Coffee for one.

   Now that it's getting warmer, it's time to make the transition from hot cappucinos to sweet iced lattes. I have a weird obsession with stovetop espresso machines and I believe that it is one of the best ways to make coffee at home- I could be wrong though! It's a ritual i've seen my mum and dad perform every morning for as long as I can remember and so maybe I just have a weird psychological attachment to a coffee pot- who knows?! During the cooler months, I add the espresso to hot, frothy milk and closer to summer time I switch it for cold milk and ice cubes.

    I've also rediscovered my love for Hozier. Such a talented artist and I really love listening to his music when i'm studying-it's calming but not distracting. My favourites are Arsonist's Lullaby, From Eden and Cherry Wine.

Who are your favourite artists? Who do you listen to when you study? What are your favourite morning traditions?

Till next time...

Snapshots:Caribbean Gardens and Market

    I love me a good market and my ideal Sunday morning involves sunshine, pancakes and a market. This Sunday was the first sunny one I got to spend outdoors after a long time. It would have been a waste to not go out on that gorgeous day so I dragged my mum along to the Carribean Gardens and Market. It's filled with a tonne of vendors selling things from potted plants to creepy barbie dolls to fake Prada bags to an assortment of fruit and veg.
    It was nice to walk around with JUST a jumper-IT'S SPRING, IT'S SPRING! Can you tell I love the sun?

What do you love to do on Sundays?

Let the memory live again.

        Memories can be triggered by the simplest things. A smell, a song, the way the flame dances in the wind-all triggers for a forgotten memory. These pictures trigger memories of when I lived in India, specifically when I stayed with my grandparents for a few months. 

        What sights/smells/sounds have triggered memories for you lately?

Best Friend Cake.

   

      The first time I had this cake, I was still in high school, in my uniform, sitting through another assembly on something unimportant. My best friend had made it and it was the best thing i'd ever tasted( I was also slightly jealous of her amazing baking skills!). Since that day, I have always referred to it as the best friend cake.
     Best Friend Cake, also known as the best damn chocolate fudge cake you will ever eat, is also one of the easiest cakes you will ever make. It doesn't require too many strange ingredients and turns out great-definitely one you want to make if you want to impress someone. These pictures were taken when I was in Montreal a month ago visiting the best friend. All her friends were definitely impressed with our baking skills when we made this!

Best Friend Cake

Ingredients

For the Cake

125g Butter
1 cup Sugar
2 Eggs
1 tsp Vanilla Essence
1/2 cup Cocoa powder
1/2 cup Hot Water
2 tsp Vinegar or lemon juice
1 cup Milk1 ¾ cup Plain flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Bicarbonate of Soda
a pinch of Salt

For the Icing
125 g Butter
2 cups Icing Sugar
3 tbsp Cocoa Powder

Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celcius.

Beat butter until creamy. Add sugar, eggs and vanilla. Beat until light and fluffy. Blend cocoa in hot water to make a smooth paste. Gradually add to creamed mixture. Add vinegar to milk to sour.

Sift together flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt and add to creamed mixture alternately with sour milk. Stir lightly but thoroughly. Pour into 2 greased 20cm (8”) sandwich tins and bake in a moderate oven for 30 minutes or until top springs back when lightly pressed. 

Cool in tins for 10 minutes then turn out and allow it to cool completely. Fill and ice with Chocolate  Icing.

Till next time..

Happiness in a bite.

      My interest in baking seems to be following a certain pattern- it dies down during University breaks and peaks a few days before an assignment is due or I have an exam. Todays procrastibaking recipe was Lemon Drizzle Cake, courtesy of the gorgeous Anna from Vivianna does Makeup. This super easy recipe (I have a thing for non complicated recipes-no judgement, okay!) is delicious, light and citrusy. Plus the lemon and granulated sugar glaze just takes it to the next level.
      On the topic of happiness, I recently read The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. I first saw this book at an airport bookstore on my way to New Zealand and I was intrigued. I completely forgot about it until a month ago when my brother bought me some books for my birthday. Gretchen essentially conducts a life experiment, researching and trialling ways of becoming happier.  Each month she documents how she tried to improve one aspect of her life through these happiness experiments over the course of a year. I've been reading it on my way to University in the mornings and I'm considering starting my own happiness project-I mean, we can always be happier, right?
     Would you consider starting your own happiness project and if yes, what would you do?     

You are not alone.

                    It seems almost premonitory that I was studying about depression when news broke that the legend Robin Williams had died. I was genuinely shocked when I heard the news. Robin Williams was definitely a big part of my childhood- Aladdin was one of my favourite Disney movies. It's tragic to think that someone whose job it was to bring happiness and laughter into peoples life was silently suffering from within.
                    Depression is a big issue with one in seven people experiencing depression sometime in their life. Unfortunately, depression is regularly confused with grief that accompanies a tragic loss or event. To put it simply, depression and grief are not totally the same. Grief does not pervade all aspects of your life in the same way depression does.
                     Many of us silently suffer and do not seek help-only 60% of Australians sought treatment as of 2001. Without sounding preachy, if you are finding yourself struggling, know that you are not alone in this battle and that there are people who can help you out.
                     To find out more information or if you are looking for someone to help fight your battles with click here. I don't know how to end this so all I can say is, Genie, you're free.

Montreal Photo Diary//Part 3

       Here are a selection of photos I took during my last few days in Montreal. As you'll see, I discovered my love for black and white photos- I apologise for the overdose of them! Montreal really surprised me, it was different to what I expected it to be like. You have Old Montreal with it's quaint corners and old timey charm, and then you have Piknic Electronik and the saturday night fireworks which are ultra-modern and futuristic.

This photo of the Biosphere Museum (I named it 'the egg') is probably one of my favourite photos I took on this trip.

        I went to Montreal to reconnect with an old friend and discover a new city. I loved the little I saw of Montreal and cannot wait to visit the rest of Canada! I hope you enjoyed the Montreal Photo Diary series.

Till next time...