Chocolate Chip Muffins

So we're well and truly into the new term. I've been to the library, attended all my lectures with freshly sharpened pencils and I'm already considering spending all my food money on a beautiful Karen Millen autumn coat - I'll be hungry but look fabulous.

I absolutely love autumn but there is one downside for students - beside the fact our endless, endless ENDLESS summer is over. Home cooking is a thing of the past. As you know, I believe you can easily recreate your home's signature dish with a little perseverence and a starter herb collection, but it's the little (unnecessary) things that really make you feel at home.

My little thing is muffins. Totally unnecessary and you can grab a pack at Tesco, but filling you grimy little student kitchen with the smell of their baking deliciousness makes you really think you could find a home there. Amongst the mould.   

For Student Friendly Chocolate Chip Muffins:

300g self raising flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
50g cold unsalted butter
80g caster sugar
200g milk chocolate
2 eggs 225ml milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

To begin with, preheat the oven to 200c
Put the flour and baking powder into a bowl.

Rub the butter and flour together to make a fine crumble.

Stir in the sugar.

In a separate bowl, beat the eggs together along with the milk and the vanilla essence.

Chop up your chocolate into chunks. I used a freebie I got at freshers fair - result. But if you can't bag a free one use a cheap bar.

Chuck in with the flour.

Combine the mixtures together. Mix. Mix like crazy. Attack the thing with a spoon!

Cupcake cases: ready.

Dollop a couple of teaspoons into each case and whack into the oven.  

Have some alone time with the bowl...

Bake for 15-20 minutes and cool for a further 10.
Sniff, share and snaffle a few away for your own private stock.

Make at least 3 times a week. Compulsory.

Enjoy! 

L. xxxx

Photo Share.

Sometimes there is only so much one person can blog about. And with me, it's normally food related. This does mean that I don't get to share much of my life with you, outside the kitchen. And you must think I set up camp right next to the oven! 
This saddens me a bit, and I feel it's about time to share.
So here are some of the things I've done recently, that get lost in my usual food blogging frenzy.

Al and I pouted. This happens a lot. 

Jack performed a DIY hair cut. Went to the hairdressers after to rectify. 

We went to Alton Towers, got very wet and discovered the secret gardens! 

Wild flowers struck the most wonderful poses. 

Went to the seaside with my family. Began to see an increasing likeness between my Dad and I... 

Played around with my raggedy little cat. Slave to the camera, as always. 

Got sucked in by the cherry punnets every time I went to the market. 

 Did a little scribbling.

Popped to London for a day or two. 

Devoured a gorgeous little Oreo cupcake from Selfridges food court. Took no time at all. 

Went to the final day of the Paralympic athletics with my wonderful, crazy family. We take inventive pictures.

Took a trip to the Butterfly Farm in Stratford-upon-Avon. Very interesting, but I advise you do not wear layers if you ever plan to visit. 

We got dressed up and went to a Christening.

I made bread. I made a lot of bread. 

My friend Chad came back from London, she became more gorgeous and hilarious over the summer. 

 Freshers began. Some shapes were thrown. Some serious, serious shapes.

Frank and Al finally moved in to our little home and we all started second year. I have the most beautiful housemates.

And that's all I've got for now. My iPhoto and I feel better for sharing. What are your favourite photos from the past few months? Any that make you smile?
L. xxxx

Cosmo Blog Awards 2012.

Last Thursday night was the blogging event of the year. The Como Blog Awards had finally come around and a group of very well dressed bloggers were heading to The Rose Club, London, from every corner of the Internet.  

Nails painted, hair done, new dress. Ready for London Adventures.
NB: Only the iPhone got snap up the Blog Awards because my little hand held Canon felt a bit emasculated compared the the chunky SLRs swinging from every other arm. 

The party started at 6pm sharp and all manner of delicious cocktails were flowing from the word go, courtesy of Ciroc Vodka and Mahiki Coconut. And once you'd had a couple of those babies you couldn't help but start wiggling to the tunes @IamDJIQ was throwing onto the floor.
Very exciting!

I met my truly lovely blogging and twitter friend, Victoria Sponge, Pease Pudding at the bar, eying up the drinks and scouting for canapes - we're food bloggers after all! We worked our way around the room that was just full of Cosmo treats!

Elemis were busy all night working their mani magic on the Blogger's nails. 

As were the Next makeup artists. 

Asked to take them home, thank you for laughing - and doing my wonderful makeup!

Another one bites the dust... 

The little Canon popped out to grab a snap of the awards in process, stylish bloggers and Cosmoers assembled. We're a well dressed bunch.

The winner in my category, Best Food Blogger was...
Poires au Chocolat

And the Highly Commended... 
Sinfully Spicy

Both wonderful, wonderful blogs (as are the rest of the group!) and I am so honoured to be a category with them all.
To see the full winner list, click here.
Congratulations to everyone!
 
I left with a goodie bag teeming with delights, and managed to bag a few extras from the lovely Lash Perfect and Vita Liberata. I've been playing with everything over the weekend and have been having a ball! 
Thank you for a brilliant night Cosmo, I loved it! 

 
L. xxxxxx

PS: Once I left the Blog Awards I legged it over to the O2 to see Michael McIntyre - highly recommend you try and catch the DVD if not the live show. He was even more hilarious than usual, thanks to one or two Cosmo Cosmopolitans!