Hazelnut Hot Chocolate

I'm a Starbucks girl- through and through. 

Come what may- the little affairs that I may have with the Costa's and Pret's of the worlds- my loyalty rarely wanes from the green twin-tailed mermaid [I kid you not- that's what it actually is!] 

However, the Starbucks I totter past every day, the Starbucks Barista that I greet with a beaming smile, the Starbucks counter I drum my finger tips on while I patiently  impatiently wait for my morning pick me up- was out of Hazelnut Syrup.

Regular Coffee? Regular Hot Chocolate? Didn't quite do it for me at all! 

To avoid any future heartbreaks and desolate expressions- one, sleepless, Monday in the wee hours of the morning I decided to experiment- and "Eureka" did I crack it! 

This is my recipe for the most sumptuously decadent Hazelnut Hot Chocolate of all time. If you've had a rough day and need a "hug in a mug" or looking for that sugar kick to get your morning started- this is just what the doctor ordered! And what's better- it is oh so simple!

For 1 Large Hazelnut Hot Chocolate:

Chocolate Sauce 

Splashing's of Hazelnut Syrup 

Instant Horlicks 

Carte D'or Vanilla Ice Cream 

1 large mug of semi-skimmed milk 

2 tbsp of double cream

1/4 Cup of Water

1 Cup Golden Caster Sugar 

Twinings Swiss Chocolate Powder 

Kenco Instant Rich Coffee 

Sizeable amounts of Nutella 

Fire up that hob ladies & gents...

she coo

Heat your Sugar and Water in a pan. Keep stirring and observe closely- warning it'll take a while- until you're left with a golden brown syrup that fills your kitchen with devilish thoughts and smells. Add the cream and put some hip into the mixing. If you're drinking now leave it to cool, if not store this baby in a jar. 

While she rests, pour your milk into a saucepan on low heat 

Just before it begins to boil, spoon in your Chocolate Powder. Now the tub will tell you 3 leveled teaspoons... 

however how heaped is not specified- so go wild! 

Get spooning!

Into the pan it goes! While you're at it, throw in a spoon of your Instant Horlicks, half a teaspoon of Kenco instant coffee and a generous amount of the good stuff...

Starbucks Hazelnut flavour syrup. Once slightly cooled, add a dollop of Carte d'or ice-cream or Nutella into your pan [depending on how nutty you like it] and shake it all together. 

Pour a few glugs of the caramel you made previously into the bottom of your mug, and pour in your hot chocolate, top with cream and drizzle with chocolate sauce! Sit back in your snuggley silks and snuggle down with someone delicious. 

How do you like your Starbucks in the morning?

Slurp-me-up Smoothies

Summer time is my favorite season by far.

Temperatures soar, along with hem-lines, and suddenly everyone is walking around the city with a big grin emblazoned across their face and a sudden spring in their step.

While one of my favorite summer activities is to consume large amounts of Summery Ciders, Rekorderlig’s Limited Edition Passion Fruit for Summer 2013 please, whilst swinging my legs off of The Embankment, it’s important to keep your levels of nutrition high in this sweltering heat (Nutrition yes, but I’m really in it for the promise of glowing skin & hair.)

Enter The Slurp-me-up Smoothies.

Now don’t be put off by the overtly green hue that fills your bottle, because as they say “It may be green, but it’ll keep you lean!” And that’s just what this smoothie promises to do! Not only does it fill you up with the best in antioxidants and every Vitamin from A to Z, it keeps you energized throughout the day- perfect for the season that promises lots of fun in the sun.

To make enough for one bottle you’ll need:

1 Kiwi, Peeled and chopped.

1 Pear

3 handfuls of spinach leaves

Half a Cucumber, Sliced [leave the skin on, that’s where all the goodness lies!]

1 small piece of ginger, peeled.

1 Celery stick

40ml Bio-Active Aloe Vera Juice (now available at some of your nearest supermarkets!)

Brace yourself ladies & gentlemen, the directions for this recipe are extremely complex and are not for the feint hearted so brace yourself...

Chuck all of the above into a blender or juicer, hit the start button and watch the ingredients wiz around until your left with a fluorescent green liquid. It really is that simple!

Pour it into your favourite bottle, add a little straw for cocktail fever delight and Hey Presto! Your Slurp-me-up Smoothie is ready for drinking while bounding around London in the Sunshine!