Banana and Chocolate Cupcakes

As well as my passion for all things pinup, I have a huge love for baking. Anyone who knows me, knows my ultimate dream would be to own a little vintage/retro cafe serving amazing breakfasts and sweet treats. Whilst I embark on improving my skills, I thought I'd bring you guys along for the journey of self improvement, and hopefully inspire some kitchen treats along the way.

This week I got home from work, and opened my cupboards looking for inspiration - the only thing staring at my were some brown, sad looking bananas. I'm not particularly a fan of bananas, I buy them because they are good for me, but they often sit there until I decide to turn them into banana bread (usually with chocolate chips!).

At my recent cake baking and decorating class I was taught a simple vanilla cupcake recipe, which provides a great foundation for anything you want to add, so I thought I'd experiment.

Yum! Recipe below.

 BANANA AND CHOCOLATE CUPCAKE

Ingredients all ready to weigh in.

Ingredients (to make 12 cupcakes)
100g Plain flour
120g Cake flour
170g Caster sugar
15g Baking powder
3/4 tsp Salt
3 tbsp Dutch processed cocoa powder
115g unsalted butter
120g Free range eggs
1/2 cup Full cream milk
1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
2 Mashed brown bananas

These cupcakes are not skinny, you need high fat content unsalted butter and full cream milk! Plus good quality cocoa powder and vanilla extract.

1. Before starting, weigh out all your ingredients and bring everything to room temperature (butter, eggs, and milk).

2. Pre-heat your oven to 163oC (fan-forced) or 173oC (non fan-forced).

Now, I know you're reading that thinking... '163'... yes it's precise. I have recently purchased an oven thermometer and it informed me what I thought was 160oC was actually over 200oC. No wonder my cupcakes were going mental in there!

This is called the one bowl method, for precisely that reason - everything in one bowl.

3. Sift all of your dry ingredients into your mixing bowl - both flours, caster sugar, baking powder, salt and cocoa powder.

My prized Kitchen Aid

4. Set your mixer on low speed (you can do this with a hand mixer too, you might just need a buddy to help you out!) - and add the softened butter chunk by chunk, until it's all incorporated and it resembles a sand consistency. Scrape down the bowl.

Sandy consistency of the dry ingredients and softened butter.

5. Add your eggs one at a time - keeping your mixer on slow. After one has just been incorporated add the next. After all have been added scrape the sides of the bowl down.

You may also notice the eggs are in weight - baking is a science. If you find it's about two and a half eggs - whisk the third and add until the correct weight.

Weigh in eggs, precisely!

Mixture after adding eggs.

                                     
















6. Combine your vanilla extract and milk together. Now slowly add a continuous stream of vanilla extract/milk- do not flood your mixture. Slow and steady. Again, stop and scrape your bowl down.

SLOW addition of milk/vanilla extract combo.

7. The final step, add your mashed bananas and mix on medium/high for 20/30 seconds - this allows air to get into the mixture.

Final yummy mixture.

8. Evenly distribute your mixture into a cupcake tray lined with paper cases and bake at 163oC in a fan-forced oven for 17-21 minutes.

DO NOT OPEN THE OVEN DOOR BEFORE 15 MINUTES!

9. Check on your cupcakes after 17 minutes, a skewer will come out clean if cooked. If not quite there, put them back in for 2-4 minutes.

10. Once cooked, remove from oven and place on wire rack to cool. As they cool, you can prepare the chocolate butter-cream frosting.

CHOCOLATE BUTTER-CREAM

Ingredients

125g Unsalted butter

3-4 cups of soft icing sugar mixture

1/4 cup Dutch processed cocoa powder

1/4 cup Full cream milk

1 tsp Vanilla extract

Pinch of salt

1. Beat softened butter with your paddles attachment until white and creamy.

2. Sift icing sugar and cocoa powder into a separate bowl.

3. Add 3 cups of icing sugar/cocoa powder to the butter.

4. Add salt, vanilla extract and milk, beat until combined.

5. Continue to add icing sugar until desired consistency is reached. 

6. Beat for approximately 2 minutes until light and fluffy.

This frosting will keep in a air tight container in the fridge for two weeks, yum!

After your cupcakes have cooled, pipe the frosting and add your garnish! I grated some chocolate on top of mine. These will keep in an air tight container at room temperature for 4-7 days.

12 light and fluffy chocolate and banana cupcakes -these are sweet!

Banana and chocolate cupcake with chocolate butter-cream frosting.

Let me know if you try baking them, or if you found any of the tips and tricks helpful x

My Day with Sherbet Birdie

For about two years, I lusted at the stunning imagery that popped up daily from Sherbet Birdie Vintage and Pinup Photography on Facebook. Seeing the ladies in their chosen pinup scenarios, depicting their individual beauty and personality with such confidence, was so inviting, but I never thought I would have the confidence to partake in such a shoot myself.

Finally in September last year I took the plunge and gave the wonderful Sasha a call to discuss booking my own photo session. Two years of putting off the call, made it a nerve racking moment but immediately Sasha's warm nature put me at ease. After a short discussion we locked in a date and some of my interests, and I anxiously waited for the consultation phone call.

After the consultation, I was delighted with my chosen scenarios and looks, and hoped they would display my interests as well as give me some beautiful pictures. Sasha was wonderful at understanding my concerns and her excitement was infectious!

The beautiful hub of Sherbet Birdie

Sherbet Birdie are based in Sydney, so I made the short flight from Melbourne, arriving at their 'Pamper Palace' barefaced, excited but sweating with nerves! Lucy from Lucy Topp Makeup and Sasha greeted me, the love and positivity these women exuded from the moment I walked through the door is indescribable and made me feel relaxed immediately.

Bright blooms and Finger sandwiches

Macarons and unique jewellery on hand

Lucy worked her fabulous magic, and nearly bought me to tears at the final reveal - it felt so luxurious sipping on Moet, eating macarons whilst my hair and make up were expertly applied. Such beautiful thought and detail were placed through out the day, which is such a true reflection of both ladies. Sasha gave me great direction for posing for each of my outfits, and both gave such positive encouragement through the day. It was so lovely to hear their compliments and it started to make me feel differently about the bits of me I disliked. My big bum and thighs didn't appear to be so bad anymore!

Behind the scenes -a little selfie!

We giggled and chatted through out the incredibly hot day, and time flew as we wrapped up the last scene, especially tough squatting for such a long time!

I got changed, and sipped on my rose tea, flicking through the most amazing photography book on Audrey Hepburn whilst anxiously listening to the 'Ooh's' and 'Aah's' coming from behind the curtain as Sasha and Lucy began to look through the photos. As they cut down the vast amount of images to present to me, I reflected on the day. I was feeling so full of life and couldn't wait to see the final images.

Delicious rose tea to finish the day.

As I chose the images I wanted to have printed, I was in awe at the person in the photo, a beautiful smile and a glint in the eye, I didn't criticize my imperfections once. I didn't notice my dimply thighs or big arms and my chubby cheeks actually looked quite adorable. Usually on viewing a photo, I immediately go to what I dislike, and turn my little nose up in disgust. That day marked a change in the way I view myself, and for that, I will be forever grateful to Sasha and Lucy.

I couldn't recommend their services more highly, and I am already contemplating what my next shoot will entail!

Now for the final pictures!

Something a little different - not my usual bubbly smiley picture! 

Inspiration for this image came from a photo I had seen on Sherbet Birdie's Facebook - I wanted an image to put on my wall, where you couldn't see my face. I love the bright pop of colours, and how fun this image is!

This is probably my favourite photo, due to it's sweet and nerdy nature. This vintage microscope was sooooo heavy! 

I wanted to display a sexy side but not in an overt, over the top manner - I think this is just right!

Let me know your thoughts. Would you ever do a shoot like this? If not, why not? x

Welcome

As I sit down to write this, my first post, all thoughts of what I have wanted to say for so long have vanished!

So I guess I should start from the beginning, and tell you a little about myself. Originally from a small town in Kent, England, I moved to Melbourne, Australia just over five years ago. As I grew up, I was always trying to fit in with the newest trend, but it was in Melbourne that I discovered the beauty of Pinup. It allowed me to embrace my curves and height, in a positive community, where women celebrated each other and their successes. How refreshing! This is where my love affair with Pinup Girl Clothing and other vintage reproduction brands began.

So, what can you expect from this humble blog? If you follow me on Instagram, you know I am an avid 'Outfit of the Day' poster, so I suspect a few more of those, along with clothing and beauty reviews. I also enjoy baking and am a keen (yet novice) sewer and swing dancer.

I hope to provide some Pinup inspiration, and a little look into my wardrobe.