Banana Chocolate Muffins

Heya,

It's cooking time or more precisely baking time. Yesterday, my son completed 6 months in this beautiful world and to celebrate his milestone, I decided to bake "Banana Chocolate muffins". Well honestly, I have baked muffins (the very basic and simple ones) before but with the combo of banana and chocolate is something new for me. I was suspicious if I could get the right amount of banana into the muffins :-/. If I would add more bananas the batter will become very dense and might not rise properly and if I add less then it would not give me the desired flavour. But I have to make and bake them, Hmmm! So here is the look before they went into the oven

And OMG! I made the perfect muffins. :-)

If you also want to try them out, then here is my recipe. 

Preparation time: 

35-40 minutes (for 12 Muffins)

Ingredients:

Self-raising flour: 2 cups

Sugar: 1/2 cup

Eggs: 2 (medium sized)

Bananas (ripened): 3 large (mashed)

Cooking oil (or butter or margarine): ca. 100 ml 

Milk: ca. 70 ml

Chocolate chips: ca. 1 cup

Method:

Pre-heat the oven to 180 °C. Mix self-raising flour and sugar in a bowl. Beat eggs, cooking oil, mashed bananas and milk together in a separate bowl. Gently whisk the two mixtures together and stir in 3/4 cups of chocolate chips. Line 12 muffin cups in a baking tray and spoon the mix equally to each cup about 3/4th full. Place the rest of the chocolate chips on top and bake for 20 minutes or until the batter doesn't stick to the toothpick (when pricked in the centre of the cupcake). Cool them on the wired rack and enjoy 12 awesomely delicious banana-chocolate muffins. :-)

Try this yummy treat yourself for any occasion or festivity.

For more delicacies and yummy recipes, stay tuned!

Till then....

Keep Smiling!

Essence Pure Skin Anti- Spot Toner & Powder

Hello beauties,

Hope you all are doing good and enjoying life :-)

Today I introduce you to my all time favourite toner (gesichtwasser) that fights pickel and spots on face. This one is from Essence Pure Skin range, namely, anti-spot toner & powder (anti-pickel gesichtwasser & puder) and costs 2.25 € for a 200 ml bottle at Rossmann.

The Essence pure skin anti-spot toner & powder is essentially a liquid like any other toner or cleansing liquid but has an anti-bacterial powder sitting at the bottom (see picture). Shake the bottle well before use and the powder gets miscible with the water. The powder in this facial toner efficiently absorbs excess oil from skin, thereby cleansing and mattifying the skin.  The CLEARDERM complex consisting of salicylic acid and allantoin aids in reducing pimples and any spots leading to them. It also helps to get rid of blackheads and evens out the skin.

For those who don't know about the above mentioned two main ingredients of the CLEARDERM complex, here's a quick information:

1) Salicyclic acid is common in topical anti-acne products because of its direct effect on skin cells. It causes cells of epidermis to shed easily, which opens the clogged pores and bacteria within are neutralised. It also constricts the pore size so that new cell growth is increased providing healthy skin.

2) Allantoin on the other hand has moisturising  and wound healing properties and soothes irritating skin

Application: I have a combination skin and I apply this toner all over your face daily after night time cleansing routine. using a cotton pad.  However, recommended is to use it every morning and night after cleansing routine.

Well, I have been using this product for about two weeks now and I could definitely feel the change in my skin texture. It is much smoother and even. It doesn't burn or irritate my skin at all and has a slight sweet smell. I don't get pimples that often and when I do get even a slight eruption , it easily fades off within a day. 

I am very satisfied with this product and recommend it whole-heartedly to everyone suffering from breakouts every now and then or with very oily skin. So far, it is the most efficient toner for me as my skin feels fresh and supple even the next morning. 

P.S. I do moisturise my skin after cleansing & toning routine. Moisturising is so very important ;-)

Do you have experience with this product or with similar product/s? Please do share your views :-)

Till next time.....

Have a good day!

Keep Smiling :-)

Essence Trend Edition: " 24h Hand Protection Balm - Cake Pops"

A big hello to all you beauties,

Today I would like to introduce you to the upcoming trend edition from essence focusing on our beautiful and dutiful hands. 

So here it is,

The new essence trend edition “24h hand protection balm – cake pops” is dedicated to the cute patisserie creations which are Small, round, colourful and absolutely delicious. Cake pops come in various shapes and sizes and are lovingly decorated with icing, sugar beads or sprinkles. And so does the new and beautifully designed hand-balms which are now available in the scrumptious cake pop fragrances vanilla & cinnamon, cherry & coconut as well as cookies & almond. Enriched with ingredients like Shea butter and coconut oil, these essence hand-balms provide dry, chapped hands with intensive moisture and leave your hands feeling wonderfully soft.  The 24-hour formula is absorbed super-fast and won’t leave an oily film behind on your skin. 

Pampering and a lovely fragrance for your hands… with Essence!

essence 24h hand protection balm –

vanilla & cinnamon

The aromatic mixture of vanilla & cinnamon combined with the tried-and -tested 24 h formula ensures long-lasting protection. This dessert dream is simply irresistible and is an absolute must-have this season. 

essence 24h hand protection balm –

cherry & coconut

This hand cream creation is a real fragrance sensation. Fruity cherry and exotic coconut unites as an absolute dream team! And nourishing care doesn’t fall short either :-) This fruity flavour optimally replenishes your hands with plenty of moisture, even at low winter temperatures.

essence 24h hand protection balm –

cookies & almond

The combination of a delicious cookie and bittersweet almond scent is irresistible and provides an absolute fragrance experience whenever you apply the balm. With this pastry party, say "Goodbye" to chapped hands!

Essence “24h hand protection balm – cake pops” will be available in stores from October to December 2014. Recommended price : 1.99€ each

WOW! What a fragrant and flavourful collection of hand-balms. These hand-balms are just tailor made for me as I loooovvvveeee the goodness of Shea butter. And of course, the coconut oil is my typical (indian) home remedy to combat dryness.

My countdown for october has started :-D

And yours???

Do write me in if these hand-balms attends to your expectation!

Till next time

Keep Smiling :-)