How to make Cadbury Scotch Creme Eggs

Happy Good Friday everyone!

Ever since my Facebook was bombarded with pictures of these beautiful looking chocolate treats last Easter, I’ve been dreaming about getting my hands on one. I hunted high and low for these in cafes and shops last year but I still couldn’t find one.

This year I’ve finally made them and OMG were they absolute heaven!! A little sickly to eat a whole one at once but they were absolutely delicious as an afternoon treat with a cuppa tea and also heated up topped with ice cream for a yummy dessert.

Here is my recipe so you can try for yourself at home.

Scotch Creme Egg recipe

Ingredients

• 6 Crème eggs
• 300g milk chocolate

 

Cake mixture

• 175g caster sugar
• 4 eggs
• 120g self-raising flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 60g cocoa powder
• 175g softened unsalted butter

Buttercream

• 120g softened unsalted butter
• 120g icing sugar

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees and grease or line a cake or brownie tin.

2. Cream the butter and sugar together before adding the rest of the cake mix ingredients.

* Top tip: Remember to sieve the flour and cocoa powder to reduce clumps.

*Top top: If the batter is too thick, add a splash of milk.

3. Pour the mixture into the cake tin and bake in the oven for around 25 minutes, until the cake is firm and springy.

* Top tip: Use a skewer to test if the sponge fully baked in the middle. The skewer will come out clean if it’s ready.

4. Take the cake out of the oven and allow to cool for 15 minutes.

5. Once the cake is fully cooled, crumble in a food processor until it resembles breadcrumbs.

6. Add the remainder of your softened butter, icing sugar and cocoa, mixing until a firm dough is formed. It should be similar to shortcrust pastry.

7. This is where it gets messy! Take handfuls of the dough, mould around the Creme Egg and roll into fist-sized balls.

8. Place each cake-covered egg onto a baking tray layered with baking paper and pop in the fridge to chill.

9. While the dough balls are cooling, crush the flake bars in a bowl. Melt 200g of chocolate in a bowl over a pan of hot water, or in short pulses in a microwave, until lumps have melted.

10. Once the cake balls are firm, dip into the melted chocolate and roll in the eggs in the crushed flake, covering the entire surface.

11. Place them back on the tray to cool in the fridge for another 10 minutes.

FINALLY you can serve and enjoy with friends and family over the bank holiday weekend… And believe me you really will.

Love Leeanna xo

Healthy lemon loaf cake recipe – perfect for Mothering Sunday

My mum is such a fanatic about afternoon tea so this year I’ve decided to have a go at making my very own selection of homemade treats for her to try.

This is just one of the tasters I’ve made that will be a sliced up on the cake stand. This recipe is actually a little bit of experimentation I have done myself to turn a lemon drizzle cake into a guilt-free dessert!

This lighter alternative is sugar-free, dairy free and can be made gluten-free. Oh and it’s totally delicious!!

Healthy Lemon Cake recipe

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups of self-raising flour (oat flour or other gluten-free flour)
• 1 1/2 tsp of baking powder (2 tsp for gluten-free)
• 1 cup of alpro plant-based yogurt/ low-fat greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup of agave nectar
• 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract
• 3 eggs
• Zest from 2 lemons
• 1/2 cup of lemon juice
• 1/2 cup of melted coconut oil

Simple steps

1. Mix wet ingredients together (yogurt, eggs, agave nectar, vanilla extract, lemon juic and zest). Leave out the coconut oil for now.

2. In a large mixing bowl combine the dry ingredients together.

3. Slowly add the two mixtures together, gradually folding in the coconut oil.

4. Pour into greased loaf cake dish and bake in pre-heated oven for 40 minutes.

5. With a skewer check if it comes out clean then leave to cool before eating.

It will last in an airtight container for a week. Delicious as an afternoon sweet treat with a cuppa or a fab dessert for you and your friends with custard or ice cream.

So you can have your cake and eat it! I hope you try this recipe at home and enjoy it as I hope my mum does this Sunday.

Love Leeanna xo

DIY Mother’s Day baking – Easy recipe for courgette, orange and pistachio loaf

Need some inspiration for Mother’s Day brunch, dessert idea or even as a homemade gift?

This healthy yet delicious cake is perfect for impressing all the lovely mum’s who have already tried and tasted everything.

I really surprised myself with this recipe… who would’ve thought a green vegetable I’ve only ever eaten with chicken for dinner actually tastes super delicious in a cake. I can’t think of a better way to sneak greens into my diet than inside my favourite kind of treat – cake and it’s just the type of dessert my mum would be intrigued to taste but never ever make herself.

What’s even more good news about this cake is that not only does it have nourishing goodness from the green veg but it is also packed full of protein and fibre from the flour I’ve chosen to use.

I found loads of pistachios leftover from making granola and I saw this recipe in Stylist magazine a while ago and decided to take on the challenge. I definitely recommend anyone to give this recipe a go to really impress you friends with something a bit different and sure to please with its healthy goodness and tastiness.

Courgette, orange and pistachio loaf recipe

Ingredients

• 200g crushed pistachios
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 150g unsalted butter
• 225g spelt flour
• 185g caster sugar
• 3 eggs
• Zest of an orange

Orange icing

• Juice of half an orange
• 2 tbsp icing sugar

Method

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 180°C and grease a loaf tin with butter.

Step 2: Crush the pistachios as best you can- I finely chopped them. Just be careful to watch your fingers and keep some for the topping!

Step 3: Cream together the butter (make sure it’s softened) , sugar and orange zest. Then combine with the cinnamon and flour, gently stiring in one egg at a time.

Step 4:  Pour the mixture into the cake tin and bake in the oven for one hour. Cover the cake with foil halfway through cooking then allow to cool on a rack.

Step 3: To make the topping, just mix icing sugar and the orange juice for a sweet and citrus sauce.

Step 4: Serve the cake with the sauce poured over and some pretty crushed pistachio on top. Then enjoy!

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my mum has and it encourages you to be a bit more brave and experimental with your ingredients in the kitchen!

Love Leeanna xo

Mother’s Day Gift Guide – From personalised present ideas to mother and daughter days out

Stuck for thoughts on what to get your mum for mother’s day this Sunday?

If your mum is anything like mine- she already has everything you think she could ever need! Well this was the dilemma for me this year because every present idea I thought of i’d already got her before as a gift or she has three!

To help everyone who is struggling too, I’ve gone on a hunt for some gifts that are much better than flowers and will make you look really thoughtful.

Top 5 ideas for all the lovely mum’s out there… who already have everything:

1. Afternoon Tea with a difference

Now my mum is very much an afternoon tea fanatic and although she has probably already had enough for a lifetime- these special afternoon tea packages are far from the standard to give a unique twist on the special day. From Afternoon Tea after a Segway tour, to boozy packages and high tea in a castle – there are SO many options.

Wherever you are across England there are a lot of places and options to choose from (with discounts too)– be it boozy, creative or scenic. You can’t go wrong really! Plus I don’t think you can ever actually have enough tea and cake!

2. Personalised scented candles £14.99

For mums who love to light up their home with candles and nice smells. My mum loves candles and they are a very popular present she receives from me and my sister but this gives it a special personalised touch and a home to put her collection of candles in! You can write any message you want and there are lots of different styles of candles and designs to choose from over at gettingpersonal.co.uk.

3. Pamper Day/Mother and Daughter break

Let’s face it we all like to unwind and have a little bit of pampering every now and then and what a great excuse for you to treat yourself too while giving your mum something special! There are plenty of 2 for 1 offers on spa days and and mini breaks across the country. From chocolate manis and pedis in London to the ultimate spa getaway with afternoon tea- there are so many tempting offers over at lastminute.com.

4. Monthly Surprise Hammock

I don’t think you can get much more thoughtful than this… giving presents to your mum every month for a year is most definitely going to get you brownie points over your siblings this mother’s day and keep her sweet all-year-round. If your mum is a jet-setter like mine or always dreaming about where to go next on holiday, then the monthly themes of selected products from different destinations will allow her to have a much needed getaway without even leaving home. Each Hammock Pack is filled with a mix of food, bath products, housewares, and accessories you’ll only find while visiting the cities.

5. Personalised Drink Coasters, £15

A bad habbit of my mum’s is definitely wacking out the family photo album whenever she has guests over and the pictures of me really shouldn’t ever be allowed to be shared in public especially when boys come over! Well this adorable personalised present could be a nifty trick into distracting my mum away from the hideous album of baby snaps!! She can have a new thing to show off with pictures chosen by me that aren’t so embarrassing! And because the notonthehighstreet gift comes in a set of four- I can  be cheeky and create coasters with any photo of my dad and sister I like…whether they do or not. 😛

And in case you’ve totally forgotten there is still time to get a little something!

Hope this has given you some help with ideas and you all have a lovely Sunday!

Love Leeanna xo

St Patrick’s Day nails: Put a bit of the Irish into your manicure

St Patrick’s Day 2017 has arrived – which is the perfect excuse to get drunk, wear green and look silly.

I’ve put together some of my favourite St Patrick’s Day inspired nail designs to help you on your way to celebrating the special Irish-themed day.

Of course all of these nail art ideas are super easy to do if you’re in a rush to hit the pubs and start on your pints of Guinness or shots of whiskey.

St Patrick’s Day nail ideas

Top tips

1. Invest in a decent green nail varnish and nail art pens in black, green or white
2. Use eBay or Amazon to find nail art pens for a decent price
3. Always use a base coat… and a top coat
4. If you have short nails, buy some natural fake nails to decorate on – either in a nude or clear shade (you can buy a box for £1 in Primark)
5. Do 2 layers of your base colour before adding nail art
6. Test the nail art pens on tissue or a spare false nail beforehand to check colour and consistency
7. Dots and stripes are easy patterns for beginners but with a bit of practice you’ll be drawing the shamrock in no time
8. Gems and glitter are always pretty additions
9. Experiment with a mixture of patterns and colours – different designs look cute on individual nails

Happy St Patrick’s Day everyone!

Love Leeanna xo

How to make white chocolate, prosecco and strawberry oreo cheesecake

This cheesecake is FULL of ALL my favourite things so eating this was an absolute dream come true.

My boyfriend made this cheesecake for me as part of his romantic Valentine’s Day meal and boy oh boy did he impress! He combined all of the things I love – prosecco, white chocolate, Oreos, strawberries and cheese – in one heavenly dessert!

He said he took inspiration from different cheesecakes he’s made before to create my perfect one.

I just had to share the recipe with you! 1) so I can remember how to make it myself and 2) so all of you can enjoy this beautiful experience too!

Recipe

Ingredients

• Punnet of strawberries (remove stalk leaves)
• 425g cream cheese
• 1/2 bottle of prosecco
• 400ml whipping cream
• I bar white choc
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 packs original Oreos
• A tbsp of melted butter
• Grated white choc on top

Steps

1. In a mixing bowl add the strawberries to the prosecco and leave to soak overnight
2. In a food processor blend the Oreos in small batches before stirring in melted butter
3. Press the biscuit base into your cheesecake dish
4. Use the food processor or electric whisk to mix the whipping cream before folding in the cream cheese
5. Add sugar
6. Fold in melted white chocolate (give it a few second to cool before pouring in)
7. Get your soaking fruit from the fridge and slice up the largest strawberries to stick around the outside of your filling
8. You can now layer the Oreo base with this chocolatey cheesy topping
9. Leave to set for atleast 3 hours
10. Chop the rest of the soaked strawberries into small chunks and place on top of the cheesecake
11. Finally decorate with grated white chocolate and serve with a shot of prosecco (if you haven’t finished drinking the bottle already!)

I hope you all enjoy this delicious dessert as much as I did. My boyfriend definitely blew me away with it….and I may have got a little too excited about this compared to receiving my flowers and roses… but he doesn’t need to know that. I can’t help that I have the biggest sweet tooth ever!

Love Leeanna xo

Try-day Friday – Dare to be brave with your next outfit

How often do you try on an amazing new outfit, take a look in the mirror and then chuck it to the the back of your wardrobe and opt for something you ALWAYS wear.

It’s probably something black isn’t? We’ve all been there… every day… trust me.

I was recently inspired by Dia&Co, an online subscription box, and their ‘Try-Day Friday’ project to encourage self-esteem and I couldn’t wait to get on board. From today onwards,  Friday isn’t just the last day before the weekend (hallelujah!) it’s so much better. Friday brings us the opportunity to get over our fears of bold colours, short skirts and tight tops!

Everyone feels insecure from time-to-time whether it be a fear of showing off that extra bit of skin or ALWAYS turning to the same practical items in your wardrobe. We all like to hide our perceived flaws – I am definitely guilty of this too – but really we should be embracing them because life would be SO boring if everyone looked the same.

Everyone is beautiful in their own individual way, so let’s all bite the bullet and wear that daring outfit that we bought God knows how long ago and STILL haven’t worn!
Gone are the days of hiding behind a boring wardrobe and only imagining ‘pulling off’ your dream outfits from Style Icons’ Instagram posts !

My outfit wishlist (fears)

I’ve put together some of my dream outfits I’d love to wear but happen to find my self saying the same phrases whenever pI go to try them on.

‘It’s too bold’

1. Pink cropped faux fur jacket, bluebanana.com £28
2. Black floral print pencil skirt, River Island £30
3. Gold tiered statement necklace, GILT.com £23
4. Pink faux fur crossbody bag, SoleSociety.com £36
5. Gold sock boot with block heel, River Island £25

I always like to shy away from clothes with too much colour, fabric and pattern- purely because I hate to stand out in a crowd.

I probably own at least 5 different midi skirts but I’m so self conscious about my short stumpy legs… that – yep you guessed it – they’re obviously hidden in dust at the back of my wardrobe.

This is probably the reason I always end up wearing the same clothes I feel comfortable in without drawing too much attention to myself.

‘It’s too OTT- I’m not a bloody supermodel’

1. Burgundy dress, Topshop £62
2. Black fedora hat, Belk.com £39
3. Black over-the-knee boots, pilotuk.com £50

I dream about wearing numerous fedora hats whenever I’m booking city breaks away… please tell me I’m not the only one who does this?! Haha! But whenever it comes to packing my suitcase I’m just never brave enough because I just think other people will be like ‘who does she think she is trying to pull off a Kendal Jenner look’!

‘It’s not my style’

Blue velvet choker bralett, prettylittlething.com £8.43

Leather skater skirt, boohoo.com £15

Red and black checked shirt, rosegal.com £9.52

Matte red lipstick, Charlotte Tilbury £23

So many items in my wardrobe are spontaneous buys – often in the sale and naughty treats to myself – but far too many of them aren’t worn. This is purely because I don’t think they ‘suit my style’ (whatever that is?!) and imagine they would just look better on someone else.

MY TRY-DAY OOTD

Try-day is the perfect opportunity to bring out the clothes you’ve always wanted to try, but have been too scared to.

I’ve combined all my fears together in this one outfit and although I felt stupid in too much colour, patterns, fur and skin on show by the end of the day I was actually strutting around with confidence! I was feeling so brave I even brought out the red lipstick!!

Checked pattern midi skit, Topshop

Crop faux fur khaki jacket, Missguided

Black gold pendant choker, New Look

Lilac glitter cami, Topshop

Red strappy heels, New Look

Red lipstick, Rimmel 

If I can do it you can too! I challenge you to wear that leather mini skirt, flaunt those Boho flares, and try on those daunting high heels, even if you’re hesitant. Brush aside your fears and rock the outfit you’ve always admired with absolute confidence!
I hope I can given you some inspiration and motivation to face your own fashion fears next Try-Day. I promise you will ALL look and feel GREAT!

Love Leeanna xo

Valentine’s Day lingerie – Top underwear picks to wear on V-Day night

My underwear drawer is just as important to me as my wardrobe. I absolutely love treating myself to new lingerie because it always makes  feel amazing whenever I’m wearing one of my favourite sets.

I can’t tell you exactly why that is… but for some reason if I start the day in nice undies I’m always in such a good mood.

Does anyone else get that… or am I just a weirdo?

I’ve selected some of my favourite items that I think will be the perfect under garments for my Valentine’s Day outfit. Check out my OOTD for inspiration on what to wear this Valentine’s Day.

The most romantic day of the year has got to be all about lace, sparkle, pretty floral prints and romantic shades of red and pink colours.

Here are my top picks…

Triangle bras

These Kylie Jenner inspired bras are so stunning and bang on trend this season. The pretty floral prints and lace fabric will bring some girlineas and sexiness to your date night.

1. Dark red lace bra , Victoria’s Secret
2. Grey floral bra, Primark
3. Cream and colourful print bra, Accessorize

Lacy thongs

I am all about lacy knickers! Lace in any colour makes me so happy and they just look so pretty in matching underwear sets.

1. Turquoise, Victoria’s Secret
2. Hot pink, H&M
3. Red lace, H&M
4. Pastel blue, Primark

Push-up bra

To really get your date hot under the collar or to show off your assets in your favourite top – a little bit of padding is just what you need.

I absolutely adore my Victoria’s Secret red push-up bra because of it’s low cup, lace fabric and sparkly gems (glitter is a MUST in my undies drawer). And of course the optional red clip on bow for the back to make you feel like a real VS angel!

I’m absolutely obsessed with Victoria’s Secret underwear but I have never ever bought items in England because they are SO overpriced. All these stunning VS pieces were less than £10 on my trips to America- what an absolute bargain!

You can obviously guess… my suitcase was stuffed full of bras and knickers.  I can only imagine what security must have thought!

You really don’t have to break the budget with buying nice underwear I promise. High-street stores like H&M and Primark offer gorgeous lingerie for such a small price.

I hope this post has helped give you a little inspiration for your lingerie choice this Valentine’s Day. 💕 Check out my post for homemade peanut butter cups to treat your loved one (or yourself!) and my recipe for pink cocktails.

Love Leeanna xo

DIY Valentine’s Day nails – How to get romantic with these cute nail art ideas

Have you started prepping for Valentine’s Day yet?  The most romantic day of the year is almost here which means it’s time to get pampered and beauty-ready!

So whether you’ve got plans for a girlie night on GALentine’s Day or you want to make some effort for your loved one, I’ve put together a handy DIY nails guide that is sure to impress everyone.

Shops are now filled with cheesy cards, love heart chocolates and swarms of roses but who cares about all of that when all you really need is some gorgeous nails to show off.

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Top 10 tips

1. Invest in a decent white nail varnish and white nail art pen
2. Use eBay or Amazon to buy cheap nail art pens
3. Always use a base coat… and a top coat
4. If you have short nails, buy some natural fake nails to decorate on either in a nude or clear shade (you can buy a box for £1 in Primark)
5. Do 2 layers of your base colour before adding nail art
6. Test the nail art pens on tissue or spare false nail beforehand to check colour and consistency
7. Dots and hearts are easy patterns for beginners
8. Gems and glitter are always pretty additions
9. Experiment with patterns and colours – different designs look cute on individual nails

Valentine’s nail art ideas

For more Valentine’s Day inspiration check out my latest blog posts on what to to wear for Valentine’s Day, how to make homemade peanut butter cups and pink cocktails .

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Love Leeanna xo 

Super easy Valentine’s Day cocktails

Everyone loves a cocktail… well it’s obvious that I definitely do after having at least two everyday last week. Gotta love a happy hour!

Well if you fancy having a go at making your own tipple for this Valentine’s Day – whether your having all the girls over for GALentine’s Day or having a romantic night in – this recipe really is no effort at all and tastes fab 👌

Ingredients

• A bottle of Cava, sparkling rose or Prosecco – how fancy is this gold bottle I found in Aldi for just £4.90?! Tesco also currently have an offer on Rose and Brut Cava for £4.50
• Frozen strawberries – 2 large ones per glass serving
• Orange juice
• Honey to sweeten to taste
• Fresh strawberries, raspberries or sliced orange/grated peel to decorate

Recipe steps

1. In a blender mix 16 frozen strawberries, 1/2 cup of orange juice and slowly pour in small amounts of wine after short blends
2. Once the mixture is a smooth slushy consistency – taste for sweetness and add honey if desired
3. Pour into champagne glasses and serve with a fruity decoration if you wish

1 bottle will make 8 glasses so you may want to get in a couple.

For more inspiration for a tasty romantic treat or addition to a Valentine’s Day meal – check out my recipe for homemade peanut butter cups – moulded into heart-shapes of course. And if you’re struggling on what to wear for Valentine’s Day – I’ve put together a guide on my top OOTD picks and Valentine’s nail art ideas.

I hope you enjoy this quick and easy recipe too. Cheers!

Love Leeanna xo