Opera Diva Cupcakes

Opera cupcakes it's not quite the big cake that you see on the Great British Bake Off though equally as scrumptious perfect for example with a Caramel Latte courtesy of my Tassimo machine. This time I was experiment with a latte and it was delicious , I have just got to remember to buy some proper latte glasses. Recently there have been coffee mornings held around to help Macmillan Cancer this is a cause close to mine and my husbands hearts as his mum and other relatives dies of cancer, My grandparents as died of cancer so as a family we like to do our best to get involved with Macmillan coffee mornings where we can. Kenco are a big part of this as are Tassimo so get those Tassimo making this hot drinks and get those pennies rolling in.

For almond  Cupcakes

4 tablespoons Plain flour (not self-rising),


2 whole large eggs at room temperature for 30 minutes

100g Ground almonds

1/2 cup or 75 icing  sugar sifted after measuring

2 large egg whites at room temperature for 30 minutes

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoon granulated sugar

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted



For The Filling 

• 110g/4oz butter, softened
• 170g/6oz icing sugar
• 55g/2oz cocoa powder, sifted (optional)
  
  
  2 teaspoon of instant coffee(optional)
• 1-2 tbsp milk
  
  
  Or the cheats version of this as long as no one has any nut allergies is to spoon some chocolate spread in the middle of the cupcake.
  
  
  For the Cupcakes
  
  
  
   Preheat oven to  180 c. Place a 12 cupcake baking sheet in the oven
  
  
  1 Preheat oven to 180 c and line 12 cupcake wells with muffin cases

  
  

  2) In a small bowl, mix together flour, the ground almond flour, baking powder, icing sugar .

  
  3) In a bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together sugar and butter until well combined. Add egg whites add the salt to the egg whites this will ensure soft peaks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in almond extract. 

  
  

  
  4) Scoop batter into prepared pan. Bake 2 to 25 minutes or until tops of cupcakes spring back when lightly touched. Let cool in muffin tin on rack for 10 minutes. Remove from muffin tin and cool completely on rack.
  
  Once cooled add the filling either the 'posh version' or the 'cheats'
  
  The cheats version is a chocolate based spread!
  
  Either way one way that I use to get a centre out of a cup cake is to use a apple core to take a plug out of the cupcake. Then you can fill it with either the 'posh' or 'cheats' filling'
  
  Its optional whether you use the coffee  based filling or chocolate based filling and then pipe a vanilla soft icing on top.

  
  

  
  

  

  
  
  Not an opera cake in the true sense but its a version of it.
  
  

  

  
  

Love your gums

Smile and the world smiles with you us how the saying goes.

My son goes to the local village dentist it's private but it convenienant for his school and mine.

Ordinarily my son is not fazed by the dentist , he takes it in his stride but the last time he felt the dentist filled him with fear. And as a result for ages he didn't want to go but a simple pleasant phone call resulted in him being transferred to a dentist that he is much happier to see.

Service with a smile ... Sorry for the pun.

Also the dentist practice were able to chase up his braces appointment.

Gum care is important , many people will get gum health issues at some point in their lives and it's the biggest cause of tooth loss.  

My sons attitude to his dentist and subsequent dental care is leading me to revaluate my own dental care.

Coming from a long line of dashing denture wearers it's not something I relish wearing myself.

 So if I can at least try and stop the tradition with my own teeth. I willl be on to a sure winner and as previously mentioned the first step is good gum care.

 So the family are currently putting Pro-Expert Premium Gum toothpaste through its paces.

As a family we can follow simple tips as these to aid good gum and teeth care.

1 . Brush twice a day with a good fluoride paste such as Pro -Expert Premium Gun toothpaste.

2. Floss between your teeth everyday .

3. Visit a dentist regularly for check ups and cleaning.

4. Cut down on sugary food and drinks , I've swooped to having water with my meals instead of cola as have the rest of the family.

5. Don't smoke or chew tobacco.

6 . Cut down alcohol consumption.

SO we look forward to a long and healthy relationship with our pearly whites !

"This post is an entry for Britmums' #ORALBLOVEYOURGUMS Challenge sponsored by Oral B promoting healthy gums _ something especially important for pregnant women . Get tips and advice on www.oralb-loveyourgums.com

Cracking up

Yesterday all my troubles seemed ..... Tails off

Yesterday well yesterday my iPhone 4 screen broke.

I was asked to politely move my fat bottom... ( not to worry all young kids say things!)

It seems it didn't like bouncing the IPhone that is ( just in case you were worried for a minute .)

What I mean is I dropped my iPhone 4 S on the floor in the middle of a 60mph country lane.

I suppose I should be grateful that a car didn't run over it.

I should have taken the Nikkon ...

Should of, could of .... DIDN'T

My husband says we learn by our mistakes ....

That perennial useful phrase ...

So I won't be getting my biker boot s

Boooooh

But here's some lovely pictures to look at and look there's the spot I dropped my IPhone 4S ...

Memories found today

Memories found today.

When I was tidying up.

Nothing out the ordinary you might think.

Its only an old Inspector Morse video I can't bring myself to throw it out. My mum gave it to my Nan and my Nan wasn't one for clutter.

Underneath it was some childhood photos of my Nan from when she was small in 1932. A young life full of such promise and glee.

One as a school girl (not sure when but commonly people left at 14)

One of when her parents got married looking very much like Downtown Abbey.

 and one of her mother my great Grandmother in 1918.

So you see its memories triggered.

And to top it all I found a copy of my granddads death certificate.

I'm not religious.

I can't say what I am .

I respect religion.

And religions respects me.

Simple touches like that are softly  spoken words of veiled comfort in the pockets of time.

For without the past we wouldn't be what we are in the future.

Macaroons The One Where I Turn Into Mary Berry

Macaroons the one where I turn into Mary Berry.

Who would have thought it?

I think my husband thought I was possessed when first a silicon macaroon sheet turned up and then a space age icing tool by Leuke.

At this stage I'm not quite advanced enough to imagine up my own a Macaroon recipe. So I followed one on the Delicious website, and I was amazed it actually worked.

Why not serve your macaroons in a lemon squeezer ?

Have faith in yourself and who knows what you can achieve.

Go and read the wonder blog Heir Raising who actually met the great lady Mary Berry herself.