Peanut butter and Jelly cupcakes!

This is a bit of a different recipe to try out, and can be a lot of fun to make! To make 24 cupcakes you’re going to need: 

250g self raising flour

250g caster sugar

1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate soda

270g softened unsalted butter

4 large eggs

100g peanut butter

2 tablespoons of whole milk

300g of raspberry jam 

To start off you’ll need to preheat your oven to 170 degrees, I know it’s very easy to overlook this step but don’t as it is so important! Then you need to sift the dry ingredients together, and add the butter, eggs, and peanut butter. Then you need to beat everything together for a minute or so! Once you’ve done that just add the milk and give everything another mix. Put the cupcakes in the oven for 20 minutes and once they’re ready leave them to cool!

    
Once your cakes are cool, you want to take an apple corer to take the middle of the cakes out. If you don’t have one you can use a toothpick and just twist it until you have a good size hole in the cakes! Pipe some jam into the middle of each cake! 

   
 Now onto the icing, for this you’ll need:

300g softened unsalted butter

120g peanut butter

540g icing sugar 

4 tablespoons of whole milk 

Beat the butter and peanut butter for 5 minutes until it has gone pale. Then add the icing sugar (sifted) in stages, mixing well between each. Add the milk and beat everything for a further 5 minutes. Ice the cakes in any way you want and then top each cake with a small amount of jam. 

   

 This is a relatively simple recipe that is a lot of fun to make!

The Perfect Cupcake Recipe

I thought I would share my cupcake recipe since I have received countless compliments on my cupcakes, and they’re ridiculously easy to make! 

First you’ll need all your ingredients:

– 225g caster sugar

– 225g self raising flour (seived)

– 225g stork

– 4 eggs

-1 teaspoon of vanilla essence 

-1 teaspoon of baking powder

Before you start always pre heat your oven to 180 degrees, it does make a big difference if you forget this step! Now there’s not really any special way to mix everything together, I pretty much just whack it all in the bowl and whisk it until it’s gone almost white in colour and everything looks well mixed! Be careful not to over whisk your cake mix as this can affect how light they are! 

For this recipe you can make 12 pretty massive cupcakes which I tend to do, or 18 regular cupcakes, so all you need to do is split the mixture up into cake cases and place into the oven for 18 minutes!

Once your cakes are ready you need to let them cool, and in the meantime you can make some buttercream icing! For this you need 

-150g of softened butter

-375g icing sugar

-Any food colouring of your choice!

First you need to beat the butter for 3 or 4 minutes which is a lot easier to do with a mixer, if you don’t have one it’s definitely a good workout! Then add the icing sugar in stages to avoid having it go everywhere, which has happened to me too many times. Once your icing is all mixed up, if you want to you can add any food colouring you want and you’re good to go!

Depending on what you have you can ice your cakes in any way. It’ll taste the same no matter what but this is where I love to get creative!

   
   
Some pretty cool examples of creative icing! I hope this recipe is useful to someone! 

The Ben Mclean Trophy

Over the past few months we have been organising a golf day for Ben. We decided on golf because a lot of the family, the boys especially spent most of their time with Ben on a golf course! I have to say I had no idea how much work an event like this takes, and I am so proud of my mum and dad for organising such an amazing day. 

We all agreed that throughout the day, any of Ben’s friends or family could take part in the competition and then those who don’t play could join us in evening. The turnout for the golf alone was incredible, with over 100 people playing over the course of the day!  

    
    
 
My dad and his horrendous trousers presenting the top 3 golfers with their awards, and all of beautiful trophies! 

At night we were joined with by an overwhelming number of people; it’s always lovely being reminded how well liked and respected Ben was by so many people. We had a band and it goes without saying that after a few drinks we were all singing/dancing our hearts out! It was so lovely to spend time with all of the people that cared about Ben, and to see both family and friends that we don’t get to see often. 

   
    
 
Some pictures from the dance floor!

As a family we decided to make the day a charity event, and we chose to donate to Action for M.E. as this would undoubtedly have been a cause close to Ben’s heart. One of the most incredible donations we received was from Paolo Nutini. Our whole family adore his music and when he heard we were having a night for Ben, he donated a signed guitar. We put the guitar up for a blind auction, along with a signed Celtic and rangers strip. (I really have no clue about football, but the buzz generated from these items was amazing!)

   
    
 
Ben’s golf day was massively successful. Not only were we given an opportunity to share stories about Ben but we all had a great day and we can now contribute to a cause that our family care about. Including donations, money made from the raffle and the blind aucfion, we were able to raise over £3000 which is incredible. So many people worked so hard to ensure everyone had an amazing day, and I am so grateful to be surrounded by such generous, kind and supportive people.

I hope that everyone who came had an amazing day, and I hope that next year is even more successful! 

Update

I can’t exactly justify not posting for over two months, and I hope to start getting into better blogging habits now that I am set in a fairly consistent routine! I thought I would get back into the swing of things with a bit of an update. 

Well first things first, I’ve missed blogging. Having my own place to talk freely was something I hugely enjoyed and not something I had intended to give up! During the summer I have made incredible progress in terms of my M.E. and I am so immensely proud of myself for how far I have come. For the first time in around 3/4 years (I’ve actually begun to lost count) I am back at school pretty much full time! I know for most people returning to school would perhaps be a bit of an anticlimax; a punishment for my hard work instead of a reward, but for me it is the opposite! I love learning, and I am so excited to finally have a chance to reach my full potential academically, without my health holding me back! 

The improvements in my health have changed my life dramatically, and I could not be happier about it. I am able to actually go out and see my friends without my body punishing me for it, and for a long time I never thought that would happen for me. I feel like things are finally falling into place for me after years of very hard work and I only wish my amazing brother was here to see it. I can honestly say without any doubt that I could never have made this progress without Ben cheering me on, his support was uplifting and he believed in me when I no longer believed in myself. It breaks my heart knowing that he isn’t here to feel the joy of seeing me back on my feet, but I promise you Ben, I couldn’t have done this without you.

 

Me and the most supportive boy in my life.

Other than being back at school, I also went to Belfast! Me, my mum, dad and younger sister Olivia had an amazing weekend seeing the sights and spending some time together. There is something truly bizarre about being on a plane for less than an hour, but I’d take that over a long flight any day of the week! We did the bus tour and I now think I’ll do the Glasgow one too, definitely a worthwhile day out! 

    
   
Some pictures from our weekend in Ireland, featuring some very rude men ruining the titanic photo!

Now obviously if I told you everything I have done in over two months I would be here forever, so I thought I would focus on the things that mean the most to me; my progress and my family. 

Hopefully you’ll hear from me more regularly from now on, I definitely have missed posting! 

T in the Park

It’s been way too long since I have posted on this. So I thought I would get back into things with a post about one of the most eventful weekends Scotland has to offer. T in the park!

I spent the weekend with some of the most amazing people, and I got to see some of my favourite bands. For me a personal highlight was at The Courteeners on Saturday night. Not only are they one of my favourite bands, but they are also so incredible live! The crowd were absolutely mental and Courteeners fans always make for the best atmosphere possible, seeing them live is truly always an amazing experience. Before The Courteeners were The Vaccines, The Proclaimers and The Libertines, so for me Saturday was by far the best night!

   
    
 
Excuse the horrendous quality of my photos, a muddy festival where phones go missing at an alarming rate isn’t really ideal for getting great photos! Especially when you have to pay to get your phone charged.

Over the weekend you definitely see some interesting sights, and there are some things that quite frankly, you can’t unsee. Despite this, the weekend is all about having the best possible time you can. If that means going out in the pouring rain and getting covered in mud to see a band that you love, then go do it! Getting to spend a full weekend with you’re favourite people seeing some of the biggest bands in the world is something I truly couldn’t pass up, and I would happily go again!

For me this year, the biggest downfall of this weekend was the wait for the buses on Monday morning. To say that was a long day would be a massive understatement, but nontheless we made the best of a mad situation and got through it still smiling!

I had an amazing weekend, despite the lack of sleep, the excessive amounts of alcohol and the pathetic attempts at staying clean, it truly was hilarious. On the bus home our throats were so hoarse that we could barely get out words, and some of us were unable to tell if we were really tanned or just really muddy, but it was worth it nontheless! 

   
    
    
    
   
Some of my favourite pictures from the weekend! I definitely got more selfies than pictures/videos of the acts as I felt more comfortable using my phone in the campsite as I was surrounded by people I know!

It’s safe to say that after a weekend in a tent, surrounded by people that apparently come alive at night, I am absolutely done in. I have never been so excited to see my bed and Monday night was the best sleep I have ever had! Plus the fact I could eat food that didn’t cost a fortune, have a shower at any time without a queue, and was no longer covered in mud were all amazing reasons to be back home! Suprisigly enough I also managed to arrive home with a better tan than what I got in Turkey! 

Turkey

I know I have just posted about summer and my holiday, but I am very much in the holiday mood as I pack for turkey so I thought why not share some more about this beautiful country!

I love going abroad, and I am lucky enough to go away at least 3 times every year which you would never be able to tell by looking at my ghostly complexion! When it comes to being in the heat, the last thing I want to do is lie out and sunbathe, it’s something I find incredibly boring and I believe that a tan is not wasting a whole day of your holiday!

Now I am excited to get away mostly for a break, having time to relax is important and giving yourself a few weeks to clear your head is in my opinion necessary! What better for the soul than a few weeks of good weather, good food and good company! I don’t have much planned for the time I am away other than just enjoying the company of my family and friends and having the best time possible!

   
             

Some family photos from Turkey. This is a place where I have many happy memories, and our holiday home in Turkey is a place that is a huge comfort to me!

Turkey has some of the most beautiful views I have ever seen, especially oludeniz beach which is known all over the world for being absolutely breathtaking! 

   
   

Some pictures from Oludeniz! 

I am so excited to get away, and for the weeks ahead including T in the park, and I hope to kickstart a happy, positive summer! 

Summer

Well Ladies and Gentlement, Summer is upon us. If you’re willing to overlook the Gail force winds and torrential rain that is…

In Scotland, the chances of decent weather in summer are minuscule, which means when we spot the sun peeking through the clouds we go absolutely mad for it. What could be considered freezing in some countries is thought of as tropical here and as soon as we hit double figures in our temperature then it’s surely time for bikinis, right? 

I have a lot planned this summer and I plan to make the most of it! In terms of my health this is the best I have been coping with my M.E. in years and I hope this will continue to improve! For me one of the best things happening this summer is that my friend Lynsey, who emigrated a few years ago is home for 3 months which is so exciting! 

The first thing I have planned for this summer is my holiday to Turkey with loads of family and friends which I cannot wait for. Turkey is breathtakingly beautiful and I am lucky enough to have a holiday home there, so it is a country I know very well!

Some pictures from Turkey;

   
       

After Turkey I have T in the Park which will be absolutely mental. Camping with my friends and seeing bands that I love is going to be an incredible experience. With The Libertines, Noel Gallagher, The Vaccines, The Proclaimers and many, many more, it’s bound to be a once in a life time experience (until I go back next year that is!)

Once I am back from T I’ll definitely need some recovery time! I plan to just spend time with my family and friends, here’s hoping we get some decent weather! Bbq’s are a summer essential in my family and any day without rain qualifies! 

I love summer and I hope you all have an amazing few months! 

Gigs

There is nothing more satisfying than being in a room packed with people, whom love the band in front of them as much as you do! From my experience, at a gig, everyone is your friend. There is no judgement, everyone simply accepts that the people they are surrounded with having something important in common with them. Their music taste!

Being in a room packed with so many people that you can barely move, having what you hope is a drink but is most likely pee thrown at you, and sweating more than you thought possible sounds like a truly awful experience. Yet when the band that you love comes out and you hear the music you adore, none of that matters! Singing along with everyone and anyone, jumping like a maniac and trying to get a halfway decent video without dropping your phone becomes the most important thing. 

Hearing a band you love play live is honestly indescribable. I have found myself in tears at many gigs simply overwhelmed by my love for a song or a band. I have met some amazing people at gigs and can always spot people out of the crowd that I recognise! 

If you are hesitant about seeing a band live because you’re scared the crowd may be rowdy, don’t be! If you want to be amongst the chaos (which I always am) then you can be, but if not, you’ll still have an amazing time if you stand back and simply listen to the music!

Here are some pictures from some gigs!  

   Biffy Clyro

 Jamie T

  Morrissey

  The Vaccines

  The Courteeners

  The Killers
 Miles Kane

There are just some of many and I know the quality isn’t all that great in some of them but these photos represent some of my favourite memories!! 

Quotes

Now as cheesy as quotes can be, they can also be very powerful. They can be used as a pick me up, for motivation, for reminding yourself of what matters! Finding good quotes to say to yourself when you’re struggling is something I find incredibly important. 

“Sometimes you never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory” – Dr. Suess

This quote means a lot to me. Not only is Dr. Suess responsible for mine and Bens all time favourite movie The Cat in the Hat, but it is also a reminder to treasure each moment. At times our good memories may be all we have, and it is so important to remember this! 

“Positive thoughts create positive energy”

This is something my mum has said to me for as long as I can remember. And as a result it is something I turn to very often. If you have a positive attitude towards something you are more likely to make the effort to succeed, which to me, makes this quote invaluable. 

“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” – Oscar Wilde 

To me, this is a reminder to make the most of each day. To seize every opportunity and to try and make the most of life. Take risks, and do as you please. Go after what you want and don’t let anything stand in your way.

“Where words fail, music speaks”

Music is one of the most important things to me. Quotes like this are a reminder that when you feel there are no words to help, a song you can relate to may just be what you need!

“Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.”

I believe this is something we all need to consider, myself included. This quote speaks for itself really. 

“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them”

This quote is something that I have found very helpful recently. Taking a step back from a situation to try and see it from a different perspective can be exactly what you need to do to begin the process of helping yourself.

These are some quotes I enjoy, please share any that are important to you! 

Baking

For a long time baking is something I attempted to do every so often. It is also something I would fail at every time I tried. Little did I know the importance of measuring out ingredients exactly, and sticking to the recipe. Once you realise that, baking is actually incredibly easy.

I started baking a lot more after losing Ben. It was something productive to fill my days with. Since then I have become better and better, I have actually impressed myself. I have now began to get orders, and it has become a way for me to make money whilst having a positive and productive distraction from whatever else I may be dealing with!

My favourite thing to make is actually brownies, probably because they are my favourite thing to eat. Despite this my specialty seems to have become cupcakes, as this is what people place the most orders for. Making cakes and decorating them to me is very therapeutic, it  is calming and easy to focus on 100%. Testing out different recipes over the past few months and making them so often that I now know them from memory has been hugely enjoyable. Mainly because it meant I got to sample each recipe for myself, but that is besides the point…

I recently made a facebook page for my cakes which you can find here:

http://www.facebook.com/megansbaking57

Now I know to many this probably seems like the most boring post in the world. Yet I will post it because this is something that has helped me to cope during an incredible difficult time, and I feel it is important for us to share our coping mechanisms, so as to help each other!