Record of the Day: Alex Clare - Too Close

This song (and the album it's from) actually came out last year but for some reason I seem to be hearing it everywhere at the moment. It's a GREAT song, and I've had it stuck in my head all week. I was quite surprised when I watched the video and had a bit of a 'The Voice' style moment as I don't think he looks anything like his voice - a bearded ginger dude was not quite what I was expecting - but I like him more because of that. Fab song, cool guy.

Record of the Day: Alex Clare - Too Close (from The Lateness of the Hour, 2011 - Island Records UK)

Scrummy Wednesdays: Zucchini (courgette) Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting

I KNOW it sounds super weird and disgusting, but I am telling you that could not be further from the truth. I made some last night and I've already eaten 3 today... My love for these bad boys began on my recent trip to LA where I had them sans cream cheese in the sorority house I was staying at and as much as I loved them I knew they could be improved (because cheese improves EVERYTHING). In addition to this, I'm trying out a gluten free diet at the moment and these are great for that! Plus people are always surprised that they're so yummy as they sound so unusual. Sooo here is my recipe for zucchini (the yanks term for courgettes) muffins with cream cheese frosting - perfect for desert or breakfast in my opinion :D This recipe makes 12 American size giant muffins or about 24 normal cupcake sized muffins.

You'll need this stuff for the muffins:
3 courgettes (which is about 330g)
75g melted unsalted butter
150g sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp baking soda (I used gluten free)
Pinch salt
350g plain flour (I used gluten free)
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
(You can also add 100g raisins or cranberries if you like, but I prefer them without)

And this stuff for the frosting:
60g unsalted butter (soft/at room temp)
115g cream cheese
450g Icing Sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract


1. So first preheat the oven to 175C (350F) and then grate the courgettes on the small side of the grater, it can take a while...
2. Then in a bowl, combine the sugar, beaten eggs and vanilla. Stir in the grated courgette and the melted butter. I know it looks weird and bright green at this point but have faith!
3. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, nutmeg and cinnamon and then slowly stir it into the courgette mixture. (At this point stir in the cranberries or raisins if you're using them)
4. Brush a tiny bit of melted butter or veg oil onto each muffin case (because they still reeeeeally easily) and then distribute the muffin mix into the cases - it's super helpful to use a little ice cream scoop here because then they're all the same size; something I learnt from the lovely Ina Garten :D
5. Bake for about 20-25 minutes until they have just a little bit of colour, but not too dark and let them cool.
6. For the frosting, in a bowl mix together the butter and cream cheese (you can use an electric mixer if you like but it works without). Add the vanilla and then slowly add the icing sugar, stirring all the time so that it gets to just the right soft texture. And there ya go!
7. I like to dollop a bit on each muffin, nothing too fancy and voila.

Record of the Day: DJ Fresh ft. Dizzee Rascal - The Power

So I feel like the song is most definitely going to be a summer anthem. It's already making me want to go clubbing minus tights, jacket and scarf - I'm a wild one dontcha know. DJ Fresh seems to appearing everywhere at the moment. After two consecutive number one singles, this collab with Dizzee could be his biggest yet in my humble opinion. I also just LOVE that he performs with a full live band. FYI he's in the UK for a series of 9 live performances for which you can purchase tickets here.

Record of the Day: DJ Fresh ft. Dizzee Rascal - The Power (to be released 3rd June 2012, Ministry of Sound Recordings)

Record of the Day: Dolly Parton - Jolene

I'm having a Dolly day today. I honestly can't get enough of her. And this song is by far one of my favourite songs. However, I need to be in a pretty specific mood to listen to it as I find it kind of sad. Apparently Dolly has said that the inspiration for the story was a tall, red-headed bank teller who she believed was flirting with her husband, and her husband's apparent vulnerability to the teller's charm which she drew from his sudden interest in making frequent trips to the bank. In live performances of the song, she often says that she fought this woman tooth and nail for her husband.

It's very possible that the story was exaggerated significantly for performance purposes, however i really don't like the idea that the husband in this story has absolutely no mind of his own! Clearly he is unable to control himself, to the point where his wife needs to bat away beautiful women just so he doesn't get distracted like a small child. Forgive me but this is definitely not the kind of man I'd want to marry! It's also very sad to think that the woman telling the story thinks so little of herself and that nothing she has could possibility compete with physical beauty of "Jolene"...not quite an advertisement for strong, independent females all over the world, but it was the '70s I guess.

Anyways, I thought I'd share. Rant over.


Record of the Day: Dolly Parton - Jolene (From her thirteenth (!) solo studio album also called Jolene in 1974, RCA Records)

Scrummy Monday: Gnocci with Tomatoes, Chilli and Rocket!

Just thought I would share my seriously YUM gnocchi masterpiece I made last week because I'm nice like that. It's super easy and fast, perfect for week night when nobody can be arsed to cook.

You'll need:
Fresh Gnocchi (you can use the dried stuff but I think fresh tastes better and it's cooks in like 3 minutes)
A bit of butter
Garlic
Plum tomatoes (chopped into quarters)
Chopped tinned tomatoes
Chili (I used Lazy Chili because I'm lazy but you can chop up whole chili if ya like it reeeeally spicy!)
Loooots of basil (chopped but not too finely)
S&P
Packet of Rocket
Parmesan

1. Pop the gnocchi in boiling water with a dash of salt and olive oil and cook for about 3-4 minutes (check on the packet to make sure though)
2. In another pan, fry some garlic for about a minute and add in the plum tomatoes and fry for another minute.

3. Then add in the tinned tomatoes and the chili and cook for about 2-3 minutes until they're heated through. Meanwhile, drain the gnocchi.

4. Add the basil to the sauce at the last minute, along with a dash of salt and pepper (to your taste) and stick the gnocchi in with the sauce off the heat.

And there ya go. I like to serve mine with a heap of rocket on top and grated Parmesan, as per below picture. Um yum :D

Record of the Day: Nicki Minaj - Pound the Alarm

I'm having a major Nicki Minaj phase at the moment. She's pretty awesome. Her second studio album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded was released just a couple of weeks ago and I'm already in love. There's a ridiculous number of collaborations on there and some great singles (Starships, Roman Holiday, etc). PLUS there are songs on this record (including the one below - my favourite on the album) that I can rap in their entirety WHICH I'm sure is a treat for everyone around me - nothing like a middle class British white girl rapping about being a bitch with no muzzle.

Record of the Day: Nicki Minaj - Pound the Alarm (From her second studio album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, 2012 - Universal Republic Records)

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Nicki Minaj - http link
Nicki Minaj - spotify link

Record of the Day: Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe

Bonjour! I do apologise for my almost 3 week hiatus from social media, I was busy actually living! I have been in Las Vegas and LA for the last few weeks and it was AMAZING, many pictures and a blog are to follow but first here is a little taster of when I met the spectacular Chris Hemsworth (who plays Thor FYI) at the Avengers premiere in Hollywood last week!

Yeah, that's right, that's me and Thor!! And yes he was in fact as unbearably gorgeous as in the movies (as was his brother Liam FYI). And yes I felt his arm and it was huge :D

Mooooving on...I'm obsessed with this song, and I know it's going to annoy everyone eventually (or maybe it is already?!) and it will get completely overplayed until we all can't stand it but for now I think we should just enjoy! Carly Rae Jepsen came third in Canadian Idol (yes there is one) in 2007 and this song's gone a bit viral on the tube recently, alongside the very random video of Bieber, Selena Gomez and Ashley Tisdale dancing like loons on loon pills to the song in someones house... (which you may watch here)

So, my record of the day (and the last 3 weeks if I'm honest) is Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe (From the EP Curiosity, 2012)