Recipe: Matcha Truffles

Remember my last Weekly Wantings post about matcha? Well, the day after I wrote that post I was in town and ended up buying the small £10 beginner's grade tub. For the first couple of days I stuck with a simple matcha tea which is as basic as it gets and is perfect first thing in a morning. You only need 1/4 of a teaspoon of matcha powder and hot water. It tastes like a slightly stronger version of green tea but is twice as good for you. Just knowing this makes it an even better purchase!

As good as a matcha tea is, I wanted to branch out more and try to do some cooking with it. Vitalife do have their own special cooking grade matcha but I decided to stick with the matcha I already own. I remembered seeing pictures of matcha truffles and thinking they looked good & easy to make, so set off on a cooking spree. Here's how I made my matcha truffles*:

At first I was torn between white chocolate and dark chocolate, but then realised the matcha would be bitter and as dark chocolate is also bitter it wouldn't work as well. White chocolate it was! I rarely eat white chocolate as I find it too sweet but was excited to see what it would taste like paired with matcha.

For the matcha truffles you will need:

• 2 teaspoons of matcha powder 
• 1/3 cup of double cream
• 300g of white chocolate
• 2 and a half tablespoons of unsalted butter
• A pinch of salt
• A strainer (to sift the matcha)
• 4 cups of water
• An ice cube tray or mould of some kind
• A saucepan

1. Melt the butter and cream on a low heat, add a pinch of salt.

2. Add the mixture to the a teaspoon of matcha and mix well. You may have to whisk it to get rid of any lumps and set the mixture to one side.

3. Pour 4 cups of water into a saucepan, heat until boiled. Break up your white chocolate and place in a bowl. Turn the heat off and place the bowl on top of the pan to melt it.

4. Once the chocolate has melted, add the matcha cream to it and stir until it's all mixed in. The mixture should be fairly thick but pourable. 

5. Using a teaspoon and knife (my cutlery of choice) transfer the mixture into your mould. I had leftover mixture but no more moulds so placed it on a foil covered tray for a matcha chocolate slab.

6. Refrigerate the mixture for a minimum of 3 hours. I decided to leave mine overnight (but ended up eating the chocolate slab after 3 hours).

7. In 3 hours or the next day, pop the solidified mixture out of the moulds. If you are using an ice cube tray like me, use a silicone one. I used a plastic one and spent 20 minutes trying to saw (slight over-exaggeration) each truffle out of the tray. Next time I will definitely get a silicone tray and use that instead...

8. Sift a teaspoon of matcha onto your work surface, carefully roll your truffle mixture into the powder and coat evenly. Hopefully your truffles will be better shaped than mine!

9. Ta-da! Your matcha truffles are finished. Don't forget to keep them stored in the fridge so they don't melt.

The matcha and white chocolate is a perfect combination. You first taste the bitter matcha powder which is then followed by the sweet, creamy white chocolate. One of the best things about the truffles is that you can't eat them all in one go as more than 2 do become sickly.

*My recipe for matcha truffles is from Oh How Civilised but with slightly different measurements. Thank you to Jee for this recipe, it truly is wonderful!

Have you tried matcha truffles before? If you haven't and decide to make these, let me know how they turn out.

Alice

  x

NYFW Favourite Collections

As I stated in my previous post, I'm not an expert on fashion weeks, the collections, or the designers. However, NYFW has interested me and I've been looking at many collections for Spring 2014. Here are some of my favourites.

Rebecca Minkoff's collection for 2014 caught my eye as most of her outfits are simple yet stand out. I love the first dress as this is the one that stands out the most from the entire collection. The colours are beautiful and it flows behind the model wonderfully on the catwalk. I also like how it's paired with simple white heels so its kept as the main focus. 

The next three outfits after this dress are more along my description of simple, yet elegant and quite classy. In the second outfit, the jacket adds structure to the top & skirt. The look is eclectic but has a bohemian feel with the skirt and bag pattern. I'm in love with the dress from the third outfit as the colour is amazing & perfect for Spring. The necklace and bag give the dress an edge and stop it from being plain. I myself am not too keen on the calve high gladiator sandals, but they match the outfit & once again stop it from being simple. The last outfit is a beautiful dress with large, baggy sleeves which I love. The floral pattern on the dress and sandals mean it doesn't need any accessories to stand out, and the pattern is also perfect for Spring.

Jason Wu's collection was filled with gorgeous, flowing dresses. All of the dresses in his collection seem to give off that effortlessly beautiful vibe. Some dresses added texture (such as the one in the third photo) whilst others added a light touch of sparkle (such as those in the second and fourth photos). The dress in the third photo stood out to me the most as Wu added a soft looking ruffled texture on this fishtail dress, but added a panel of silk on the waist & hip; adding to it's elegance. The colours of the dresses are light, varying from metallic colours to pastels; going through a range of various blue shades to finally ending with his darker outfits. 

I love the block colours featured in Creatures of the Wind's Spring 2014 collection. The eye catching mustard jacket paired with a pale skirt and colour scarf looks wonderful. A lot of the collection featured boxy, elbow length jackets in bold colours of prints, which made the jackets dress down an outfit and add that "just chucked it on in a rush" kind of vibe. The t-shirt paired with the pale midi skirt is one of my favourites because it goes together in an effortless, casual way. I also love that pastels, florals and metallics were combined together to create these stunning pieces. One of my particular favourites in this collection is the mustard dress as it has the retro colours but a modern cut. I love most of Creatures of the Wind's collection but then again I could say that for all Rebecca Minkoff and Jason Wu as well.

What have been your favourite fashion week collections?

Alice

  x

*All photos from style.com

NYFW Beauty Favourites

I don't usually keep up with the catwalk when fashion weeks come around; no matter where they're based. Usually I'll read a few features in a magazine or come across some articles online, but that's it. I'm saying this purely because I'm not an expert on fashion weeks and the collections. I am however, really interested in the make-up used for collections and could read an entire magazine composed of photos/descriptions about them.

This year a few looks (and collections - upcoming post on this is pending) have caught my eye. So here are a few of my favourite make-up looks from New York Fashion Week so far.

The bright orange lips at Rag & Bone contrast brilliantly with toned down yet dewy skin. Matte lips are possibly my favourite kind of make-up. Orange lips can suit pretty much anyone and are a perfect statement for the face.

The rose gold eyelids on the models for Jason Wu were another bold statement. Glitter was applied on top of the shadow to make the eyes the focus point of the face. The rest of the face was kept simple with a light pink blush applied on the cheeks and contours them. This look adds an element of warmth to the face and looks amazing.

Have you been keeping up to date with the collections and beauty at New York Fashion Week? What's been your highlight/s so far?

Alice

  x


*All photos from style.com

New Purchases

It's not often I post what I purchase, although to be honest, it's not often that I purchase anything exciting. Most of my money goes on outings with friends, food or visiting people. In the past couple of weeks though I've actually been buying interesting things for a change. Here's a haul post of a 3 of the things I've recently bought and am currently in love with.

Lincoln isn't exactly a city renown for it's charity shops. Many of the tourists & visitors usually veer towards the independent boutiques without realising what amazing things the charity shops hold. It isn't often I visit them when I'm at university as I usually forget about them or don't have the time. When my friend Luke came for the weekend though we were determined to go everywhere. After walking down Steep Hill, I spotted a beautiful window display in the St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice shop and had to go in.

The shop has various sections, but my favourite has to be 'The Attic' which the shop describes as a 'treasure trove of Vintage & Retro clothing, accessories and furniture'. Every item is set out beautifully and there are so many things which catch your eye. We spent at least 20 minutes wandering round admiring all the pretty home-wares. This patent handbag caught my eye and after a 5 minute debate of "do I really need this?" I ended up buying it. It's in a brilliant condition and can be either sat on your arm or hung over your shoulder. My favourite thing about it is that it can be a day or night bag. St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice and The Attic have their own blog as well, so take a look at the rest of their goodies.

This fox dress is my favourite purchase so far. You've most likely already seen me wearing this on my last Instagram post but I had to include it here as well. I found this dress in a shop called The Wardrobe when I was in Leicester. The Wardrobe is a vintage/boutique shop with some wonderfully unique clothes and jewellery. I spotted this dress and instantly had to try it on. There was only one left in my size but I decided to leave it for the day and go back for it if I really wanted to buy it. I checked online to see if the clothing brand (Run & Fly) had any more but there were no signs of the dress whatsoever online (cue panic). Long story short, a few days later I rushed back into the shop in hope it was still there (thankfully it was) and I bought it straight away. I love how unique the print is.

These earrings are another unique find which I adore. These are from a shop called Tessies in Hull. The boutique stocks gorgeous clothing and jewellery. I wanted to buy the entire shop but settled for these amazing light bulb earrings. I've worn these a few times and have had some lovely compliments about them. It's definitely worth checking out their website and ASOS Marketplace. 

A few months ago a free miniature version of They're Real was in Elle Magazine. It was a massive hit with many bloggers and after seeing so many recommendations I nabbed myself a copy. This mascara is brilliant, it lengthens your lashes without making them overly clumpy. When my mini version ran out I knew that I had to get it again. Benefit are currently pairing a free miniature mascara with the big version for the same price. The mini one is worth £9.50 and the big one is worth £19.50, so the two for £19.50 is a great deal. I definitely recommend to get them while the offer lasts if you're a fan of They're Real.

What have you been purchasing lately? 

Alice

  x

Weekly Wantings: Matcha

If you haven't heard of Matcha before then where have you been?! 

Matcha is everywhere at the moment and keeps growing in popularity. It's fine, powdered green tea powder which is mainly used in drinks and originates from Japan. The tea is made from shade-grown tea leaves and is known for its very strong taste. Matcha is popping up everywhere at the moment and can even be found in your local cafe in the form of a Matcha Latte (which by the way is delicious). 

I haven't tried pure Matcha yet but I have indulged in matcha flavoured products such as the latte I mentioned previously, as well as cakes, mochi and ice cream. I'm a green tea obsessive and can drink cup after cup. All my friends and housemates know me as the tea girl in general but green tea is always the one I drink the most. 

The health benefits of matcha are one of the reasons it's so lusted after (and also why I'm lusting after it). It's said to improve your focus and aid with weight loss whilst having 70 times the amount of antioxidants of orange juice. The only downside to matcha is it's price. 

Matcha has stood out to me for a while, but because of how expensive it is I've never bought a tub. Whilst browsing the internet for local health food shops I came across Vitalife Japanese Matcha. The 30g is for beginner's grade and so far is the cheapest one I could find. Although if you are unsure about the taste of matcha Teapigs now does a 2g sample for £2. You can also purchase all the accessories for matcha, - such as the whisks and beginner kits, - on the Vitalife and Teapigs websites.

I think now I've found some matcha I can afford I'll finally buy some. I can't wait to experiment with it and possibly make some matcha truffles (the recipe from London Eats looks amazing).

Are you a big fan of green tea? Have you ever tried matcha?

Alice

  x

The Past Few Weeks in Instagram Form (5)

                          These are amazing                                                    Luke having a laughing fit

                          Oliver Woods apparently                                               Root beer float

                           The Parcel Yard                                                                Beautiful dress

                           Oregon Mist                                                                   Crepes

              Blue cheese, bacon & avocado burger                                 Best pyjama bottoms

                       The Corn Exchange                                                        Hey Giiiiiiiiiiirl

                   A BEAR BEAN BAG                                                  Time to buy ALL the tea

Far too many things seem to have happened since I last wrote an Instagram post. I moved into my new house in Lincoln and stayed for a few weeks. My friend Luke has been away all Summer for AmeriCamp and came back to see us for the weekend. He brought us delicious American sweets and me, him & my housemate went on a Lincoln bar/pub crawl for a catch up on the Friday night. 

The weekend after Luke came I went to Leicester to celebrate my friend Guppy's birthday. She had a weird knitted toy of Oliver Woods which I found hilarious and amazing at the same time. We went to Ed's Diner on the first day and the root beer float I had was so so good. The next day my housemate Laura travelled down from Leeds for a night out. We went to a place called The Crumblin' Cookie and had lunch whilst I had an Oregon Mist. An Oregon Mist was a green tea latte with amaretto syrup. Amazing. On the day we left we went to a Crepe cafe and had peanut butter, nutella and chocolate ice cream crepes. We also went to some lovely independent shops, one of which had the most gorgeous green fox printed dress. I had to have it as it was the only one left in my size. Before we caught the train we stopped for a drink in The Parcel Yard which is bang next to the station and has gorgeous décor.

Yet more bad food was eaten when I met up with Jake back in Sheffield. It was the last time I'm going to see him for a while as he leaves for Paris for six months on Monday. We went to Bungalows & Bears (a favourite place) and I had a blue cheese burger. It was the first burger I've tried with blue cheese and was the best one I've ever eaten. 

I had to take a photo of my hideously amazing pyjama bottoms from Asda. They have animals with monocles, posh suits and top hats on them. 

Yesterday me and my friend Krishna decided on a whim to head to Leeds for the day. We went in JOY and found a Ryan Gosling notebook which we both wanted, but at £7 it was a bit much. It was the first time I visited the Corn Exchange and the shops inside were brilliant. One of the shops had this bear bean bag which stopped me in my tracks. Not pictured was the delicious raw chocolate I purchased from a massive organic shop. We both went to the Illamasqua store and wanted to buy everything as well. Krishna bought the hydra-veil. The assistant said she couldn't give me a free sample as we had to spend over £55 but then gave me one anyway bless her. Can't wait to review it. 

On a trip to Meadowhall the other I bought my first tea infuser and now want to buy every single loose leaf tea in sight. 

All in all, in the past few weeks I've eaten too much and been everywhere. The best of everything really. Now I'm back home until the week before freshers then I'll head back to Lincoln. 

What have you been up to lately?

Alice

  x 

How to Make a New Room More Homely

Being a student, it's either living in a house or student accommodation on/around the campus. Sometimes it's easy to quickly settle into your new home, or you may find it takes time to adjust and become comfortable. It can be rather annoying when you finally find yourself happy and cosy in your current flat/house then all of a sudden August arrives and it's time to move again. 

It's now my third year at university, and I've just moved into a new house. I definitely prefer living in a house compared to student accommodation but that's just me. In second year, I lived with 3 of my friends from first year in quite a small house. Don't get me wrong it was a lovely house, but it was quite tiny. My room was the smallest in the house and even though I did choose it, I realised I kind of had too many things to put in it... This year however we decided to move to a new house with 2 more people and it's HUGE! 

When I moved half of my things to the new house I was immediately excited to decorate it (anyone else get that?). My room this year is a lot bigger and the perfect size for hoarding loads of shoes/handbags/notebooks/makeup/camera film etc. It took me 3 hours just to put up my posters and photos in all the right places... 

Anyway the whole point of this post is that I wanted to share my room on a blog post with you guys to give some tips on how to make a new room cosy & decorated to your taste.

To stop the walls looking so bare (student rooms are usually white walled or quite plain) add some posters or postcards that mean something to you or consist of something you like. I put up my map poster as I'm obsessed with map print everything... My postcards are from my Moonrise Kingdom DVD, and the two postcards are from a cute independent shop in Lincoln called Rock Paper Scissors and an art gallery in Edinburgh. 

Flowers really liven up your room and add some brightness if your bedroom looks a little plain. I trekked up Steep Hill to my local greengrocers for this lovely bunch. Oh and excuse my bag of q-tips in the background...

Yet more postcards and posters. The ones on the cupboard are from Bruges when I went as a teenager and are my favourite postcards. The Project Wild Thing and The Man Whose Mind Exploded posters are two wonderful documentaries I saw on my shift at the Sheffield Documentary Festival this year. My Alexisonfire poster doesn't have to be explained (favourite band). I loved the look of the New York Subway poster which I think I bought in Paperchase a few years ago. The butterfly poster is inspired by the 1966 film Daisies and is from Sheffield's Botanical Gardens. 

Putting up an inspirational type of poster will not only make your room look cosy but will motivate you. My 'Be Yourself' poster was from website which told you to describe how you felt about university and would choose & send you a beautifully designed poster with inspirational quote on it. I can't remember it's name off the top of my head but I will search my favourites tab for the website address and update this post when I do.

I didn't have anywhere to put my necklaces and bobbles so I made a makeshift one from wall pins. It isn't pretty or anything, but it works. 

Another way to make your room more homely is to put gig/cinema/train/arcade tickets on your walls or wardrobe to remember good times with your friends or a visit to another city. As you can see my Alexisonfire one precedes the others as it was my favourite ever gig. Underneath these I also have a photo collage of me and friends/family but decided to not photograph them as they're personal to me. 

Are you in a student house or halls this year? How do you make your room feel cosy?

Alice

  x