A cupcake named perfection

This is the easiest and best recipe for chocolate cupcakes by far.

You can make an amazing impression on whoever you need to impress and they'll think you're a downright Queen of the kitchen. They don't need to know it only took you about 30mins and a good upper arm workout, that's only on need-to-know basis.

So. All you need is:

• 100 grams of chopped pure dark chocolate. I used 63% dark chocolate, but don't worry, it'll still taste damn good.
• 150 grams of caster sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 150 grams of butter
• A pinch of salt and
• 150 grams of flour

 

For the non edible goodies you need:

• A sauce pan
• A wooden spoon
• Cupcake linings
• Cupcake/muffin pan

No mixer?

Nope. No mixer. Saves you a lot of cleaning. All the mixing will be done by yourself!
Not as intense as a mixer, but there's no need for it! Plus, you can see it as an upper arm work out.
Saves you a trip to the gym and a guilty feeling over munching down all the cupcakes you're about to make. You can thank me later :-).

I know you won't believe me, but just try it.

Ok, here goes.

1. Let the butter melt over medium heat. As soon as all the butter is melted( before the bubbles come up) add the chocolate. Stir on a low heat until completely melted.
2. Take the pan off the stove and mix in the sugar, eggs and salt until completely resolved. As you go along you'll notice that it gets a bit harder to stir. Good, let those triceps work!
3. Now, lastly, you add the flour. Now it really gets tough. When completely resolved, you have finished your batter.
4. Divide in the cupcake linings And bake in about 15mins, or until a scewer comes out almost clean.

Almost? Yes, in this case almost. Don't you prefer hot chocolate cupcakes that are still a bit soft on the inside?

Let the cupcakes cool on a rack an decorate as desired.
There you have your perfection in a cup... Don't forget to share.

Jazz.

All grown up...

.. On a business trip! I feel so grown up and part of the "real world"!
Big whoop!!

As I have told you last time I got a promotion at work. One of the perks of me stepping up in the big career world is business trips. Yes, plural, tripS. First, I had to go to our office in Brussels to perform my "business magic". For 3 days.

So, last Monday my alarm made himself known at 5 in the morning. A time I only know exists when I come home from dancing and partying. It was hard. Really hard. But I guess miracles do exist because I actually made the 06.23 train without rushing. I could even spoil myself with a Venti caramal macchiato! Heaven in a big cup!
Once I was settled in my seat I finally turned into a n actual human being. How do normal people do this?! It's HARD! Luckily I have about an hour and a half to become my bubbly self again..

Because of the storm I was 1.5hrs late, so much for miracles happening because I had to rush anyway. With a trolley and a backpack and in heels.. Yeah, I'm really not cut out for trotting the Globe all by myself. I'd love to though! Still need a bit of practicing.. For all safety I just jumped in a cab at the station. Since I was already late and people were waiting for me, I didn't want to pull an Independent woman and taking the risk in getting lost..

I really had a great time at the office. Everbody was so nice ad sweet to me. The hotel booked for me was so pretty! I really felt lavishly spoilt. But of course I deserve it after all my hard work!;-)
Luckily I did not have to dine all by myself and I could eat together with a Dutch colleague based in the Belgian office. Fun, but it was even better when I got back to the hotel room and could just sit in the bath tub til the water got cold and I was a wrinkly old prune. Love it!

After a couple of days hard work it was time for me to head back home. The taxi driver didn't speak any English or French and my French isn't good enough to understand his fluent jibberjabber. Great.
So when we arrived at the station he told me something about 'ici' and 'police' and all I thought was 'what'?! After more persistent jibberjabber from his side (monsieur refused to speak any slower so I could perhaps understand him) I finally understood that he couldn't drop me off  at the usual taxi stand because there were police cars with their lights flashing. Ok. So he would stop in the middle of the freaking tram tracks so I could literally jump out, get my suitcase almost thrown at me and with a good catch I could be on my way... Awesome.. Always so polite, the French.

Anyway, I had some time to kill at the train station which, for me, means SHOPPING TIME! Of course, first of all real Belgian chocolate. I know I will get lynched if I don't bring back some to my near and dear so I dutifully started packin' some of the C-drugs. And not on the hips but in my suitcase, so I was cool with it:-). The train station has plenty of shops for me to lose track of time in, but I manage to contain myself and only buy diner for myself; some burger menu at -what is supposed to be- the Belgian equivalent of McDonalds. Only it's not. They didn't even pretend to pass their bacon off as real bacon. It really feels and tastes like fried pieces of tire. So that was an epic fail. Apart from the churros which were good comfort food.

So with half a tire-sandwich I hop on the train to get back home. Once there I feel like this overly excited puppy who needs to pee everywhere to mark his territory. Which I don't do, only drop my stuff everywhere I walk.

The hotel room was very pretty and the bed was very comfortable, but nothing beats my own bed...

As Dorothy puts it: There's no place like home.. Now I only have to get my own own pair of glittery red heels..


Jazz.

Out of order.

Ik ben weer op een heerlijke city trip geweest. Even lekker met de boot op en neer naar de UK. Naar Newcastle om precies te zijn. Blijkt dat het ge-wel-di-ge programma "Geordie Shore" in deze contreien wordt opgenomen! En als je over straat loopt, zie je een aantal dames die qua uiterlijk prima in de show passen..

Met moeders, zus, zwager en nichtjelief ben ik met de boot het Kanaal overgestoken om te gaan shoppen. Gewoon, omdat het kan!

Omdat mijn geliefde werkgever de kledingregels heeft aangescherpt heb ik dus nieuwe kleding nodig. Ja, echt nodig.

Persoonlijk vind ik mijn garderobe vrij versatile, maar het lukt mij niet meer zo gemakkelijk om om 06.30u een outfit in elkaar te fröbelen.

En gezien ik een beetje inspiratieloos word (ondanks geweldige apps als What to wear of the Netbook van Prêt a porter) is het weer tijd om de kledingkast te spekken. Dus: een paar daagjes op-en-neer met als buit schattige jurkjes en nog leukere t-shirts ( I only kiss superheroes. So you know.)!

Helemaal gelukkig keer ik weer huiswaarts.

Ik ben nog geen uur thuis en ik sta mijn tas al voor de volgende trip te pakken; Assen here we come!

Even een beetje achtergrond info: yours truly got a promotion!

Oh yeah! En daardoor hoort deze Yours truly tot 'het management' (uhuh!!) en mag zij mee op het gezellige teambuilding-weekend met dat management. Altijd leuk.

Dus ongeveer 12 uur nadat ik voet in mn mini-paleis heb gezet, trek ik alweer de deur achter mij dicht, rugtasje vol toiletartikelen. Gelukkig heeft een lieve collega mijn weekendtas de avond tevoren al opgehaald, want ik loop al redelijk op mijn tandvlees. Het zou een uitdaging zijn geweest om alles 's ochtends mee te slepen. 

How am I gonna survive?! 

Eerst maar even de eerste werkdag in nieuwe functie overleven. En daarna ruim drie uur in de auto. Genoeg tijd voor een goede powernap vind ik!

Eindelijk aangekomen op het prachtige Hof van Saksen (die receptie, <3!) mogen we ook nog gaan koken. En ik heb beloofd te helpen.. Oh ja. Even vergeten. Ach, ook leuk om midden in de nacht ook eens een goede maaltijd te nuttingen in plaats van de post-party-pizza slice..

Al met al een heel gezellig, alcohol infused weekend met de nodige leer-elkaar-kennen-gesprekken. Maar op de terugweg gaat mijn lichtje uit. Ik ben al niet het leukste gezelschap in de auto, ik kan namelijk overal en altijd slapen. En zodra wij in de file bij Utrecht terecht komen I'm done.

Dus zit/lig ik op de achterbank in m'n hoodie met mijn ever so charming sleepy face op(gelukkig kwijl ik niet!). Achteraf hoor je steevast dat je er dan zo schattig uitzag! Terwijl ik weet dat ik tijdens het slapen alleen verbaal schattig ben, verder is er helemaal niks schattigs aan mij! Even I know that, but thanks for the compliment.. it's... Sweet..

Na het geweldige weekend ( ik zat op zaterdagavond aan de melk. Vrijwillig. Maar het was wel leuk hoor), ben ik eindelijk thuis. Om de vissenkom te verschonen, op te ruimen en  drie wasjes te draaien. Want de volgende dag mag ik gewoon weer werken. Dat betekent dat ik een aantal collega's doodleuk acht dagen achter elkaar zie. Hartstikke gezellig, maar niet bij iedereen heb ik daar zo'n behoefte aan. En ik heb ook geen rust. Want het leven draait gewoon verder en ik heb -natuurlijk- geen rekening gehouden met afspraken die ik doordeweeks had gemaakt. Awesome..

Ik vind het ook weer lullig om af te zeggen, dus ga ik gezellig door. 

Dus wanneer ik kan chillen, neem ik het ervan!

So for me, couch & Comedy Central here I come!

Fijne avond toegewenst!

Jazz. 

I sin, you sin?

After a hard day of work I'm watching one of my favorite cooking shows and the theme of the day is "Seven deadly sins".

As usual my mind starts to wander (while keeping 1 eye on the TV for the beautiful dishes) and I try to remember all sins. Not doing a great job so I have to get a bit of help from Google.

Ah yes… and then my mind wanders off even more… I'm trying to remember how bad of a sinner I actually am.

Luckily I'm eating pretty healthy lately, motivated by some of my sweet colleagues. So I'm hoping I'm scoring a bit more points on the good side. Not too much, because there's no fun in being an absolute Saint.

Let's settle the score, here goes..

When I think of the Deadly sins, the first one that pops up is wrath.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

Yup. That's the sh** men should be really scared off. I would be if I were a man! I'm a woman myself (last time I checked) and I have to admit, women can be real b*tches. Including myself.
I used to be a real down right brat( big sister will be happy I finally admit it). Not the spoiled one, but the mean one. To me it really was an eye for an eye; remember the crayon/hair pulling story in kindergarten? Yeah. Must say that, that over the years, I've learned a think or 2 and that my wrath-level has gone from the "danger zone" to a little above average. No, I'm really not the sweet girl some people take me for, I still have that good ol' Caribbean temper in me. And I love it. It makes me, me! And I love being me! I'm not the crazy bitch anymore that will bust the windows out your car if you cross me, but I do know how to produce a good mean glance that will boast my exact thoughts to everyone in a five mile radius.

It’s kind of the same with food. Most people like their food just right, or a bit spicy, not bland or too seasoned.

Because of me being an ex-shopaholic, I can't say that I'm greedy. I don't mind spending money on anyone, as long as I'm spending money( can't really say I mind spending other people's money either). I love giving people presents or doing something special for someone, just to make them smile. Unfortunately, it has turned out several times that I like buying and giving more than keeping guard of my bank account, so I guess sometimes  being a bit greedy isn't so sinful after all.

"Whenever I start feeling spontaneous,
my bank account quietly reminds me to calm the f* down".

- Unanimous

But if my bank account was bigger, I'd be even less greedy so I blame my bank account if I have to be greedy..?

Although there's actually nothing wrong with occasionally having a gaping hole for a bank account ( but lots o' pretty thingies), of course it's not something I like to boast with. I think that's where my pride kicks in. This sin can go two ways: I'm not too proud or stubborn ( should really be made a sin too) to thank  or apologize to someone. Not at all actually, I really like complimenting someone or acknowledge that I am wrong and sorry for something. Of course, you understand that this last situation doesn't happen very often as I'm always right of course.

But.... I absolutely do not like to ask someone for help. I hate it. That is where I'm too proud. I don't want to bother people to get them to do stuff for me. So usually I try to do things myself until I find out I really need someone to help me. And even then it's a select group of people I tend to ask. Yup, big sinner here.

I think gluttony is also one of my bigger sins. I ❤ food. Period. I can talk all day about food, I just love it. Although, with gluttony a very, very obese man that's eating a whole stuffed pork with one hand pops to mind. Who has a shiny chin of all the grease and is lying on top of a pile of boiled potatoes. I'd very much like to think that that image doesn't match mine at all, but I do love food. Sushi, pizza, pastries, Caribbean food… do I need to continue? Nope. I prefer not to.
But, as mentioned before, I'm not eating all but bad food. Lately I'm motivated to eat some healthy food, like fruit and veggies ( when getting the best price at the market for them kinda feels like shopping!). So I'm cutting a bit down on the gluttony part. To match the non-eating part ( yes, it really feels like that), I go all out on the cooking shows. A substitute? No. A quick fix? Yes. Worth it? Totally.

 

On envy I can be quick. I do not sin. On that one. Period.
In the past I could have some trouble with missed opportunities which others did get. But now I'm all about "what's due, is due". So I get my fair share whenever it's time to receive it. Sounds really bla and blabla but serious dudes, why be jealous of someone else? You don't know their entire story and what they're missing for this chance. Things happen for a reason.
Oh, and getting jealous over material things? Hell no. Not worth my time.

Lust… Not gonna discuss that one with you guys. Let's just say that it's 50-50. :-)

And then there's number 7. Sloth. I seriously had to look up what it actually meant. Sloth? Oh… yeah, I know that synonym all too well: laziness. Yes, I am. Well, better said: Yes, I can be. It usually depends on my mood, but I can be easily distracted, especially when doing house hold chores and then I'm sucked onto my couch for whatever crappy marathon is on Comedy Central.
But at work, I do love a good healthy working pressure. Not too slow, keeps me busy. Since I'm working at least 40 hours a week I guess I'm a pretty goody-two-shoes in this case. Yay.

So that covers my track records on the Seven deadly sins, and I think it's really a 50-50 deal here. Works for me.

Jazz.

The end of days..

Ik ben ziek. 

En niet '3x-hoesten-ik-ga-dood' ziek, maar 'snotlappen-all-over-the-place-hot/cold-flashes(menopauze anyone?!)-thee-met-honing-en-limoen-tot-je-scheel-ziet' ziek. 

Nee, I don't do sick very well. Wie is er nou tijdens de laatste zomerdagen van het jaar ziek?!

En het nadeel is dat ik, dankzij mijn geweldige genen van vader's zijde, gemiddeld 6x per jaar verkouden ben en 2x per jaar ziek ben. Waardoor ik zo ongeveer het hele jaar wel wat heb.

I love my father, but this sucks!

Jarenlang ging het goed. Na mijn longontsteking op mijn 14e  ben ik zeker een aantal jaar niet ziek geweest. Tot mijn befaamde stage in de Caribbean. Omdat ik teveel in de airco zat. Go freaking figure. Ziek zijn opzich is al naar, maar verhoging hebben wanneer het buiten 35 graden is, is nog vervelender. Dan zijn ook echt alle ladylike-voorwaarden van de baan: 

- no heels, 

- no make up, 

- no dresses,

- no being cute. 

Gewoon in een tank top onder de dekens met mijn bril op, huissokken aan en mijn haar ergens op mijn hoofd bijeengebonden. Ik denk ook niet dat een rode loopneus, puffy red eyes met -zo heb ik mij door een dierbare vriend laten vertellen- "die donkere randjes, een beetje wallen", of een wc rol als snotlap very ladylike zijn.

Yes, I said it!

I am not really ladylike! En vooral niet wanneer ik ziek ben. Maar hey, ik denk dat zelf Mme. Chanel herself niet very ladylike was wanneer ze ziek was. 

So there! Suck it! 

Dan neem ik nog een Strepsil. Ik heb de afgelopen dagen een freaking jaarvoorraad aan Citrosan, thee, honing, citroen, honingdropjes en vieze, vieze Strepsils weggewerkt.

En elke afspraak heb ik moeten afzeggen: skate night, sushi, party, sushi, catching up with my cousin, sushi! Dammit! Ik ben al 4 hele dagen ziek en I don't do sick well. 

Had ik dat al gezegd? Pfff...

Maar…. Gelukkig ben ik niet iemand die alleen maar in een nare situatie blijft hangen. Na het verdiende geklaag en gemopper gaan we naar de oplossing toe werken. 

Dus: nog meer thee, kiwi's, verse hand geperste jus (ik moet echt een citruspers kopen), ook sap uit een pakje en genoeg sambal om een dode weer tot leven te wekken! Als ik daardoor niet beter wordt… It will be time to release my inner me! (Remember Super Jazz? She'll kick some ass) Maar daar wachten we nog even mee, eerst hopen dat dit werkt... 

Ik kan die stomme honing dropjes niet meer zien!

I like to behave in an extremely normal, wholesome manner for the most part in my daily life. 

Even if mentally I'm consumed with sick visions of violence, terror, sex and death.

- Courtney Love 

On the plus side heb ik nu wel genoeg tijd om aan mn blogs te werken en de Comedy Central marathon te volgen, recepten te googlen voor mn volgende bak-experiment, films te kijken en weer helemaal up to speed te raken met mn favo series. Altijd leuk, maar vaak meer iets voor de wintermaanden…

Okay, I definitely can't handle sick! 

Ik ga maar weer mijn bedje in met mn wc rol en mn gadgets waarop ik kan typen , bewegende beelden kijken en ook nog een bereikbaar kan zijn. Deze dagen ben ik achter een schermpje veeeeeel aangenamer!

Voor iedereen een fijn weekend!

Ik ga maar alle proppen papier opruimen en mijn smaakpapillen zoeken..

Jazz.

(deze blog is geschreven met een hoop dutjes tussendoor..)

Forever young

So. Today's the day.
The best day of all the 365 days. Queen's day.

My birthday!

YAY ME!

IT'S MY FREAKING BIRTHDAY!
HELL YEAH!

Today I turned twenty-something. Twenty-howmany?
None of your business. That's not a polite thing to ask a lady.

Let's just say I just turned 21. Again.

I'm a reminiscent kind of person, so with every mile stone I -involuntarily- think back of  the preceding year and everything that has happened.
Last year I had the most amazing birthday, that really lasted the entire day, from 9 AM til 3 the next morning. Awesome party, awesome people, awesome presents. What else could a girl ask for?

Well, for starters people who don't make a fool of me by throwing me a suprise party! It was really awesome, but I did feel like a complete idiot when I was texting my friend what time we'd meet up, when she was secretly waiting for my fabulous and unknowing entrance at my own party. Me, someone who pays attention to the puniest little details and who notices everything, had absolutely no freaking clue that she was being played. So good for your self esteem. I still thank the people responsible for it, it was just great.

The past year was quite a relaxed one. Not too much trouble or life changing experiences. Yes, I switched jobs. Big whoop.. 
Actually, the most challenging thing of the past year was coming to realize that I'm getting "older". My Dad told me this morning in the middle of the city centre "Now you're really getting old!". Yeah, thanks for that Dad...
There's nothing wrong with aging of course, but you're always so used to being "the young one" that it takes a while to process that there's already a new generation coming up. The music my 17 year old niece and 18 year old sister listen to, is unknown to me. 

"Oh, you don't know this song, Jazz? It's so old, 2 months at least!" 

I just heard it for the first time. Now I know what my parents must feel like when my sister and I are talking about the latest phones, gadgets and movies...
As long as I don't start to quote my mom ( I love you, but not just yet) I suppose it's all good.

Now I know that we won't stay forever young. Some people started with the "cute remarks" as: "Come age, come trouble." Come what age? I still do not - I repeat: I do NOT - need a walking aid and I do not have a single grey hair. Yet. Those comments hurt. I'm still not that old..

Old? Me?

Youth is like diamonds in the sun

And diamonds are forever

So many adventures couldn't happen today

So many songs we forgot to play

So many dreams are swinging out of the blue

We let them come true

- Alphaville, Forever young (1984)

I have had a good year, did nice things, met fun people and went to quite some concerts. And finally I got my fishies! It really took me one whole year of nagging, before I got them, but I do! Thank you mommy for understanding my "subtle" remarks.
I was thinking of naming them ( Christian, Louboutin, Adi, Das maybe..), but I think that's a bit too extreme.

So.... a year older.. what to do now?

I have no freaking clue! "They" say that it's all about settling down and growing up. No more fooling around or crazy stuff. Haha. Yeah. No.

I really enjoy my life as it is and, for the first time EVER, I can honestly say that I have absolutely nothing on my wish list this year. Nothing! I can honestly say that I am truly happy with what I've got and the people around me, including my fish!

I had a great start of my new life year last night at midnight and can't wait for the rest of the party tonight, and tomorrow and the rest of this year.

Forever young, I wanna be forever  young
Do you really want to  live forever? Forever and  ever

I wanna leave my footprints on the sands of time
Know there was something  that, and something that I left behind
When I leave this world, I'll leave no regrets,  to
Leave something to remember, so they won't  forget
I was here
I  lived, 
I loved
I was here
I did, 
I've done, everything that I  wanted
And it was more than I  thought it would be
I will leave my  mark so everyone will knowI was  here
I want to say I lived each  day, until I die
And know that I  meant something in, somebody's life
The hearts I have touched, will be the proof that I  leave
That I made a difference, and  this world will see
I was here 
I lived, I loved
I was hereI  did, 
I've done, everything that I wanted
And  it was more than I thought it would be
I  will leave my mark so everyone will know
I  was hereI lived, I loved
I was hereI did, 
I've done, everything that I wanted
And it was more than I thought it would be
I will leave my mark so  everyone will know
I was  here
I just want them to  know
That I gave my all, did my  best
Brought someone to  happiness
Left this world a little  better just because
I was  here
I was here
I lived, I loved
I  was here
I did, 
I've done,  everything that I wanted
And it was  more than I thought it would be
I  wanna leave my mark so everyone will know
I  was here. 
(I lived), I  lived
(I loved), I was here
(I did), I did
(I've done), I was here
(I  lived), I lived
(I loved), I  loved
I was here
(I did), I did(I've  done)
I was here
- Beyoncé, I was here, 4 (2001)

Jazz.

The life of me..

Age 0-2:

My birth. The moment that changed history.

Little chubby girl, not much to remember. Other than falling of the stairway and headed directly into the Christmas tree. Heads first. With the legs kicking out. Or so I'm told.

Made some lifetime friends.

Age 2 - 4:

My first parentless vacation. Walked around naked in my diapers all day, sipping water from my sippy cup. Uhuh. Good times.

Started the hardknock life of preschool: coloring, playing house and eating stale bread meant for the animals at the petting zoo.

Age 4 - 8:

My first pretend-wedding day: my first Holy Communion! BIG white dress(with a hoop in the hem), white shoes, lace-trimmed socks and of course a pretty little vail. Only things missing were the groom and my ring, but I'm sure to get them right at the actual wedding.

Having the best-ever kiddie party with a clown who painted my face like a princess.

Correction: who highlighted my princess-like accents. 

Got so pissed off at my stupid kindergarten classmate, that I yanked his hair. Why? Oh, just because he was using the yellow-crayon when I needed it. To finish my masterpiece of "The Witch". Now you still see where my tear burnt a hole in the paper. Because I got punished, I wasn't allowed to go and play outside. I was all alone with my yellow crayon...

Age - 8 - 12:

Were probably also awesome years. I just don't remember too much of them. 

Age 12 - 16:

High school. Yeah. No real need for elaboration. I was just your average skinny little, buck-teethed (thank Jesus for braces) girl with floppy clothes around her, like she had Anorexia. Which I did NOT have. Just a very speedy metabolism.

Had my very first boyfriend, make up and break up in this same time frame.

First experience with tequila ( thank you Sis). Can't say I didn't like it. Good remedy to get instant amnesia.

Age 16 - 18:

Community college. And puberty. Which I only suffered mildly from, no biggy.

Age 18 - 20:

6 months internship in the Caribbean. One word: AWESOMENESS!

University. Becoming an adult. Ugh...

Second boyfriend. 

Age 20 - 21:

Not much. Just passing classes, getting good grades, learning new languages and developing the awesome person that I am today.

Age 21 - 21:

Graduation of my Bachelor. Epic moment of course.

Birth of my niece. Another awesome moment.

Started in the real-life work of work 40 hrs a week and really living for the weekends.

Never would I realize how much I would miss my college years. Do like the pay though.

(Break up with boyfriend nr. 2. - Just a minor detail)

Living on my own for the very first time! Sheer awesomeness!

Started denying my real age.

No need to reveal my true age, it's not polite to ask a lady for her age! So don't!

Age 21 - and on:

Who knows what will happen?! Nobodoy knows. But I love everything that will happen! Already I have good stories my grandchildren! Now I only need to find the father of my children first...

Enough things to do to make my life even more epic. And (hopefully) enough time to do them!

So a little bucket list at age 21+:

- Win the lottery (and not the one where you win Ben & Jerry's pints)

- Go to the Maldives, or the Galapagos Islands

- Travel along Route 66

- Buy my own very first pair of Louboutins

- Go to Italy and eat a shitload of pasta

- Eat sushi in Tokyo
- Go to the largest library in the world!

- Becoming drunk, without the hangover the next day...

Just to name a few...

Most definitely to be continued..

Jazz.