St. Patrick's Day Shamrock Cupcake Toppers

 Top o' the mornin' to ya!

How do you feel about anthropomorphized shamrocks?

You know...shamrocks that smile back at you?

I think these Shamrock Cupcake Toppers are super cute!

Plus, they are easy to make and a tasty treat made out of white chocolate.

Want to whip up some for St. Patrick's Day?

First, save and print this template my hubby made.

Or, you can pipe them freehand if you have ninja piping skills.

Tape your template to a piece of cardboard or a cookie sheet.

Tape a piece of wax paper on top of it.

Melt some green candy melts (I mixed in some white ones to lighten the color).

 Put them in a decorating bag fitted with a small round tip,
or in a ziploc bag with the corner snipped off.
Pipe the outline of each shamrock.

Then, fill in each outline with the candy melts.

 

Let the shamrocks harden, then carefully peel them off the wax paper and turn them over.

 Melt some chocolate chips or brown candy melts.

 Pipe a dot of chocolate on the backs of two candy eyeballs

and arrange them on the flat side of your shamrock.

Pipe a cute little mouth.

 Place the shamrock toppers on the top of your frosted cupcakes and enjoy!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

For more good luck, try this yummy treat...
Key Lime Shamrock Cake 

I share my recipes & tutorials at these fun link parties.

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street food at home

During our last trip to South Korea, we had chance to sample the various street food such as hoddeok, tornado potato, waffles and toasted sandwiches. There is this particular street food, Gyeran Bbang, or egg bread, which I had wanted to try. It looks somewhat like a muffin topped with an egg. I first chanced upon it on a travel and food website while I was planning for the trip. I thought my elder son would like it since he loves eggs...in any form.

Ironically, even though we passed by street vendors selling gyeran bbang on a few occasions, we didn't get to try it! We were either too full after our dinners or we were too tired and cold...all we wanted to do was to get back to our warm and cosy hotel room!


In order to satisfy my cravings for Korean food, I have been looking up for recipes to replicate some of the Korean dishes at home. I first saw a gyeran bbang recipe over at Aeri's Kitchen, the egg breads look exactly like the ones we saw along the streets in Seoul. I have planned to follow the recipe but hesitated because I don't have that unusual oval-shaped muffin pan, in fact, I don't even own a normal muffin pan. I have thought of baking them in paper muffin cups, but when I stumbled upon another version (with the egg on top) from K Food Addict, it struck me that I could actually use my ramekins to bake these egg breads!



So, one fine Saturday morning, I got down to prepare these egg breads first thing in the morning. It was rather quick and easy, I took only 15 mins to get everything into the oven. Breakfast was ready in no time!



I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious the egg bread turned out. The eggs were not overcooked as we really prefer runny egg yolks. The 'bread' texture was on the dense side, not as fluffy as muffins, but instead reminds me of pancakes. I will certainly make these again since they are so tasty and yet easy to put together!


Korean Egg Bread (Gyeran Bbang)

Ingredients:
(makes 6)

for batter:
100g plain flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
4 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
120ml (1/2 cup) fresh milk

for filling:
6 small eggs
1 bacon slice (chopped into small pieces)
some salt
dried parsley flakes (optional)
some ground pepper

some butter (for greasing)

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 190 degC.
2. Grease the inside of 6 ramekins (6 oz size ramekins) with butter, set aside. 
3. Place plain flour, baking powder, sugar an salt in a mixing bowl. Stir with a manual balloon whisk to combine.
4. Add in eggs and vanilla extract, stir with the whisk. The mixture will come together and turn dry and lumpy.
5. Add in the milk little by little, keep stirring with the whisk until the batter becomes smooth (no more lumps).
6. Pour batter into the prepared ramekins, fill each ramekin to about 1/3 full (Note: do not fill more than 1/3 full as it will overflow).
7. Crack a small egg into each ramekin. Top with chopped bacon, a sprinkle of salt and parsley flakes.
8. Bake for 10~15 mins until the eggs are set. (Note:  If you prefer runny yolks, check at around 10 to 12 mins, remove from oven when the egg whites start getting set, turning white. The eggs will continue to cook further even when removed from the oven. )
9. Serve warm with freshly ground black pepper.

Note: use small eggs to prevent overflow.

Recipe source: Kfoodaddict.com

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Heroes from the Past: Joan of Arc

Help Joan of Arc to build a new Kingdom and change the fate of the people. Journey through beautiful scenery, relaxing music and the thrilling process of building a city in this engaging Match 3 game. Dive into an epic story of honor and courage and save the day in Heroes from the Past: Joan of Arc!

Game Size 60 MB

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Screenshots:

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Jojo's Fashion Show 2: Las Cruces

Last season Jojo Cruz came out of retirement to take the fashion world by storm. With the help of her daughter Rosalind, Jojo used her impeccable eye for matching outfits to brighten runways around the world with their new fashion line, Las Cruces. Now Jojo and Rosalind have great expectations they must meet as they launch their joint line, Las Cruces. Unfortunately, Katrine Yue, the new editor at Fashion Wear Daily, has strong opinions about what constitutes elegance and it doesn't always match the Cruz vision. She's assigned her star photographer Avett to cover all of the Cruz shows. Can Jojo and Rosalind continue working together in the face of new challenges including designing for men? Is one label big enough for two strong women? Make stylish outfits from cute tops, elegant dresses and stunning heels as you showcase your fashion sense on runways around the world. Then capture the looks in the brand new fashion photo shoot mode.

Game Size 51 MB

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Screenshots:

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Jojo's Fashion Show

Following a meteoric ascent hot fashion designer Jojo Cruz suddenly disappeared from the runway. She retreated from the public eye to raise her daughter while running her own small boutique. At same time her former assistant, the ruthlessly ambitious Claudio Maximiro rocketed to international fame. Now 20 years later Jojo's daughter Rosalind has convinced her mom to make a comeback. With Rosalind as her new assistant, Jojo is ready to show the fashion world she's still got style. Does she still have the impeccable sense of mixing and matching that earned her the nickname, Mistress of Mix? Help Jojo storm back onto the runway as she stages fabulous fashion shows from New York to Paris to Milan. Make stylish outfits from cute tops, elegant dresses and stunning heels as you showcase your fashion sense on runways around the world. And don't forget the right accessory can absolutely make the outfit!

Game Size 29 MB

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The Regimen: Make Up

My everyday make up is super simple and consists of just a few items, Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse, A bright lipstick and Liz Earle Concealer. I don't do eye make up everyday, mostly because I wear glasses all the time so a slick of mascara does the job mostly (Benefits 'They're Real)  I've been using Maybelline for years and though it's not the most natural option it matches my skin perfectly (which is total fluke as cocoa is the only darker shade stocked in the UK) until I can find a natural/organic foundation that matches and feels light (and is reasonably priced) I'm sticking with Maybelline I used it many years ago before I officially discovered make up then I was introduced to make up brands and have been from Nars to MAC to Liz Earle but nothing is as good as Dream Matte Mousse for me. 

I apply with a sponge (I buy a big bag of sponges from Superdrug and use one or two per week) DMM is great because it is weightless and looks like your not wearing make up. I also use Liz Earle Perfect Fix Concealer great for covering up dark patches giving a flawless finish. I always finish with a bright lip usually in berry shades, My lipstick collection is possibly the worst for green points (I have shades from MAC, MUA, Lime Crime, Accessorize which are mostly full of crap)  but I'm a sucker for bright shades and can't seem to resist though there are some more eco friendly options from Ilia and Mavala. 

So that's what I do everyday takes about 5 minutes and I'm good to go!

 (Hair styled using Design Essential Daily Moisturiser and Setting lotion, ear cuff from Topshop)

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Your Brain on Potato Chips

Or, more accurately, a rat's brain on potato chips.  Last week, PLoS One published a very interesting paper by Dr. Tobias Hoch and colleagues on what happens in a rat's brain when it is exposed to a highly palatable/rewarding food (1).  Rats, like humans, overconsume highly palatable foods even when they're sated on less palatable foods (2), and feeding rats a variety of palatable human junk foods is one of the most effective ways to fatten them (3).  Since the brain directs all behaviors, food consumption is an expression of brain activity patterns.  So what is the brain activity pattern that leads to the overconsumption of a highly palatable and rewarding food?

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The Regimen: Skin Care

I get a lot of questions about my skin and skincare regimen, I have a very simple routine which consists of a cleanser, mask and a face cream I've recently introduced an Oil. When it comes to cleanser I use what ever is handy usually something from a drug store, I've just been gifted Naked Body Cares facial cleanser Bare Faced Cheek (I've only used it once but it seems good) I make sure I remove all my make up and usually use a cleanser that can remove eye make up 

Twice a week I use a face mask, I really love the 3 Minute Facial from Super by Dr Nicholas Perricone because it is quick and easy to use and leaves my skin nice and glowie! I try not to forget my neck when using skin care products there is no point having youthful skin if your neck gives you away!

I use a day and night cream from Organic Surge, a moisturising day cream that moistures but works well under make up and a night cream I sometimes get dry patches of skin when I do I use a little Rosa Mosqueta Rose Hip Seed Oil from Aubrey Organics which great for dry skin ad come in a handy roller ball, I love anything that makes life easier and preferably like naturally derived products as I think its important to look after your skin,

Aqua, Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, Sodium cocoamphoacetate, Coco glucoside, Cocamidopropyl betaine, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor oil, Pelargonium graveolens (geranium) flower oil, Cymbopogon martini (palmarosa) oil, Rosa damascena flower oil, Citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) peel oil, Mentha arvensis leaf oil, Illicium verum fruit/seed oil, Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, Citric acid, Limonene, Geraniol, Citronellol, Linalool, Citral.

Aqua (Water), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Polysorbate 60, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Sucrose Distearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Disodium EDTA, Phosphatidylcholine, Dimethyl MEA (DMAE), Docosahexaenoic Acid, Parfum (Fragrance), Limonene, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Capsicum Frutescens Fruit Extract, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool, Copper Gluconate

Aqua (Water), *Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, *Glycerin (Veg), *Butyrospermum Parkii, *Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, *Glyceryl Stearate, *Simmondsia Chinensis, *Vitis Vinifera, *Cetearyl Alcohol, *Stearic Acid, *Isopropyl Myristate, Phenoxyethanol/Benzyl Alcohol/Potassium Sorbate, *Camellia Sinensis Leaf, *Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, *Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, *Tocopherol, Geraniol, Citronellol, Linalool. * naturally-derived ingredient. From essential oils listed.

Oil from the rose hips of a rare rose that grows in Chile's Andes mountains. High in vitamin C, and linoleic and linolenic acids, essential fatty acids necessary for skin cell regeneration, it has been used by South American Indians for hundreds of years for its healing and moisturizing properties. Clinical tests have shown that Rosa Mosqueta, applied regularly, helps fade scarring and skin discolorations and encourage skin cell growth. There's no better moisturiser for dry or mature skin and brittle, damaged hair.

No Make up! 

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