Every morning when I wake up, one of the first things I do is to check whether my site is accessible and not abducted by aliens. It has become second nature, a habit. Something that I have been doing for seven years as of yesterday. Did you see how I slipped that in? My seven year blogging milestone? I bet you did, you smart cookie! Nothing ever gets past you, does it?
It only seemed like yesterday when I wrote about six years of blogging. Now with one more year behind me, it is probably the second longest thing I have stuck with besides my marriage which gently nudged the twelve year milestone earlier this week. Just like last year, there is no fanfare but a quiet contentment. A little seed of a feeling that randomly blossoms and swells into a gigantic bubble of happiness with the knowledge that I have my blog, that I will never abandon it and that there will be no seven year itch. It is my place, a happy one.
Last year was quieter compared to previous years because believe it or not, I have now finally found my centre, my core, my mojo. (Yes, it is absolutely possible to wander around in the blogging world for a good few years before hitting the sweet spot of your soul.) Now I cook, write, style and shoot. And that is all I do. It completes me. So I won't give you numbers and best of lists because although they are vital to the everyday running of the blog, they are not a factor in why I write here and interact with you - all you lovely people who take a few minutes or even more to be a part of this world I have created. I hope it makes your day better (even if it is a little bit), I hope you find some inspiration or learn something totally random, I hope you see the honesty and the heart in my writing and my photos. Thank you for being there!
On this day, I wish I had a cake with seven candles. Although the mere thought feels a bit over the top, I would do it if I had the time. (Because hey, baking a cake for an inanimate thing or wearing leopard print pants (guilty!) is something you must do at least once in this short life.) Instead I made some cupcakes that were shot in the dying light and never saw the morning sun. I hope you make them, because they are really good and even if we don't have a candlelit soiree and talk about food and photography and props, I will feel like you were there munching away on these Lemon Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes.
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LEMON CHOCOLATE FUDGE CUPCAKES
Moist but incredibly light lemon cupcakes with a delectable dark chocolate fudge frosting are perfect to celebrate a special ocassion.
Makes - 12
Ingredients
for cupcakes
3/4 cup (180ml/6 fl oz) rice bran oil
2 eggs
grated rind of 1 lemon
juice of 1 lemon
3/4 cup (195g/ 6oz) smooth ricotta
1 cup (220g/7oz) caster sugar
2 (300g/ 9 1/2 oz) cups self raising flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
for fudge frosting
250g (8oz) dark couverture chocolate
1/2 cup (125ml/4 fl oz) pouring cream
70g (2 1/2 oz) butter
Method
to make the cupcakes
Preheat oven to 180C (350F). Line a 12 hole large muffin pan with cupcake liners.
Combine oil, eggs, lemon juice, lemon rind and caster sugar in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until pale and creamy for a few minutes. Add ricotta, flour and baking powder. Beat until well combined and smooth.
Spoon batter into each cupcake liner until 2/3rds full. Bake in pre-heated oven for 18 to 20 minutes until just cooked and golden on top. Remove from the oven and cool completely in the pan.
to make the frosting
Place chocolate, cream and butter in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Stir until melted, smooth and glossy. Remove and set aside to cool completely. Beat with electric beaters until thick and fluffy. Spread over cool/chilled cupcakes.
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Hi, I'd like to try this recipe as I love a dark choc and lemon combo but rice bran oil is not readily available where I live and I've also read that it's potentially carcinogenic. Could I substitute sunflower or corn oil instead?
Happy bloganniversary Sneh! Love your crazily creative place- definitely makes my day a lot more beautiful and I always leave feeling inspired!
Double congratulations to you! Love this blog. When my blog grows up it wants to be just like this blog 🙂
Your food styling and photography are amazing! Love your work so much! I'm still trying to figure out how to achieve the rustic look in my photos. Good work!
Your blog posts are so beautiful I pin them several times each!
Happy 7! You are doing a fantastic job, I love it here! xx
Your blog is absolutely stunning.
Can't get enough of your exquisite photo's.
Please keep going.
Food, creativity ,art -
and people like you who put it all together
what would we do without it?
Congratulations on 7 years, Sneh! What an amazing achievement. Just as important, though, is figuring out what you want to blog about and what makes you happy. I'm a newbie so I'm still very much feeling my way. But kudos on finding your sweet spot and doing what you do so well x
That's a big milestone Sneh! I don;t even have to say what a fabulous and inspiring job you've been doing. Congratulations and keep it up!
Hearty Congratulations for the wonderful 7 years and lots more to come!!!!!!!!!!
Congrats on 7 years and here's to many more beautiful and tasty ones to come!
That is some milestone! Congratulations! Sneh.. Here's to many many more eons of blogging.. Just keep the posts coming..Love your work!
Wow congrats on seven years of blogging! Funnily enough that's exactly what I do as well in the morning after four years - look out for those aliens....
Wow, congratulations on seven years of blogging! Your photos are wonderful and these cupcakes look absolutely delicious - love the idea of combining lemon and chocolate, two of my favourite ingredients.
Congratulations on seven years of blogging Sneh...keep it up and keep gong! Love all your work!
Your work is so inspirational and I totally can feel the pasion Sneh! Wish you lots more success and joy. Keep spreading the love (((hugs)))
That icing looks fantastic and it's no wonder you're so successful through all those years!
Congratulations on the seven years and to many more! You have an amazing blog.
Those cupcakes look delicious!
Seven years! It's hard to imagine, having just passed three years and feeling like even with that I've been around for a long time. I love hearing people who've been writing longer than I have reflect on their time - it gives me patience and perspective. Congratulations!
Congrats for 7 years!
Congrats Sneh on 7 years of blogging and 12 of marriage. Love the lemon fudge cupcakes, love your recipes, love your photos, love your blog. I wish you many more years of happy and contented blogging and marriage.
Kindest regards,
Robyn.
Congrats on 7 yrs of blogging and your anniversary! Sneh. I still don't remember how I found your blog....but I'm soooo glad I did...I'm hooked....the variety of recipes, excellent photography and beautiful writing pulls me to your space every time!
Happy, happy birthday. 7 years, what a milestone, and you don't have that itch yet. Please, don't ever scratch it if it appears, I want you here forever. Love this space in the blogosphere and personally, as a fellow type nerd, some of your round-ups are still my favorite even if you don't feature much anymore. 🙂 Thank you for all you do!
Happy 7th Anniversary! I cannot believe I have been reading your site for 5 years - when I discovered your lovely site! Time has certainly flown by, as it seems like only yesterday that we became internet friends. It has been so fun to watch you and the site grow, and I adore the direction it has gone!!! Well done my friend.
Congratulations on 7 years Sneh! It's practically forever in the blogging world! I always forget to celebrate my blog anniversary.
You can certainly see you've found your stride with your blog and your love and enjoyment shine through.
Congratulations on 7 incredible years Sneh! Your blog is so accomplished and your recipes and photos so incredibly inspiring. I only started reading your blog a couple of years ago so am tempted to go back and wade through all the archives...how fun!
Congrats on the seven years and to many more! You blog is amazing, so keep up with the wonderful work.
Those cupcakes look mouthwateringly delicious!
Cheers,
Rosa
Congrats on 7 years of blogging and mouth-watering photography!
Love the post and the humbleness in it 🙂 Congrats Sneh!
My first visit to your lovely blog was today! I found you on Pinterest. . your photos are absolutely beautiful! I am inspired! and again, congrats on 7 years. . even better, congrats on 12 years for your marriage. That is truly wonderful.
Lucky 7, Sneh.
Congrats, lovely!
Well, it seems like that 7 years has paid off, because you are bringin' it in the styling and shooting department madam. Bringin' it.
Gorgeous cupcakes, I'm loving the fudge! Congratulations on 7 years!
Congrats on the 7 years! Time to celebrate 🙂
Congratulations! On both the blog, and the anniversary! What a special time for you 🙂
To help celebrate, I would LOVE to eat one of these!! Hahaha.
Beautiful !!!
Congrats on the 7th anniversary of your blog and the 12th wedding anniversary!
Wishing you many many happy and beautiful years ahead. ..
Not only the pics are gorgeous but this is such a sweet and beautiful post. ..
Congrats Sneh! Well done on both counts, they are probably two of the most important things in life: perseverance (meant in the most positive way) and love. And your love for what you do is sure to earn you another 7 years of beautiful blogging experiences and more foodie goodness for us to see.
7 years! And 12 years of marriage! Your stats is impressive, you know. And the photography is mind blowing. Cheers to many more years of good food:-)
Oh my, seven years! What a clever cookie you are. Gorgeous cupcakes are the perfect way to celebrate. Happy blogiversary!
Congratulations. And thanks for sharing so many beautiful pictures and recipes.
I'm a huge fan.
Seven years?!?!?!?!? AMAZING! Seriously... congrats! I feel like I've known you for a long time through your gorgeous site... through your stories, your recipes, and your passion for food and photography.