….. the first real working week….. and maybe you feel a little like me? It is kind of hard getting up to speed, after not doing much other than relax, eat and drink for three (four) weeks.

So….. to celebrate this week’s closure and the upcoming weekend, we need some chocolate….. as you know, it’s a life-giving elixir! Without it, where would we all be?

Oh…we’d all be skinny, you say?

Well, I guess you have a point. Without chocolate, we’d all be skinny. But would be happy?

Did you know that studies have proven that consuming a (very small) amount of dark chocolate once a day, has a profound effect on mild to moderate depression?

…..plus, skinny is highly overrated…..although…. I would like to see my hipbones again before I croak.

Chocolate cup cakes

Ingredients

CUPCAKES
2 cups Sugar
2 cups All-purpose Flour
¼ teaspoons Salt
½ cups Buttermilk
2 whole Eggs
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Vanilla
2 sticks 1 Cup Butter
4 Tablespoons (heaping) Cocoa Powder
1 cup Water, Boiling
18 whole Hershey’s Kisses, Unwrapped
Canned Pitted Cherries (optional)

GANACHE
8 ounces, weight Bittersweet Chocolate
1 cup Heavy Cream
6 Tablespoons Corn Syrup
2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract

Do this:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 18 muffin cups with baking spray.

To make the cake batter, combine flour, sugar, and salt. Set aside.
In a separate container, combine buttermilk, eggs, baking soda, and vanilla. Stir to combine and set aside.

In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add cocoa powder and stir to combine. Add boiling water, allow to bubble for a few seconds, then turn off heat.

Pour chocolate mixture over flour mixture. Stir a few times to cool the chocolate. Pour buttermilk mixture over the top and stir to combine.

Pour 1/4 cup cake batter into each muffin cup. Lightly set one kiss in the middle of each cupcake; do not press down. (Alternately, you can add 3 canned, pitted cherries to each muffin cup before adding the batter.)

Bake for 20 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes in the pan, then remove cupcakes and allow to cool on a baking rack.

To make the ganache, heat cream and corn syrup over medium heat. Chop chocolate and add to a bowl. Add vanilla to cream mixture, then pour cream mixture over the top of the chopped chocolate. Whisk together until melted, smooth, and glossy.

Dunk cupcakes in ganache. Allow to cool and set before serving.

Enjoy and have a lovely weekend
Lizzy

….. had a mellow girls night!

I made salmon for dinner, and she invented some really good drinks for us….. we ended up catching all night….. about everything we’ve got going on in our lives….. it’s lovely with a little slumber party now and then.

This morning, we chatted over coffee and buns, while painting our nails. We discussed plans for this summer….. since we no longer work together, we make special effort to have these girls nights once in a while….. and so we are planning on going to a SPA, and then out to dinner afterwards. I’m so excited!

I hope your weekend was full of friends and fun as well!

[Image: weheartit]

….. an absolute success….. I just know it!

By the way, thank you all for your tips on how to beat a cold….. I am happy to announce that I am sore throat free!

Today is absolutely gorgeous (although a tad bit windy), and it looks as if tomorrow is going to be just a nice! Whatever your plans are, I hope you have a beautiful weekend!

Love

Lizzy

….. for lying in the grass, and staring at the sky!

What is your favorite thing to do on a sunny day? My plan today is to play this year’s first golf tournament, meet a friend for coffee and a fun chat, and then (hopefully) take a long walk outside with Anton….. I can’t wait till flowers and trees will be blooming all around Denmark……

….. but in the meantime, tell me all about what you’re up to today. Is it sunny where you are? I’m in the mood for some stories and gossip, and I would love to hear what’s going on.

(Photo: maryruffle)

[Photo: the cottingley fairies]

….. Friday going so far? Great I hope!

I feel inspired to get back into my painting and art. So I’m going to spend the better half of the weekend doing just that! Although I have the canvas all set and ready to go, I’m having trouble figuring out what to paint….. any suggestions?

Have a lovely weekend

Hugs

Lizzy

Today’s post on: Delightful People

….. cats and dogs in Denmark, so al I can think about is hot tea, candles and curling up with a good book.

….. spring fever! that’s all.

is it warming up in your neck of the woods?

Warm up from the inside out with a divinely decadent cup of hot chocolate.

Rich and steaming hot chocolate is a soothing antidote for bone-chilling weather,

so treat yourself to a little chocolate therapy the next time winter gets you down.

Recipe: Hot chocolate

….. to just take a really deep breath and remember that you have everything you need, and that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

And if that doesn’t work…..  there’s always ice cream…..

Blueberry ice cream with lemon curd
Serves 8
1 cup milk
1 egg
3 eggyolks
3/4 cup sugar
2 cups cream
3/4 cup blueberries
1/2 cup lemon curd

Put the milk in a saucepan and heat until almost boiling.
Remove from heat and cool.
Place eggs, egg yolks and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat until light and creamy.
Add milk, cream and blueberries.
Cool and freeze in an ice cream maker.
Serve the ice cream in glasses with lemon curd.

ENJOY!

I hope you all have a great weekend

Lizzy

Recipe: via Sweet Paul

(Photo: lucie camp)

Today’s post on: Delightful People

….. what are you up to this weekend? Here’s our plan:

Today I think I might keep it low key and just hang out
Eat the rest of the chili from yesterday and a very big glass of wine (me)
Play golf (Peer)
Lots of sleep…..
Playtime with Anton
And finally tomorrow: some catching up! (with my mum)