital Marketing Executive, British Fashion Council

Rachel Bremer - European Communications Manager, Twitter

I stumbled in to the Vodafone lounge at just the right time. An intimate talk with Henry, Carrie, Rosanna & Rachel had begun expressing their personal views and advise about starting up twitter as a business and how to maintain it. Being a big Henry Holland fan I was really happy to catch this especially as he added his own witty comments to the talk and it was full of helpful hints.

The Catwalk

The three key trends showcased for this coming season were Kitchen Chic sixties bright prints, silhouettes, layering with eye popping knits to keep you warm in the up and coming winter chills, Sergeant Indigo with masculine shapes, military and lots of over sizing coats, parkas, trousers and shirts with Indigo this winters favourite colour and Lady Brocade with it gorgeous embroideries, metallic quilting you can't help but notice with this trend is full of sequins and velvet. My favourite show was the Sergeant Indigo, I loved the boyish clothes with pretty hair, messy buns and braids. I think this look can be powerful and sexy all in one.

It's dark but beautiful.

My Mini Gallery

My sexy House of Holland purchase.

I had a great day at Somerset House, my highlight had to be seeing the talk in the Vodafone Lounge, these talks with different special guests will be held each day so if you're heading down make sure you don't miss it!

http://www.londonfashionweekend.co.uk/

The Hot Salad. The Fashionable Food of Autumn/Winter 2012

Autumn/Winters favourite dish is THE HOT SALAD. The salad is an amazing creation because you can basically throw loads of your favourite foods into a bowl with a selection of leaves and raw vegetables and its super healthy. With the return of frosty mornings and jumper wearing evenings it can be easier to just go for a stew or pasta dish to warm you up but this year I want to introduce you to the wonderful world of hot salads and this doesn't mean toss you leaves in a pan because they will probably wither and die. This could mean roasting your peppers or butternut squash with chilli flakes, baked peaches and steamed kale. Below I have comprised a selection of super easy delicious hot salad recipes for you to try this season. If you a great lover of fruit and veg and wanting to be healthy this is for you. <3

Warm Aubergine Salad

Bake 2 aubergines with olive oil, galic, salt & pepper for 30 minutes.

Sprinkle fresh coriander & parsley and toss into a bowl of oven roasted tomatoes seasoned with paprika.

Add a bag of mix leaves & a squirt of olive oil and enjoy with a slice of ciabatta!

Kale & Pommie Salad

Steam a bag of kale for 8-10 minutes on a high heat.

Roast flaked almond nuts in the oven for a few minutes.

Cut your pomegranate a remove all you flesh and seeds into a bowl.

Add your kale once steamed and you toasted almond nuts with a drizzle of golden syrup & eat !

Fire Roasted Pepper & Mushroom (via vegan dad)

1. Roast peppers on the BBQ over med-hi heat for 12-15 mins, turning regularly, until skin is blistered and wrinkled. Place in a large bowl, cover with a plate, and steam for 10 mins.

2. While peppers are roasting, toss whole mushrooms in a bit of olive oil and place cap side down on the grill. Roast for about 10 mins, until mushrooms release most of their water.

3. Skin and seed peppers when they have cooled enough to touch. Dab off excess water and cut into chunks. Thickly slice mushrooms. Place peppers and mushrooms in a bowl, drizzle with a little olive oil, add lemon juice, and season to taste with salt and pepper.

4. Place in serving bowl and top with fresh thyme. Serve.

Roasted Butternut Squash Salad

Roasted a butternut squash with chili flakes, garlic, salt & pepper for around 30-40 minutes (for best result cut into strips).

Once roasted add to a large bowl with 100gm of spinach, add a little extra chili flakes and a sprinkle of seed mix. Delicious on a very chilly day!

Please share any HOT SALAD recipes you have & let me know how these go down.

(Ingredients and portion control is in your hands.)

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