Recipe // Naughty Chocolate Fudge Cake

A few weeks ago, my brother asked me to make a cake for my nephew's 5th birthday party. As a keen baker I was happy to oblige, and quickly decided to use this BBC Good Food recipe for chocolate fudge cake, as it's been a perennial favourite in my house for quite some time. It's a really easy recipe to make, and goes down a storm with kids and adults alike.

Ingredients

175g Self raising flour

2 Tbsp Cocoa Powder

1 Tsp Bicarbonate soda

150g Caster sugar

2 Eggs Beaten

150 ml (1/4 pint) Sunflower oil

150 ml (1/4 pint) Semi skimmed milk

2 Tbsp Golden syrup

For the Coating and filling

75g Unsalted butter

175g Icing Sugar

3 Tbsp Cocoa Powder

Drop of Milk

Method (in words)

1. Pre-heat oven to 180ºC/350F/Gas Mark 4 (less for fan ovens). Grease and line two 18cm (7 inch) sandwich tins.
2. Sieve the flour, cocoa and Bicarbonate of Soda into a bowl. Add the sugar and mix well.
3. Make a well in the centre and add the syrup, eggs, oil and milk. Beat well with electric whisk until smooth.
4. Spoon the mixture into the two tins and bake for 20 - 25 minutes until risen and firm to the touch. Remove from oven, leave to cool before turning out onto a cooling rack.
5. To make your butter icing, place the butter in a bowl and beat until soft. Gradually sift and beat in the icing sugar and cocoa powder then add enough milk to make the icing fluffy and spreadable.
6. If the cake has risen a little too high then use a serrated knife to even off the top, now sandwich the two cakes together with the butter icing and cover the sides and the top of the cake with more butter icing.

Method (in pictures)

Make sure you have all your ingredients to hand.

Weigh out your ingredients. Here I've already combined the flour, cocoa powder and bicarb. It doesn't matter if you are slightly over/under.

Sift your flour, cocoa powder and bicarb into a large bowl. Try and sift as high as you can to get air into the mixture - this will make your sponge light and fluffy.

Add your sugar and mix well into the mixture.

Once you've added your wet ingredients, mix well with an electric hand whisk, or an electric mixer (if you're lucky enough to have one). Make sure you check that every but of dry mixture is added (glass bowls make it easier to see this).

Carefully pour your mixture into your pre-lined tin. Place into the centre of a preheated oven and keep a close eye on it! My first cake burnt because I was too busy painting my nails!

Whilst the cake is cooling you make can your buttercream icing. Simply combine butter, icing sugar, cocoa powder and a drop of milk. This butttercream will go hard fairly quickly, so make sure you keep stirring it whilst it's in the bowl.

Finally, decorate your cake. My nephew is hugely into Star Wars so I used a pre-made icing sheet transfer to decorate it, surrounded by a sea of chocolate buttons. 

Have fun baking! 

Cardiff Comic Con - March 2014

It's a fact - geeks are the best people! I've been wanting to visit a comic convention ever since I first heard about Comic Con International in San Diego. Whilst that's still on my 'to visit' list, it sadly won't be for some years before I can get to go to California. Which is why I'm delighted that Cardiff now hosts it's own Comic Con at the Motorpoint Arena!

The event, which started in August 2013 and will hopefully run twice every year, draws in  huge crowds from all areas of fandom. In the queue alone I saw the following cosplay: Dr Who; Game of Thrones; Star Trek; Star Wars; X-Men; Lord of the Rings; The Avengers; Ghostbusters; Disney; Kick Ass; plus a lot of manga. Inside it was a veritable visual feast of awesomeness! The auditorium is crammed full of stalls, selling anything and everything a fangirl or fanboy could desire (t-shirts, models, vintage figurines, artwork, plus much more).

My two favourite stalls were Genki Gear, who sell brilliantly quirky t-shirts (and are now my best friends because they've met Benedict Cumberbatch!), and FanGirl Quest, who seek out fandom shooting locations and "sceneframe" the shots. Those girls are are very possible my geek love soulmates, and I'd love to be involved with their project in some way (hint). There are also several displays of original props and items used in various movies and shows. There is also the opportunity to meet and have a photograph with a variety of TV and movie stars. This year's stars included: John Rhys Davies (Gimli from Lord of the Rings); Danny John-Jules (Cat from Red Dwarf); Chris Judge (Teal'c from SG-1) Eve Myles (Gwen from Torchwood); Lee Merriweather (Catwoman); Devon Murray (Seamus from Harry Potter); plus many more!

The event does get really busy, and there are lots of opportunities for you to part with your hard earned cash, but it's something I'd highly recommend everyone visit. The weekend is so choc full of joy and creativity, and everyone is there to just have good, old fashioned fun. It's a place which encourages imagination, and allows people to truly be themselves; which is only ever a good thing!

The next Cardiff Comic Con is set to take place on the 8th and 9th November this year. I'm definitely going again, and I already have my cosplay in mind.....

Photo Gallery by QuickGallery.com

WEEKSTAGRAM // 23rd Feb - 2nd March

Cheryl introduced me to the wonderful world of E.L.F. cosmetics // The obligatory selfie (a requirement when in the presence of the full length mirror!) // Afternoon Tea in a newly discovered gem - Cinnamon Sticks (High Street Arcade). It's a Instagrammers paradise, with vintage movies played for your enjoyment (we saw Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Calamity Jane) // Kath and Cheryl enjoying a good natter over tea and cakes the size of small children // Spring finally came to Cardiff, and then promptly left again // A photo I tweeted to Cardiff University went viral when they retweeted it, and has been found as far away as California // Cheryl, Karen and I went to (yet another) ceilidh, with the fantastic Uisge ContraBand playing // Helen and I enjoyed a stroll in the sunshine, and took in the eclectic sites of the St David's Day parade celebrations // We then had a total geekgasm at Cardiff Comic Con // Pizza party with the girls on Saturday, whilst watching Groundhog Day // Lovely lazy Sunday with Cheryl and the Rhiwbina Handmade Market (I didn't buy anything, but may have found a wedding photographer!)

Wedding Planning Tips

Planning a wedding is tremendous fun! It gives you and your beloved the chance to express your love in front of those you care about most in the world. However, if you're not careful it can turn from something joyous to the proverbial albatross around your neck.

My fiance, Cal, and I, have set our date for August 2015, and our preparations are well underway. We're loving every minute of the planning, and derive a lot of pleasure from it. Through my own experience, and from speaking to several of my friends who have already tied the knot, I've compiled my top 10 tips for a (hopefully) smooth and stress-reduced wedding planning.

My Top Ten Tips

1. Set your budget, and stick to it

Whether your budget is small (like mine) or large, setting a budget is a must! Without a well managed budget even the most organised couple can lose track of their wedding finances. Set out lists of exactly what you need, and when you need to get it by. If, like me, you're saving bit by bit (and not wanting to rely too heavily on parental handouts), I suggest staggering your spending. You don't need to buy your entire wedding outfit in one go!

2. Give yourself enough time

As the saying goes, Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is a wedding planned in one. Of course it's perfectly possible to plan a wedding within a limited time frame, but you have to be willing to cut corners and make concessions should you wish to do this (unless you have bags of money, in which case please give me some!)
Most couples give themselves a year in which to plan a wedding; ideally a little bit longer. Remember that popular venues book out a year in advance, so if you have your heart set on that castle in Scotland, make sure you book early! Time keeping, preparation and organisation are the key to a smooth running wedding day. 

3. Take advice on board, and rely on your bridesmaids/groomsmen

I think weddings should be a collaborative event. I've loved taking advice and tips from those who've already been through it, and it's great to draw upon this wealth of knowledge. Remember though - taking advice on board, doesn't mean you necessarily have to follow it. Don't allow anyone else to bogart your wedding; and yes this includes your mother!
I think bridesmaids and groomsmen are the linchpin to any successful wedding. A good bridesmaid will do whatever the bride asks of her (well, provided it's reasonable). A great bridesmaid won't even need to be asked - she'll already instinctively know what you need because she's already so involved with the wedding. I'm lucky to have three truly amazing bridesmaids, who have been really supportive and helpful already. I trust each of them implicitly, and I'm not afraid to leave things in their capable hands. I've included them in every aspect of my planning, and have taken a lot of inspiration from each of them. They each have their strengths, and I fully intended to utilise them!

4. Get inspired

Here I'm going to break the myth every person who has ever planned a wedding tells themselves - your wedding is not ever going to be 100% unique. If you've thought of something, I will guarantee that someone, somewhere, has also had the same idea as you! We each of us borrow ideas from other weddings, be it colour schemes, favour ideas, or choice of music. But I see this as a hugely positive thing. There are so many amazing ways to gain inspiration for your wedding. From bridal magazines, to wedding blogs, to Pinterest (my personal favourite), there are thousands of ideas out there to help you make your day extra special. 

5. Shop around

Wedding Fact - everything costs three times as much when it has the word 'wedding' in front of it. This means it really pays to shop around. Try and get as many quotes as you can, and think outside of the box when it comes to suppliers. Websites like Etsy and Folksy are fantastic for finding inexpensive bespoke pieces, including dresses, jewellery, invitations, centre pieces; you name it!
One top tip I learnt from one of my bridesmaids is to not tell the supplier that the item you're ordering is for a wedding. The particularly applies to wedding cakes, which are (in my opinion) the most stupidly over priced part of the day. If you need to say anything, just tell them the cake is for 'an event'; if you're collecting the cake yourself then they never need to know otherwise. Don't allow yourself to be taken advantage of by suppliers, and don't be afraid to haggle.

6. DIY
You can cut costs by doing a lot of things for yourself. If you're creative or artistic (or even just really good at following You Tube tutorials), use those skills to create your own centrepieces, decorations, bouquet and invitations. Not only will it save some money (and is lots of fun), it'll also make your look unique.
Etsy has a marvellous array of graphics and pre-made invitation designs you can download for a small cost, and then have printed yourself. This gives you greater creative control, and many designers will happily work with you to make your design precisely as you want it. 

7. Be brutal

This is especially relevant to those of us on a tight budget. Do you need that string quartet? Do you really need to release doves? Do you really need 5 tiers on your cake? If the answer is anything other than a firm "yes", put the idea on the back burner. Your wedding won't be any less lovely without these additions, and the only person who'll know they're missing is you!

8. Include your partner

It's common in wedding planning for one partner to take the lead. This is absolutely fine, as sometimes couples work best when they're not tripping up over one another. However, don't forget to include and consult your partner in all aspects of the wedding planning. Remember - it's their wedding too, and the wedding should speak about you both as a couple, not you as an individual.

9. Set up a wedding website 

Lets face it, most people are online these days. Even those who aren't know at least someone who has access to the internet. Thanks to this the frugal couple can reduce the cost of their wedding invitations by having the bulk of the their information online. Websites like Wix provide a free and easy to use service which'll allow couples to set up and manage their own wedding website. Through these websites your guests can RSVP, learn more about the big day, and find useful information about the day (directions, dress code, etc). I also recommend using social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and WedPics.

10. Do it your way

Never forget it's your wedding. Don't feel as though you have to follow convention, simply because it's traditional.

One last thing - don't allow the details to overshadow the most important aspect of the day; the fact that you're marrying your one true love. Love is the answer, and you know that for sure! 

Killer Queen - A review of Europe's Top Queen Tribute Band

I love Queen! I mean, really, who doesn't! Although I was, sadly, too young to ever truly appreciate them in their heyday (Freddie died when I was 9), thanks to my parent's musty but eclectic record collection, I was able to connect with their phenomenal music in my teens.

As a general rule, I'm a little bit dubious about tribute acts, especially those who are trying to imitate such iconic stars. They can often times seem farcical, or lack that je ne sais quoi that made the original so electrifying. Therefore I went in with limited expectations of Killer Queen at St David's Hall. I imagined the best I could hope for would be some semi-decent tunes, and a chance to sing Queen karaoke with my friends and 1200 other Queen fans.

From the moment the band burst onto the stage in a shower of golden flames, my expectations were blown apart. Killer Queen are as close to the real deal as I think anyone is likely to get. The band have been performing together since 1993, and their joy in their craft is obvious and infectious.

Freddie 2 is so much like the original Freddie it's almost eerie. He had everything down pat, from Freddie's mannerisms, to his signature Butch Castro look (including what I hope are false bad teeth). By the time Fat Bottom Girls started playing he had the audience eating out of his hand; with everyone either clapping their hands, stamping their feet, or in the case of my friends and I - up and dancing in the aisles. They played all the hits you'd expect: Killer Queen, I Want to Break Free, Bicycle, The Show Must Go On, Bohemian Rhapsody, We Will Rock You, We Are the Champions, and many more.

As a child of the Wayne's World generation, only one course of action was permissible during their second encore of Bohemian Rhapsody. I do have a slight headache this evening due to the rather enthusiastic headbanging, but it was entirely worth it.

Catch them in your area if you can!

La Traviata - A Review of the WNO's February 2014 Production

I’ve long been a fan of the WNO (Welsh National Opera). Over the last few year they’ve taken great care to re-brand themselves, and shake off the belief held by many that opera is only for the elite and the intelligentsia. On the contrary, opera can, and should, be enjoyed by everyone. Much like Shakespeare, it was written for mass appeal, and mass enjoyment. Looking around the breathtaking Wales Millennium Centre’s auditorium last night I was gladdened to see that people of all ages, sexes, and styles were there; from men in tuxedos, to women in jeans and t-shirts. They’d all been brought together by not only their shared love of music, but because the themes that run through opera are echoed in the lives of each and every one of us – love, hope, despair, joy, jealousy, anger, sacrifice, loneliness, and so much more.

Everything about this production of La Traviata (The Fallen Woman) was perfect. For those of you unfamiliar with the libretto, it’s (basically) the same plot line as Moulin Rouge - man falls for courtesan; courtesan must break his heart to save him; the couple are reunited just before the courtesan dies of TB. It’s an attack on hypocrisy and prejudice, and aptly demonstrates that not only should you never judge a book by it’s cover, but that humans possess an amazing capacity to change and evolve.

The heartbreaking duets between Violetta and Alfredo (played to utter perfection by Linda Richardson and Peter Sonn) had me transfixed, with every single note drenched in passion, loss, and hope for a brighter tomorrow; a tomorrow which, sorrowfully, never comes for Violetta. 

The staging and props were especially clever as the colour palette changed with each act to reflect the changes in Violetta’s life and mood. Death was a subtle but ever present fixture, as the set designers had cleverly carved Violetta’s tombstone into the stage floor. Even in her happiest moments they were reminding us of her impending and inescapable fate. 

The conductor, Simon Phillippo, leads an orchestra of such joyous extremes; with the lightest of woodwinds, to the most brooding strings. The soar of Dammi tu forza, O cielo! in the second act had me close to tears. Or in the words of another famous courtesan of the modern era (the lovely Vivian from Pretty Woman), “It was so good, I almost peed my pants!”

If you get a chance, please go and see this production. It’s a highly accessible piece, even for those who have never seen opera before.