Coffee and Walnut Cake - The Recipe

 

A classic coffee and walnut cake recipe with a buttery yet light sponge and a rich coffee flavoured icing...

I am not usually one to indulge in a coffee cake, I would rather have a chocolate fudge cake any day but whilst looking for something to bake yesterday I laid my eyes on this wonderful recipe in the Great British Bake Off cookery book. It just looked so damn tasty! And if I am honest it was one of the few recipes I actually had the ingredients for, lazy I know, anyway I wanted to share this with you as it is easy to follow and really quick to make.

For the sponge you will need -

175g unsalted soft butter

175g caster sugar

3 medium eggs

75g chopped walnuts

175g self raising flour

1/4 teaspoon of baking powder

1 tablespoon of instant coffee dissolved into 1 tablespoon of hot water

For the filling and topping you will need -

125g unsalted butter

300g icing sugar

3 tablespoons of instant coffee dissolved into 2 tablespoons of hot water

4 tablespoons of double cream

25g chopped walnuts for decoration

First start by pre-heating the oven to 180 C and line two eight inch cakes tins. Put the softened butter and sugar into a bowl and beat until light and creamy, gradually add in the eggs one at a time beating well after each one is added. Add the nuts, sifted flour and baking powder followed by the disolved coffee, carefully fold all ingrediants together until thoroughly combined. Divide the mixture between the two tins and spread evenly. Bake for 20-25mins until golden and the sponge springs back when lightly pressed. Once out of the oven run a round bladed knife around the egde of the cake to loosen and then turn out onto a wire cooling rack, leave cakes to cool completely.

To make the filling and topping heat the butter in a small non stick metal pan until it starts to bubble, sift the icing sugar into a large heatproof bowl and pour over the butter followed by the disolved coffee and cream, beat well using a large wooden spoon until the mixture is smooth, leave until thick enough to spead. You may need to chill the mixture in the fridge for ten minutes or so. Once almost set spread onto the bottom layer of the cake and then place the second sponge layer on top, put the rest of the mixture onto the top of the cake and spread using a spatula, run a knife around the top to create a swirled pattern and then decorate with the chopped walnuts.

The recipe says the cake should last four days so it is a  great one to prepare one or two days before having guests round, although it didn't even last a day in my house! Let me know if you try this!

An Italian Outfit of the Day

 

 A modern twist on a classic Mad Men style skirt...

 

Here are a few snaps from my recent trip to Rome, after seeing stills from La Dolce Vita and having seen films like The Great Beauty I knew that Rome as a city is damn stylish, so when packing my little suitcase I knew I needed to pack my A game style wise. 

I brought along my Pull and Bear blazer/jacket as it is an incredibly versatile piece of outerwear, it goes with just about anything and is a great way to smarten up a more dressed down look. The pop of colour in this look is a bright yellow vintage skirt that I picked up from Dirty Harry's, I also styled it with a vintage yellow leather bag, this is such a classic statement accessory as is the silk Parisian style scarf from Beyond Retro.To pull the look together I wore a simple fine knit three quarter length jumper from Brandy Melville, this is such a flattering and wearable top, I could live in this! Here is the full low down on this look:

Blazer - Pull and Bear

Jumper - Brandy Melville

Skirt - Dirty Harry's in Brighton

Yellow Bag - Beyond Retro Brighton

Silk Scarf - Beyond Retro Brighton

Gold Necklace - Camden Market

Black Tights - New Look

Shoes - Primark 

 

Sundays in Brighton

A new favourite shop and an old favourite restaurant... 

Brighton is one of my favourite places to spend a Sunday afternoon, there are so many lovely places shop and eat, another place we stumbled across one our last wonder through the lanes is Workshop, a sweet home wear and lifestyle shop in Prince Albert Street that has a passion for simplistic designs and products that are created out of materials that really stand the test of time, this little gem has also been featured in Decor magazines like Elle Decoration and Homes and Gardens Magazine. Shelves are stacked with Honest Candles that smell Divine and an old sink is used to display handmade vegetable soaps, Enamel and stone wear fills the display stands and wooden utensils fill wire baskets all around the shop.

For dinner we headed to JB's American Diner on the seafront, it was packed so we had a little wait for a table but it was definitely worth it, I went for my favourite which is the Chili Dog, best thing on the menu in my opinion, I would recommend paying the extra for cheese if you are really pushing the boat out, and most definitely wash it down with a milkshake, you can't really go to JB's without ordering one so make sure you do, the 'Milky Way' is my shake of choice.

Here is a few snaps... 

OOTD - Blue Moon

Keeping it classic in Navy... 

Navy is such a wearable colour I often consider it in the same category as monochrome, it is very classic and chic. I sometimes think I could live in this little ASOS number, it is such a flattering a-line shape and the crotchet texture adds a real bohemian vibe. I paired it with my New Look Blazer style coat, a Topshop satchel style bag and black pumps. This look is great for the transition into spring as the dress is super lightweight and has little short sleeves for if the weather is hot enough that you need to remove the jacket, it is also really easy to update this dress for dinner or drinks in the evening.

I kept my jewellery minimal with a gold charm necklace from Camden Market and vintage style coin studs from River Island, I also wore this statement ring that I picked up from Topshop in their most recent sale, the centre stone looks like Jade and is surrounded by pretty green gems.

How would you style this ASOS dress?

Where to go: Brighton - SILO

The pre-industrial food system that generates zero waste, uses products in their rawest form at the same time as creating delicious food. Introducing Brighton's greenest new haunt - SILO...

Wondering the North Laines the other day in search of something chocolaty I was lured into SILO, a new restaurant, bakery and coffee house in Upper Gardner Street with a beckoning display of goods in the front window. Fresh artisan breads, cakes, bakes, slices you name it - they have it, and all with that charming homemade look about them. I went for the hot chocolate, taste wise this place delivers a good hot chocolate, thick, creamy melted chocolate consistency - size wise though I could have definitely polished off at least two.

The menu looked as if it was packed with creative dishes and after a little research I discovered SILO locally sources all the ingredients used in their kitchens, they even mill their own flour, they rely on a network of ethical farmers, growers, tea merchants, the list is endless. All combine to create this very modern take on eating out.

The restaurant vibe is similar to that of places found in Brick Lane, the place is buzzing with tables packed with bearded twenty somethings all with their laptops spread all over the tables. The decor is very Pinterest worthy with chalkboards everywhere, exposed white bricks and the menus projected all over the walls.  We had to go away and do a little shopping before there was even a free table so definitely popular since its opening.


Will you be checking out SILO?

Beauty Chat Live at Space NK

Space NK, Macaroons, Champagne, a mini makeover, oh and meeting Vivianna and Lily, read on for details... 

A few weeks ago Space Nk Brighton played host to two of my favourite bloggers - Anna from Vivianna Does Make Up and Lily from Lily Pebbles, these two lovely ladies are true blogging inspiration - they are my go to for new product launch information and beauty reviews. It was so nice to get the opportunity to meet them both in person to chat all things beauty and shop in the beauty haven that is Space NK.

The evening started with Lily and Anna answering questions from all the people who attended the event and some of the questions from twitter, then we had a relaxed shopping experience in Space NK - the girls working that evening were all so lovely and helpful, it was nice being able to ask Lily and Anna their opinions on products that I wanted to try.

I also got a mini makeover from Becky Fletcher - one of the national Space NK artists from the Pro team and a freelance makeup artist and beauty expert - she used the Kevin Aucoin Bronzing Powder to contour and an hourglass blush in a stunning peachy shade to give me a natural glow, the overall look was so fresh and pretty, definitely something I have tried to recreate since.

Two products I chose to purchase were the Living Proof Texturising Mist which smells divine and adds instant volume and texture to my hair, I also picked up the Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation, this is a product I have seen in so many tutorials, it just gives such a flawless yet natural finish.

We went home goody bags in tow, full of macaroons (and birthday cake), excited to try our new products - all in all it was a great event! Thanks Space NK.