Bake With Me- Banana Cupcakes

I'm going through a bit of a phase with cupcakes lately. It all kicked off a few weeks ago when I was teaching my niece how to make them. The most recent effort was down to himself craving a banana based dessert. So I thought I'd try my hand at Banana Cupcakes. Warning, it's a bit pic heavy.

Recipe (makes 12 cupcakes)

** Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius**

125g Self Raising Flour

125G Caster Sugar

125g Unsalted Butter

2 Medium Sized Eggs

1 Medium Banana

This recipe is really easy to follow...

1. Add your unsalted butter and caster sugar in a mixing bowl and mix for 2-3 minutes until the colour of the butter has lightened.

2. Sieve a little of your flour into the bowl and some of your eggs. Fold in gently and repeat until all the flour and egg is in the bowl. Then mix for another 2- 3 minutes.

3. Mash your banana with a fork and mix into your cake batter.

4. Line your cupcake tin with baking cases and fill each case 2/3rds of the way.

5. To get rid of any air bubbles and to even out mixture, lightly tap the tin against your worktop.

6. Pop them into the oven at 180degrees and cook for 15/20 mins. You're looking for them to be a golden brown colour and for a skewer to come out clean.

I did ices these lovelies with a Betty Crocker Vanilla Icing but I usually make my own buttercream.I did colour the icing with one of the Dr.Oetker colour gels but I'm not sure I like these gels. I found I needed a lot of it and the icing consistency changed a good bit.

 If you like this recipe and want to see more baking on the blog, let me know.



The TMI Tag

Last week I was tagged by the lovely Nicole from http://www.nichollebartlett.blogspot.ie/

I'd seen this tag doing the rounds, so was delighted to get tagged.

 

Right, lets get down to the nitty gritty......

 

 

1: What are you wearing? 
Black Jeggings, Biker Boots and a Top. I have a new found love of jeggings, they are way too comfy

2: Ever been in love? 
Yup, and still with the love of my life

3: Ever had a terrible breakup? 
Yes, when I was a teenager. I thought it was love but in the end it got incredibly messy. Broke my heart but now I look back and am greatful because I learned a lot from it.

4: How tall are you? 
5 ft 6"

5: How much do you weigh? 
Far too much, I've been quite lazy lately but have started eating healthier and exercising more.

6: Any tattoos? 
Nope, the hubby has a few. While I love the idea of them, I would be afraid half way through getting one I'd change my mind.

7: Any piercings? 
Just my ears, but from the time I was 19 -24 I had my belly button pierced. I then got bored of it so took it out. My belly button still hasn't healed properly.

8: OTP? 
I have no idea what this means!!

9: Favourite show? 
That's a toughie, I loved Greys anatomy buts its getting a bit meh! CSI is always a winner and really loving True Detective (mmmm Matthew Mc Connaughey...)

10: Favourite bands? 
I have quite eclectic taste in music. I have and always be a Westlife fan. I also love The Script.

11: Something you miss? 
Can it be someone instead? If so, hands down it is my Granny.

12: Favourite song?
Us Against The World by Westlife. I'm a soppy thing - this was our wedding song sp it has great sentimental value.

13: How old are you? 
28 ...turning 29 in May

14: Zodiac sign? 
A Gemini through and through

 

15: Quality you look for in a partner? 
Somebody who makes me laugh and gives me hugs when I'm feeling sad - hubby does all this and more.

16: Favourite Quote? 
Don't know who wrote it but my favourite quote is " Perhaps they are not stars in the sky, but rather openings where our loved ones shine down to let us know they are happy" This quote has helped me through one of the toughest years when we lost someone incredibly special.

17: Favourite actor?
Matthew Mc Connaughey, the looks, the southern drawl and he can act - Perfection!

18: Favourite color? 
Purple or Teal

19: Loud music or soft? 
As loud as possible and I'll be right there singing and dancing along.

20: Where do you go when you're sad?
My bedroom

21: How long does it take you to shower? 
Really depends anything from 10 mins to 30 mins. In our house, we have a rainforest shower so I'd happily stay there for as long as possible.

22: How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? 
If I'm in a rush I can get ready in ten minutes. If I'm heading out on the town, probably an hour.

23: Ever been in a physical fight? 
Nope.

24: Turn on?
Someone who makes me smile when I feel like crying.

25: Turn off? 
Rudeness and people thinking they're better than you.

26: The reason I started blogging? 
I'm obsessed with everything beauty and thought blogging was a good medium to meet like minded people. I've made many good friends through it.

27: Fears? 
Losing someone I love.

28: Last thing that made you cry? 
A mother's day message my sister in law posted to me and my other sister in laws. It made me think about things and I got all weepy.  

29: Last time you said you loved someone? 
To my little man this morning when he was going into Montessori.

30: The meaning behind your blog name? 
It's my name and the blog is a spot to discuss beauty.

31: Last book you read? 
I'm ashamed to say it's ages since I actually read a book. Probably the last one was the second 50 Shades Of Grey.

32: The book you're currently reading?
Refer to above.

33: Last show you watched? 
Wheeler Dealers, needless to say hubby's choice. I am not a fan

34: Last person you talked to? 
My mammy

35: The relationship between you and the person you last texted? 
The last person I texted was one of my sister in laws. We get on brilliantly and were having a good old gossip fest.

36: Favourite food?
Mexican

37: Place you want to visit?
New York. My dad is going next year and I am incredibly jealous.

38: Last place you were? 
In Ireland, my house. Abroad, Fuengirola.

39: Do you have a crush?
The hubby of course!

40: Last time you kissed someone? 
This morning... my little man. He's going through a very cute affectionate stage.

41: Last time you were insulted? 
I try not to let people get to me but recently someone insulted me by lying to my face about something. I cant stand liars.

42: Favourite flavour of sweet? 
Mint

43: What instruments do you play?
I play a bit of Piano

44: Favourite piece of jewellery?
My engagement ring, wedding ring and my granny's engagement ring.

45: Last sport you played? 
I don't do sport

46: Last song you sang? 
Moves Like Jagger, it was on the radio this morning and I love that song.

47: Favourite chat up line?
I really dislike chat up lines. They are far too cheesy.

48: Have you ever used it?
I've never used one.

49: Last time you hung out with anyone? 
Hanging out with the mammy as I type.

50: Who should answer these questions next? 
Since this tag has ben around for a while, I am not sure who has and hasn't done it. So if you are reading this and haven't been tagged, please feel free to post one and be sure to send me your links.

 

Head over to Nicola's blog for a read, she is a relatively new blogger and already I have become a firm fan of the blog

 

 



Catrice And Essence Buys For Under €20

This morning, I found myself in a bit of a pickle. I'm up in Dublin and didn't bring any makeup with me. I wasn't planning on going anywhere, just staying in the mammy's for the day. But sure enough, the plans changed and I needed a bit of makeup.

 

 

Luckily, the chemist up the road stocks two of my favourite budget brands - Catrice and Essence. On the shopping list was a foundation I could get use without needing a powder, a blusher, eye shadow, eyeliner, brow pencil, mascara and something to add a little colour to my lips.

 

 

Here's what I bought

 

 

L-R: Catrice All Matt Plus Shine Control Makeup, Essence Get Big Lashes Volume Curl, Essence Brow Pencil in Blonde, Essence Kohl Eyeliner in Black, Essence Single Eyeshadow in Metropolitan, Essence Silky Touch Blush in Adorable and Essence Glossy Lip balm in  Strawberry Cheesecake.

 

All this came to a grand total of €19! Bargain! So far I am loving the foundation. I've heard rave reviews about it and was curious.

 

Full views coming on these lovelies soon.

 

Have you used any of these products?

 

 



Pixy Muscle Soothing Bath Salts

Just before Christmas, I received a lovely package from one of my favourite Irish businesses Pixy. Include int he package was their Muscle Soothing Bath Salts. At the time, where I lived I didn't have a bath so couldn't try them out. Where I am now has a bath so you just know I had to give these a whirl. 

 These bath salts include Epsom Salts which remove toxins, exfoliate the skin, reduce the swelling of sprains and bruises and helps soothe aching bones. Sounds good to me, I've uped my exercise routine in a bid to get a little bit fitter. After some of the exercises, I was in bits with my muscles so was hoping these salts would give me some relief.

As will all Pixy products, gorgeous essential oils are used. In these salts, there is Black Pepper essential oil, Eucalyptus essential oil and Rosemary essential oil. To use the salts, you just add two teaspoons under a warm tap and allow them to disperse into the bath.

I've ever really used any type of bath salts before but I really liked these. There was one day in particular, I went a bit mad on the aul exercise and was in agony with my back. I broke these out and stayed in the bath for a good while. Afterwards,I definitely felt the strain ease a good bit. 

If you're looking for something to soothe your muscles, I would say give this lovely a try. They are just €9.95 on the Pixy website or in stockists. For that price you get a huge amount of product, that will last a good amount of time

Have you tried these or anything else from the Pixy range?