top ten pictures from the week ~ 3 August 11

I've come to love the top ten

seen on belle maison

not just because it's a repository of pictures that take my fancy

seen on decorology

filed away where I can find them...a bit like my very own pinterest

seen on tiny white daisies tumblr

but I also get to tell you

seen on the design files; photographer paul barbera

in just a few lines

seen on pretty space tumblr

about some of the important things in my life

seen on design sponge

tucked in here among the pretty images of gorgeous homes and gardens.

seen on decorology

Like how this week I entered my very first short story writing competition

seen on bazaar of serendipity

I don't mind telling you...

seen on a perfect gray
I'm a little bit pleased with myself 

seen on greige

and I don't give a toss if it wins or not 

seen on dustjacket attic; photography by stefano corso

because my very clever and extremely well read children both love it. 

 And that's prize enough for me :)

Gilly's Brownies

My niece, Gilly, is only 11 years old and she can bake already a lot of goodies.  She even attended a Junior Masterchef class at Crowne Plaza.



She wants to enroll in another Masterchef baking class but the minimum age is 16 years old.

Her brownies recipe is so easy to follow and no need to use an electric mixer!  I know she got it from the Assumption cookbook.  Tita Portia asked me to bake for her photo shoot session tomorrow.  Instead of the usual square or rectangular baking pan, I experimented today and used the non-stick mini muffin pan, just like the brownies you can buy from S and R.

Gilly's Brownies



1 C. butter compound (Golden Crown)
3/4 C. Bensdorp cocoa powder (Cook's Exchange, Rockwell)
2 C. sugar
4 eggs
2 t. vanilla
1 C. flour
2 C. Hershey's semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Melt butter in the microwave for 1 minute.  Add the cocoa, stir well using a wooden spoon or spatula.  Then add the eggs, one at a time followed by the vanilla.  Stir in the flour.  Add the chocolate chips.

Grease the baking pan or line the muffin pan with paper.  Pour the mixture into the pan or scoop into the muffin pan.

Bake at 350 F.

25-30 minutes = baking pan
8-10 minutes = muffin pan

Cool before serving or cutting.

* If using unsalted butter, add 1/2 t. salt to the flour.

I did not grease nor use paper liners so my  first batch stuck to the bottom of the pan.



But none the less... it was still YUM!!!!  I know I am not allowed to indulge but I gave in to the temptation and ate a couple of the rejects.

This is a good recipe for children.  Barely any room for error so it will be a  breeze and they will feel so proud of themselves for baking Gilly's Brownies!