Cupcakes finished with a sprinkling of cayenne pepper

Drunken shopping can yield interesting results. “Statement” hats, experimental hosiery, Bachelors Super Noodles…

Thankfully, drunken shopping can also yield some interesting AND delicious results. These cupcakes are a tribute to the joys of wandering around Selfridges Food Hall having consumed half a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. Let me explain:

A friend and me had spent the afternoon watching a film at the Electric Cinema. We had gotten rather excited about their ingenious “text for wine” system. Two hours later we stumbled out onto the streets of Birmingham with an urge to drink water. In our mildly inebriated state, we decided that Selfridges Food Hall was the most obvious place to obtain water. OF COURSE!!! Once there, we spent silly amounts on fancy bottled water and had a little tipsy stroll around the place. Imagine my joy when I saw stands offering free samples of cheese and, erm, granola!

There was a chilli jam stand and the sales assistants were very persuasive. I woke up the next morning, peered into my Selfridges carrier bag and thought: “what the hell have I bought?”. It was a jar of Chilli and Vanilla Jam. For someone who still struggles with the concept of Chilli Jam, the addition of vanilla made it even harder to comprehend.

Since then I have been mulling over various ways in which to use my jar of chilli and vanilla jam. The jar suggests serving it over ice cream but, whilst I sure this is a winning combination, I don’t like ice cream (gasp). My first idea was for a sweet chilli pineapple upside down cake, which I will try soon. I eventually settled on some lime and sweet chilli cupcakes, topped with a floaty-light cream cheese and chilli frosting.

They are good – not too spicy but with enough of a kick. They are sweet but far removed from the one-dimensional sweetness of a conventional vanilla cupcake.

A few pointers: I used Jumokeh Chilli and Vanilla Jam. It is available in Selfridges Birmingham. It is great but you might struggle to get hold of it. If that’s the case, I’m sure that you could simply combine some good sweet chilli sauce with some fresh vanilla or vanilla paste. For the frosting I used Sweet Chilli Philadelphia Light. Again, you could probably make your own by combining cream cheese with a dollop of sweet chilli sauce.

Cupcake finished with lime zest and chilli flakes

For the cakes:
110g unsalted butter
225g golden caster sugar
2 large eggs
150g self-raising flour
125g plain flour
80ml semi-skimmed milk
Juice of 1 lime
1tbsp chilli and vanilla jam

For the frosting:
175g cream cheese with sweet chilli
450g icing sugar
125g unsalted butter
Zest of 1 lime
1tsp chilli and vanilla jam
To decorate: Dried chilli flakes, lime zest and cayenne pepper

Method:

1. Pre-heat oven to 180c/gas mark 4 and line a 12 hole muffin pan with paper cases
2. Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy
3. Add the eggs one at a time, beating for a few moments between each egg
4. Mix together the two flours and combine the milk, lime juice and chilli jam in a jug
5. Add a third of the flour and mix until well combined before adding a third of the milk mixture. Add the flour and mil alternately until it has all been well incorporated
6. Place a dollop of mixture into each paper case – two-thirds fill each case
7. Bake for around 25-30mins, until golden brown and risen
8. Leave to cool on a wire rack
9. Place all of the frosting ingredients in a bowl and mix until a smooth and creamy texture is achieved
10. Smear/pipe/smooth a thick layer of frosting onto each cake, top with grated lime zest, chilli flakes or a sprinkling of cayenne pepper (depends how hot you like things!)

I know that the combination of flavours is slightly unconventional, but these are well worth a try.

BBxx

I adore special occasion dressing. As soon as a wedding invite lands in the letterbox, I start what can only be described as a regime of intensive outfit planning. My theory is that modern life offers so few dressing-up opportunities that it is necessary to seize the ones that do crop up. (NOTE: No Met Gala invite this year. Again.)

I may spend most of my days sitting at my computer with unbrushed hair and wearing vests with tea stains down them, but I sure know how to bring it when it comes to Wedding Style.

Here are a few of my golden rules for wedding guest dressing:

• Avoid anything from Coast. Unless you don’t mind EVERYONE ELSE AT THE WEDDING wearing the same thing. In fact, avoid all the special occasion usual suspects and shop for items at the places where you buy clothes from anyway (unless that is JD Sports or Millets). That way you get an outfit that reflects your true style.
• Don’t be afraid to take risks. The worst that could happen is that people will laugh at you in photos in twenty years time. No biggy.
• Wearing white is almost always a no-go. But that whole thing about ‘upstaging the bride’ is a load of B.S., unless you intend to wear a £1,000.00 floor length ivory gown with a tiara and veil.
• Planning ahead is crucial, as is trying everything on ahead of the big day. I once met a woman who had an ‘emergency outfit’ in case she woke up on the morning of the wedding and changed her mind. I admire that kind of thinking.
• Pashmina shawls are a tad dull. As are those cropped, crocheted bolero cardigans. Tailoring and stoles are where it is at.

As people seem to like scrolling through pictures of people wearing nice clothes, I’ve decided to assemble my wedding dressing greatest hits. The pictures aren’t ‘style blog’ pictures – I seriously cannot be arsed with all that flattering lighting and posing business. That and I have better things to do at weddings – like drinking gin and befriending the bride and groom’s grandparents (who I then persuade to buy me gin. Natch.)

And it goes a little something like this:

July 2008 – Amy and Jez

Image by Gemma Ridlington

Possibly my all time favourite wedding outfit. The beaded dress was from Joy and I teamed it with massive gold hoop earrings and a messy side-bun. It felt effortless. The weather was glorious. I have many happy memories of kicking off my heels and sitting on the grass with good friends and a bottle of chilled rose.

August 2008 – Jen and Mark

Image by Kay Hughes Photography

OK, so maybe this is my all time favourite wedding outfit. For mine and Mark’s wedding I wore an elaborate Ian Stuart gown (seriously, check out the rose detailing at the back) with the most awesome veiled fascinator thingy-ma-jig. My Mom made the bridesmaid dresses. SKILLZ.

June 2009 – Elly and Jez  (AKA. #jellywed)

Image by Gemma Ridlington

This outfit was so much fun to put together. It is a draped and knotted skirt from River Island (heavily inspired by Burberry Prorsum), worn with a metallic gold vest from French Connection and a white blazer by Twenty8 Twelve. I remember feeling very glamorous and Winkleman-esque with my fringe.

October 2009 – Alison and Ad (AKA. #alpacawedding)

Image by Gemma Ridlington

Another one that I adored putting together. I’d had the Topshop blazer for a while and it worked perfectly with the retro-styled Laura Ashley red dress. The hat was customised with a red floral rosette found by my Nan. Looking back, I’d maybe swap the shoe-boots for a more conventional pump, but they added a bit of edge to the look.

June 2012 – Marian and Jared 

A rare glimpse of me and my beau, Mark

I’m quite proud that I managed to pull off this vintage number. It was from Rokit in their clearance sale and cost a mere £20. The wedding was one of those cool and chilled out affairs and this outfit felt perfect for it. This outfit taught me that eighties nostalgia, hot pink and leopard print DO work for occasion dressing, despite what the purists may tell you.

October 2012 – Laura and Graeme 

A G&T goes with anything…

If I’m feeling a bit bummed out about my appearance, I look at this photo. It is my reminder of the levels of fabulousness that I can achieve when I put my mind to it.  The dress was from Label Lab at House of Fraser, the stole and necklace were from Zara and my Mom – again with her serious crafting SKILLZ, made the bag. They are out of shot here but I finished the look with some ponyskin leopard print heels by BCBG Max Azria (as teamed with the vintage pink dress in the outfit above).

Thanks to all the happy couples who invited me and Mark to share their special days and here’s to all the weddings set to come!

Also, mega-thanks to my pal and wedding partner-in-crime, Gemma for letting me use some of her photos for this post. She blogs about life as a new parent at www.gemandco.co.uk

BBxxx

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