Colour lovers: nude

Nude tones are everywhere right now, from fashion to beauty. Soft flesh-tone hues and earthy shades are considered neutrals and can be combined well with other colours. View here

Happy Easter!

Now is the time to try all these amazingly different eggs, from big ducks eggs which are brilliant for baking to the tiny quails eggs. And even the standard chicken eggs come in all kinds of colours, all natural and no dyeing involved. Happy Easter!

Paperwhite

I love these mini daffodils. They are commonly known as Paperwhite and have an intense fragrant smell that can fill a whole room.

Put a smile on my face

My mom sent me this picture and it put a smile on my face. Thanks!

Colour lovers: Wedgwood blue

This palette is based around the famous Wedgwood blue. View here

Lemon Meringue Tart

LEMON MERINGUE TART

For the pastry:
100g unsalted butter
50g sugar
1 egg
200g Flour
Pinch of salt

For the curd:
3-4 eggs
2-3 lemons (juice and zest)
150g sugar
50g unsalted butter

For the meringue:
2 egg whites
75g sugar

The recipe is for 6-8 mini tarts.
Heat oven to 200°C/Gas 5. In a mixer beat the butter until softened and add the sugar and continue until blended. Sift in the flour and add salt and mix just until it forms a ball. Don't overwork the pastry. Cover the dough ball with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 30 minutes. For the lemon curd whisk together the eggs, sugar, and lemon juice over a water bath until blended. Cook while whisking constantly for about 10 min until it thickens. Remove from heat and add lemon zest and the butter, into small pieces and whisk into the mixture until the butter has melted. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pastry and lay in the tart shells. Prick the bottom of the dough and blind bake for 5-7 min. Then fill with lemon curd and bake for another 5-7 min. Prepare the meringue by beating the egg whites with a mixer until foamy. When soft peaks form gradually add the sugar and continue to whip until stiff. Place dollops of the meringue over the hot lemon curd and return the tart to the oven and bake for about 5-7 min or until the meringue has nicely browned.

Exotic fruit

Colour lovers: turquoise and pale lime

Inspired by a look in Jean Paul Gaultier's Fall 2010 Ready-to-Wear collection: turquoise strappy wedges and leather gloves with pale lime tights, a grey wool skirt and a deep red sweater worn with a gunmetal skinny belt. View here

Apple streusel cake

This is a recipe from my grandmother that I just slightly changed. It works equally well with other fruit like rhubarb or cherries.

APPLE STREUSEL CAKE

Ingredients:
150ml Sunflower oil
125g Caster sugar
1 Pinch of salt
2-3 Eggs
200g Plain Flour
2 Tsp Baking powder
1 Lemon (juice and zest)
1 Tsp Ground cardamon
3-4 Apples
40g Unsalted butter
50g Flour
50g Sugar
1 Tbsp Vanilla sugar

Heat oven to 180°C/Gas 4. In a bowl mix oil, caster sugar and salt. Add the eggs and whisk together until fully blended and smooth. Sift flour with baking powder into the mixture. Add lemon juice and zest and the ground cardamon. Pour the mixture into a greased baking tin. Slice the apple and spread over the mixture. For the streusel mix butter, sugar, vanilla sugar and flour and sprinkle evenly over apples. Bake in the oven for 45 min.

Alice in Wonderland Interiors

With the 'Alice in Wonderland' version by director Tim Burton in cinemas since yesterday I wondered what modern day interiors show the spirit of Wonderland. Let's just fall down the rabbit hole once more to join Alice who returns to the magical world from her childhood adventure.

Stephanie Marin's LIVINGSTONES are made of 100% virgin wool

PLANT CUPS are designed by Gitta Gschwendtner and created in glazed earthenware

Thomas Leman creates unusual furniture that is curved, twisted, flawed and inspired by surrealist design

Canapé by artist Lila Jang

Inspired by the story of Alice in Wonderland Holly Palmer designed THE TEA CUP STOOL

PHAT KNITS is a series of giant threads by Dutch designer Bauke Knottnerus

FLOCKS is the brain child of Christien Meindertsma, who lives and works in Rotterdam