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a cup of tea and cake

a cup of tea and cake

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acupofteaandcake

🍊 GRANDMA’S SEVILLE ORANGE MARMALADE My Gra

🍊 GRANDMA’S SEVILLE ORANGE MARMALADE

My Grandma was known for her annual Seville marmalade-making extravaganzas, and this recipe has been a firm favourite on my site for a number of years now.

It’s had a bit of a glow-up since it went live in 2020 so if you’re not making Seville orange marmalade right now, you’d better have a pretty good excuse! 😂

My blog includes:
🧡 The golden rules for marmalade making – including tips on fruit, kit and the process
🧡 The three tests to determine when your marmalade has reached setting point
🧡 A breakdown of ingredients and why they’re so important

Head to the link in my bio @acupofteaandcake and add this to your recipe list for the weekend 😘

#acupofteaandcake #sevilleorangemarmalade

Shooting for clients is TOTALLY different to shoot

Just because someone has more followers than you,

Just because someone has more followers than you, just because they have more likes on their photos, just because they look like they’re crushing it and know more than you, doesn’t mean YOU can’t reach your goals, you can’t fulfil your FULL potential and create work that you love from the HEART ❤️

Stop focusing on everyone and everything else. And focus on YOU! Your MAGIC ✨ Your UNIQUENESS 💛 Your TALENTS 🙏🏼 Sometimes, especially as women, we can let comparison get the better of us and that ends up holding us back. It prevents us from putting work into the world, and sharing our creativity. It has us thinking we’re less than when we are ALL EQUAL. We’ve just been on different journeys. Growth is an everlasting process that never ends. We grow our entire lives!

Just sending out some real talk to anyone who needs it right now because imposter syndrome and “comparisonitis” has been something I’ve struggled with in the past. But I promise you, as you let go and you focus on YOUR path, that’s where the real energy comes from. It’s where individual creativity blooms and when great things really happen.

And in case you’re fearing putting yourself out there:
“If it scares you, it might be a good thing to try.” @sethgodin

A selection of the images I submitted to @foodphotoaward this year 🥰 and the outcome of being in my personal creative zone 💥

#acupofteaandcake

Does procrastination get the better of you? 🙈

Does procrastination get the better of you? 🙈

I meant to post this yesterday but the decision paralysis was reeeeal! You see, I had two photos (including this one) that I really loved and couldn’t work out which one to post for @thelittleplantation’s #EatCaptureShare challenge 😬 so I 5-4-3-2-1’d it (Mel Robbins style) and here it is – a day late, but nonetheless submitted 😂

‘Tutti Frutti’

I love the S shape in this shot, the human element and movement, the combination of warm tones to make the scene inviting and nostalgic, and the texture from the backdrops, props and subject 🧡🍊 If you haven’t made fresh orange juice yet, what are you doing?! 😜

#acupofteaandcake #ECSgrowth

AD 🍊 I’m kinda obsessed with this… ✨ 4

AD 🍊 I’m kinda obsessed with this…

✨ 4 ingredients only
✨ No eggs
✨ Vibrant and delicious
✨ Uses @carnation_uk Light Condensed Milk for that velvety texture
✨ Stores and keeps well

This beautiful eggless St Clement’s Cake created in partnership with @carnation_uk is the perfect pick me up for January days. It’s so easy to make and tastes light, delicate and divine! 🧡

You can find the full recipe on Nestlé Carnation’s site when you search ‘St Clements Cake’ 😘

#Nestlé #NestléCarnation #CarnationCreations

AD 💛 Are you busy all the time? Just because

AD 💛 Are you busy all the time?

Just because it’s January and we’re back in the swing of things, doesn’t mean you can’t take time to ease yourself in, take care of yourself and do things to make you feel calmer in your day 🙏🏼

Taking time to make a nourishing, warm and hearty breakfast to nurture the soul is something I always make sure of in the mornings. And these Maple Banana Baked Oats are what I’ve had on repeat these last few weeks. I personally love this recipe because:

🍁 It’s got the most beautiful texture
🍁 Make it in 5, bake it in 25 - giving you enough time to shower and get ready while it bakes!
🍁 It’s an exciting alternative to porridge at this time of year

Find the full recipe in partnership with the incredible @maplecanadauk linked in my bio @acupofteaandcake 🍫🍌❤️

#MapleSyrup #MapleFromCanada #MapleFromCanadaUK #CanadianMapleSyrup

What makes a really good food photo?👇🏼 Ther

What makes a really good food photo?👇🏼

There are lots of things that truly bring a photo to life and while creativity is one thing, you also need to PLAN to make any shoot a success.

COLOUR THEORY
Using the colour wheel to combine colour to tell our food story is so important. This evokes the mood and all the ‘feels’ the viewer should get from your image.

ANGLES
When shooting your dish, think about the angle that’ll be most flattering or most natural in depicting your story. What features do you want to highlight?

LIGHTING
Whether you’re using natural or artificial light, choosing which direction your light comes from. I personally love side light, especially for table scenes but backlighting and something in between is also beautiful.

COMPOSITION
Always compose first, then plate up! Triangles, lines, ‘S’ shapes and ‘C’ curves are common as are diamond shapes, symmetry and using negative space! We can take so much from geometry like Fibonacci’s spiral and the rule of thirds too – used for centuries by artists like Salvador Dali, Le Corbusier, and Leonardo da Vinci.

STYLING
My question is: does this make me want to EAT it?? Our viewer can’t physically taste our dish so you need your visuals to do all the talking. Use smaller bowls and plates to make the food appear bigger, make it look natural (crumbs, water droplets etc) and give your star room to breathe. Texture and layering is also huge in creating the perfect shot.

JOY
Creating from a place of love and joy will make your images SHINE!

When you sign up to my newsletter, you get access to my Food Photography VIP page which has an epic freebie all about how to plan a shoot! Hit the link in my bio @acupofteaandcake to subscribe 💌

#acupofteaandcake #foodphotographytips

AD ❤️ Who’s fed up of the dark days already?

AD ❤️ Who’s fed up of the dark days already?? 🙋🏼‍♀️

If you’re counting down the days until we get lighter mornings and evening again, and need something to pep you up in the interim, these s’mores slices are DIVINE! 🍫

Created in partnership with #Nestle @carnation_uk, these slices are layered with:

🧈 A delicious buttery biscuit base
🍫 A velvety chocolate filling made with @carnation_uk Light Condensed Milk
☁️ And mini toasted marshmallows!

Who needs these to get them through these winter days? (Can confirm that I definitely do 😅) Head to the Nestlé Carnation website and search “s’mores slice” 😚

#Nestle #NestleCarnation #CarnationCreations

Want to know my no.1 composition and styling techn

Want to know my no.1 composition and styling technique? 👀

I call it “the beautiful mess” 😂 but honestly, it’s one of my favourite techniques for getting that perfectly imperfect look – as if you’ve just reached into the photo and eaten a slice. Effortless, natural, BEAUTIFUL 🥰

Also it’s orange season and I 👏🏼 am 👏🏼 here 👏🏼 for it!! 🍊 This is one of my favourite ever loaves – Orange, Olive Oil & Thyme. And I would highly recommend adding it to your baking list in January. Search ‘orange loaf’ on my site!

What’s your favourite way to style? Do you find creating that natural, styled but slightly messy look, hard? LMK in the comments below! 💛 Happy Friday!

#acupofteaandcake #beautifulcuisines

Anyone else just about coming out of hibernation m

Anyone else just about coming out of hibernation mode? 🙋🏼‍♀️

But seriously, wishing you all a very Happy New Year! 💫 I hope it’s kicked off in a way that feels good to YOU!

I always choose a word of the year and get super specific on what I want to achieve – because having goals and ambitions (for me anyway) means I stay truly committed and means I know which direction I’m travelling in, even if we take a few detours on the way 💪🏼 It also sets you up for success. Small, sustainable steps = big milestones over time ✨

So, my word of 2023 is THRIVE 💥 I’m eager to thrive without self-doubt, and make decisions that propel me forward and allow me to flourish as a photographer and content creator. I also am excited to see YOU thrive and chase some of your big dreams 💕 and I want to help you get there.

That’s why I’m launching a NEW comprehensive goal setting worksheet next week that will help you get crystal clear on what YOU want to achieve without the overwhelm. It covers:

💫 Choosing your goals
💫 Understanding milestones
💫 Identifying your needle-movers
💫 Planning + scheduling
💫 Quarterly reviews
and maybe the most important…
💫The power of self-trust and belief

Hit the link in my bio @acupofteaandcake and sign up to my waitlist to be first to know when it launches!

P.S. If you’re brave enough to share your dreams, aspirations, word of the year drop a comment below. I LOVE LOVE reading your goals and cheering you on from the sideline.

P.P.S. This pink grapefruit and Clementine cake can be found on my site. Simply search ‘clementine’ 🍊

#acupofteaandcake #goalsettingtips

“Bravery is the audacity to be unhindered by fai

“Bravery is the audacity to be unhindered by failures and to walk with freedom, strength and hope in the face of things unknown.” @morganharpernichols

It’s not until you stop and have the breathing space to recognise where you’re at, that you realise how far you’ve come. My word for 2022 was BRAVE. And 2022 became the year that completely changed my life 🙏🏼 I took the leap and took my business full time because no risk = no magic.

A massive thank you to all my wonderful clients who trusted me with bringing their food stories to life and worked with me in 2022. I’m entirely grateful for you and feel honoured to have worked with almost ALL of my dream clients who featured on my vision board at the start of the year 💫

And thanks to everyone who follows me, likes, comments, sends me DMs and cheers me on from the side lines. I see you and am so appreciative of all the support 🙏🏼💛 I absolutely love being part of a community of creatives and other inspiring photographers, stylists and other creative business owners (there are too many to name!!) 📸

And to anyone who has big dreams but is letting fear hold them back, be BRAVE. Here’s to stepping into 2023. You are far more capable than you give yourself credit for ✨

#acupofteaandcake

AD ☁️ What’s better than a cookie? A FUNFETT

AD ☁️ What’s better than a cookie? A FUNFETTI COOKIE 🥳

Get the NY celebrations flowing with these irresistible funfetti sandwich cookies! These classic sugar cookies are crammed with the brightest, most fun sprinkles and sandwiched with @epicsnax’s Giant Toastin’ Marshmallow for the most incredible gooey, melty centre.

Head to @ocadouk @waitrose and @sainsburys to grab a bag and make your own at home ready to chime in 2023 💕 You can make them from start to finish in less than an hour! The full recipe is linked in my bio @acupofteaandcake 😘

#EpicSnax #MakeItEpic

AD 🎄 The most EPIC smorgasbord has just landed…

Whether you’re enjoying a festive feast for two, or catering for the whole family, this incredible smorgasbord features a s’mores dip made with @epicsnax’s EXPLODING Giant Toastin’ Marshmallows and a side of their NEW Meltin’ Chocolates, which are perfect for dipping as the ultimate festive fondue 🏕️

Simply add the following to create your own luxurious board:

🥨 Salty pretzels
🍿 Popcorn of choice
🍒 Fresh fruit like cherries, strawberries or banana
🍪 Cookies, biscuits or bites
🍫 Chocolates
🎄 Christmas leftovers like panettone, mini mince pies and Christmas cake

To make the s’mores dip:
1. Break up a few biscuits and chunks of chocolate and add them to a skillet.
2. Top with @epicsnax’s Giant Toastin’ Marshmallows and bake for 10mins at 180C.

@epicsnax’s NEW Meltin’ Chocolates will be launching in the new year, but in the meantime you can pick up a bag of their Giant Toastin’ Marshmallows before Christmas from @ocadouk @waitrose and @sainsburys ✨ Happy feasting!

#EpicSnax #MakeItEpic

AD 💕 Hands up if you need a hot choc to start y

AD 💕 Hands up if you need a hot choc to start your week? 🙋🏼‍♀️

This delicious hot chocolate is made with @epicsnax’s ✨ NEW ✨ Jaffa Cake flavour melting chocolates which are launching in the new year and are topped with a delicious swirl of whipped cream and ofc, an EPIC GIANT toastin’ marshmallow! Remember to bookmark this post and save the recipe for later 😘

{Serves 2}

FOR THE HOT CHOC:
100g @epicsnax NEW Jaffa Cake Meltin’ Chocolate Flavour Swirls
50g 70% dark chocolate, chopped
400ml whole milk

TO TOP:
250ml double cream, whipped with 1tsp vanilla bean paste and 1 tbsp caster sugar
A few of @epicsnax’s Giant Toastin’ Marshmallows
Extra sprinkle of @epicsnax’s Meltin’ Chocolate Swirls

METHOD:
1. Pour the milk and chocolates into a saucepan and gently bring to a simmer, whisking until smooth and frothy.
2. Divide between your mugs and toast your marshmallows using a blowtorch. You can also attach them to a skewer and char them over the hob.
3. Top your hot chocolate with the whipped cream, toasted marshmallows and an extra sprinkling of the Meltin’ Chocolate Swirls.

Grab a pack of @epicsnax’s Giant Toastin’ Marshmallows from @ocadouk @waitrose and @sainsburys for the ULTIMATE hot choc this Christmas season!

#EpicSnax #MakeItEpic

AD ❄️ Dreaming of log fires? Fluffy socks? Toa

AD ❄️ Dreaming of log fires? Fluffy socks? Toasted marshmallows? I gotchuuu!

It’s easier than you think to make your own homemade marshmallows and this maple version made with 100% Pure Canadian Golden Maple Syrup and Maple Sugar are irresistible this winter 🌨️

Perfect for:
🔥 Gifting at Christmas
🔥 Adding to homemade s’mores kits
🔥 Enjoying in your morning coffee, cocoa or chai
🔥 Toasting over the fire
🔥 Making s’mores inspired cookies

Head to the link in my bio @acupofteaandcake for the full recipe, along with all the equipment you’ll need, and a full “how to” for making them 😘

#MapleFromCanada #MapleFromCanadaUK #MapleSyrup #PureCanadianMapleSyrup #CanadianMapleSyrup

My FREE festive Cookie Guide Gemütlich is back!!

My FREE festive Cookie Guide Gemütlich is back!!

For 2 weeks only, when you subscribe to my newsletter via the link in my bio, you’ll receive my free e-booklet filled with five festive German cookie recipes for a cosy and comforting Christmas ❤️

It includes recipes for:
💫 The prettiest Stollen Bites
⭐️ Decorative Zimtsterne
🌙 Buttery Vanillekipferl
💛 Chewy Lebkuchen
🟡 Browned Butter Heidesand
+ a HOW TO for making your own cookie box

Head to the link in my bio @acupofteaandcake between now and 26th December to get your copy 😘 Frohes Backen!

#acupofteaandcake #christmascookieguide

My Food Photography Gear Guide is here 📸 It co

My Food Photography Gear Guide is here 📸

It covers:
✔️ FREE Guide to taking stunning photos of food with your phone
✔️ The Essentials
✔️ Camera + Lenses
✔️ Tripods
✔️ Modifiers + Artificial Lighting
✔️ Editing + Software
✔️ Tethering
✔️ Props + Backdrops
✔️ My food styling kit
✔️ Helpful resources + courses

Head to the link in my bio @acupofteaandcake for the full post, up on my site now! I hope it inspires you to take your food photography to the next level 💥 LMK what you think in the comments and if you want a guide purely for beginners ❤️

#acupofteaandcake #foodphotographygearguide

If I could have one thing for Christmas… It wo

If I could have one thing for Christmas…

It would be these blueberry custard brioche 💙 These are actually a recipe from @gailsbakery cookbook and they’re my go-to with a coffee for breakfast. The last few months I’ve been creating loads for clients to bring their wonderful visions to life, but picking up the camera purely for ME was few and far between.

So I made these buns purely to shoot something for myself, and remind you that action = momentum. Whenever you’re in a creative rut or feel you need some inspiration, creating something for the pure joy and taking specific action helps to inspire and break through that barrier.

So I really hope these little blueberry custard brioche buns bring YOU joy ✨ What action are you taking this week??

#acupofteaandcake #gailsbakery

AD ❤️ Psst! Chocolate lovers! I’ve got somet

AD ❤️ Psst! Chocolate lovers! I’ve got something for you 😘

The most UNREAL chocolate tart has just landed on my site, made with my absolute favourite chocolate 🥰

Think buttery shortcrust pastry base, filled with velvety @menierchoc 70% dark chocolate and mascarpone filling, then topped with a coffee cream and a generous dusting of Menier’s 100% Cocoa Powder 🌨

You can make this tart ahead of time, which makes it a delicious dessert for those beautiful family gatherings over the festive period 🍫

Make Christmas luxurious with @menierchoc, available from @ocadouk @sainsburys @waitrose and @boothscountry 🎄 Full recipe, tips and tricks can be found on my site - linked in my bio @acupofteaandcake 🥰

#BakingWithMenier

Are you like me? When it comes to baking over the

Are you like me?

When it comes to baking over the festive season, I like to be as prepared as possible – prepping certain bakes in advance so there’s less to do when it comes to serving!

This festive chocolate cake is still one of my faves and can be made up to 48hrs ahead of time. It’s springy chocolate sponge layers are filled with an eggnog custard cream, and then it’s finished with a velvety chocolate ganache glaze.

Find the full recipe linked in my bio @acupofteaandcake if you’re after a decadent festive dessert that will have people coming back for more 😉

Content created last year for the incredible @talacooking ❤️

#acupofteaandcake

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© 2023 A food blog, styling + photography by Charlotte Avent