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Summer Shape: Keep on track

Summer is finally here! It’s time to whip out the BBQs, grab those swimsuits and enjoy some well-deserved relaxation in the sun. The months leading up to summer can involve intense gym routines and specific nutrition plans to ensure you are on track to reaching your fitness goals. However, all of this hard work does not have to suddenly disappear after enjoying a couple of ice creams at the beach. Below we have included just a few tips on how to keep your progress consistent through summer, until the chilly Autumn weather arrives.

Keep Hydrated

It is essential that every day we keep our body regularly hydrated. In Summer, this is more important than ever with rising temperatures causing dehydration. Make sure you keep a water bottle on hand whether you are at the beach or in the gym. To accurately keep track of your body water percentage why not try using a smart scale? This can help you to keep an eye on your hydration levels. For more information on how much water you should be drinking daily click here.

Take your work out outside

Make the most of the sun and take your training outdoors! Whether you go on a bike ride with friends or have a game of football in the park, you have so many more opportunities outside of the gym to keep yourself active this summer. For outdoor workout tips click here

Season of fruits

Summer is the perfect time of year to satisfy your sweet tooth with a healthy snack with strawberries, blueberries and watermelon being in season. For more information regarding the best seasons for different fruits and vegetables click here.

Keep track of your progress

Everyone has different fitness goals in mind, whether you are training heavily towards an athletic competition or simply wanting to tone up, keeping track of your progress in crucial. Your weight can be influenced by a variety of different factors. Smart Scales are a fantastic way of keep track of your progress, have a look at our body analyser scales for the best results. Click here to find out which scale is perfect for you.

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Crème Egg Crispy Cakes

 With Easter just around the corner, any party or Easter Egg hunt would be incomplete without these easy and fun-to-make treats. Inspired by the humble crème egg, these are great for anyone with a sweet tooth. The white of the egg is made from marshmallow fluff; this is an American marshmallow-y spread which you can find in most big supermarkets or sweet shops. Happy Easter everyone!

Creme Egg Crispy Cakes
Ingredients
  1. For the crispy cake base
  2. 115g milk chocolate
  3. 1 ½ tbsp. golden syrup
  4. 65g Rice Krispies
  5. Butter (for greasing)
  6. For the filling
  7. 1 jar marshmallow fluff
  8. 5 tbsp. lemon curd (approx.)
Instructions
  1. Grease a 12-hole fairy cake tin with some softened butter.
  2. Break the chocolate into small pieces and add to a heatproof bowl with the golden syrup.
  3. Melt this gently over a pan of hot water stirring until it’s smooth.
  4. [TIP: My chocolate mix spilt which hasn’t happened to me before but I managed to pull it back by adding a small knob of butter and a splash of hot water and beating it rapidly until it reformed.]
  5. Combine this mixture with your rice krispies, stirring until well combined. Then spoon a heaped tablespoon into each hole of the tin and push the mix down with the back of a spoon, especially in the middle to create crispy cases.
  6. Pop the cases in the fridge for around 15 minutes to firm up a little.
  7. Scoop a good amount of the marshmallow into a piping bag and cut a medium-large hole out of the end.
  8. [TIP: If you don’t have piping bags, you can use a sandwich bag and put the fluff to one corner]
  9. Take out the cases and pipe a generous amount of fluff into each one. Don’t worry if it looks swirly or uneven because it will settle down and go smooth and glossy by itself.
  10. Now put the lemon curd into another bag but this time cut less off the tip. On each crispy cake pipe a 1p sized blob of lemon curd in the centre. Now, dampen the back of a spoon and use it to gently flatten out the curd until it’s level. Enjoy!
  11. [TIP: Put the lemon curd on before you serve them, as if they’re let to sit for a while the bits of curd tend to sink into the fluff as it’s heavier]
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Try my ‘Brookie’

 

What do you get if you cross a brownie with a cookie?

Imagine the richest brownie you’ve ever tasted. Now top it with a delicious soft-baked cookie. Welcome to the beautiful world of the brookie. A friend introduced me to this amazing recipe which combines two of the world’s yummiest bakes into one beautiful baby, and I have fallen in love.

This recipe may look pretty daunting as it’s basically two recipes for one bake but trust me, not only is it fun and easy to do, the outcome is definitely worth it. Just think how popular you’ll be with your friends and family when you offer them one of these.

Brookie
Serves 16
Prep Time
50 min
Cook Time
20 min
Prep Time
50 min
Cook Time
20 min
Brownie
  1. 2 eggs
  2. 85g soft light brown sugar
  3. 50g icing sugar
  4. 75g unsalted butter
  5. 150g dark chocolate
  6. 60g flour
  7. ½ tsp salt
Cookie
  1. 50g butter
  2. 85g soft light brown sugar
  3. 1 egg
  4. 60g flour
  5. ½ tsp baking powder
  6. 1 56g Daim bar, chopped into small pieces (or equivalent chocolate chips)
Method
To make the brownie layer
  1. Line a 21cm square tin with baking or greaseproof paper.
  2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the sugars and the eggs until the mixture is foamy and light in colour, this gives the batter some air.
  3. Next melt together the butter and chocolate (this is essential for the recipe and also makes your kitchen smell fantastic).
  4. Stir the chocolatey mix into the eggs until it’s all combined.
  5. Then combine the dry ingredients and sieve them into your mixture. Mix it all in thoroughly, then pour the batter into your prepared tin and set it to one side.
To make the cookie layer
  1. At this stage, you’ll want to preheat your oven to 200°c
  2. Beat together the sugar and butter until it’s smooth and paler in colour. Then gradually add your egg and don’t worry too much if it splits a bit, it’ll be okay after the flour is added.
  3. Mix in the flour and baking powder so the mix becomes a thick paste. Now mix in the Daim chunks.
  4. Spread this mixture carefully over the top of the brownie batter, trying to get a thin, even layer over the whole tray.
  5. Pop the brookies in the oven for 20 minutes, until they’re evenly golden brown and still a little soft.
  6. Now cool then completely before removing them from the baking tray. Cut them up into the sized pieces you’d like and enjoy!
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Baking with Mum

Mother’s Day is fast approaching, but we know you’ve got it covered … haven’t you? If it’s still on your to-do list, don’t fret, we’ve got the perfect idea …

No, it’s not pearls…We want to take things back to the kitchen and get you baking with mum again! From desserts to main meals, as long as you’re doing it together, we’re happy. It doesn’t matter how old you are, we all did baking with mum when we were young, so why not rekindle the tradition?

This year, we’re bringing back the good old days and want to encourage you to get #BakingWithMum. Check out our range of bake-worthy gifts to get the pin rolling ;).

Salter Cook

The ultimate personalised cookbook, Salter Cook can cater to mum’s tastes. Vegan? Sweet tooth? She can simply collect a range of online recipes she likes and store them in the Salter Cook app – accessible at the tap of a button. That’s right, ANY online recipe, and it’s free! This clever app takes all the key information from the webpage and converts it in an easy-to-read, interactive recipe. She can even enter recipes manually to keep track of traditional favourites!

Connecting to the Bluetooth Recipe Scale and Thermometer this range introduces a smarter way of cooking, check out the video to get a feel for it:

Colour Weigh

Simple, stylish and strong spring to mind when using the Salter Disc Scales. Available in a range of colours, there’s a reason this nifty kitchen accessory is a Salter bestseller! Designed with ‘Add & Weigh’ and Aquatronic features, you can measure multiple ingredients in one bowl and even measure liquids! Save time on the washing-up and get accurate measurements from something that looks trendy on the kitchen surface. Make baking easy and fun with a Salter classic!

  

It’s a match!

A metallic kitchen scale is a must-have for the modern mum who needs an upgrade. Designed with a copper or black glass surface, this stylish scale is eye catching and matches a range of Salter pans and accessories – just in case mum want’s to kit our the whole kitchen ;). The smooth touch sensitive buttons make it a dream to clean, no corners or cracks for dirt to hide!

Retro

Last but not least, we have the Salter Vintage Retro Scale! Getting back to basics, this mechanical scale comes with a dishwasher-safe stainless steel (1.3 litre) bowl. Ideal for those that love the retro look and feelings of nostalgia it brings, you can measure in metric or imperial units fast and easy. This is perfect for the mum that prefers to measure ingredients the classic ‘weigh’. No batteries, no buttons, no hassle ;).

We’re also running a competition over on our Facebook page for the chance to win the Salter Cook range! Get #BakingWithMum to win your very own recipe scale and thermometer now!

 

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Stop being a Sloth: How to get Motivated

We love sloths. They’ve shot to fame since the internet fell in love with their strange long arms, cute little faces and ‘take it slow’ approach. Unfortunately, this post isn’t about those kind of sloths. We’re sorry if that’s why you’re here – please see “Cute Sloths Being Cute“.

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We’re talking about one of the Seven Deadly Sins, associated with feelings of laziness and a sluggish mindset: Slothfulness.

We’ve all felt the sloth from time to time, its long arms draped around your shoulders (metaphorical sloth, not cute sloth), dragging you down and telling you to neglect your responsibilities. After all, it’s so easy to give that project an extra day (or week) and put off that task for a while longer…

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But enough is enough!

It’s time to shake that attitude away and start the year with a sloth free mindset. Get motivated and reach your goals without letting that negativity get you down.

I know what you’re thinking, you’ve tried writing a to-do list, you’ve done the glass of lemon water in the morning, you’ve watched the motivational YouTube clips and decluttered your workspace – yet it’s still a struggle. Do not fear, whilst these things are helpful, motivation requires a change in mindset. It’s a tricky thing to get your head around and it won’t be easy, but it’s so worth it. Here are a few tips to help you make that change.

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Be positive
Yes, it sounds like a big first step, but it’s key. Most people procrastinate when they’re in a bad mood and entertain negative thoughts as opposed to positive. This mostly comes down to fear. It’s easy to explore worst case scenarios and worry about a task instead of getting started, but that’s where fear can keep you demotivated. Separate unknown worries and feel confident you can handle anything that gets in the way of your goal. Keep the glass half full.

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Reward yourself
There’s no use starting a project all at once, break it down into manageable tasks and tackle each one individually. Once you’ve completed a task, reward yourself for doing well (the reward can be anything you like). Studies have shown that after completing a demanding job, rewarding ourselves makes us feel energised. If you deprive yourself of reward, you may feel burnt-out and less likely to continue with your good work.

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Get in with the right crowd
Peer pressure. It’s bad right? Don’t do things you don’t want to, just to fit in. Agreed. But we’re talking about a healthy kind of peer pressure ;).
Research has indicated that the groups of people you associate with are a good predictor of the sort of person you’ll become. For example, if you’re socialising with friends that regularly give-up on endeavours and practice activities you’re trying to avoid, it’s only natural that you will adopt these behaviours. Start hanging out with the people who are self-motivated and their habits will rub off on you. Give it a go!

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This should be enough to get you started, it’ll take time and it won’t be easy, so good luck! But if you have other suggestions you’ve found useful yourself, we’d love to know!

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Sticking to “New Year, new you” ?

Firstly, we’d like to start off by stating that we don’t really support the whole “New year, New you” theme. It’s overdone, dated and not a very modern way of welcoming you into the New Year.

Basically, it’s tacky and we hate it.

This year, why not retain the same you, and focus more on certain goals you’re aiming to achieve? Don’t forget everything you practiced last year – just introduce some balance 😉 .

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Here are some top tips for helping you stick to those healthier lifestyle changes!

It’s just another day

New Year’s Day isn’t spectacularly different from any other day (well apart from that first day of the year malarkey), so technically deciding to make a resolution on this day isn’t different from any other day! Placing too much emphasis on making a big change can make it seem like a BIG commitment, and you’ll only be beating yourself up when you cave and eat that bar of chocolate you swore you wouldn’t have. Think of your resolution as a bit of a trial run and just see how it goes … no pressure.

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Don’t push yourself too hard

Decided to make several resolutions this year? We’ve all been there – heading to the gym to kick-start that new routine, then eating a salad for lunch because you’re trying to cut down on sugar and before you know it you’re dying to veg out in front of the telly with a bowl of popcorn. It’s great to set several goals for yourself this year, but if you try too much at once, if might be a shock to the system! Ease yourself into your new routine and take some time to treat yourself now and again ;).

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Be specific (with goals)

Telling yourself that you’ll “try a new activity” this year might be a little too vague. Try “This year I want to join a tennis club” or “This year I want to pass my grade 1 on piano”. Being specific with your goals will provide you with direction and make it simple to get to where you want to be.

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Get mindful

There are going to be moments this year where you feel like it’s all getting a bit much. 2017 couldn’t be a better time to give mindfulness a go. If you haven’t heard about it, it’s a great introduction to meditation and giving your mind a rest. Google it to get an idea 😉 .

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Get a buddy

If you’ve got a friend that also wants to make a change this year, pair up and work together! Having someone that understands what you’re aiming for makes that journey much easier. It’s also harder to get out of going to the gym if you’ve got somebody relying on you 😉 .

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Homemade Santa Sleigh Stocking Fillers!

🎵Sleigh bells ringgg, are you listening?🎵

Christmas is nearly here and those stockings won’t fill themselves 😉 . Your stocking gifts this year may feature satsumas, stationary, socks, gloves or possibly coal (if somebody’s not been playing by the rules this year).

But sweet treats will always make an appearance at Christmas and we’ve stumbled across a great, creative way of giving chocolates and sweets a Christmassy touch … DIY Santa sleighs!

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Simple and easy to do, these nifty, sweet treat creations make great stocking fillers or even small gifts for friends & family over the festive period.

Customise them with your giftee’s favourite sweets and chocolates and tie them together with some ribbon and name tags!

Top tips

Candy canes are perfect for the base

The stacked sweets might wobble a bit, so double sided sticky tape helps!

The more treats the better for a sleigh full of goodies

Stick Santa at the head of the sleigh to complete the look

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Choc-Chip Banana Cupcakes

Okay, so I LOVE banana cake. I can confidently say that choc chip banana loaf is my all-time favourite and these cupcakes are a really cute alternative! I wasn’t sure of the recipe at first because the cupcakes on their own are very sweet but with the dark, smooth, slightly bitter ganache on top, it balances out perfectly and they go down a treat.

Choc-Chip Banana Cupcakes
Choc-chip banana cupcakes
For the cupcakes
  1. 225g unsalted butter, softened
  2. 225g caster sugar
  3. 225g self-raising flour
  4. 4 eggs
  5. ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  6. 225g mashed ripe bananas
  7. 150g dark chocolate chips
For the ganache
  1. 300g dark chocolate, broken into small pieces
  2. 150ml double cream
For the cupcakes
  1. Preheat oven to 175°c /Gas mark 4 and put 18 paper (or silicon if that’s your jam) cupcake cases into cupcake or muffin tins.
  2. Put the butter, sugar, flour, eggs and nutmeg into a large mixing bowl and go at it with an electric mixer until it’s smooth. (That’ll probably take a minute or so but if you decide to go by hand, it might take a bit longer.)
  3. Stir in your mashed bananas until they’re well combined (it’ll make the mixture look a bit porridgy but don’t worry about that). Then stir in the chocolate chips.
  4. Spoon the batter into the cases and try to make them even. (If you’re going for professionally identical cupcakes, I’d suggest using an ice cream scoop or piping bag to make the amounts in each case super even.)
  5. Bake the cupcakes for 20-30 minutes, they should be a little risen and spongy but not gooey. Cool them in the tins for at least 5 minutes then transfer them to a cooling rack until they’re cold.
  6. [TIP] In the baking/cooling hiatus, it is always a good idea to have a clear up and prepare whatever frosting you are using
For the ganache
  1. Put your chocolate in a medium sized bowl then heat the cream in your smallest saucepan until its bubbling gently but don’t boil it. Once it’s hot, take it off the heat and pour it quickly over the chocolate pieces and stir quickly until the cream has melted all the chocolate and you’re left with smooth, silky heaven-in-a-bowl.
  2. Once the cupcakes are cool, spread your ganache on in whatever fashion you like: rustic-style or fancy piping. Take liberties with the decoration and make it your own but if you are in need of inspiration, you could place a banana chip on top or coat them in white choc-chips, totally up to you!
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About me

Hi,meg-2

I’m Megan – a British A-level student with a serious love of baking.

I’ve loved baking from a young age and still feel that there’s nothing better than whipping up a bake in my spare time to satisfy the sweet tooth of anyone around. If you’re craving cake, I’m your girl! Baking is a relaxing hobby, but there are times those dreaded kitchen catastrophes cause meltdowns and it just doesn’t go to plan. My hope for this blog is that I have all those disaster moments first, so you don’t have to! That way, baking can be your relaxing hobby.

In addition to plenty of home baking, my claim to fame is being the reigning champion of the Cakes vs Pies competition at Children in Need’s Carfest. I baked a 3-tier festival themed cake which was judged by Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry themselves! As y­­ou can see I was over the moon when I won …

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Mary Berry, myself and Chris Evans

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It was a great day, but getting that cake right was not plain sailing! In fact, at one point there was total cake collapse! But in true Bake Off style I picked myself up and got there in the end.

I will be posting recipes, tutorials, hints & tips – anything baking related that takes my fancy! Please feel free to comment and suggest ideas 🙂

I look forward to baking with you soon,

Megan

(Notes of Nutmeg)

P.S. Birthday cakes are a favourite of mine, so here are some of my Best Birthday Bakes!

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Christmas Gift Guide 2016

Christmas shopping can get a bit much when time’s ticking away and you’ve left it all last minute … not to fear, we’ve picked out some of our top Salter gifts this year to give you some ideas. Get a head start on the xmas rush and see what we have to offer!

For Him

Heston Blumenthal’s 5-in-1 Cooking Thermometer540hbsscr_1

A great gadget for the kitchen this year, Heston Blumenthal’s 5-in-1 thermometer is so jam-packed with features that you can use it for everything! Roasting, BBQ food, Deep frying, confectionery and manual timings make it a must-have. Designed with an “Intelligent Roasting” feature, this nifty device can measure oven temperature and food temperature to calculate the finish time of your dish! Great for helping Dad cook that Turkey to perfection.

£49.99, Heston’s 5-in-1 Digital Cooking Thermometer

For Her

Food stand mixerek2290_2_1_

Taking the cooking scene by storm this year, no kitchen is complete without a mixer. Featuring six speeds and a stainless steel bowl, this mixer includes a diecast beater, diecast dough hook and stainless steel whisk – perfect for general whipping, mixing and kneading tasks! The mixer has a tilt head design with a safety switch and a splash guard to prevent that cake mixture getting halfway across the kitchen ;). Whether it’s your mum, sister, partner or best friend, if they’re a keen baker, this food stand mixer could be the answer.

£149.99, Food Stand Mixer (600w)

Fave Stocking filler!

Milk Frother

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A slick little kitchen gizmo, this electronic frother whisks up the frothiest tasty milkshakes and cappuccinos! It’s also handy for whipping up light sauces in no time.  If you’ve got someone in mind that loves a tasty drink, this stainless steel utensil makes for a super stocking filler.

£9.99, Electronic Milk Frother

For the fit and healthy

Fruit and Veg Spiralizer

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On trend and a great way to get healthy eating into everyday meals, this spiralizer makes it simple to create curly noodles out of fruit and vegetables! The perfect Christmas gift this year for that family member that loves getting their 5 a day.

£29.99, Fruit and Vegetable Spiralizer

The Kitchen Superstar

Salter Cook

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Get connected with Salter cook, the innovative recipe app that lets you create and convert recipes straight from the web! The app is free to download and works brilliantly as a portable recipe book, but also connects to the Bluetooth Recipe Scale and thermometer to make cooking more interactive and fun. This is the perfect Christmas gift this year for those passionate about cooking.

Salter Cook app (free to download!)

£79.99, Cook Bluetooth Recipe Scale

£49.99, Cook Bluetooth Thermometer

Interested in other Christmas gifts we have on offer? Check out the full list here: http://www.salterhousewares.co.uk/christmas-gifts