it's been ages since i've made an attempt to share another recipe. often, i take a picture, add a little text here and there and upload it to facebook... and that't it. i just don't have the will you try any harder. (it also doesn't help that i haven't been in a 'baking' mood for sometime now)
so today i promised myself that i will make an effort to share a recipe of something i made a good while back.

and here it is: chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese icing. - another from the 1001 series book


personally, i think the cupcakes a bit of the heavy side (for cupcakes that it) and the icing is a bit sweet. so i recommend a little altering if you intend to make this recipe.

recipe:
for the cupcakes
85g butter, softened
100g caster sugar
2 eggs lightly beaten
2 tbsp milk
55g plain chocolate chips
225g self-raising flour
25g cocoa powder

for the icing:
225g white chocolate, broken into pieces
150g low fat cream cheese
chocolate curls- to decorate

method:

1. preheat the oven - 200C/ gas mark 6. line a 2x12 hole bun tin with 18 paper cases
2. beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then gradually beat in the eggs
3. add the milk, then fold in the choc chips.
4. sift in the cocoa powder and flour and fold in the mixture- don't over mix.
5. spoon mixture into paper cases and bake for 20 min. transfer to rack to cool.
6. for the icing, melt the white chocolate (double-boiler) and then leave to cool slightly.
7. place the cream cheese in a separate bowl and beat until until softened. then beat in slightly cooled chocolate.
8. when the cupcakes are cold, spread a little icing over the top and decorate with the chocolate curls. leave in the fridge to set for 1 hr.

to finish of a length of fabric, i made a wrap around apron after getting inspiration and tutorials of this page : stop starting... and start sewing



i myself don't have the skills yet to put up step-by-step photos of my projects or to share patterns, so i do hope some of these photos will give somebody out there ideas and inspiration for their own lovely projects.
in the mean time, i'll link you guys up to the pages i use for my projects.

my biggest envy is this beautiful reversible apron from 7Layer Studio. she also got her inspiration from the first page i mentioned. the fabrics are absolutely beautiful and go so well together.

mmm. need to find a way to fund this expensive hobby.. yes, personally i feel sewing is an expensive hobby, especially when you have so many ideas in your head and everything you see, you want to make (you: is actually me)