Colin and Justin

I was watching Colin and Justin's Home Heist yesterday afternoon, and they were talking about eclectic design, which I am quite fond of .This couple's house was filled with a mix of different furniture eras, some were ugly, others were in need of being revamped. There were pee pads thrown everywhere, which was quite disgusting ! Messy and loads of needless clutter. They called it " Hectic Eclectic".

I learned from them this simple rule : K.I.S.S

Keep It Strictly Simple

You cant go wrong if you follow their advice. Being eclectic in style doesn't mean you have to look like a hoarder.

If you haven't tuned in to this show, I highly suggest you make time for it. Not only are they talented designers who know their stuff, they are extremely witty and funny!

Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes

I came across this recipe by a blog named The Sweetest Kitchen. It is definitely yummy, and with Valentine's Day just days away, this is a perfect choice!


Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes Adapted from Nigella Lawson

Makes 12 cupcakes

Ingredients:

125g soft unsalted butter

100g dark chocolate, broken into pieces

300g raspberry jam, seedless if desired

150g caster sugar

pinch of salt

2 large eggs, beaten

150g self-raising flour

Method :Preheat the oven to 180ºC/gas mark 4.
Put the butter in a heavy-bottomed pan on the heat to melt. When nearly completely melted, stir in the chocolate. Leave for a moment to begin softening, then take the pan off the heat and stir with a wooden spoon until the butter and chocolate are smooth and melted. Now add the raspberry jam, sugar, salt and eggs. Stir with a wooden spoon and when all is pretty well amalgamated stir in the flour.
Scrape and pour into the muffin papers in their tin and bake for 25 minutes. Cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes before turning out.
Cool cupcakes completely.

Fill cupcakes with raspberry whipped cream using the cone method.

Raspberry Whipped Cream Adapted from Joy of Baking

Makes about 1 cup

Ingredients:

1/2 cup ultra-pasteurized heavy whipping

/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 tablespoon granulated white sugar

1/4 cup lightly sweetened raspberry puree, strained if desired

Method; In a large mixing bowl place the whipping cream, vanilla extract, and sugar and stir to combine. Cover and chill the bowl and beaters in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. When chilled, beat only until soft peaks form.

Add the sweetened raspberry puree a little at a time, and beat just until stiff peaks form when the beater is raised.

Taste and fold in more sugar or puree, if required.

If you have any leftover, use it as a topping for a cup of hot cocoa or mocha!

Ganache Frosting Adapted from Nigella Lawson

Makes enough to lightly frost 12 cupcakes

Ingredients:

100g dark chocolate

100ml double cream

12 fresh raspberries, optional

Method: Break the chocolate for the icing into little pieces and add them to the cream in a saucepan. Bring to the boil, remove from the heat and then whisk – by hand or electrically – till thick and smooth. Ice the cupcakes, smoothing the tops with the back of a spoon, and stand a raspberry in the centre of each.

2 of My Favorite Decorating Websites

If you haven't already checked out these two places, you must ! http://www.roomzaar.com/rate-my-space/multigallery.esi A place where you post pics of your house/decorated rooms , and then the public rates it .

The other is http://www.decorpad.com/index.htm. Loads and loads of beautiful photos of home interiors.