{everyone's favourite super..}

Happy Birthday to everyone's favourite super - Kate Moss. What would mark a thirty ninth anniversary of birth better than a dozen red velvet cupcakes emblazoned with pictures of Ms Moss over the years? The ladies at ITG had the right idea.

Table for Two: Blackberry Cupcakes

one of my favourite simple pleasures, is dragging the boy through the fields of our local berry farm (which is definetley aimed at the under tens...) to pick some fresh strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. This annual tradition tends to take place in the warmer summer months (mud isn't one of my favourite things) but these past few months have been so chaotic, and of course the weather hasn't been ideal, so we're a season behind and went blackberry picking instead.

with the (fairly lacking) blackberries left after we demolished far too many on the journey home and in a further fruit salad, I decided to make a batch of my favourite cupcakes, with a blackberry twist.

Table for Two: Strawberry Buttercream Cupcakes

The most perfect summer treat, this strawberry frosting tastes just like strawberry ice cream. They really do taste as good as they look, and take no time or effort to make. I did say they are the perfect summer treat...

Happy Weekend: Refreshing Hints of Cream & Green

What could be better than a three day working week? Thank you, Queen Liz! Feeling like I haven't set foot in the office and finally free from gum-clearing antibiotics, this weekend isn't going to be a quiet one...

Lately: Via Instagram | My Birthday

I was lucky enough to have the most fabulous birthday weekend! Alongside my favourite perfume, caramel cupcakes, 'the worlds best "Chase" vodka', and a handful of make up products I'd my eye on for a while I was completley spoilt with a new laptop and a Mulberry Daria purse!

My Mum made me a chocolate & cream cake (which tastes alot better than the instagram picture makes it look!), my friend made me a four layer raspberry sponge cake alongside those ten cupcakes & chocolates - I'm sure to be piling on the pounds as I work my way through that lot! For the party the boy & I made Strawberry Mojotos and good 'ol cosmopolitans for the arrival of our guests in unfortunatley rather garish green jugs as some unbeknown monster (ahem, my Aunt) borrowed the decent glassware... 

I had an amazing weekend & feel truly blessed with all of my friends & family, thank you to everyone for th birthday wishes.

Rachel x

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