Chocolate Truffles

Hiya :) Today I made these tasty (and rather addictive) chocolate truffles! I learned of this short and easy recipe in my food technology class way back in 2006 when I was twelve years old and I actually still have the handwritten recipe from then (another of my many sentimental keeping's). I have made these little treats soo many times as they are a firm favourite in my family. So every time we have a party or some get together (or even if I’m just feeling the craving) I roll these out and everybody just loves them. If your looking for a quick and easy sweet, definitely try these out! 

For your ingredients you will need:

1 cup of shredded coconut
1 can of condensed milk

2 tbls of cocoa

·         1 pkt of Marie biscuits (or just plain biscuits)

For this recipe you will have to crush the biscuits using a food processor and place them in a large bowl prior to adding the cocoa, condensed milk and shredded coconut. Using your hands combine all the ingredients together and ensure that they are mixed well. It should have a sticky and not too wet or dry consistency. If you find it is too dry you can add a bit of water.Then all you have to do next is roll them into balls and coat them in desiccated coconut. They taste better after leaving them to set in the fridge. Prepare for others (and yourself included) to steal a few every time the fridge is opened :D 

This batch should make about 24 if you roll the mixture into medium sized balls. I often make double and sometimes triple batch where I sometimes end up between 40-50 balls. Yep, it’s truffle mania in my house. If you’re anything like me half your batch will end up in your mouth and there will coconut EVERYWHERE! But they taste good so that’s ok. The ones I made here I’ve prepared for a New Years Eve party. You can serve them anyway you want but for tomorrow I am putting them in a glass lolly jar. One time I wrapped them in cellophane and handed them out as little gifts. They are cute and yummy.

If you have any quick and easy recipes that you just love please let me know :)

Enjoy! :D

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Summer and Seaside

As it was a nice, warm day yesterday, my family and I decided to spend it at the seaside in Williamstown Beach and Eastern Beach in Geelong, Victoria. It was a relaxing day where we ate fish and chips, good ice-cream (of which I could not get a good photo of because the moment I got it it started to melt) and meandered about, visiting favourite childhood play areas and taking lots of photos whilst munching on some lollies we found in a quaint, little lolly shop.

At Eastern Beach we saw wooden poles painted as various characters and a Ferris wheel that I was a bit afraid of going on as it was quite windy :/ In all it made the environment look bright, colourful and fun. Also in the middle of the water we saw a giant, floating Christmas tree made out of shiny disco ball discs, which I thought looked pretty cool. In all twas a good day and we went home very sleepy but very happy :D

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Christmas Presents

For this post I thought to share some of the things I received as Christmas gifts! This Christmas, I received a lot of French or Paris themed gifts, which I absolutely love because I find such a theme quite feminine and pretty. My bedroom is a testament to my love of this theme as almost all the decor in my room features something to do with Paris (I am surprised that I am not speaking French already). So, for those that know me well, they knew that I would love a gift of some sort of this particular nature. The first thing is a book entitled The Little Paris Bookshop, written by the international bestselling author Nina George. I have been eyeing this book in my bookstore for a long time and so I was glad when I opened it up on Christmas morning. I, of course, did not only want it because of its title or cover (which features a lovely image of the Eiffel Tower) but also, quite seriously, I read the synopsis and it sounds like a good story line, so I am quite excited to add it to the pile of books I need to get through these Christmas holidays…!

I also received a vintage looking Paris wall frame, which looks like an enlarged stamp. In addition, I got a 2016 Planner that  . . . yep, you guessed it, also Paris themed. It features lovely photographs and quotes about Paris, which break up the usual diary of just pages of days and dates and makes it more exciting to open. I hope it actually makes me want to look at my planner and all the things I have to do!

 I also received a Hermés perfume called Un Jardin Sur Le Nil, which translates to “A Garden on the Nile” and is a part of Hermés Jardin collection of which is inspired from a Parisian rooftop garden. I have so many happy memories wearing this scent, which I first discovered last year after seeing the bottle and loving the green colours it’s made of. After smelling it I loved it even more. It is true to its name as it literally smells so fresh like a garden. When I inhale its scent the image of a warm, summer garden with tall green grass dotted with colourful flowers and buzzing insects forms in my mind. Some of the notes it features are green mango, lotus, calamus and sycamore wood. I also received this beautiful antique figurine of Beauty and the Beast, my all time favourite Disney film. I was told by my sister who gave this to me that she just came across this in an antique store and thought of me, which is really special. This is definitely up there in my list of sentimental things (of which there is a lot because I am a very sentimental person).

Funnily enough, a few days before Christmas, I treated myself to these Beauty and the Beast pyjamas that I bought from Topshop. Like my sister, I saw them and just had to get them! Last but not least I also received a pretty nightdress by Peter Alexander, who this year created a Paris-themed pyjama collection, of which I could buy everything. It features an image of the Eiffel tower with the words “Sweet Dreams Paris” written across the front and a cute little tulle fringe that looks like a tutu. It’s very pretty and girly and so I adore it. As you can see I was definitely spoiled this Christmas! 

Comment what you got for Christmas this year, and whether you have a favourite theme of some sort like me? xx

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Christmas Wrapping

One of the many things I love about Christmas is wrapping gifts. For me, it’s immensly relaxing to be just sitting there cutting up bits of paper and string and finding a way to put it altogether. I also find it very rewarding to see the look of surprise and pleasure on people’s faces when they receive them. Clearly, I believe a gifts exterior is just as important and should show as much thoughtfulness as the interior.

For Christmas this year, I decided to wrap my gifts in a mix of brown and coloured paper, which is in contrast to my usual use of just coloured wrapping paper and I must say that I am very pleased with the results! I found that using brown paper enabled me to be more creative as I could choose whatever bits of string and ribbon I wanted and could tie them around the gift in whichever way I felt like. In taping the brown paper I used some red and white fabric tape, which I think looks really cute and adds a little colour. I also used twine and red and white string to wrap around some of the gifts, which gives it a bit of a rustic, homemade look that I love. 

To brighten them up a bit I also added a Christmas garland and on a few of them I added some ribbon. You can really be as creative as you wish in wrapping your Christmas gifts in this way, which I especially did on the gift below with some heart-shaped stickers I made out of some fabric tape. On the other gifts I used actual coloured wrapping paper which I tried to keep simple with just a fairly large complementing ribbon. I love using large ribbons to wrap around my gifts, as I feel it just makes it a little more special. Also, on each of the gifts I attached a name tag with some twine, which also evokes that rustic feel. Using a mix of brown and coloured wrapping paper enables the coloured paper to pop a little and, overall, it gives it an interesting look beneath the tree.

In addition, it is also less expensive than buying quality or branded wrapping paper. I have to say, however, that I slightly dreaded Christmas morning when they ended up in a pile of rubbish :( but at least I have the photos!