I've started, and I WILL finish fabulously (that's the plan anyway) :)

Omg!!!!! That cake!!!! #killmenow

It was yummy Slim, but I can't take credit for that as I had it made :)
I've been naughty though - ordered his next one which will feed 80 people, knowing there'll be 40 people maximum. Oh what am I going to do with the rest of it, I have no idea!! ;)

xxx
 
Your knees are totally normal haha I was expecting them to look worse than that you silly!!! Funny how e get hung up on bits of ourselves, used to be my thighs in my teens, then belly after the kids and now double chin!!!

Beaut cake!!! I like making cakes too but find it stressful if it's for a public occasion and I always have wrinkly fondant!!!!

Haha Lou!!

I think my prob is, that particular group of friends are younger than I am. They're in their 20's/early 30's, whereas I am 42, arrggghhh!
So, I suppose I want to look as good as poss bearing in mind I've got more wrinkles and saggy bits to contend with than most of them lol! Oh to be 25 again!!

Thanks lovely, I'm hoping for a masterpiece next. Doubting that'll happen tho! :) xxx
 
Is it in her book??

Check this out!!! Celebrity Knees ~ www.popgive.com

Not sure, my Sis gave me the recipe. It's sooooooooo delish and soooooooooo easy to make. AND it looks sooooooo professional! Not to mention the taste - it really could be death by chocolate, cos it's heavenly!!

Ha! All this talk of cake on a dieting site!!

Thanks, I'll have a look at that link now :) xxx
 
Brilliant! Celeb knees are worse than mine! Thanks for that Peri, feeling SO much better! :D xxx
 
Okay,

So, I got my wedding outfit! The dress fits beautifully, though it is shorter than I'd hoped for. I got matching shoes, wrap, and bag. Then I got the perfect shade of lipstick and nail polish, and found some perfectly matched flowers for my hair, so I'm all sorted!

I am thrilled! Never ever thought I'd be able to wear something like this!!

So now, I have to be very, very good. I simply cannot put ANY weight on before the wedding! Tbh, I could do with losing about 1/2 stone off my legs (so much of them on show!), but I got some Fake Bake just in case - a tan always makes one look thinner!!

Some pics......

shoe1.jpgshoe2.jpgdresswd1.jpgbag.jpg

Couldn't resist that bag, it's so unusual!

But, I am willing to bet someone there is wearing same as me, you can just guarantee it!! :)
 
Not sure, my Sis gave me the recipe. It's sooooooooo delish and soooooooooo easy to make. AND it looks sooooooo professional! Not to mention the taste - it really could be death by chocolate, cos it's heavenly!!

Could you send me the recipe? If it's too awkward its ok!! I'd like to make a chocolate cake for the bf's birthday!

Hoped those pics would!! :D
 
Could you send me the recipe? If it's too awkward its ok!! I'd like to make a chocolate cake for the bf's birthday!

Hoped those pics would!! :D

Shall I post it on here, or PM you? Don't mind either way :)
It's a breeze to make - no flour = no mess!! And, the chocolate ganache, once set, is so shiny it just looks so professional!
Will find the recipe out and post it asap!! xxx
 
Ah cool :) whatever is handiest xx
 
Death By Chocolate Cake Recipe -

"This is an incredibily rich, but light chocolate cake. It's made without flour, and unlike many recipes it doesn't have cocoa powder or ground almonds either. You do need an electric whisk or mixer for whisking the eggs with the sugar to a mousse like consistency. It's also worth choosing good chocolate (although I used Sainsbury's own, with FAB results!), as there is nothing to mask the flavour. As with most chocolate cakes, it tastes even better the next day."

For the Sponge -
a 22cm Spring-clip cake tin, greased with butter and the base lined with greaseproof paper
300g good quality Dark Chocolate
150g unsalted butter, diced
5 medium free range eggs at room temp
0.5 teaspoon Vanilla Essence
100g Caster Sugar

Preheat oven to 180/350/Gas Mark 4.

Break up the chocolate and put it in to a heatproof bowl with the butter. Set over a pan of steaming hot (not boiling) water, and leave to melt, stirring frequently. Don't let the base of the bowl touch the water or the chocolate may become too hot and seize up.
Once the chocolate has melted, remove the bowl from the pan and leave to cool whilst you whisk the eggs.

Break the eggs in to a large mixing bowl, add the Vanilla Essence, and whisk for a few seconds just to break up. Add the sugar and whisk on full power until pale, and mousse-like (don't worry if it doesn't thicken up - mine didn't - it refused to, but it turned out a treat!). Whisk until the mixture becomes about 5 times the original volume, this may take about 5 minutes.

Pour the chocolate mixture on to the egg mousse, and very gently, but thoroughly, fold the two together, using a large metal spoon. Take your time, and make sure there are NO pockets of chocolate at the bottom of the bowl (very important - I left a couple, and my first cake ended up with holes in lol! - Tho not a disaster as this can be covered up by the topping!).

Pour the mixture in to the prepared tin and bake in the pre-heated oven for 35-45 minutes, until just firm to the touch (may leave in longer, I did). The centre should be slightly moist under the crust, as the cake will continue cooking after it comes out of the oven.
If the cake is over-cooked it won't cut as neatly.
Stand the tin on a wire cooling rack and run a round-bladed knife around the inside to loosen the sponge.
Leave until completely cold before removing the tin.
The cake will rise to the top of the tin during baking but will sink on cooling.

Invert the cake on to a serving plate (this is why it's important you don't leave any pockets of chocolate as mentioned before, as it will create holes! However, if this happens, leave a while, then just turn it back over, voila!!) - it is easier to ice the flat base.
Don't worry if it looks a bit messy at this point.

For the Topping -
200g good quality Dark Chocolate
100mls Double Cream

To make the topping, chop the chocolate and put it in a large heatproof bowl with the cream. Set over a pan of steaming hot (but not boiling) water, again making sure that the base of the bowl doesn't touch the water.
Leave until the chocolate is HALF melted, then remove the bowl from the pan and beat the chocolate well until GLOSSY.
Pout the topping evenly over the cake and let it trickle down the sides. You can help it a little with a palette knife or something similar, to cover all the sides. Try not to work it TOO much or you will lose the shine.
Wipe up any trickles with a clean, damp cloth.
Leave until firm, preferably overnight, before serving.

You can also cover the cake with whipped cream, slightly sweetened and flavoured with a little kirsch or vanilla, and decorate it with fresh cherries (though tbh, I didn't bother with this, and it was just superb!).

DEAD easy! No mess, and everyone will think you're the next Nigella, seriously!!

Let me know how you get on!! :) xxx
 
Ps. You can refridgerate it, but it will lose it's shine temporarily. So, if you're going to do this, take it out of the fridge at least 2 hours before serving, and the glossy coating will return!!

Right, off to bed now - will catch up with more diaries tomo - my intention was to do so tonight, but it's got late now, and seems as Max is ill AGAIN, I think I'll be up early!

night all, HUGS! :) xxx
 
Haha Lou!

Yep, the cake is seriously goooood!! ;) Think I'll make one this weekend, ha!

I know, those knees! I don't think I've got anything to worry about now I've seen those, especially Jolie's, I mean, what's going on there lol!!

I do feel A LOT better now! Just got to make sure I do not clap even 1lb on between now and 4th May! Am hoping to lose though - not had a bite to eat yet, not even hungry. Think this diet is great, lol!!

Have a FAB day! xxx
 
Hey Nat, I see you've moved from slim and save to calorie counting, how many calories do you have a day and what kind of things do you eat now? :)
 
Hiya :)

Well, I SHOULD be calorie counting, but seems I had an Indian for dinner, I think it's safe to say that's out of the window, for today at least!

I have been watching the calories though for the last 3.5 weeks and still lost weight. I've been eating pretty normally but having smaller portions, and staying away from too many treats! I'm still not having milk in coffee, and drinking loads of water as that helps with weight loss - just little things like that.

I don't feel deprived, but I don't feel fully in control, so as of Monday, I'm doing 2 weeks back on the diet to shift a few more pounds! So close to goal, I really should be focusing on getting there so I need to get back in the zone and start again.
I did it for 4.5 weeks no probs, so I can't see it being a problem (I hope!).

I'm lucky in the fact I haven't put any water weight back on - don't know how, but I've not gained a pound. Not complaining!

How're you going with it? xxx
 
Slowly getting around people's diaries! SORRY it's taking me so long (been searching for idea's for cake decorating tonight, seems as Max's 1st birthday is 2 weeks and 5 days away, YIKES) - I will get around to catching up I promise!!

I feel awful because I love keeping up to date with you all, and have really slacked off (not by choice!). I'll be back to catch up more tomo. Now I have a sink full of Max's pots to wash before I hit the sack!

Night lovelies! :) xxx
 
That's cool you're still losing, hope the next two weeks go well for you =)

I'm doing ok but only on day 2, have already been around lots of temptation though and been happy to say no xxx
 
You'll be a lot better once Ketosis sets in around day four to five. The hunger really does subside then :)

If you can stick it out till then, you should sail through! I was amazed at losing 24lbs in 7 weeks! Never thought I'd lose anywhere near that!
It's a great incentive!!

xxx
 
Okay Ladies,

I am SO sorry but I haven't been able to catch up with you and your diaries :(

My little man isn't doing so good so I'm going to take a back seat for a while, so I won't be around much. Tbh, when I'm not with him I'm stressing about him so I need to concentrate on him and trying to get him better!

I'm going to the Docs first thing Monday, and I am not leaving until I get a referral to a specialist - something isn't right, it's instinct, and I have had enough of being fobbed off. It's not fair on Max, and it's not fair on hubby and I, the stress is unbelievable!

So, I just wanted to say bye for now :( I'll be back when things have settled down here. I will miss you all - you've become friends, and I feel like I'm deserting you but I'm not here enough to give you the attention you deserve so I think it's best I get things sorted here and then come back when I am in a better frame of mind!

Love & Hugs to you all, and I hope you read this so you don't think I've just b*ggered off without giving a reason why!

Keep on with your great achievements - I look forward to hearing your results when I can get back here!

So, bye for now lovelies, take good care! :sign0168: xxx
 
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