Coffee and pecan cupcakes

baking
Makes 10-12
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
115g (4oz) Flora Buttery
115g (4oz) caster sugar
2 eggs 
115g (4oz) self-raising flour, sifted
1-2 tsps coffee essence
25g (1oz) pecans, chopped
For the icing:
55g (2oz) Flora Buttery
225g (8oz) icing sugar, sifted
1 tsp coffee essence, plus a little milk
Whole pecan nuts, to decorate
Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/350°F/gas 4.
Place all the cupcake ingredients in a mixing bowl then beat for 1 to 2 minutes, until smooth and well combined. 
Place generous dessertspoons of the mixture in 10 to 12 paper cases or greased bun tins. 
Bake for about 20 minutes, until the cakes are soft and springy to touch. Then cool them on a wire tray. 
Mix the ingredients for the icing together then spread or pipe on to each cake. 

Recipe courtesy of The Sunday Express 
New Cake tins featured above are from my Spring 2014 collection. 
Available exclusively from Debenhams

Pear & granola muffins

This muffin recipe is great at any time of day, from breakfast through to afternoon tea. They are not too sweet so are perfect for anyone who is still working in their new year resolution to  be a bit healthier.

You'll need:
300g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
pinch of salt
125g muscovado sugar
250ml whole milk
2 medium eggs, beaten
100g butter, melted
2 small pears, peeled, cored and cut into small pieces
100g granola
To make:
Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas 4 and line a couple of muffin trays with paper cases.
Sift the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt into a large bowl, then stir in the sugar. Whisk the milk, eggs and butter together in a large jug, then pour into the dry ingredients and mix well, but not too much. Stir in the pears and half the granola.
Divide the batter between the muffin cases, and sprinkle the top of each one with the remaining granola.
Bake for 30 minutes, until a skewer inserted into the middle of the muffins comes out clean.
Leave to cool for 5 minutes, they are lovely warm or cold.

Spring 2014 collection

Ashley Thomas at home
My Spring Collection is looking fab in the new Debenhams catalogue, have you ordered your free copy yet? Bring the outdoors indoors with complementary floral prints and pretty patchwork for a fresh and chic look. Crochet trims matched with pretty, feminine florals and quirky insect motifs help create a vintage summer feel to any room.




New Spring 2014 Catalogue

Ashley Thomas at home
I'm so excited about the launch if the new Debenhams Spring 2014 catalogue, which is coming soon to a store near you. Here's a sneak preview of my Heirloom collection. This range is full of hand painted florals, mix and match patterns and cute animal shapes. Which will completely transform your kitchen and dining room!


Lime & Ginger Cheesecake

baking
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You'll need...

500g ginger biscuits, crushed
230g unsalted butter, melted
400g full fat soft cheese
350ml double cream
2 limes, juice & rind
100g icing sugar

To make...

Mix the biscuits with the melted butter and press into a cake tin
Chill in the refrigerator for about an hour.
Lightly whip the cream and then mix in the cream cheese and lime juice.
Add the lime zest and mix in thoroughly.
Add the icing sugar to taste
Spoon onto the biscuit base and spread evenly over the surface.
Chill in a refrigerator for 4 hours until firm. 

New Stockist-Liverpool

ashley thomas
I have a new stockist in Liverpool. 

Featured in the top 5 things to do in Liverpool! The Bluecoat gallery was a school once upon a time, but now it’s a hub for all the creative folk around Liverpool, and it provides food, independent shops, and some great music and art events.

Housing a myriad of crafted vintage fabrics, buttons, beads and bows Landbaby is the perfect haunt in which to find the ideal gift. Owner Claire Bates not only makes most of her stock but also selects work created by local designers, thus offering a variety of choice, quality and unique products.
Handmade jewellery and accessories, cushions and stools can all be perused while Claire sits crafting something exceptional by the entrance. Vintage patterns, rolls of fabric, bunting, hand-crafted oak stools, vintage crockery and other paraphernalia decorate the space inviting you in to a fascinating world of home craft, finished and unfinished articles and access to a world of workshops ranging in skill level and price.
- See more at: http://www.thebluecoat.org.uk/gallery/landbaby#sthash.E1wAEzwh.dpuf
Housing a myriad of crafted vintage fabrics, buttons, beads and bows Landbaby is the perfect haunt in which to find the ideal gift. Owner Claire Bates not only makes most of her stock but also selects work created by local designers, thus offering a variety of choice, quality and unique products.
Handmade jewellery and accessories, cushions and stools can all be perused while Claire sits crafting something exceptional by the entrance. Vintage patterns, rolls of fabric, bunting, hand-crafted oak stools, vintage crockery and other paraphernalia decorate the space inviting you in to a fascinating world of home craft, finished and unfinished articles and access to a world of workshops ranging in skill level and price.
- See more at: http://www.thebluecoat.org.uk/gallery/landbaby#sthash.E1wAEzwh.dpuf
Housing a myriad of crafted vintage fabrics, buttons, beads and bows Landbaby is the perfect haunt in which to find the ideal gift. Owner Claire Bates not only makes most of her stock but also selects work created by local designers, thus offering a variety of choice, quality and unique products.
Handmade jewellery and accessories, cushions and stools can all be perused while Claire sits crafting something exceptional by the entrance. Vintage patterns, rolls of fabric, bunting, hand-crafted oak stools, vintage crockery and other paraphernalia decorate the space inviting you in to a fascinating world of home craft, finished and unfinished articles and access to a world of workshops ranging in skill level and price.
- See more at: http://www.thebluecoat.org.uk/gallery/landbaby#sthash.E1wAEzwh.dpuf
Housing a myriad of crafted vintage fabrics, buttons, beads and bows Landbaby is the perfect haunt in which to find the ideal gift. Owner Claire Bates not only makes most of her stock but also selects work created by local designers, thus offering a variety of choice, quality and unique products.
Handmade jewellery and accessories, cushions and stools can all be perused while Claire sits crafting something exceptional by the entrance. Vintage patterns, rolls of fabric, bunting, hand-crafted oak stools, vintage crockery and other paraphernalia decorate the space inviting you in to a fascinating world of home craft, finished and unfinished articles and access to a world of workshops ranging in skill level and price.
- See more at: http://www.thebluecoat.org.uk/gallery/landbaby#sthash.E1wAEzwh.dpuf
 
Housing a myriad of crafted vintage fabrics, buttons, beads and bows Landbaby is the perfect haunt in which to find the ideal gift. Owner Claire Bates not only makes most of her stock but also selects work created by local designers, thus offering a variety of choice, quality and unique products.Handmade jewellery and accessories, cushions and stools can all be perused while Claire sits crafting something exceptional by the entrance. Vintage patterns, rolls of fabric, bunting, hand-crafted oak stools, vintage crockery and other paraphernalia decorate the space inviting you in to a fascinating world of home craft, finished and unfinished articles and access to a world of workshops ranging in skill level and price.

Find Landbaby on the School Lane side of the Courtyard, opposite R&J Porter.

Landbaby, The Bluecoat, School Lane, Liverpool, L1 3BX