A Hansel & Gretel Afternoon.....

....without the eating children bit!

For my birthday this year, I was bought a fairy tale house mould as a gift! It was predominately for making a chocolate house (yes, it's as amazing as it sounds)! However, since it's getting so close to Christmas, we decided to see how it would work as a gingerbread mould! This is a tradition that is becoming increasingly popular in the UK and there are lots of shops introducing kits with all of the ingredients measured out and templates or even the gingerbread baked and ready to put together. We opted to start from scratch!

Once they were all mixed together and formed a soft dough, we then just pressed it in to the mold and put it in the oven - we even had enough left over to make a gingerbread boy and girl!

This is what we came up with!

If you want to make a gingerbread house this Christmas but don't want to buy a mould, you can do what we did last year and print a free template from the internet. Bake batches of gingerbread and while it's still warm and soft, cut it to the shape and size you need! Last years effort is in the pictures below!

We're not sure what was more fun...... making or eating our house! We'll tell you once we've come out of our gingerbread induced comas!

If you have made any festive food, post your links so we can check it out! 

Thanks for checking this out! 

Twitter 

@twiceuponblonde

Instagram 

Twiceuponblonde

Youtube 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKztQ7sRCbFQZeGXdQOMEOw

We are taking part in The Big Blogmas Project this December along with the below lovelies! Check out their blogs too for more festive fun!

Coleoftheball                 Hanclarky                         Cometomybdr                  Bw_sheep

Kammitted                    Ambipage                          Ohkalukalay                    Lovelyjubbly8

 Pp_puff                        Jessbarnes                         Missmills_                         Nikmakeupjunkie  

Missbeccabeauty         Amelia_florence               Tansandtiarasx                    Thebeauty_baker   

Vintageteapot              Likeslippy SGBlogxx       BethanywellsMUA             April_todd    

Berrycrumblexxx        _Sammyjane_x                  Bexclaree_                         Sassydoveblog

 Kellovesclothes           Hannahlouisa__              CourtneeeyJ                        2sisters1blog

Unexpected_roar         Char_beyy                         Neyavbeautytalk                Naomi_joy_  

Victoiraearls                 Anothergirlyblg                 Beautyblogger20               Cerysannex   

Missksmudger              Sarah_lumsden                 Byalextweets                     Sarahivell8    

Jessicakbrown              Shadowlinergirl                Allmadeup21                     Hintofsparkle  

Jessiekinsxo                  Srslylou                           Tayscollectionn                   Lianne84  

 Cutelil_b_blog           Chloe_bellamy                    Kendalsblog                       CMWB   

Lucy_a_bigail             Sophieeroseex                     Jesslynjuly                         Misslaurameow    Adaynasaur                Hitnmiff                              Knitteddaisy                      Sweetsparklyser   4evafashion92            Mallowbeauty                     Beautysupergirl                Aqeela_mua   Jordanmarie89           Polkadotteapot2                  Fashforeverblog               Kelseyshepherd_ 

Hmkeyes                    Dixxgina                              Uggynog                            imogenrose20   Joni_blog                  Laural0uisee                        Frostedplanet                     Rowbowk   Maclovergirl96         Danniannie                          Juststephblog                    _bethhenderson  

 saloca                        Kaitlynisabel                      _nameofbeauty    

Big Blogmas Project!

Happy 1st of December!

We can't believe how this year has flown by and we're already getting ready to open those little doors on our advent calendars! 

As this is our first Christmas since starting the blog, we wanted to do something fun and festive to celebrate! We were asked if we wanted to join in with the #bigblogmasproject. This involves us blogging everyday from the 1st December, through until Christmas eve! We jumped at the opportunity and have been busily planning what we want to blog about over the next 24 days!

You'll find lots of beauty posts, Christmas fashion and lifestyle posts, as well as some fun things about what we're getting up to this Festive season! We hope you enjoy our involvement in the Big Blogmas Project and that you check out some of the other lovelies who are also taking part!

Thanks for checking this out! 

Twitter 

@twiceuponblonde

Instagram 

Twiceuponblonde

Youtube 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKztQ7sRCbFQZeGXdQOMEOw

Coleoftheball                 Hanclarky                         Cometomybdr                  Bw_sheep

Kammitted                    Ambipage                          Ohkalukalay                    Lovelyjubbly8

 Pp_puff                        Jessbarnes                         Missmills_                         Nikmakeupjunkie  

Missbeccabeauty         Amelia_florence               Tansandtiarasx                    Thebeauty_baker  

Vintageteapot              Likeslippy SGBlogxx       BethanywellsMUA             April_todd    

Berrycrumblexxx        _Sammyjane_x                  Bexclaree_                         Sassydoveblog

 Kellovesclothes           Hannahlouisa__              CourtneeeyJ                        2sisters1blog

Unexpected_roar         Char_beyy                         Neyavbeautytalk                Naomi_joy_  

Victoiraearls                 Anothergirlyblg                 Beautyblogger20               Cerysannex   

Missksmudger              Sarah_lumsden                 Byalextweets                     Sarahivell8    

Jessicakbrown              Shadowlinergirl                Allmadeup21                     Hintofsparkle  

Jessiekinsxo                  Srslylou                           Tayscollectionn                   Lianne84  

 Cutelil_b_blog           Chloe_bellamy                    Kendalsblog                       CMWB   

Lucy_a_bigail             Sophieeroseex                     Jesslynjuly                         Misslaurameow    Adaynasaur                Hitnmiff                              Knitteddaisy                      Sweetsparklyser   4evafashion92            Mallowbeauty                     Beautysupergirl                Aqeela_mua   Jordanmarie89           Polkadotteapot2                  Fashforeverblog               Kelseyshepherd_ 

Hmkeyes                    Dixxgina                              Uggynog                            imogenrose20   Joni_blog                  Laural0uisee                        Frostedplanet                     Rowbowk   Maclovergirl96         Danniannie                          Juststephblog                    _bethhenderson  

 saloca                        Kaitlynisabel                      _nameofbeauty    

Christmas Caking, Baking, Making Time!!

Christmas Caking, Baking, Making Time!!

It is a bit early to be cooking Christmas puddings, however, Fiona (Orla's sister) came across a picture of a Santa cake! No instructions or tutorials just a picture, and Orla believed that she could make it! 

So we studied the picture, and put our plan into action! We decided to make a Sponge Cake, 

with jam and Buttercream filling!

We stacked the sandwich tins to find out how many layers of cake we would need to get the height needed, and 4 sandwich tins were about right, so 2 cakes worth! 

We got on with making the "2" sponge cake/ "4" single sandwich tins worth. This was the recipe we used, good old "Mary Berry"!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/mary_berrys_perfect_34317

 Leave them to cool as normal...

Whlist they are cooling down, make your Buttercream filling. This was the recipe we used,

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2451647/buttercream

Remember : You have to double everything! As you have to fill and cover 2 cakes! 

It seems alot of everything, buttercream etc, however you will need/use it ! Trust us!

Once all the cakes are cool, start to build your tower of cake! Fill each layer like you normally would, Jam and Buttercream between each layer, once it looks something like this...

You will need to stableise it!! Take 3 straws/chop sticks and cut to the height of the cake and insert in a 'triangle' shape through the middle area of the cake.

Time to CARVE! Take a bread knife, with a serrated edge, and make a Dome shape. Try and make it as smooth as possible, it will look a bit dogy...but go with it! 

 

You will need to give the cake a crumb coating next! Take your left over Buttercream, and go around the cake, (you may need to make some more) Making a smooth layer all around the cake. Making sure you get all the loose crumbs. (This is what makes it smooth and not lumpy when you put your layer of fondant ontop)

 Then put in the Fridge! Leave until its really solid and cold!!!
LEAVE IT.....!!!! I SEE YOU!

Now for the fun bit! DECORATING! Grab your Fondant, White, Red, Black...

Roll out the red into a thin circular sheet of fondant. 

Remember - to put down icing sugar on the surface or it will stick to the table!!

Using your rolling pin, roll a side of the red sheet around the pin, lift, and then drape the sheet over the cold cake. This should create this type of image...

Carefully using your fingers and cupped hands, smooth down the edges and flare out the bottom of the sheet until you cover it evenly.  
TIP - (Use a pizza cutter to put around the circular cake)

Your almost there!!

Time to get fiddly with the fondant, create a thin layer of white, cover the Cake Base, Put the Red Cake on the white base...

 Then create another thin layer of white, shape into a beard, and use water to stick it to the cake. Carry on making the eyes, nose, little arms, and legs with cuffs on all four. Make a little hat for Santa and finish off by making a little buckle!

If you have a red ribbon, and a little 'Merry Christmas' sign (you could pipe it on) then stick it on!

and YOU'VE DONE IT! Fun and Easy! Its a simple cake, but looks great! and We've really enjoyed making and decorating it!!!

Thanks for checking this out! 

Twitter 

@twiceuponblonde

Instagram 

Twiceuponblonde

Youtube 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKztQ7sRCbFQZeGXdQOMEOw

Christmas Is All Around!

So the time of presents, food gluttony and Christmas parties are upon us! Its November (or Movember for some!) and already Christmas decorations are up in Shopping Centers and in Towns all around the UK! It always surprises both of us how quickly it comes around, however were not complaining! 

Christine and I have always been huge Christmas lovers! So much so, that Christine got called "Christmas" at work for a good while, which always put a smile on all our faces!

Both of us have a real thing for Christmas decorating and baking! Every year we like to either change up the themed colour on our trees/table decorations, or try and create and make a new Christmas bake to share with everyone! Whether it be biscuits, a highly decorated cake, or a cluster of christmassy cup cakes!

So we have already been buying a couple of Christmas Bits, I bought a new PJ top, £6 in 'Primark!'

 Its a combination between Disney and Christmas which puts a big smile on our faces!

Primark's a great place to get lots of Christmas bits and bobs this year. From candles, gifts, bedding, decorations and wrapping, its a one stop shop for a big Christmas splurge!

This being our first Christmas with our Blog and YouTube channel!  I'm sure we'll be doing festive updates with all the seasonal activities we'll be getting up to. Whether its Christmas hauls, baking, or general festiveness! 

Watch this Space! 

Thanks for checking this out! 

Twitter 

@twiceuponblonde

Instagram 

Twiceuponblonde

Youtube 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKztQ7sRCbFQZeGXdQOMEOw