Holiday - Fuerteventura

This year we decided to go to Fuerteventura for our much needed dosage of real sun! 

Fuerteventura for those of you who might not know is one of a few Spanish canary islands. It is an island which is very big on tourism, lots of hotels and modern looking complexes dotted in amongst local town houses. 
Think palm trees galore, and for a visual image this was the view from our balcony..... very beautiful!

 We had a great time one thing I didn't know is that Fuertenventura is quite windy but this was heaven when your sunbathing and you get a gust of wind to cool you down...... take me back!

Chocolate Ganache Cake - Know How!

As you might know if you are familiar wiht my blog posts I love cake! CAKE caaaaaaaaaaaaaakkkkkkkkeeee! I made my first ever ganache chocolate cake not so long ago and here's the result. Feel free to rate my cake.com I was so pleased with how it turned out!

 With a cup of tea?!......












............Don't mind if i do?!

I can do that - show me how!

Perfect for birthday cakes - You will need:

2 standard size chocolate sponge cakes

400ML Double Cream

400g Dark Chocolate

Firstly chocolate ganache is an icing made from cream and chocolate, you'll probably be familiar with it on cakes like chocolate fudge cakes as it's richer than your regular chocolate buttercream.

• Pour double cream into small saucepan and place on medium heat. Make sure pan is completely dry and don't cover it as moisture droplets will ruin the ganache.
• Break the chocolate into small chunks and add to the warm cream.
• Keep stirring until chocolate has almost completely melted but don't let it boil.
• Take the pan off the heat and whisk gently until the mixture is smooth and glossy. 
• Put the ganache into a bowl and allow to cool at room temp for a couple of hours so it firms to a thick spreading consistency and voila! 

Time to cover your cake!

I would use chocolate buttercream for the layer of the two sponges and then ganache to cover the cake.

• If your ganache hardens in the fridge you can soften on a low heat in the microwave for 10 - 30 seconds and stir well.
• To cover your cake scoop generous amount onto palette knife and smooth over top of cake using wide sweeping movements. At this stage you are consentrating on covering the cake not getting the perfect finish!
• Do the same with sides and spread with long sweeps of the palette knife.

 Now your cake is fully covered with ganache time to work on the finish...

• When cake is covered you can make the ganache smooth by smoothing over it again with a warmed palette knife (dipped in hot water and dried off) and your done! Feel free to decorate it however you choose, you can even buy chocolate writing tubes to write happy birthday messages etc :)

Manic Last Two Months Update!

Arggghhhhhh where to begin, are you as suprised as me to see this blog post?! I have missed my blog so much but have been so busy lately I can't believe the last blog post I made was two months ago feels like only yesterday, GASP!

Having some quiet relaxing time today and was itching to get typing, I have so much to tell you about.

Firstly the Jubilee celebrations which I know feels like a lifetime away now, hope you all had a lovely itme and enjoyed the extra time off work, BONUS! 
We had a low key celebration and spent it with family and of course the queen herself...

We also went on the severn valley railway which is a traditional style steam train. One of those local tourism spots we all have around us where you always mean to go to and never get round to it, but was great fun!

Hot hot hot!

Yowzers bowzers who turned the heating up?! I can't believe this gorgeous hot summer has been sneakily hiding away behind those clouds this whole time it is LUSHIOUSNESS!

Don't you find the sun makes everything look so much better, people look better towns, parks... everything feels like a mini holiday! 

It really gives me a new lease of life, well to a certain extent that is. 
I draw my curtains in the morning feel motivated by the beautiful weather but then it doesn't take too much sitting in the sun throughout the day for the sun to quite literally suck the life out me! 
Lets face it we brits are quite twirpy we moan about the cold and then sun comes out and suddenly all you hear is "it's too hot" 

I have had quite a productive week with lots of jubilee orders, making CAKE mmm cake and also saw the olympic torch.
Speaking of the olympic torch what do you make of people selling their torches to the highest bidder? Myself I feel a little bit deflated at that, I mean surely it's enough of an honour being picked let alone making money from it I heard that one sold for £150,000!
For me it would be alot more special if it was one torch that goes the whole way not a million different torches. .

Such a beautiful weekend what have you been upto are you going to try and catch a gimpse of the torch or not too fussed?

Jubilee/Olympic Games Special Edition Range

You may have noticed, well let's face it..... would be hard to ignore the fact that as a nation the UK is swamped in red white and blue it is everywhere right now.

I noticed there are a lot of fun hats and plastic alicebands and things like that but I wanted to make a range of really nice keep sake accessories.

The great thing about this range is that they will serve appropriate for two occasions this year with Queen Lizzibert's diamond Jubilee and the up and comming Olympic games.

I offer these designs as hair clips, rings and brooches with a couple of headbands a the bottom.
All designs available at stores.ebay.co.uk/Lilly-Belle-Accessories

Just type in Jubilee in shop search. Would love to hear what you think?

New Facebook Like Page

I have finally got round to making my facebook like page for all things new in the world of Lilly Belle Accessories and have a huge favour to ask......

I would hugely appreciate if you could pretty please with a glace cherry on top take a moment of your time to like my page. 
It will constantly be updated with new designs, news and events and blog posts.

I know your thinking what am I waiting for take me to this magical mystery page... well wait no more my fair maidens.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lilly-Belle-Accessories/119347118135604 

 

New Posh Tots Baby Bands - Cuteness!

You can't get much cuter than little babies in cute headbands, oh no wait yes you can.....little girls in gorgeous feather headbands.
These headbands are perfect for birthday parties, christening or any other occasion that opts for a bit more glam!

Some more posh tots headbands i've been working on lately are these beautiful brightly coloured flower bands perfect for the summer to match with dresses/outfits.