TANYA BAKES REVIEW & SALTED CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES | ALICE GRACE

HI EVERYBODY!

On June 30th, blogger and YouTube extraordinaire, Tanya Burr, released her first baking book. For all those who aren't aware of who she is, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?! Basically, quick catch up, she started doing celebrity inspired make up tutorials on YouTube in 2009, released her own cosmetic line in 2014 and has now wrote two books. #bosslady

I managed to get my hands on a copy of her baking book, Tanya Bakes, on the day it was released which was pretty lucky as it was only one of three left on the shelf. Part of Tanya's job includes taking amazing photographs which is why it didn't surprise me to find tones of beautiful shots in her book. In her introduction, Tanya explains how her recipe collection has been building up for years and includes recipes handed down to her and inspired by other great bakers. The book is split into several sections from Breads to Pastries to Cakes and Brunch with recipes that are friendly for beginners and some harder challenges. Unfortunately, my oven is slightly broken. I have a gas oven and currently it's either so low there's barely no flame or full whack...there's no in between which is why it's so difficult to try bake anything. For this reason, I narrowed down my choice to recipes that required 'chill time' instead. And that brings me onto my Salted Chocolate Truffles! The recipe was super simple and follows below (note: this is in my own words, Tanya's exact recipe my read slightly different).

THE MIX
To start with, break up 300g of quality dark chocolate into a glass bowl (I recommend using a glass bowl has it helps with the chilling).
In a medium sized pan, heat 300ml of double until it bubbles at the edges but not quite boiling. When the cream is at this point, stir in a nob of butter.
Pour the heated cream and butter mixture over the chocolate pieces and stir to mix and melt the chocolate. Sprinkle in 1 heaped teaspoon of sea salt, mix through and lave in the fridge to set for a minimum of 2 hours.

THE DECOR
At this point I found it easiest to put each of my toppings into separate, deep bowls. I used chopped  pistachios, desiccated coconut, chopped hazelnuts, hundreds and thousands, green sugar and freeze dried strawberry pieces. If you're wondering 'did I over do it on topping options?' YES. But if you do want a large variety of flavours, make fewer of each...I tried to do 8 of each and took forever.
Okay, get the mixture out of the ridge and spoon out (I used a melon baller) enough to roll between your hands and make a 2cm ball.
Drop the chocolate ball into one of the bowls of toppings and toss around until it's fully coated.
TAH-DA! You have your first truffle!
Repeat until you have none left and lick to bowl clean (Why not?).

As I somehow made so many, I boxed some up and gave them as a home warming gift to a friend of mine. Decadent and bite-sized, they'd be perfect treats for a dinner party with a tipple of Elysium Dessert wine.

Soon I will make some more of Tanya's wonderful recipes but until then I hope you enjoy these truffles.

Love,

ALICE GRACE

Summer day in green park, London | ALICE GRACE

HI EVERYBODY! 

Back in spring I took a little trip to London all on my lonesome. I like to go and be free to do whatever it is I want without being on someone else's time. Whilst there I starting to write. Not about anything in particular but just what I observed in that moment of time. I'm not sure how you'll read and review this but it is original and untouched. 

Twenty degrees - lovely. It's amazing what some sunshine does to people. 'Lazy Sunday' is the perfect term to describe the way Green Park feels right now. Sadly, when sunshine arises, the English feel as though they need to jet away to golden sands and turquoise seas instead of truly appreciating the weather at hand; Mother Nature really can't win. It would seem however, today is different. Today people are here and now and living within the moment. I guarantee not a single person sat around me would change their location. Everything's just right. Although, yes, there is an audio reminder that can be heard in the back ground but I doubt anybody is offended by the sounds of the red buses and black cabs that line the streets and remind us that just a stones throw from our normal schedule we are now sat in Eden. To be honest I quite enjoy it, it's London's very own live orchestra.Within the gates of the park are my ever changing neighbors. There's a pretty good chance I'll never see any of these people again yet I could waste away the day chit-chatting about nonsense and feel warm and welcome into their lives. I don't know everyone's stories, in fact I know no ones stories. All I do know is that they seem content. Families gather under the shade of the trees with picnic baskets full of sandwiches and cakes and other English treats. Small children in dungarees are running around and chasing pigeons as the parents take a deep breath and soak up the well earned rest. A group of students have dragged their oversize book bags out of the stuffy classrooms as not to miss out on the only day of summer. Some are practicing French conversation with imaginary friends as others recite words far to long for me to quote on here. 

There's a true sense of relief that comes in times like these. Londoners have such a fast pace way of life with the bustling streets and overflowing tube stations, it's satisfying to know there is balance in the world. It's nice to find the time to just stop and take a look around.

Love,

ALICE GRACE

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