Best of British - Cakes

What's up with this weather?! It is just typical that at school we're all sat inside, staring at the beautiful Sun shining. Yet as soon as we have some time off, its disappears and those miserable grey clouds raise their heads.

 In other news, this is the first post of my mini series; Best of British. I originally was thinking of just food related, however now I'm thinking of going the whole hog and going into bloggers, 'instagramers', YouTubers etc. 

I hope you enjoy and I can't wait to start writing!

Simply the best. 

Some like whipped cream, some butter cream. Some strawberry jam, some raspberry jam. Some fresh strawberries, some fresh raspberries. However you fill it, this moist, delicious, 4 ingredient Victoria Sponge never fails.

Now no-one really knows where exactly Carrot Cake originated. But it's thought that at least it's popularity was revived by us Brits after the Second World War (it contains the second most sugar out of every vegetable bar to sugar beet so perfect for cakes during the rationing), so I'm claiming it as ours! And in 2011 it was voted the favourite cake by a survey from the Radio Times, so if that doesn't prove how much we love this slightly spiced, moist, soft with a slight bite cake and cream cheese icing I don't know what will!

Very sticky is probably the best way to describe this loaf. If you've never tried it before, you're missing out. This is constantly in the cupboards in my house and you can constantly see this chewy, fruity soft bread being slathered in margarine, then thoroughly enjoyed. Oh the wonders of Malt Loaf.

I'm not going to lie, my favourite thing about a Battenberg Cake is it's appearance  It just looks so dainty and pink and children's tea party perfect. But the light sponge and almond hint from the marzipan is sure so also add to it's popularity. I have never made one myself, mainly because it is quite fiddly to get the checkered pattern just right, and being a perfectionist I probably would keep trimming and trimming desperate for a straight edge until only half the cakes left!

Again, these cakes were really popular during the war as they contain less eggs and sugar then usual cakes. They're hard, crunchy, and really do look like pale yellow rocks which you may not think sounds like a yummy cake - but believe me, warm Rock Cakes with butter really do taste good.

If, like me, you love a good cup of tea, then you really must love this cake. Tea Loves are packed with fruits (it's a love or hate thing) and cinnamon, perhaps a pinch of allspice. Great served with, you guessed it, even more tea!

Swiss Rolls are actually not from Switzerland so I think I can still get it in this list. It is basically are light, airy, fat less sponge traditionally rolled up with jam and dusted with sugar. My favourite however, is the shop bought chocolate Swiss Roll with a light whipped cream filling.

Now I have to admit, Lemon Drizzle Cake isn't my favourite as I'm not a fan of lemon. However, I thought I'd include it as this isn't my favourite cakes, but those that I think our great nation loves the best! *puts hand on heart and belts out national anthem*. What I would say though, is I love the moist sponge and sweet crunchy drizzle on top.

I'm now off to play some tennis, have a wonderful week,

Love Vic x

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Disclaimer - I do not own any of these pictures and all views are my own

Revision Tips and Tricks!

Exam season is upon us and going by the numerous tweets I've read, everyone is very anxious about them. So I thought I would write a quick little post just about how I revise and any sites etc I like to use.

Plan

I write out how many days I need for each topic next to it on my CGP book, then organize it on a day by day plan for about 4 weeks before my exam. I also leave a few days before the exam to re go over things again that I'm unsure of.

CGP

Now these books are life savers. I mean it. I bring them (I have the Core and now Additional Science but you can get Biology/Chemistry/Physics specific) to every science lesson I have and it's so helpful just to look at even while the teacher is telling us it. I find it pretty hard to concentrate completely with 30 children in the same room to be honest. And they don't just have Science, they have all a ray of subjects, for different levels and they even have write in question books to go with the revision guides.

Read and Write

My main revision 'exercise' if you will is to simply read my CGP book and rewrite it. I find having to actually think about what I'm reading and rewrite in my own, shorter, words works so much better then just reading or definitions.

Bitesize

If in doubt, go on Bitesize. This BBC site has all the facts you'll need for every subject. I don't do all my revision a such from here as I find the text is quite small/crampt/a bit boring. However, if I need to find something out urgently I always go here.

Memrise

I was first introduced to this by my science teacher and now our whole class uses it! As you probably guessed  it's basically a memory site with lots of definitions/meanings arranged in different questions. There are different courses ie. B2.2 Organisms and Energy. I believe you can also do languages on there, and they also have a weekly/monthly/all time leader board  which contains everyone you follow on it so that should get you more motivated!  

Past Papers

You can find quite a few past papers on the internet which I highly recommend printing and timing yourself complete the last couple of weeks before your exam. I would just say don't get ones that are too old as the curriculum changes year to year so some things you wont have covered. 

Good Luck if you have any exams soon and I hope you've used the half term wisely, 

Love Vic x

Everyone has their own revision styles, comment below what you use 

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May Day Weekend - Starbucks, Scones and the Seaside

How amazing is the weather today?! I hope it stays like this and doesn't go back to how it did like a couple of weeks ago! 

In the next 2 weeks I have quite a few exams (boo) so won't have time for any really time consuming/long posts (double boo). So today will just be about what I've been up to this long weekend, and more interestingly, what I've been eating! Hope you enjoy.

Breakfast Saturday - Low fat natural yogurt and pineapple drizzled with golden syrup

Lunch - Starbucks sun dried tomato, mozzarella and pesto panini

Tea - I went to a cricket match to help with the food so dinner was mainly leftover pizza and pepper!

Dessert - Leftover fruit kebabs and scones! Sooo good

I didn't have any breakfast the next day as Saturday night I ate FAR to much, I don't think half a tub of Pringles has ever gone so quickly!

Lunch - Salad with mozzarella, crushed Parmesan crisp shortbread and sweet and sour aubergines

 Afternoon tea - half a square bake well slice and half a scone with clotted cream (I don't have afternoon tea as a regular thing by the way, I just wasn't quite sure what you'd call this!)

Tea - Vegetable quarter pounder sandwich/burger with one slice of granary and one slice of white bread. Served with more salad and new potatoes (forgot to take a picture woops)

Dessert - Apple and cinnamon square muffin with frozen yogurt and frozen berries

Brunch Monday - Mini caramel waffles from Starbucks with an apple and cup of tea

Lunch - Granary toast pizza (Granary bread with mozzarella, pepper and tomatoes) and salad

We were then meant to go rollerskating but it was shut so went to this miniature world thing instead. Of course, the crazy gold wasn't miniature. Although that would have been fun ...

Tea - Chips :) Being a vegetarian means no more fish and chips :(

Dessert (if you can call it that) - Cinnamon doughnut

This weekend has been fab and I hope everyone has a wonderful rest of the week

Love Vic x 

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Spring Flowers 2014!

I hope you've had a fab week back to school/work after a lovely long weekend.

The weather was lovely a few weeks ago so I had the opportunity to take a few pictures with the Sun out. I was planning on getting some more and posting this actually at the end of Spring but the weathers hasn't been amazing recently so I thought I'd just share what I got now!

Good hiding Beth aha!

I hope the person who owns this house doesn't mind being on here! It was such a good photo opportunity how could I not.

How picturesque (big word I know). I can almost imaging a little fairy living in that trunk.

And what a fabulous view that fairy would have as this is directly opposite!

Pretty in pink.

"Buzzzzzzzzzzzz"

Cherry Blossom are one of my all time favourite flowers, they're so delicate and pretty!

Living in the coutry side has it's draw backs but all these beautiful flowers and nature make it a lovely place to walk through. I hardly edited these pictures at all as to keep it as close to what they really looked like.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday,

Love Vic x

PS.  I won runner up in the competition I entered this muffin recipe into last week so I you HAVE to try it now!

PPS. I was so happy I ran upstairs and woke my Mum up to tell her!

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Healthy Raspberry, Banana and Chocolate Chip Muffins!

Raspberry, chocolate and banana muffins

This is a recipe I created for http://celeryandcupcakes.com/2014/04/07/healthy-baking-competition-for-all-you-baking-enthusiasts-out-there/ and I'm actually really pleased with them! 

They still taste delicious  but you can feel slightly better about them due to there reduced sugar, reduced fat and addition of raspberries, banana, wholemeal flour and even dark chocolate has been proven to have health benefits. If you want, you can add a handful of nuts, orange zest, shredded coconut - the choice is endless!

Makes 12 muffins or 14 squares as I baked mine in these tins.

175g/6oz margarine

170g/4oz caster sugar

1tbsp honey

2 medium ripe bananas

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

250g/9oz flour (1/2 whole wheat ½ plain flour)

1 level teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

2 eggs

1 egg white

75g/4oz raspberries

50g/2oz dark chocolate chips/chunks

Preheat oven to gas mark 3/160 deg C/fan 150 deg C/325 deg F.

1. Place the margarine, sugar and honey in a saucepan over low heat stirring to melt. Leave to cool. Mash banana.

2. Sift the flour with the bicarbonate of soda and stir in about 1/3 to the melted margarine and sugar with a wooden spoon.

3. Whisk the eggs and white together until paler and foamy. Add ½ the beaten eggs.

4. Add another 1/3 of the flour mixture.

5. Add the rest of the beaten eggs, along with the mashed bananas, orange juice, zest and chocolate.

6. Fold in the last 1/3 of flour, followed by the raspberries.

7. Scoop into greased muffin tin and bake until well risen and a skewer comes out clean of the muffin. Approximately 20 minutes.

Love Vic x

A Day With The Big Sis!

Hey guys, hope you've been enjoying the Sun today! I am so excited to really get into Spring, one of my favourite seasons.

So recently a lot of teachers in the UK went on strike meaning my school and my sisters collage had the day off. I'm not going to lie, it's lovely knowing you only have to work two days, then you get a day off, then you only go back for another two! 

This post will be mainly pictures because I haven't really got that much to say about the day, other then it was lovely!

We went into Blot to buy our younger sister a few rubbers for Easter.

Cheeky changing room selfie ;). I bought this top for £12 from Dorothy Perkins and absolutely love it, I can't wait to wear it as I think it's perfect for Spring. Lilac with white flower and a few diamantes - how very pretty 'ey!

After a few more shops we finished the day with a muffin (as it should always be) for lunch in BBs muffin. I had a skinny raspberry from their new 'skinny muffins' range with a chocolate milkshake. Where as Holly had ...

A big old Sticky Toffee Muffin! I felt quite proud that I stuck with my skinny raspberry, however, I will admit that they're Stick Toffee Muffin is the best I have ever had. And I mean it, the best muffin I have EVER had. So who can really blame her?!

The city was packed with students and although the weather a bit dreary at the start, the Sun soon came out walking back from the bus stop home. I really do love these days.

Love Vic x

Where Else To Find Me!

Now I'm not going to lie; this is a fairly lame post (I hope a used the semi colon right there). But never the less, I thought I'd write it!

Instagram - vicsvortex

Twitter - VicsVortex

Pinterest - VicsVortex

Bloglovin - VicsVortex

As I still do 99% of my posts on my iPod I haven't quite figured how to put this information at the bottom of each post yet, but hey ho - I'll learn eventually.

Have a fab Friday! 

Love Vic x