Rainy morning in cambridge

I love this morning, I love the smell of the rain, I love to see people walk by me. This is one of my favorite routine here in Cambridge. Have a cup of latte in stabucks market street, watching people, watching my sourrounding, window shopping, or have a litte groceries shopping for my cooking projects.

Its been a couple of months I live in Cambridge, and now its time for me to come home, to jakarta. Yes, this is my last week in england. I must get back home due to my visa will be expired soon..huhu its quite hard to leave this country due to the fact that I love being here, I love england, I love the period buildings, I love the smell, I love the shops, and most of all I love being here with my fiancee.

Cambridge is a nice place to live. Its near the river cam, which is very beautiful. Many student live around cambridge, because there is a cambridge university. Cambridge univeraity is one of the oldest and biggest university in england. Its a period building, which is very beautiful.

When I looked at the university student, I kinda miss the time when I was still a university student, I was a traditional dancer back then, hmmm quite a good student tho. Hehe..well, i'm thinking to get back to university to get my master degree, but I still dont know yet. My fiancee tell me, its will be better if I continue my study, but I dont think I want to get master degree for psychology. On contrary,  i'm thinking to get my degree on make up artistry, haha. Well yes, i had a diploma degree for make up artistry, but I still want to learn more about make up.

I will get back the day after tomorrow, and I won't meet my fiancee until january :(. Its quite long time to go, but I will get married with him on january, and I hope I can come to england soon.. I definetely will miss him sooooo muccchhh..

A day shopping in London for my weding 'seserahan'!

London is one of my favorite shopping places in the world. I bought all my "seserahan" here, included my engagement ring, my wedding ring and also a diamond earing for my wedding. In indonesia, there is a tradition called seserahan. The groom should give his bride gifts before they get married. minimal items for the seserahan are 6, and I got 12 seserahan gifts from my groom to be, which I choose myself, so I know what I really like. I bought a lingerie and a bra sets, dreeses, iphone, make ups, yes lots and lots of make ups. I love make up and etc. We also choose our wedding ring and engagement ring here, we so in love with the model of my rings. I really love it!. Shooping in oxford street, regent street and in a bond street really takes a daaaay long. but it was fun and I got anything what I want. Yes girls, you can find anything here, anything! From the cheap shop until a pricey shop you can find it in here. If you visit london someday, this is the place I recommended the most. I used to visit london since I was kid and these places I never ever missed to visit. Happy shopping!

L'occitane Imortelle brightening skincare

Since i moved to UK, i dont know why but my skin start to develop spot, blemishes, breakouts. I bit confused, because i never had this problem before. I tried many facial care from boots, and it didn't work. Back in my country I used a SKII skincare, its a skincare from Japan, but i cant find it anywhere in here. Some of my friends said that L'occitane its good. Based on the internet research, my friends opinion, so i decided t try the L'occitane product.

I want to have a luminous, radiant skin without any blemishes and spot on my skin. So i visit a L'occitane store in Cambridge, which its was a new store and it was the first day of the opening, so i got 15% discount. (Lucky me!!). I tell the L'occitane girl about my problem and she said i should try these brightening product. so i decided to buy all of the skin care.

 The Immortelle Brigthening Foaming Facial Cleanser
This is the first step of my cleansing routine. What i like about this product is because this product is soap free. Its also smells heavenly.

The Immortelle Brightening Water
This is the second step. The toner. Toner is really important because it will clean your face even more. you will be surprised to know how much dirt left in your face if you only use a daily facial cleanser. I love this product, it doesnt dry out your skin, and give a luxury little treat on your skin.

The Immortelle Brigthening Moisturizer
This is the last step of my skincare routine. This is day and night moisturizer. I really love the smell. My boyfriend said France store is always smells good, well i think he probably right. hehe. I have been so amazed by the texture this cream. It so fresh and easy to apply. Also I have been really seeing the difference since I am using it, my skin was so dull after winter and my complexion is now so much brighter and luminous.Many people have found the grainy issues during the day when they used this cream, i tell the L'occitane girl about this issues and she said, it only happen when you put too much cream on you face. And she is right, i have no problem about the grainy issues. I really pleased with this cream..

The Immortelle Brightening Shield
This is the best sunscreen i ever buy. This is SPF 40 sunscree, but it is light, non-greasy and had a beautiful sheen to it that makes my face glow & look really healthy and also smell heavenly. I cant go out without my immortelle brightening shield.

Powder, mascara and lipstick

BobbiBrown Powder

I love this powder. its quite pricey, its about 26poundsterling. but worth to have. because powder is really essential in daily basis. this powder really covered you skin best. it makes my skin looks smooth even without foundation on it. if i wear a foundation and put this powder, its really make my skin looks radiant and covered all my breakouts and spot.

They're real mascara by benefit.
They said it will make your eyelashes lengthens, curls, volumizes, lifts & separates.Well im not into this product so much, because i find that it is volumize my mascara, but it dont lift and curls it.

Rough Edition Lipstick and lipgloss by Bourjois
This lipstick works well, i love this color and it doesnt make your lips dry. And i also love the lipgloss, the gloss stay for quite long time.

How to get a flawless skin complexion with benefit

  

 I bet every woman want to have  a flawless complexion. Yes, and thanks to benefit cosmetics, we could achieved it only in 10 minutes or less!. Benefit is a new york brand, well its quite pricey but trust me it works great on your skin. Benefit also my recent favorite brand for achieved a great flawless skin, because it wont make your skin look heavey and cakey, its really light on your skin and it will make your skin look healthy without "too much make up". Now, these are my reviews about benefit cosmetics "how to get your flawless complexion".

the POREfesional

Benefit claim : Quickly minimise the appearance of pores & fine lines for smoother-than-smooth skin!. 

My review : Yes this is magic. I use this as a primer, i mixed it with my moisturizer before i put my foundation on. it feels so smooth when applying. Makes your skin feel amazing and really does minimise pores. It also evens out my skin tone. and its really make my foundation really good. 

StayFlawless 15 hour Primer
Benefit claim: Flawless works overtime! Our instant PRO-long primer acts like a magnet to lock on your foundation for 15 fresh & flawless hours.

My review : this primer is invisible when you apply it on your skin. but this is also works great to lock your flawless look for 15 hours, even with my tendency to touch my face, it didn't budge. Sometimes when we do make up, we really need to avoid the sun, because if we getting sweat it will ruin our make up. but Thanks to this primer, even when we sweat, the complexion will set perfect in my face. i dont need any retouch in all day.

Hello Flawless foundation
 Benefit claim : Hello...it's flawless time! Our new oil-free brightening liquid foundation builds from light to medium coverage for a natural complexion you can believe in. It's you...just more luminous & healthy looking.

My review : This foundation is light, natural, smooth and in a perfect colour. it really works great with the primer. I've bit blemishes and breakouts and this foundation covered it perfectly. I apply this foundation with my magic beauty blender. And it works better than when i applied it with sponge, brush or hand.

High Beam
benefit claim : Our satiny pink liquid highlighter accents cheek & brow bones for a radiant glow. 

My review : Yes girls. i agree, benefit said this is "super model in a bottle" and yes it is. I cant go out without this. High Beam creates a radiant glow which shimmers, bright sheen, that's not too overpowering, and it sits perfectly on my skin. I used it on my brow and cheek bones

Stay don't Stray 
Benefit claim : This dual-action power primer works 360 degrees around the eyes to make concealers AND eyeshadows STAY PUT. 

My review : I love the packaging, i like it comes with wands, so it easier for me to apply it. this product really makes your eye shadow stay on all day and makes it so you really don't need to put as much eye shadow on to really get the color on your eyelids. 


Benetint
Benefit Claim : Our original rose-tinted stain is kiss-proof, see-through colour for lips & cheeks that lasts for hours.  

My review : I love benetint only for my cheeks, because i feel benetint not so good on my lips. For my cheek, benetint make a rosy pink natural blush, i really love it for a day make up.

Gordon Ramsay’s slow cooked fiery lamb shank

Yes this is the best lamb shank ever. Yes i learned from the best. Its Gordon Ramsey recipe.


1. mix the lamb with garlic, mild green and red chillies, paprika powder, oregano, cumin, cinnamon, olive oil, salt and pepper and marinated it for 3 hours.
2. cut the carrot and onions into cubes.
3. put the olive oil and cook the lamb into the fryingpan. mixed the vegetable into the pan and pour 5tbsp of redwine.
4. put the lamb into the 160C oven for 3 hours.

cheese spinach frittata

Frittata is a italian food. Frittata is egg-based dish similar to an omelette or crustless quiche, enriched with additional ingredients such as potato, cheese, vegetable or anything. It may be flavored with herbs. Its delicious and suited for vegetarian!

Ingredients :

•  4 potatoes, scrubbed and cut into 1 cm (½ in) cubes or you also could mashed the potato.
•  400 g  baby spinach leaves, trimmed of any large stalks
•  2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 red pepper, quartered lengthways, seeded and thinly sliced
• 10 eggs
• 2 tomatoes
• 1 onions 
• 2 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• salt and pepper 

 Directions : 
Cook the potatoes in a saucepan of boiling water for 5–6 minutes or until almost tender. Put the spinach in a steamer over the potatoes and cook for another 5 minutes or until the potatoes are tender and the spinach has wilted. Drain the potatoes. Press the spinach with the back of a spoon to extract excess moisture, then chop.

Heat the oil in a big non-stick frying pan. Add the pepper slices and sautée over a moderate heat for 2 minutes. Stir in the potatoes and spring onions and continue cooking for 2 minutes.

Beat the eggs in a large bowl, season with salt and pepper and mix in the spinach. With a draining spoon, remove about half of the vegetables from the pan and add to the egg mixture, leaving the oil in the pan. Stir the egg and vegetables briefly to mix, then pour into the frying pan. Cover and cook, without stirring, for about 6 minutes or until the omelette is almost set but still a little soft on top. Meanwhile, preheat the grill.

Dust the top of the frittata with the Parmesan cheese and chopped tomatoes. And place it under the grill. Cook for 3–4 minutes or until browned and puffed around the edges. Then cut into quarters or wedges and serve. 

Indonesian Dessert (Martabak Telur)

This is one of Indonesian dessert called martabak telur. Basically martabak telur is an fried egg mixture in a wrapped filo. its really easy to make and turn out DELICIOUS!.

Ingredients :
Filo (or lumpia skin)
500gr  minced beef
4 spring onions
1/2 onion
6 garlic
5 thai or indonesian shallot (or 3 if you use british shallot)
2tsp curry powder
5 eggs
1/2tsp cumin powder
pepper and salt


 Martabak Sauce :
 3tsb sweet soy sauce
1tsb vinegar
salt and sugar
1tsb chilli powder or chilli padi
cucumber
water.

How to make :
1. sauteed the onions, garlic and shallot
2. mixed the minced beef, curry powder, cumin, salt and sugar into the sauteed onions.
3. beat the eggs with spring onion and pour into the beef mixture.
4. take 1 tsb of beef mixture and fill the filo with the mixture. Fold it together.
5. deep fry the fold filo until it turns yellow.
6. to make the sauce. mix all the ingredients and cook it with lower heat.

Homemade Vanilla Custard

This is the basic recipe that you need for baking.. You can use custard for anything, for jam, for trifle, for icing, for pancake or waffle. Its almost anything.. And its really yumm..

Ingredients
500ml double cream
500ml full cream milk
3tbs of corn flour
Vanilla pod or vanilla essence (you also can added cinnamon if u like)
Sugar
6 eggs

How to make :
1. Combine milk and cream in a small saucepan. Using a sharp knife, split vanilla bean in half lengthways and scrape out seeds. Add bean and seeds to milk mixture. Place over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes or until hot (do not allow to boil). Remove saucepan from heat. If you use the vannila essence add 2tbs of vanilla essence.
2. Whisk egg yolks, cornflour and sugar in a heatproof bowl until well combined. This method called tempered. Remove vanilla beans from milk mixture. Pour hot milk mixture over egg yolk mixture, whisking constantly.
3. Return mixture to saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring constantly, for 15 to 20 minutes or until custard thickens and coats the back of a metal spoon (do not allow custard to boil, as it might curdle).
4. Serve custard warm or cold over stewed fruit, pancake or if you want to use it for trifle please cold the custard in the fridge.

Classic Italian Tiramisu

This classic Italian dessert is my All Time Favorite dessert. my tiramisu made with sponge fingers (also known as ladyfingers or boudoir biscuits) and mascarpone cheese. It can be made in a trifle bowl or a spring form cake tin. Its delicious and pretty little dessert. 

Ingredients :

6 egg yolks
120gr caster sugar
720gr mascrapone cheese
500gr double cream
vanilla extract
espresso
cocoa powder
shredded dark chocolate
lady finger or sponge cake


How To Make :

1. Combine egg yolks and sugar in the top of a double boiler over boiling water. Reduce heat to low and cook for about 10 minutes, do not over boiled it, stirring constantly until its simmer. Remove from heat if the whip yolks already thick and lemon coloured.
2. Add mascarpone to whipped yolks. Beat until combined. In a separate bowl, whip cream to stiff peaks and gently fold into yolk mixture and set aside.
3. Split the sponge fingers in half and line the bottom and sides of a large trifle bowl. Dip the lady finger in the espresso liqueur. Spoon half of the cream filling over the sponge fingers. Repeat sponge fingers, coffee liqueur and filling layers, ending with a layer of filling.
4. To garnish, dust the top of the tiramisu with cocoa. Sprinkle with chocolate curls. Refrigerate several hours or overnight.
5. To make the chocolate curls, use a vegetable peeler and run it down the edge of the chocolate bar.

English Trifle

This is my boyfriend favorite dessert. British is really awesome when making dessert. Trifle is a perfect dessert. Have a jello on it, cake, fruit, custard and cream. A perfect combination for sugar lover.

Ingredients :
1 pound cake, madeira cake or any plain cake (cut it in cubes)
Starwberry or peach or any fruit you like (fresh or canned)
Vanilla Custard (see the recipe on my blog)
1 sachet of jello
Whipped cream

How to make  :
1. Make the jello first. See the instruction on the sachet.
2. Pour the jello into fruit. Cover and refigerate about 30 minutes until the jello sets
3. After the jello set. Put the cubes cake on the top of the jello
4. Cover it with custard and the fruit
5. Spread the whipped cream over the custard and refigerate it for 3 hours..

Summer Ice Cubes

Yes Summer finally come.This is the perfect ice cubes to accompany you this summer. Here are the ice cubes I made last weekend with blueberries, lemon slices, and mint leaves. These look great in any drinks, but I like to use them particularly for sparkling water and lemonade.

mint ice cubes: Add several mint leaves in hot water until water gets enough minty flavor (take out the leaves because they turn dark) Add fresh mint leaves to the mint-flavored water once it cools down and freeze

Lemon ice cubes: Add lemon juice and lemon slices to water and freeze

Blueberry ice cubes: Add fresh blueberries to water and freeze
These ice cubes are so great. Very fresh and its pretty!