Guest Post: I'm feeling pink

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Guest Post: I NEED to bake this

Okay so when I saw this picture on Pinterest I just new it looked like something delicious but when I read what it was, 'Chocolate and Salted Caramel Tart' I just new I had to attempt to make it... and I promise I will. But in the meantime here is the pic and recipe incase you are tempted too.

Serves: 12 
Notes from Travelers Lunch: I discovered that rock salts vary considerably in their 'saltiness', so to avoid over-salting the caramel mixture I recommend starting with the smaller amount and adding more only after tasting. Also, I tested the recipe with whipping cream (as opposed to double cream) since many people do not have access to the latter and discovered that it results in a slightly more liquid caramel (which you can see oozing out the sides of the tart in the above photo!). If you don't have access to double cream (a very thick cream with 48% butterfat) and want your caramel more solid, I would recommend reducing the cream by maybe 3 tablespoons and substituting it with a couple tablespoons of additional butter.

For the crust:
2 3/4 cups/350g all-purpose flour
1/2 cup/75g powdered sugar, unsifted
1 stick/125g unsalted butter, cold
pinch salt
2 eggs

For the caramel:
3 tablespoons/50g glucose or corn syrup
1 1/2 cups/275g superfine/caster sugar
2/3 cup/150ml double or heavy cream
3/4 - 1 teaspoon (level) rock salt or coarse sea salt
2 tablespoons/25g unsalted butter, diced 

For the ganache:
1 1/2 cups/350ml double or heavy cream
4 tablespoons honey (I used a little more)
10 oz/300g bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 stick/125g unsalted butter, diced 

For the crust, sift together the flour, powdered sugar and salt and cut the butter into chunks. Place in a food processor and process, adding the eggs at the end, until a dough has formed. Roll out the dough into a circle and fit into an 11-inch (29cm) removable bottom tart pan. Chill for at least half an hour. Preheat the oven to 350F/180C. Blind-bake the crust by lining it with baking parchment, filling it with baking beans and baking for about 15-20 minutes. Remove the beans and paper and continue to cook the case for a further 10 minutes or until it is a light golden color. Remove from the oven and leave to cool.  

To make the caramel, pour the glucose syrup into a large saucepan and bring it to a boil. Gradually add the sugar, stir and continue to cook until the sugar has started to caramelize and turn golden brown. At the same time, in a separate saucepan, bring the cream and salt to a boil. Remove the caramel from the heat and very carefully add the cream - be careful as the mixture can rise rapidly in the pan. Stir carefully over a low heat with a wooden spoon until smooth. Remove from the heat, add the diced butter, and stir again until smooth. Pour into the cooled crust and refrigerate for 15 minutes.

To make the ganache, bring the cream and honey just to a boil and pour over the chopped chocolate. Let it sit for a minute or two then stir until everything is smooth. Add more honey if it is too bitter. Once the mixture has cooled a little add the butter and stir gently until the mixture is smooth. Pour in an even layer on top of the cooled caramel, return to the refrigerator, and chill for 4-6 hours before eating.

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Guest Post: How I am feeling

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Guest Post: Happy Weekend

What are you up to this weekend? I think I need to have a major wedding planning marathon! Although I am quite proud of the wedding progress I have made this week! Last night, I went wedding dress trying on (so much fun) so now I need to close my eyes and think about what I really want!

But it is not all about wedding, wedding, wedding. This weekend is the Jozi Craft Beer Festival, which will be cool even though I don't drink beer and tonight we are off to friends for a dinner party! I love the thought of a big dinner table with burning fires (which have been promised!).

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I am dreaming of a honeymoon to Halong Bay!

I always think that Cannes Film Festival must be one of the most fab events to attend, the stars, the dresses, the yatchs, parties... oh my! 

I am obsessed with gold nails... I think I need to attempt a DIY this weekend. 

A great tutorial on how to create your own calligraphy!

If you follow me on Pinterest you will know I am a huge fan of Anna Dello Russo's, now have a look inside her apartment! 

Guest Post: Men I kind of like

Sean Penn

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David Beckham

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Robert Redford

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George Clooney

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Ryan Gosling

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Elber Albaz - not for his looks but for his dresses! 

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Guest Post: I die

Okay, these behind the scenes pics from Chanel's 2013 resort show make my heart skip a beat! How beautiful!?

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Ming Makes Cupcakes

My friend Marike just past this site onto me. Talk about a high dose of yum. Pretty and easy. Perhaps it's time to get baking (the pumpkin cupcakes sound amazing!)?

Renovation: Day 1

We officially started renovating today. It took much blood, sweat and tears to pack up our entire apartment this weekend (whew!), but when I close my eyes and picture the end result, I think (hope!) it will be worth every bit of the time and cost. Today all the walls come out - kitchen walls, study walls, and bedroom walls and I can't wait to pop in after work to see the space transform.

The biggest change will be the kitchen, while budget tends to get in the way of dreams, here are some elements we are going to incorporate:

 Mix of textures

 Big wooden table

 Our kitchen philosophy (although my dancing skills are as bad as my cooking!)

 White cupboards and tops

 Golden taps

 Subway tiles on the walls and wooden tops

 Black walls behind open shelves

 Mosaic floors

I shall share some pics when we are done. (Wish me luck!)

PS. Have a lovely week xoxo 

l

Well hello weekend

Friday is here. Which is a good thing any week, but especially in a week where you have been thinking it is a day ahead every day (which sort of feels like a 6-day working week. Not ideal). What are you up to this weekend? Our entire apartment needs to be packed up in time for our renovations which are starting on Monday, so it will be a weekend of boxes, moving, packing, sorting, tape, and more packing.

(Doesn't this look like a nice place to be on a Saturday, via here)

Here are some lucky links for you to peruse this Friday:

How to perfect the art of a messy bun 

Amsterdam seems to have perfected the art of riding bicycles en famile

 The Sartorialist of stylish oldies

I want to escape to this farmhouse on weekends

Adding a bit of fun to your toast

These perfectly timed animal shots are pretty amazing

A lovely little note showing there is goodness in the world

This pretty spring scarf would brighten up your autumn attire

52 cards, 52 designers... beautifully illustrated limited edition playing cards 

This gif seems so real

For you pinners out there, I added two new boards this week:

Discover these shoes and Discover these pants

Have a good one. Look after your precious selves.

xoxo

Guest Post: I want to ride my bicycle bicycle bicycle

I am fantasizing about being a bike owner, although in Jo'burg it is not necessarily the most realistic mode of transport. Perhaps once I am married and living in Parkhurst I could cycle around the neighborhood... but one thing is for sure, these bikes make me want to ride!

 

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