Recipe book: blueberry muffins

Blueberry muffins are my favourite kind of muffin. This recipe, has developed through trying many other recipes. These, for me, are the ultimate blueberry muffins because  of the yummy "coffee shop" style crumbly topping.

Ingredients

For the muffins:

3 cups plain flour

1 1/2 cups caster sugar

4 teaspoons baking powder

2/3 cup veg/sunflower oil

2 eggs (a very ripe mashed banana works well as an egg substitute)

2 cups blueberries (I use fresh, but tinned or frozen would work)

2 tablespoons lemon juice

For the topping:

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup plain flour

50g butter (cubed)

1 teaspoon cinnamon 

Method

1. Make the cake batter...

Beat the eggs, then mix in the oil, sugar and lemon juice. Mix the baking powder and flour together (do this in your weighing bowl to save washing up) and add to the wet mixture. Carefully fold in the blueberries. It helps to lightly coat the blueberries in flour before mixing in, as it prevents the blueberries breaking up.

2. Make the topping...

Mix the dry ingredients, then rub in the butter. You can adjust the amount of cinnamon to your personal preference.

3. Assemble & bake...

Put the cake butter into muffin cases, and top with the topping. Bake in an 180°oven until ready (25-30 mins).

Enjoy with a cup of tea! 

Fi x

Quick beauty tips #2 - How to make your hair last longer between washes

Here we are with the second instalment of quick beauty tips! Washing your hair every day is "unhealthy" for your hair as it strips it of it's natural oils. Here's a couple of tips I found for how I actually shampoo and condition my hair to help prolong how long it will last between washes. 

Tip 1. When shampooing, place your shampoo on your scalp and concentrate on massaging it in there. Since the scalp is where your hair will become greasy fastest, it is the area that needs the deepest clean. You can then let the shampoo wash through the length of your hair as you rinse it out. This is will enough to wash the rest of your hair.

Tip 2. Before conditioning, squeeze the excess water out of the ends of your hair. This will make your conditioner more concentrated and help give your hair a deeper nourishment. (It will also mean you can use less product so you won't run out as fast!) Only apply conditioner to the ends of your hair as that hair is the oldest therefore most dry and damaged. I like to leave in my conditioner for a couple of minutes before rinsing to let all the goodness soak in to my hair. 

Hope you found these helpful!

Fi x

5 years.

Today is a very special day for me as it marks five years since John and I started dating. Even though we now have a wedding anniversary to celebrate, this date will always hold a special place in my heart. Let's take a little trip down memory lane...

[2009]

Our first couple selfie! We took this after walking up the Law, which is the big hill in the middle of Dundee, to watch the sunrise (aw, how romantic). It was freezing but very fun.

[2010]

Our first anniversary trip to Broughty Ferry (just down the road from Dundee). We took a walk along the beach and enjoyed the sunshine.

[2011]

Taken the day after we got engaged (by my lovely sister). I was working in a chalet in the French Alps for the winter season (5 months) and John was in his final year at uni in Dundee. He came out to visit for a week with my family and asked me to marry him!

[2012]

This is from our first camping trip in the Peak District as husband and wife. It was so sunny and hot, living in England felt like a foreign country to me that summer!

[2013]

A sneaky kiss at a friends wedding.

[2014]

Ringing in the new year!

I can't quite believe it's been 5 years...! As cheesey as it sounds, my life really did change when I meet John. Before, I didn't really understand relationships and why people would want to spend so much time with their boyfriend. I remember a few weeks after John & I starting out going, I had a big long conversation with my sister about what love is, and how you know if you are in love. (She will probably remember it and laugh at me!) When we met, I was going to be a doctor live in Scotland and John was going to be become a scuba diving instructor in Mexico. Somehow God put us on the same path and brought us together. 

John brings out the best in me, always encourages me, looks after me and makes me laugh. I am so blessed to have had him as my best friend for 5 years!

                                                                            Fi x