Teacup and Saucer and Teapot

I've been meaning to buy myself one of these....

 



A matching teacup, saucer and teapot.

I saw these at Whittard who seem to have the best variety although are more expensive than others I've seen in TK Maxx, Dunelm Mill but are more plain. However, you do not need to compromise between design and price.

The Solution: Whittard of Chelsea outlet stores where they're usually half the price.
There are also stores in York and Swindon.

I shall be picking up my favourite if/when they arrive in store.

Rose Creme Brulee and Pistachio Cupcakes

I have come to notice that a lot of men like creme brulee but they don't like afternoon tea. In my attempt to tempt men to the table at 3pm for a spot of tea and cake I rustled up these sophisticated and gentle'manly' cupcakes.

For the creme brulee, you will need:

• 300ml double cream
• 75 ml of full fat milk
• 5 egg yolks
• 3 tbsp of caster sugar
• A few drops of rose extract or rosewater
• Demerera sugar for the top

Heat oven to 140C/120C fan/gas 1. Put the cream and milk into a pan and heat to boiling point. Add a few drops, to taste, of the rose flavouring, cover and leave to infuse for 10 mins. Meanwhile whisk the egg yolks and 3 tbsp of sugar together until pale and thick. Pour the boiling cream onto the mixture. Stir well, then pour into a square tin. Place the tin in a bain marie and cook in the oven for about 20 mins or until just set. Leave to cool. Once cooled divide into equal portions for the number of cupcakes you have to be topped. Baking your brulee in a square tin makes this part easier.

For 12 cupcakes, you will need:

• 140g butter
• 140g caster sugar
• 140g self-raising flour
• 2 eggs
• 100g pistachios

Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3 and line a 12-hole muffin tin with cases. Put all the pistachios into a food processor with about half the sugar, then whizz until very finely chopped. Tip into a large mixing bowl with the remaining sugar, butter, eggs, flour and milk and beat until smooth. Divide between cases, then bake on a low shelf for 22-25 mins until a skewer poked in comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

 

 

My cupcake cases are a little smaller than usual so I managed 16 cupcakes. You may notice that there are only 14 in the picture above but that’s because I tasted a couple to make sure they were good enough for the next bit. Scoop each allocated section of brulee on top of each and spread.

Now for the fun part, blowtorch at the ready and your demerera sugar. Sprinkle the topped cakes with the sugar then melt with the blowtorch till it caramelises. Don’t be afraid of a little charring, it adds to the gorgeous smoky flavour. When still molten drop a few pistachios on top if you have any left.

Tea Infusers

These are very good for when you are making just the one cup of that special loose leaf blend. When I feel like I need the pomp and pageantry of an afternoon tea without the calories I like to treat myself to a loose leaf tea in my favourite tea diffuser.

 

I love my Yellow Submarine especially as I am a big Beatles fan. However, on some Sunday mornings when the only reason I got out of bed was to make myself a cup of tea and want to get back into bed asap I find this very useful.

 

 

You can brew whilst you get back in bed and still take the leaves out of the cup into a matching bowl without staining your bedding. Plus you can make your cuppa without the need of a teaspoon.

Although I am thinking about giving my Sunday morning tea ceremonies a little more decadence I'm thinking of investing in a teapot/teacup set that neatly stacks on top of one another. More on that later.

Chicken Fillets

I'm sure you will have realised that this is not a recipe but reference to breast boosters/enhancers or whatever you'd like to call them.

I've found a great pair. Now these aren't what I'd actually call chicken fillets but have been told that they look very much like them. I like to think of them as the ultimate strapless bra.

Ta da!!

They are probably what you'd call a stick on bra except they are made of silicon all over and are nude in colour. You can use them on their own or inside a bra. They even have a little clasp to give you an extra little cleavage boost. Although you should note that they do not provide an upward lift unless used in conjunction with a bra straps.

However, as with all stick on bras they are not so good if you are a sweaty betty and it's a hot day.

Tezenis

This is a little discovery I made probably after a lot of you guys had already seen the wonders of Tezenis. It's the perfect place for the basics you need in underwear.
Whether you like padded push ups or have an ample bosom and like good wored support without the padding or perhaps like the soft touch without wires, there's something here for everyone.

 

There's even a strapless bra

 

 

They come black, white and nude and every other colour under the sun. So if there's a outfit you want to match or clash your underwear with, this is where you'll find it.

 

They even have matching knickers in every colour too.

 

 It's an Italian brand so the sizes are numbered 1 to 4 but helpfully Tezenis bras are also labelled with UK sizes too but here's a reminder of what the sizes mean.

If that wasn't enough, they also sell men's and children's underwear at very reasonable prices. A day out for the whole family!

 

 

Italian lingerie sizes

You might find it useful to know when shopping in Italy for underwear or when looking at Italin lingerie brands such La Perla, Tezenis, Intimissimi, Calzedonia etc that the underwear is sized in numbers.

1 - 30B, 32A, 34AA
2 - 30C, 32B, 34A, 36AA
3 - 30D, 32C, 34B, 36A
4 - 30E, 32D, 34C, 36B