UK Benefits- shame on you (via My world….)

Britain gone mad again………………while immigrants from all over the globe swan in and claim benefits for the entire family, well deserving UK citizens are being denied benefits they really need and deserve….. Compared to many people who claim lifelong benefits for decidedly dubious medical conditions, ten-year-old amputee Olivia Porter would seem like an entirely deserving case. Brave Olivia has worn a prosthetic leg after surgeons remov … Read More

via My world….

Strawberry Chocolate Chip Muffin

recipe adapted from Parita’s Kitchen makes about 12 small muffins Things you’ll need: For the muffins: 1-1/2 cups whole wheat flour 2 tsp aluminium-free baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp salt 1/3 cup cane sugar + 1/2 to 1 tbsp 4 tbsp unsalted butter at room temperature 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 1/2 cup non fat greek yogurt 3/4 to 1 cup non fat milk (or milk of your choice) 1-1/4 cups chopped hulled strawberries (about 5-6 large strawberries) 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (I used 100% natural Ghirardelli) Other things: Baking tray/sheet pan muffin pans (two 6 muffin pans) paper muffin cups whisk Ice cream / cookie dough scoop ~ optional wire rack For the chocolate frosting: (makes about 2 cups of frosting) 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter at room temperature 2/3 cup natural unsweetened Cocoa 3 cups powdered sugar 1/3 cup milk 1 tsp pure vanilla extract For Valentine’s day special decoration: 2 tbsp confectioner’s sugartea strainer 3/4″ paper or cardboard heart cutout ziploc bag for frosting decoration How it’s done: To bake the strawberry muffins: Taste the strawberries first. If the strawberries are not that sweet, macerate the strawberries in a clean non-reactive bowl by sprinkling 1/2 to 1 tbsp of sugar and let sit for the fruit to soak in for at least 15 mins. Skip this step if you think the strawberries are sweet by themselves. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line the muffin sheet with paper cups or grease with oil or butter. Mean while, in a mixing bowl, combine whole wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt and whisk/sift for thorough mixing. To bring butter to room temperature, either let sit on the counter for 15-30 mins or just microwave for 10-12 secs until just soft. In another bowl, whisk the butter and sugar together until well combined and creamy. To this add the greek yogurt and 2/3 cup milk and whisk together. Finally whisk in the vanilla extract. Now, add in the dry flour mix and whisk in slowly until it comes together. Add more milk as necessary a tbsp or two at a time as you go. Do not over mix. Fold in the chopped (macerated) strawberries and chocolate chips. Scoop the dough into lined muffin cups only upto 3/4 th full to give enough room for the muffin to rise or else the dough will rise and spill out during baking . Place the muffin pans on a baking tray with at least 2-3 inches between them as well as with the inside of the oven for even hot air circulation. Bake for 25-30 mins or until a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Check around 25 mins for done-ness check. Do not overbake. Remove the baked muffins from the tin and let cool immediately on a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature as is or decorated with confectioner’s sugar heart impressions or chocolate drizzlings for the valentine’s day! (continue reading for recipe and how to) Don’ts: Do not open the oven door during the first 15 mins as it causes the rising muffin dough to collapse. Do not forget or delay cooling the muffins on a wire rack right after pulling out of the oven. Otherwise, due to the retained heat, muffins start to sweat inside and end up soggy instead of fluffy. How to make chocolate frosting: recipe for Hersey’s “Perfectly Chocolate” chocolate Frosting from the back of Hershey’s Cocoa-Natural Unsweetened box Melt butter in a saucepan until just soft or microwave for about 12-15 seconds. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered (confectioner’s) sugar and milk, beating to “spreading” consistency. If you take a dollop out of a spoon it should fall but not flow freely. Add small amount of additional milk (a tsp or so) if needed. Stir in vanilla extract. Do not overmix. Note: The ingredients listed (are) from the original recipe make a huge quantity of chocolate frosting. I had leftover chocolate frosting from the chocolate almond cake I baked a month back and used the same. If you do not wish to make so much of the frosting, just halve the frosting recipe and store the leftovers in a plastic bag or airtight container in the refrigerator. Does not spoil for 3-4 weeks. For the Valentine’s Day special muffins: To make the heart impressions: Place the paper heart cut-out on the muffin at the centre. Sprinkle confectioner’s sugar through a dry tea strainer until the top surface is covered. Remove the heart cut-out with a fork. For the muffins with chocolate frosting: Fill a ziploc bag with chocolate frosting, twist it tight and zip shut. Snip the tip of the ziplock bag just a tiny bit. Holding the other end of the bag secure, press and drizzle the chocolate frosting in a zig zag manner.

Image version @ Just Home Made

Easy Eggless Chocolate Pudding

Things you’ll need: 3 tbsp corn starch 3 tbsp cocoa powder (I used Hershey’s) 1-1/2 cups milk (I used 3/4 cup non fat & 3/4 cup whole milk) 2-3 tbsp cane sugar 1/8 tsp salt 1 tbsp butter 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract For garnish (optional) toasted, slivered or crushed almonds or pistachios How it’s done: Bring 1 cup milk to a boil in a thick bottomed saucepan. In the mean while, whisk together corn starch, cocoa, sugar and salt and stir the mix into 1/2 cup milk at room temperature making sure to avoid dry lumps from forming. When the milk comes to a boil, reduce heat and stir in the cocoa milk. Let simmer stirring continuously until thick and creamy for about 10-12 mins. It is done when the saucepan bottom can be seen when scraped with a spoon. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and butter until butter melts and blends in. Pour into individual serving dishes or bowls of your fancy. To avoid pudding skin from forming, cover with cling wrap on the surface of the pudding (not at the rim of the dish) and let it cool to room temperature. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or store up to 2 days. Serve cold as is or with suggested garnish. Note If you need an intense chocolate flavor, you can add 2-3 tbsp semi sweet chocolate chips. Next time I make this, I am sure to add them.

Images version @ Just Home Made

Reese Witherspoon: Robert Pattinson Is Dirty – Style News – StyleWatch – People.com

Twentieth Century Fox

Reese Witherspoon is definitely fond of Water for Elephants costar Robert Pattinson, but that’s not to say she didn’t find his on-set grooming habits, well, questionable. “It’s a boy thing, right? To have dirty fingernails and hair,” the newlywed actress asked in a chat with Entertainment Weekly. “And his clothes were dirty all the time.” However, she can’t quite blame theTwilight star — after all, the movie takes place in a circus, a far cry from the damp, overcast Pacific Northwest setting of the supernatural series. “It was a nice escape for him to be tan and in the sun all the time instead of the vampire gear,” Witherspoon explained. In the film, out April 22, the stars’ characters, Jacob and Marlena, become entwined in a tragic love triangle. But before they hit theaters, the costars will hit Vegas — they’re presenting together Sunday at the Academy of Country Music Awards.

Sleepy Strawberries | Healthy Whip

I am so tired this morning. I think I had about 6 hours sleep- definitely not enough for me! I think the clocks going forward for Spring has really had an effect of my mood, ugh. I’ve also had a headache for the last 2 days that will just not go away.

I was so sleepy I couldn’t think of anything for breakfast! Breakfast is by far my favourite meal of the day, so this is totally unheard of  After scanning the cupboards I decided on a strawberry smoothie- totally quick and I needed something energizing.

I added fresh strawberries to a handful of frozen strawberry and banana mix with some almond milk and some natural yogurt and a tbsp of oats for texture.

The result was a bright pink smoothie which totally added colour to my morning! It tasted great- just of strawberry and not too sweet.

Hope everyone has a great day- Toby says hello!

Mila Kunis defends Natalie Portman in ‘Black Swan’ controversy | Inside Movies | EW.com

Black Swan co-star Mila Kunis is speaking out in support of her friend and cast mate Natalie Portman amid accusations that the bulk of the dancing in Portman’s Oscar-winning role was actually performed by her dancing double, American Ballet Theatre soloist Sarah Lane. “Natalie danced her a– off,” says Kunis. “I think it’s unfortunate that this is coming out and taking attention away from [the praise] Natalie deserved and got.”

Kunis also says Portman has been honest about how much of the demanding footwork she was — and wasn’t — able to do. “She’ll tell you [that], no, she was not on pointe when she did a fouetté [turn]. No one’s going to deny that. But she did do every ounce of every one of her dances,” she says. “[Lane] wasn’t used for everything. It was more like a safety net. If Nat wasn’t able to do something, you’d have a safety net. The same thing that I had — I had a double as a safety net. We all did. No one ever denied it.”

Last week, Lane told EW that she performed 95 percent of Portman’s full-body dance shots. Portman has been defended vocally by fiancé and Black Swan choreographer Benjamin Millepied and director Darren Aronofsky, who insists Portman did 80 percent of the dancing in the film.