{cooking via instagram : slutty brownies}

If you read my {two thousand and thirteen} post, you'll know I'm not the best cook. Or even a good one. I've vowed to make the effort to rustle up something new at least once per month; starting with the delicious, calorific treat commonly known as Slutty  Brownies. They're called slutty brownies because they're so easy and more than a little filthy! Best served warm from the oven with a little vanilla ice cream, they stay good for a good five days of indulgence - not that they'll last that long! 

I thought good way to document my cooking would be via the medium of instagram, and simply snap my way through the process of creating a culinary delight - keep you eyes peeled for the next few installments.

y o u ' l l  n e e d  . . .

1 box of betty crocker cookie mix

1 box of berry crocker brownie mix

2 eggs

2 packets of oreos

some oil

I'm a victim of 'fake it til you make it' and succumbed to the fabulous Betty Crocker packet mixes, you could of course make your own cookie dough and brownie mix but, personally, I think life is too bloody short.

y o u ' l l  n e e d  to  . . .

Preheat your oven to 350°F, 180°C, gas mark 4.

Line a baking tray with grease proof paper.

Follow the instructions on the cookie mix box & stir furiously until you have a lovely gooey cookie dough, I added a little extra water and oil to what they suggest,to keep it moist as you'll be baking it for longer than suggested. An extra teaspoon of each is just right.

{happy weekend: beating the january blues}

The best way to avoid the January blues, is to simply not think about it. The mild 11 degree temperature outside make this far easier than having to plod around in sensible shoes and scrape ice from your car at 7am, as has it prevented me from becoming a pyjama-clad recluse in bed or tucked up on the sofa from 6pm onwards - I've actually been braving a pair of sandals to go out to dinner and a few other fun things with my ladies after office hours.

After just three working days I'm so ready for the weekend; plenty of time may well be spent pyjama-clad relaxing with the boy and cooking slutty brownies (yes, so far I am sticking to my New Years Resolutions..) but plenty of time will also be spent browsing the shops, lunching and catching up with friends.

The Rachelle Lust List: 4th December 2012

1. Elizabeth & James specialise in some seriously stylish one-pieces and fitted separates; these are the perfect shoes to match (£270). I need to wear these with everything in my winter wardrobe. PS. River Island have some similarly edgy styles in for a quarter of the price. 2. I'm not one to preach about constantly coordinating your undergarments; I've fallen separately in love with this Mimi Holliday Bisou Bisou lace and satin bra (£55) and this Angelique Bow Thong (£35) separately (although the matching Bisou Bisou knickers are a real treat, too). 3. The Valentino 'Va Va Voom' studded nude leather clutch is featuring in my dreams, as of late. Wow. 4. An Alexander Skull Print Silk scarf (£165) mightn't be the warmest garment on the winter-wear market, but it is perfect to layer for any day of the year. 5. Obsessed with these adorable 'His & Hers' Johnathan Adler mugs (£24)! Perfect Christmas present for newly-weds, or yourself, if you cant resist.. You can never have too many chic white mugs, right? 6. Its my turn to have a little dry/tight/winter-skin crisis, I'm craving some luxurious and natural-super-ingredients to restore things back to happy-hydrated-times; I'm terribly guilty of not using a primer, By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra Primer (£41 at Space NK) looks to be the answer to my prayers. 7 & 8. Sisley are one of the most reputable names in high-end skincare, my poor face is crying out for a cocktail of their most famous face-masks, Hydra-Flash Intensive or Black Rose Cream Mask are packed full of skin softening wonders. 9. Another installment of the lazy-girls guide to baking; these Harvey Nichols Gingerbread Cookies are ready to bake, simply add eggs and butter. How cute is the packaging? They taste as good as they look. 10. This weeks lipstick craving is another Mac wonder; Rebel. No where near as dark and scary as it appears in the tube, its another Mac best seller that has somehow managed to escape my clutches. Until now. rachelle xo

Table for Two: Cherry Trifle

Simplicity in its very finest form, these beauties take just ten minutes to (literally) whip up and, of course, they're truly delicious. You could make them with any kind of fruit, berry or chocolate; sort of depending what you have lying around or what you fancy . . .

y o u ' l l  n e e d  . . .

4 ladyfinger busicuts

2 tbsp kirsch liqeur
2 dl heavy cream
1 tbsp sugar
15 pitted cherries
grated dark chocolate
toasted walnuts

Table for Two: Ginger, Basil & Grapefruit Spritzer

Another Sunday afternoon, another summer cocktail. Just as it should be. I adore the sharpness of basil that sort of lingers within you, this balance of the basil and ginger soda with an added citrus kick from the grapefruit juice is beyond refreshing.

y o u ' l l  n e e d  . . .

75g butter, softened

2 large grapefruit

2 cups of ice

3 cans of ginger soda

a handful of fresh basil

1/4 cup of basil simple syrup (easily made the same way all simple syrup is, but with the addition of chopped basil, not forgetting to strain before leaving to cool)

1 bottle of champagne or white wine

Table for Two: Chocolate Espresso Cupcakes

Few things sound more like perfection to me than chocolate or espresso. Combined - I am definitely going to be happy lady. Obviously, I was extatic to discover the Call me Cupcake recipe for what can only be described as utter perfection.

75g Butter

1/2tsp Vanilla Powder

1dl Cocoa Powder

1tsp Baking Soda

1tsp Baking Powder

2 & 1/2dl Sugar

1 Large Egg

1dl Hot Strong Coffee

1 & 1/2dl Buttermilk

Preheat the oven to 175 C. Line a cupcake tin with 12 cupcake liners. Melt the butter, add vanilla and let it cool. Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder & sugar into a large bowl. Lightly whip the egg together with the buttermilk. Mix coffee with butter. Add all of the liquid ingredients to the dry ones and mix  until the batter is smooth but liquidy. Divide the batter between the 12 cupcake liners, filling them no more than 2/3 full. Bake for between 17-20 minutes.

200g Dark Chocolate (70%)

300g Softened Butter

3 1/2dl Powdered Sugar

1 1/2dl Cocoa Powder

2tbsp Espresso

1/2tsp Vanilla Powder

Melt the chocolate in a double boiler and leave to cool. Whip the butter until its white and fluffy. Gradually add the powdered sugar & cocoa powder and mix until smooth. Add the chocolate and whip. Add the espresso and vanilla powder and mix until the icing is smooth and fluffy. Pipe onto the cakes, sprinkle with some chocolate shavings & enjoy!

Rachel x