Creme Egg Rocky Road
22 February 2017
Despite it only being February I decided to have a go at an Easter themed recipe, I mean, the creme eggs are in shops so it must be ok. Every year at Easter I see the most amazing chocolatey creations. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a self-confessed chocoholic, so Easter is basically my favourite time of year. There's nothing better than a Cadbury's Easter Egg!
I love making rocky road because it's quick, easy, and tasty! There are also so many variations of ingredients that you can add or take away to put your own spin on it. But it doesn't get much better than this Easter themed one!
Here's what you'll need:
200g Milk Chocolate
180g Dark Chocolate
150g Unsalted Butter
250g Cookies
100g Mini Marshmallows
1 x Pack of Mini Eggs
1 x Pack of Mini Creme Eggs
3 x Creme Eggs
4tbsp Golden Syrup
Icing Sugar
Glass Bowl
Saucepan
Brownie Tin
Baking Paper
Step 1. Simmer a saucepan of water and place a glass bowl over - keep this on a very low heat. Melt all of the chocolate, butter, and golden syrup in the bowl. Keep this on a low heat else the chocolate will burn and turn lumpy (although this usually isn't the end of the world for this recipe)
Step 2. Whilst the chocolate is melting smash up the cookies to small pieces so that they can later be mixed in with the chocolate. Line the brownie tray with the baking paper
Step 3. Once the chocolate has cooled mix in the marshmallows, cookies, mini Creme Eggs and some of the Mini Eggs. Make sure they're all mixed in well and covered in chocolate!
Step 4. Once everything is mixed together it can be poured in the brownie tin
Step 5. Cut the Creme Eggs in half and decorate the top. Also decorate with Mini Eggs and some mini marshmallows (if you haven't eaten them all at this point)
Step 6. Place in the fridge to cool - this will take a couple of hours
Step 7. After the mixture is set sieve some icing sugar over the top!
Step 8. AKA the best step! Cut up into pieces and enjoy (or just eat it in one giant block if that's your style)!
February Wish List
13 February 2017
This wish list is definitely coming to you later than expected given that we're currently mid-February, but we'll live! Honestly, there wasn't a great deal I was lusting after this month so I really struggled - which is a first for me cause I usually want EVERYTHING!
from top left clockwise
Metallic Dots Old Skool Vans | Agate Bottle Opener | Marc Jacobs Daisy Kiss | Starbucks Recycled Glass Cup | Alice in Wonderland Print | Harry with Hedwig Funko Pop | Too Faced Sweet Peach Glow | Gold Hexagon Mirror | MAC Soft and Gentle | Pet Your Dog Pin
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
9 February 2017
On February 1st, after a looooong wait, I finally got to go see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in London. I think we booked the tickets almost 2 years ago and chose to book them for my Birthday so that I didn't forget - not that I could ever forget!
Admittedly, I did not try to avoid spoilers. I read the screenplay the minute it was released so I knew what was coming. But as I read it around 6 months before I went to the play, the full plot wasn't fresh in my mind. From what I remembered I didn't love the plot so I wasn't overly excited to see it. I was SO worried that it would be disappointing and ruin the Harry Potter series for me. I love the books so much, why not leave it as it is? Why ruin it by making further plots just to make some extra cash?
I couldn't have been more wrong.
The play is split into Part 1 and Part 2. As I decided to go see both parts the same day this meant I ended up spending around 5 hours in the theatre so it was a pretty long day. The price was around £30 per ticket so I was in the cheap seats at the back (as always). Whenever I go to the theatre I always buy cheap seats because, well, they're cheap, and every time I regret it because the view is rubbish. Even though I did see nearly everything I did have to sit at a funny angle the whole time because of Mr Big Head in front of me this didn't really ruin it for me; what else can be expected paying only £30? Just be thankful that there's an interval!
For those who don't know the play basically starts where the books left off; with the trio at Platform 9 and 3/4 waving off their children to Hogwarts. It was so surreal seeing grown up Harry, Ron, and Hermione, AND to see them played by somebody other than Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson; in my head they'll always be those 11 year old kids! But after I got my head around the new faces I couldn't fault the acting. The cast were just perfect and got the characters spot on!
THE EFFECTS, this is something we need to discuss! Honestly, it was pure magic. There were things that I wouldn't have even thought possible on stage and if this was on screen it would have been CGI for sure. Going into this I didn't even consider what sort of special effects they could or would use so coming out I was blown away. It was quite special seeing the magic truly happening on stage.
The Plot - Spoiler Alerts!
I have been debating whether or not to stick a plot review here, especially as they do hand out #keepthesecrets badges after you've seen it. However, the screenplay is printed ready for you to buy in shops so it isn't really much of a secret any more. If you don't want to know - look away now!
We start off at the train platform where Albus Severus is heading to Hogwarts for the first time; he's worried about what house he'll get sorted into. Low and behold he's sorted into.... Slytherin! And who does he befriend? None other than Draco Malfoy's son Scorpius. Albus is an outcast. He's a Potter in Slytherin and his magic skills are sub-par. So, when Amos Diggory seeks out Harry asking him to go back in time and save Cedric, Albus decides to take on the task himself. As you can imagine things go a little (or very) wrong!
Albus and Scorpius manage to get involved with the daughter of Bellatrix and Voldemort (we're all very happy that this is finally canon) and they get stuck back in time; the day that Harry was born to be exact. Quick wit and smart thinking gets a message to the Golden trio and, obviously, all is well in the end!
Albus and Scorpius manage to get involved with the daughter of Bellatrix and Voldemort (we're all very happy that this is finally canon) and they get stuck back in time; the day that Harry was born to be exact. Quick wit and smart thinking gets a message to the Golden trio and, obviously, all is well in the end!
I don't think the plot is great but the effects, acting, and show as a whole is incredible. If you've been to see it; let me know what you thought!
Reykjavík
5 February 2017
Last year we decided to plan a trip a little different to where we'd usually go - Iceland. It was definitely unlike anywhere I've ever been before. Typically when I go away it's to somewhere relatively warm so even packing my suitcase was an odd experience. Swapping sunglasses and dresses for waterproofs and woolly hats!
DAY 01
Reykjavík was quite wonderful; when we arrived the snow was lining the streets and it was truly picturesque. Just like I'd imagined. When we arrived at our hotel (The Grand Hotel Reykjavik) it was around 1pm, I hadn't eaten all day and I was starving so we decided to walk into the town. It was around a 30 minute walk from the hotel to the city centre which we didn't mind. I quite enjoyed playing in the snow and taking in the beautiful scenery - it was the pure ice pavement which was the issue!
When we got to the town we walked up to the Hallgrimskirkja Church which can be seen from miles away. It's definitely an impressive building but I found it a little too.. concrete! After we'd explored for a while we soon decided to grab some food. And where did we eat? None other than the Hard Rock Cafe (I know, not very traditional). I've started to collect the cocktail glasses around different cities and couldn't miss out!
DAY 02
Day 2 was... interesting. We were heading on the Golden Circle tour which we were quite excited about. However, the weather was horrendous. The winds were 80mph - the sort where you can feel the coach struggling and you can barely stand up in because it's so strong. And the rain - when I say rain, I mean the sort of rain that falls horizontally that you can't avoid. We actually didn't even finish the tour because the weather was that bad. We visited the Geisyr and Gullfoss Waterfalls - both of which were breathtaking - but then headed back to the hotel.
Day 03
Most of day 3 was spent at the Blue Lagoon (full post here) which is definitely a must if you're heading to Reykjavik! It's unlike anything I've ever experienced; it's probably the calmest pool I've ever been in and such a relaxing, surreal experience!
After we'd been to the Blue Lagoon we headed back into Reykjavik town centre. We found so many new places that we'd missed on days 1 and 2 and could've walked around all night. However, we also headed to hunt for the Northern Lights. Unfortunately we didn't see them but the experience was still great - there were so many stars in the sky and we even saw a shooting star!
CLAUDIA'S TOP TIPS:
1. Choose carefully when you visit! I would definitely recommend visiting when there are longer daylight hours (we had around 5 hours a day) and when the weather may be slightly better!
2. Money, Money, Money! It's true what they say about it being expensive. I'd advise to take cash if you can - most places charge for using cards so you'll save a little extra using cash.
3. Don't go JUST to see the Northern Lights. They're not always visible so if this is your sole reason for going you may come back disappointed. I'd definitely recommend taking trip to try and see them whilst out there but don't go just for them!
4. Take some snacks and a water bottle with you. As it is quite pricey out there it's great to have some snacks in your bag for when you want a little something. Also the tap water is safe to drink so it's a good idea to fill a bottle before you go out.
5. EXPLORE! I definitely feel like we didn't have enough time to properly explore Reykjavik which is a shame because it's such a beautiful place
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
