Cornflake Cake - The School Pudding favourite

Well the title is a little mis-leading as I was always in the chocolate concrete with pink custard camp, but coming a close second and slightly easier to make is the Cornflake cake, which I promised to share, so here it is.

Best described as being a sweet pastry base topped with jam and cornflakes and it can be eaten as it is or served with a whole lot of custard. Absolute heaven in a bowl!  Here is everything you need with regards to Utensils and Ingredients!

Utensils

23inch fluted baking tin - mine is a quiche/flan tin but it does the job

Baking beans if you’re making your own pasty (read below)

A wooden spoon

Parchment paper

Baking Beans

Spatula

Ingredients

Depending on your love for making pastry, you can cheat and just buy a ready made pastry base or the ready rolled shortcrust - I’m not one to reinvent the wheel when it comes to pastry, so the ready rolled will do. However for those of you who are a little less lazy, you will need:

• 180g/6oz Plain White Flour
• 80g/3oz Unsalted Butter
• 30ml Water (Cold)

Then for the filling, which is the best bit and it is of course really simple to do and takes less than 10 minutes!

• 135g/5oz of Golden Syrup
• 65g/2.5oz Butter (unsalted)
• 30g/1.1/4oz Soft Brown Sugar
• A pinch of salt 
• 100g/ 3 3/4oz of cornflakes - if you like it crunchier, add a bit more
• 100g/ 3 3/4oz of Strawberry Jam - must be seedless

Now whatever brands you do and don’t choose to use is entirely up to you, but I used the ones you probably are thinking about in your head right now! 

Method

I feel like I am back in Hone Economics, I assume that’s still the fancy name for the class that teaches you to make rock cakes, also known as scones (scownes for the rest of you).

If you are making your own pastry. Place the flour and butter in a food processor/bowl and blitz/mix until the mixture becomes like breadcrumbs. Then add water and again blitz/mix it until you can form a soft dough - then let it chill for an hour. If you have the ready rolled stuff, roll it out and add it to your baking tin and leave it to chill in the fridge for up to 30 minutes as this gives you time to put the oven on to pre-heat to 180°C (160°C fan). 

When you’re ready to bake, line your pastry with parchment paper and fill it with baking beans and then bake it for 15 minutes. Whilst that is cooking away, you can make the filling.

• Firstly, you need to melt the butter, syrup, sugar and the pinch of salt in a pan, once it is completely melted and looks like caramel, stir in the cornflakes and gently, using your spatula, mix until everything is covered, if you want to add more cornflakes, then do, I always end up adding more because I like crunch.
• Take your pastry out of the oven, check it is slightly golden in colour and allow to rest for a few minutes as you give the cornflake mix a final stir to check you are happy with the consistency. 
• Grab the jam and spread it across the pastry base, it is much easier to do if the base is warm. ensure the base is entirely covered with jam
• Get the cornflake mix you have just made and spoon it on top of the jam and spread it out so it is even

Once you have completed those steps, it needs to go into the oven for around 5 minutes. Once those 5 minutes are up, leave it to one side to slightly cool and harden before serving. 

Or if you are like me, have a taste test whilst it is still hot!  

That is it! 

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Christmas Gifting with Temple Spa

This Christmas, Temple Spa have a whole host of amazing products and gift sets on offer for treating that loved one in your life, be it a member of your family, your best friend, a work colleague or even yourself - 2020 has been quite the year and one for which we all deserve some treats.  I was kindly sent a selection of products to share on my blog.

Into the Woods is the theme for 2020 with Temple Spa and the gift collection represents layers of knowledge and wisdom built over time, like trees, years of growing into something beautiful.

To capture the real beauty of trees, we collaborated with Dr Gabriel Hemery; a renowned British author, tree photographer and forest scientist. His passion comes through his spectacular photography, full of colours, shapes and textures making it the perfect partnership.

What I love about the offering from Temple Spa is the range of products available for differing budgets you might have.

The first product I have to share is the And Relax! Restoring Bath Salts (£28 here*) and as someone, who like me, loves bath salts, I was excited to try these. Described as being refreshing and restoring mineral-rich bath salts that will leave you feeling relaxed.  

Within the salts are three main ingredients which are:

• Laminaria Extract - Laminaria is a type of seaweed containing iodine, an element that the body needs to make thyroid hormones. It is also a rich source of iron and potassium.
• Grapefruit - Grapefruit has so many good reasons for being within these salts. Firstly the uplifting scent which is a definite mood changer, but also because it is a natural source of acid, it works to exfoliate skin, removing dead dull skin cells to reveal a radiant, even toned complexion. It also possesses anti-inflammatory and cooling properties so can be used to treat congested and oily skin as well reducing swelling, redness and hyperpigmentation.
• Rosemary - Rosemary has soothing and softening qualities and can help treat eczema and other skin irritations, it also has antiseptic and astringent properties which help treat acne and oily skin problems. Rosemary also encourages cell regeneration which repairs skin and encourages the production of healthy skin while reducing the appearance of spots, wrinkles, bags and puffiness. Plus, it also improves circulation, flushing out toxins and reducing the appearance of cellulite.

Alongside those you will find the inclusion of Bergamot, Thyme and Eucalyptus which together create the most wonderful scent. You only need to use a handful of these salts in your bath water, ideally once there is a few inches of warm water already in the bath, then, as they break down into the water, you end up with a beautifully blue bath to lie back in and enjoy.

The second gift set is the To The Rescue Skin Soother (£45 here*) Presented in a luxurious keepsake box, the supercharged To The Rescue gift set is described as being a powerful duo enriched with a combination of superfoods for the skin.

This super-hero duo work together to press the reset button for skin which is stressed, fragile or frazzled as well as achy muscles and tired minds. Both of these products contain a broad-spectrum CBD and hemp oil complex which is described as being like an all-over calming blanket and wellness prescription for wherever and whenever your skin needs a hug and you some light relief.

• LIGHT RELIEF CBD Skin Booster Oil | 10 ml - This Booster is enriched with hemp, CBD and green mandarin oils alongside a soothing blend of coconut and olive oils. Light-weight in texture, this superfood oil is designed to support the recovery process and bring comfort to stressed out, fragile, dry or dehydrated, skin. It also works to calm down signs of redness and irritation plus it works to alleviate blemishes.  
• STRESS NOT All-over CBD Balm | 50 ml - This is a multi-purpose CBD-infused balm which is said to have 2 missions. The first to bring comfort to stressed out, dry and dehydrated skin and the second is to bring anti-inflammatory relief to aches and pains, ease overworked muscles and settle a frayed mind. This Balm is enriched with a deeply soothing blend of shea butter, vitamin E which work alongside 9 powerful and nourishing superfood oils such as hemp, canola, rice bran and apricot.

I have absolutely loved using the balm, which out of the two I have been using a lot. It feels amazing smooth on the skin without being greasy or tacky.

Finally we have the Truffle Glow (£45 here*) which is also known as The Body Radiance Collection Giftset and it features two products which are designed to keep your skin velvety soft and intensely nourished.

Beautifully packaged and ready for gifting, inside the box you will find two products - Truffletini body polish and the Body Truffle moisturiser. Both products are said to boast the label's signature Truffle mix of ingredients to gift skin with a velvety soft feel, delivering intense nourishment and a luminous glow.

• TRUFFLETINI | 100g - This illuminating body polish is a delight to use on the skin. Luxuriously rich without being overly abrasive. Designed to be used on either dry or dampened skin, the idea is to apply it in circular movements to get the best out of the product and give your skin a really good massage too. Ingredients again, within this body polish are quite something with the inclusion of AHAs such as Citric, Glycolic and Lactic Acids which gently exfoliate the uppermost layers of the skin to make it smoother, softer and more refined. Then there is the inclusion of Olive, Sunflower and Grape Seed oils which nourish and moisturise the skin.
• BODY TRUFFLE | 50 ml -.A rich, luxury body moisturiser for smooth, nourished and radiant. It is packed full of amazing ingredients which includes black winter truffles, cocoa, shea butter, champagne, silk and gold extracts, kombuchka and it also has the nourishing benefits of cashmere. The aromatics of mimosa, honey, vetiver, cedar and sandalwood will delicately fragrance your skin as the inclusion of Rose Quartz which has light reflective properties that illuminate the skin.

As a duo, these two work incredibly well together. A luxurious treat for that pampering hour on a Sunday afternoon when time out is needed to relax and unwind.

So there you have my gift guide for Christmas with Temple Spa and as you can see, there is something for everyone here as well as a lot more choice from their website and as the products are sold at Harrods too*, there is a lot of choice there.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Arran After The Rain Collection

Like most people, I absolutely love a good downpour, but more than that, it is the smell afterwards. Known as Petrichor, that smell is the earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry soil and it is one of the best smells there is. Why am I talking about the weather again? Well Arran have the most amazing After The Rain Collection, from which I was kindly gifted a few pieces and I can't even tell you how fabulous it is!

The description which comes with this collection is one which caught my attention and if you are familiar with the brand, you will be aware as to how amazing they are.

Capturing the scent of a summer garden on the Isle of Arran following a rain shower, immerse yourself in the sophisticated fragrance of Arran Aromatics’ After The Rain collection.

So, within the collection I was kindly sent over, I have the home fragrance collection of the Reed Diffuser and the Room Spray.  Both products, as you can see, come expertly packaged and if you know of someone who loves a gift which has that luxurious feeling, then consider this an option because both products are wonderfully and very safely packaged.  

The running scent through the After the Rain collection is one which is described as being warm and inviting, with its mixture of floral and citrus notes.

I was really keen to try the Room Spray, they are products that I use, usually after I have cleaned and scrubbed the surfaces and hoovered, there is something about a mixture of cleaning products hanging in the air which irritates me, so I always try to mask the smell.

The Room Spray comes packaged in a see-through glass bottle, which I really like because I can see how much I have used.  It opens with the scent notes of blend of rose petals, musk and floral citrus combined with precious wood and what this does give, is exactly as the description reads above. It is warm, it is inviting and the scent lingers in the air for quite some time after it has been spritzed. The Room Spray is priced at £18.

 

The Reed Diffuser, which sits on my shelf is the first thing that you can smell as the door opens, the mixture of rose, sandalwood and lime permeate the air and its so lovely and refreshing and it is strong enough that you notice it, but not overpowering that it is over-dominating.

The Reed diffuser itself comes packaged in a clear see-through glass bottle, similar to the Room Spray above, and it is accompanied by neutral coloured reed sticks. It is priced at just £30 and I have been using mine for almost 9 weeks now and that opening fragrance is just as welcoming now, as it is during those first few hours of being opened and put in place.

Alongside these two products, the After the Rain collection also boasts a candle within the homeware section, so you can layer your products to really get the best out of the fragrance at home.  If you love the scent as much as I do, you can also take a look into the collection of bath and shower products or the Eau de Toilette, the hand and body lotions and more besides.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

LookFantastic x Jo Malone Beauty Box Full Content Reveal

If you love Jo Malone and are a fan of her products then you will adore this box that Lookfantastic will release next week! If you signed up for pre-sale* you can grab it right now!

Say hello to the LOOKFANTASTIC x Jo Malone London Limited Edition Beauty Box.

Indulge your senses with a curated selection of six Jo Malone London iconic fragrances – a collection of coveted Colognes, Bath & Body delights and a luxury scent for the Home.

It’s the perfect festive gift for yourself or a loved one and if you signed up for the pre-sale, you can get your hands on it now for £207, otherwise it goes on sale on December 15th right here*.

If you don’t want to know what is inside, then don’t scroll down because I have listed the contents! What I will say is that the contents are incredible! 

What’s inside?

• English Pear & Freesia Cologne (30ml)
• Pomegranate Noir Cologne (30ml)
• Pomegranate Noir Home Candle (200g)
• Lime Basil & Mandarin Body & Hand Wash (100ml)
• English Pear & Freesia Bath Oil (30ml)
• Peony & Blush Suede Body Crème (50ml)

I am sure you will agree that this really is an incredible looking box and one that, as Lookfantastic say is one to “Celebrate the #SeasonOfScent with LOOKFANTASTIC and Jo Malone London”.

Sign up for this box right here.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.