Cucumber Margarita Popsicles

In the heat of summer, when nothing seems to quench your thirst, these popsicles are guaranteed to make you feel as cool as a cucumber! Super easy to make and so yummy, they are totally worth trying. I use the Zoku Quick Pop Maker which freezes the pops in about 6 minutes (so nifty, I don't know how I lived without it!), but if you  don't own one, you can always use an ordinary popsicle mould.

My beloved Zoku...

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup of sugar
1 cup of water
1 large cucumber, peeled and sliced
2-3 limes, squeezed (if unavailable, you can use lemons)
3-4 sprigs of mint

METHOD
1. In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and water. Allow the sugar to dissolve over low heat. Once dissolved, remove from heat.
2. Liquidize  the cucumber, mint, lemon juice and syrup until smooth.
3. If using a Zoku Quick Pop Maker, follow the instructions to freeze the pops or if you don't have one, fill an ordinary popsicle mould with the mixture and place in the freezer until frozen.

Makes about 9 pops, depending on the size of the mould.

London Fashion Week: Wows&Woes

Just when you think that nothing can be more exquisite than this seasons looks, the designers surprise us with something even better. There is no limit to creativity...

Antonio Berardi
Can see myself in this at a very stylish event...A girl can dream!

Burberry
Boho chic- This one is growing on me.

Erdem
Sweet and subtle-So polished.

Emilia Wickstead
Love the colour and print.

McQ Alexander McQueen
I usually love animal prints but I find this McQ rather unflattering...

Julien Macdonald
Sassy and stylish. Give me this any day...

Burberry
Last night I dreamt of these. So in love..

Peter Pilotto
I cant say that I love this one, what do you think?

Roksanda
A joyous celebration of colour. Roksanda, you made my day. I absolutely want!!!

Would love to know what you think!

Coming soon Milan fashion week...

Pictures from style.com.

Best Dressed at the Oscars.

I love the glamour and glitz of award season, so it seemed fitting to do a  post on the most prestigious ceremony of all-The Academy Awards. After looking through the pictures of the fashion hits and misses, I decided to pick out my favourite looks. So these are my nominees for the best dressed at the awards ceremony:

1.

Emma Stone in Elie Saab Haute Couture.

2.

Felicity Jones in Alexander McQueen with Van Cleef and Arpels jewels-So regal!

3.

Gwyneth Paltrow in Ralph&Russo Haute couture-Love the asymmetrical look as well as the exquisite colour! 

4.

Jennifer Lopez in a dramatic Elie Saab Haute Couture Gown.

5.

Julianne Moore, stylish in a Chanel Couture number.

6.

Rita Ora in custom Marchesa.

7.

 Rosamund Pike in custom Givenchy Haute Couture with Lorraine Schwartz jewels.

And the Oscar for best dressed goes to...

Felicity Jones!

After much deliberation (I was torn between Jennifers' Elie Saab and Felicitys'' McQueen gown), I decided that this was my favourite. The detailing was exquisite!

The draping was perfection.

Truly magnificent!

Just look at the bead-work!

Pictures from Getty Images.

Must-have Shoes and Handbags

I have an extreme obsession with handbags and shoes. Every season, I drool over the new creations of designers. Just looking at them brings me so much of joy!

The following bags and shoes are all available from net-a-porter.com and they are so gorgeous! 

I love the floral designs on these!

Clockwise from top left: Charlotte Olympia, Dolce&Gabbana, Dolce&Gabbana,Simone Rocha.

 These are so vibrant and fun!

Clockwise from top left:  Christian Louboutin, Sophia Webster, Valentino, Sergio Rossi.

These shoes prove that black and gold never goes out of style.

Clockwise from top left: Nicholas Kirkwood, Sophia Webster, Giuseppe Zanotti, Marni.

Blush pink-so pale and pretty.

Clockwise from top left: Nina Ricci 'Ecrin' clutch, Dolce&Gabbana, Elizabeth&James, Bottega Veneta,
Balenciaga 'Le Dix' bag.

 Aren't these just amazing?

Clockwise from top left: Chloe, Dolce&Gabbana, Lanvin, Jimmy Choo, Mary Katrantzou.

 There's something special about these...

Clockwise from top left: Alexander McQueen, Charlotte Olympia, House of Holland (a net-a-porter exclusive), Alexander McQueen 'De Manta' clutch, Nina Ricci, Nancy Gonzalez.

 What do you think about these bright-hued bags?

Clockwise from top left: Dolce&Gabbana 'Sicily' tote, J.W Anderson, J.W Anderson,Valentino, Fendi mini Peekabo, Dolce&Gabbana.

What's your favourite bag?

Lemon Meringue Cake

This cake is a simply irresistible. Adapted from Feast by Nigella Lawson. It is a cake that is sure to become a favourite! Feel free to use a store-bought lemon curd but I have included an excellent recipe for one as well.

Ingredients
125 grams very soft unsalted butter
 4 large eggs,separated
 300 grams caster sugar,plus 1 teaspoon
 100 grams plain flour
 25 grams cornflour
 1 teaspoon baking powder
 ½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
 zest of 1 lemon
 4 teaspoons lemon juice
 2 teaspoons milk 
½ teaspoon cream of tartar
 150 ml double cream 
 150 grams lemon curd

Method

1.Preheat the oven to gas mark 6/200°C/400ºF. Line and butter two 21cm / 8 inch sandwich tins.

2.Mix the egg yolks, 100g cup of the sugar, the butter, flour, cornflour, baking powder, bicarb, and lemon zest in a processor. Add the lemon juice and milk and process again.

3.Divide the mixture between the prepared tins.  Spread with a rubber spatula until smooth.

4.Whisk the egg whites and cream of tartar until peaks form and then slowly whisk in 200g. Divide the whisked whites between the two sponge-filled tins,spreading the meringue straight on top of the cake batter.

5.Smooth the one flat with a metal spatula, and with the back of a spoon, peak the other and sprinkle 1 teaspoon sugar over the peaks. Put the tins into the oven for 20-25 minutes.`

6.With a cake-tester, pierce the cake that has the flat meringue topping to check it's cooked all through. The sponge mixture should not stick to the tester. Remove both cakes to a wire rack and let cool completely in the tins.

7.Unmould the flat-topped one on to a cake stand or plate, meringue side down.

8.Whisk the double cream until thick but not stiff and set aside. Spread the flat sponge surface of the first, waiting, cake with the lemon curd and than spatula over the cream and top with the remaining meringue.

Lemon Curd
Ingredients
100 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice from 4-6 lemon
 zest of 2 lemons, grated
100 grams caster (superfine) sugar
2 large eggs
2 egg yolks 
85 grams unsalted butter, cut into cubes

Method
1.Save  about half the butter, mix all the ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over low heat, whisking constantly, until thickened.
2.Add the remaining butter and whisk until melted. Pour the curd through a sieve and into a bowl. Cover and let it cool to room temperature.
The curd will keep well, refrigerated, for a couple of days.

New York Fashion Week Favourites

Some fave looks from the catwalk at NYFW.

Over-sized collar at Altuzarra...So striking.

Love everything about this Alice & Olivia outfit!

Noon by Noor...So ethereal...

Victoria Beckham dress. Love the textures!

Don't you just love the amazing sleeve detail on this Victoria Beckham sweater?

 Smitten...

Michael Kors...A variation on a classic.

Smokey eye at Diane Von Furstenberg...always a classic.

The bag, the makeup, the nails...Whats not to love?

Jason Wu

So young and fresh-faced...

Classy...as always...Oscar de la Renta.

Oscar de la Renta. 

Its all in the details...

Whats your favourite look?

Photos from style.com

Kitchen Inspiration

I love my kitchen. I honestly do. I am inspired to cook or bake when I am anywhere... but in the kitchen. When looking at cookbooks, I can’t wait to try all the gorgeous recipes but as soon as I enter the kitchen…inspiration gone…  Am I the only one?

Today I managed to get something delectable on the table and I actually enjoyed making it!

Raspberry tarts served with a dollop of cream.

Recipe adapted from Patisserie Made Simple by Edd Kimber.

Definitely intend to (eat)…bake my way through this one.

Who says eating in the kitchen has to be blah?