Espresso Chocolate Lava Cake

Dark chocolate is my husband’s first love when it comes to the type of chocolate. So I got this easy recipe from “The White Ramekins” that just popped up on my Instagram feed on Valentine’s Day. It has all the perfect elements to make this lava cake decadent. It is rich, chocolaty and gooey inside!! There is espresso and dark chocolate infused perfectly in this dessert. You can add peanut butter as per the original recipe if you wish to give that perfect salty texture as well. So if you are a peanut butter fan you should click here for the original recipe from “The White Ramekins”. It’s easy and quick to make… it has few ingredients and requires a few ramekins or custard cups.  This is that perfect dessert for that romantic night or just to treat yourself after a long day or a hectic week! My only regret is that I couldn’t photograph the chocolate lava running out of the cake to give you the complete picture. Nevertheless do try out this no fail recipe and let me know how it turns out!

Recipe Adapted from The White Ramekins

Ingredients

1.       Dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), chopped – 200gm

2.       Butter, chopped – 100gm

3.       Eggs 2

4.       2 egg yolks, extra

5.       Caster sugar – 100gm

6.       Plain flour – 35gm

7.       Vanilla extract – 1tsp

8.       Instant Espresso powder – 2 tsp

9.       Cocoa Powder for dusting – 2 tblsp

 Method

1.       Preheat oven to 200 degrees C. Grease 4 ramekins with butter and dust with cocoa powder.

2.       Melt the chocolate and butter in a saucepan over low heat and stir until the chocolate and butter are smooth.

3.       In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, egg yolks, sugar, vanilla extract and espresso powder. Then fold in the chocolate mixture. Once the chocolate mixture is blended well, then fold in plain flour to combine gently.

4.       Pour the mixture into prepared pudding moulds until it is just covered.

5.       Place moulds on a baking tray and bake for about 10-15 minutes. The cakes should be firm on the outside and dry on top, but still a bit wobbly in the center.

6.       Gently run a knife around the cakes to loosen from the mould and flip onto a plate and dust with cocoa powder.

Tips:

·         Garnish with strawberries or raspberries.

·         Serve it with whipped cream, ice cream or ganache instead of cocoa powder

All the above pictures are copyrighted Tickled by Inspirations

Artist of the month: Kathryn Wilson

Art is such a beautiful and universal language that is understood by all. It is a perfect medium to stimulate creativity and promote culture and what better way to send out a message to the world through colours! Kathryn Wilson, a dubai based artist creates harmony using different hues of blues and white in her paintings. I was drawn towards her painting displayed at Sununu Muscat, while I was attending a workshop there. Her work is expressive, vibrant and there is tranquility reflecting in all her art pieces. Most of her art work displays a perfect balance of swirling motion, colour and light. And her love for the sea is reflected in most of her paintings.

Let’s browse through her work and hear more from Kathyrn about her journey with art.

A brief about yourself

Originally from the Lake District UK, I spent my childhood growing up in Dubai. In 1998 I returned to the Lake District to continue my studies before completing a degree in Fine Art at Oxford University. In 2005 I moved to South East Asia to travel and work for a couple of years. I began painting with oils during this time, returning to work and live in Dubai in 2008. In 2016 I had a solo exhibition with FN Designs Gallery in Alserkal Avenue, Dubai. My husband and I are now renovating our house in Kendal and have just had a baby girl.

How did your journey as an artist begin? Did you have any formal training or is it self taught?

Looking back I think I was first inspired by sketches & letters that my grandmother would post me. She always had a cellar full of paints, brushes and paper for my sisters and I to use when we would visit her each summer. My father loves photography and I would spend hours looking through his photo albums and slides. We used to joke about all the rocks and trees he would photograph, then I found myself doing the same! When I finished school I studied an Art Foundation and went on to complete a degree in Fine Art.

Clean lines and translucent layers of colour in a circular format have become my signature style, with a love for cyan, indigo, turquoise and pure white. I am interested in Art for positive change and continue to look for ways of advocating this.

How would you describe your art style? What's your inspiration for your art work?

My work focuses on the force and beauty of water, exploring the use of light in each abstract painting. The ultimate traveller, water plays a vital role in everyday life. It wanders the globe and without it we would not survive. Trips along the coast inspire me, as does exploring wadis that are so beautifully sculpted by water. Photography is a useful starting point but I believe imagination and interpretation are key. I like not knowing where I am going with the work, each painting presents fresh challenges and a new way of considering the subject.

What is the most challenging aspect about your work?

The greatest challenge is usually making a start to a painting. Once the ball is rolling things tend to flow quite smoothly from there.

What is your creative process like? and what keeps you motivated?

I keep an ongoing moleskin journal of notes and drawings. Visiting galleries, sketching, reading and taking photographs keeps me motivated. I stretch and prime my own canvases in a home studio, collecting new colours, materials and brushes to work with.

Do you commission different projects? And how can people purchase your paintings?

I usually sell my work via galleries, a selection of paintings & prints are currently available to buy in Dubai & Muscat. I do take on commissions if there is a synergy between what the client is looking for & the style / ethos of what I do. Examples of previous clients & collaborations are on www.ka8z.com 

What is your favorite art piece that you have done till date?

‘Flow’ is a large circular oil painting (115cm wide) that I created for my solo exhibition ‘Saturate’ in 2016. It is probably my favourite because of it’s smooth layers & soothing colour palette. This piece signified a turning point for the collection and I hope to develop more work of this scale in the future.

Any tips or words of wisdom to aspiring artists who want to pursue a similar career?

Words of advice I would give to young aspiring artists would be to consider the authenticity of their work and their personal journey as an artist. Seek to learn ALL of the time and try not to be put off by disappointments along the way.

Thank you Kathryn Wilson for sharing your inspirational art journey with me and my readers!

Click here to browse through her website and follow her work.

All Images are copyrighted Kathryn Wilson

Home Tour: Karishma Kalla's home in San Francisco

I read somewhere that “home is never a place but always a feeling… forget the roof and shelter – home is a beating heart, a warm touch and a reflection of the owner’s soul”… Isn’t it true? That is exactly what I felt as I browsed through Karishma’s beautiful home… It was a reflection of her soul, personality, her tastes and full of character. I personally love the beautiful mix of different culture and her love for Asian décor.  Her home reflects her love to art, colour, travel and textiles. Her décor is accentuated with fresh flowers, books and numerous artifacts from around the world. Her outdoor space is beautiful where I can just sit with a bottomless glass of wine and just unwind and read a book.

Lets hear more from Karishma and learn more about her source of inspiration and browse through her beautiful home!

Tell us a bit about yourself.

My family’s ancestral roots are from Jodhpur but I was born and brought up in Mumbai. I have studied commercial arts and have worked in various ad agencies before moving to Gurgaon after my marriage. We spent many years in Gurgaon where I worked with a design and marketing consulting company, post which we moved to Singapore for a few years. I currently live in San Francisco along with my husband and two year old daughter.

What is your décor style?

Passion and interest for home décor runs in the family. Both my mother and my mother in law have great taste in décor. My mother in law is an artist herself and makes fantastic Tanjore painting, some of which adorn our house. My husband and I admire artifacts, many of which we have collected during our travels & vacations.

The décor of our home is influenced by Asian themes, be it trinkets from a small flea market in Bali; pineapple based decorative from Hawaii, Malay influenced designs from KL, terracotta warriors from China or an exclusive designer piece from Singapore. I love colors! For me colors play a very important role in making a setup look beautiful and lively. A good balance of colors, décor and furniture can enhance any dull corner of your home.

I love anything ethnic with an Asian décor and style. I feel they are colorful, traditional and vibrant. Hence, you will see them in all corners of my home.  Cute little things are my favorite, I collects them from wherever I can.

Your favorite space.

My favorite corner in my home is my front porch and my garden where I enjoy my daily cup of tea in the beautiful California weather. I love playing with my daughter in the garden.

Any tips for our décor lovers out there?

A beautiful home always demands cleanliness..  my décor tips are  fresh flowers (always work and bring positivity and happiness), good use of prints, and enjoy experimenting! 

Thank you Karishma for opening your beautiful home for us and giving us tons of inspiration to take away!

Please click here if you wish to follow Karishma on Instagram. If any of you would like to share your space and showcase it on Tickled by Inspirations, please email me at tbinspirations@gmail.com .

All above images via Karishma

Decorating with Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea is a gorgeous plant that thrives in any weather. It is low maintenance and adds so much of colour to your garden.  My garden has this gorgeous pink bougainvillea and I had to find a way to bring that pink indoors. So I rearranged and restyled one of my living room side tables and paired the flowers with a plain white Japanese ceramic teapot and it looked gorgeous. The only disadvantage with these flowers is it withers away very quickly. So even if you put it in water, it will stay for just one or 2 days. Nevertheless I think it’s a great way to bringing in beauty, drama for that instant happiness and enhance your décor even if it’s just for one or two days.

Have a look at the following pictures on how I styled with my favorite curios.

What do you think of my side table décor ? I would love to hear your thoughts.





All above images are copyright Tickled by Inspirations

Reading Culture

Books have always been an integral part of my life. I love books … to read… to touch and it’s one of my stress busters. Do you remember the moment you fell in love with reading? Mine started with a series of Enid Blyton books… Famous Five series and Nancy Drew. I remember reading past my bed time with my bedside lamp on and taking my book to the restroom with so much of anticipation. Do you remember yours?

I am not happy that my reading has come down drastically. I do read on the net but that’s not how it used to be. We all got so busy with our own routine and we are all evolving and moving in a very different direction. In this technology driven world I pray that our kids will have the same passion for reading a book.  Because this is what will help them to think out of the box! And I know this will happen only when we set an example and read. I am quite active on social media promoting my blog, artists and other inspirations. And while I continue to do that I took a conscious decision last month to read more … or at least one book every month and also read with my little one. What are your thoughts? Please email me a picture of a book that you are reading or you recently finished with reviews. (email: tbinspirations@gmail.com ) I will gladly share it on Tickled by Inspirations wall. It is also a way to inspire others to read. Happy Sunday and Happy reading!!

Above pictures are copyrighted Tickled by Inspirations.

Dessert Recipe: Banoffee Pie

I tend to lose myself in the routine by playing different roles and meeting everyone’s expectations like every woman.  So once a while it is good to step back every now and then from being a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a nurturer and just have some time to be crazy and laugh loud with your friends. Having a night out with your girlfriends is food for your soul and a major stress relief.

So last Friday was one such night, where we ladies decided to take some time out with each other, let loose and be ourselves. With each drink our conversations grew louder, sang out songs and danced like there was no tomorrow. I am blessed to have some of the most uplifting, encouraging and wonderful friends that help me through life’s little challenges. (Touch wood) “It’s smart to invest in the friendships that make you happiest " - Scholar William Schopik (absolutely true)!

I made this easy peasy Banoffee Pie for our ladies night where my gals did justice by wiping it off clean. All you need is the buttery biscuit base, caramel, banana, whipped cream and dust on top with cocoa powder!!!  I hope you get to try making this. It is a no fail recipe, a show stopper and one of my favorite!!

Buttery biscuit base and Caramel

once the caramel is set, top it with a layer of sliced bananas

And then layer on top of the bananas with some whipped cream

And lastly dust cocoa powder before serving!

Recipe is adapted from here

Ingredients

For the base   

• 75g unsalted butter
• 200g digestive biscuits
• For the caramel filling
• 150g brown sugar
• 150g unsalted butter
• 1 x 397g can condensed milk
• pinch sea salt flakes

For the topping

• 2 ripe bananas
• 150ml whipping cream
• 2 tablespoon Cocoa powder

Method

• Firstly make the biscuit base. Melt the butter in a medium-sized pan. Put the biscuits into a food bag and crush with a rolling pin, or pulse them until fine in a food processor.
• Mix biscuit crumbs into the melted butter until evenly coated. Pour the mixture into the center of a 23cm/9inch loose-bottomed tart tin. Then press the mixture firmly over the base of the tin and up the sides. Transfer the base to the fridge to chill for about 30 minutes, until firm.
• While the base cooling, make the caramel. Heat the brown sugar and butter together in a pan over a medium heat until the butter melts and the sugar has dissolved and keep stirring till it blends together.
• Then add the condensed milk, the sea salt flakes and bring up to a boil, then take off the heat and let it cool slightly.
• Take the set biscuit base out of the fridge and pour the caramel onto the biscuit base. And transfer it back to the fridge and leave to cool completely.
• Slice the bananas and layer them over the set caramel.
• Whip the cream in a large bowl with electric hand beaters till thickened and stiff. Spoon the cream over the bananas or pipe it to decorate.
• Dust the cocoa powder over the pie.
• Remove the pie from the tart tin, by placing the tin on top of an upturned bowl, then sliding the edge of the tin down. Move the bowl out of the way, and then slide the banoffee pie off the tin base and onto a plate before serving.

Tips:

• Instead of cocoa powder you grate chocolate, or melted chocolate over the cream.
• For coffee flavour add 1 tblps on expresso into the cream before whipping.

All above Images are copyrighted Tickled by Inspirations

Artist of the Month - Susan Nethercote

Let’s kick start the new year with Susan Nethercote as the artist of the month. I came across her work on Instagram and I have been faithfully following and getting inspired by her works and style. She is a brilliant botanical and floral abstract painter based in Australia. There is beauty and romance in all her work. The shades of colours that she chooses work so harmoniously together. Her work is poetic to me and there is a feeling of joy and peace while browsing through her work.

Susan Nethercote, Michelle Dunn Photography

Susan Nethercote started out researching, lecturing and tutoring in Fine Arts at the University of Melbourne.  She has spent most of her professional life as the designer and owner of the Australian women’s clothing label Manque Design.  Most recently she has also spent a lot of time coaching creative professionals to greater business success in her consulting practice Creative Conversation.

But her first and greatest Love is making Art, which she has been doing her entire life.

Since having her first child in 2011, Susan has devoted increasing amounts of time to painting, to the point where it has become the primary focus of both her creative and professional life.

Working from her home studio in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, Susan predominantly sells her work privately and by commission.   She can be found at http://susannethercote.com/

Susan is inspired deeply by nature – the plant, mineral and bird kingdom’s in particular. She has a fascination with the different ways that nature interacts with light and weather patterns, and how this creates different atmospheres and moods. It is these ethereal qualities, the “veil between worlds”, that
Susan attempts to capture in her work.

She mainly works in acrylic paint, and often includes mixed media of pastel, ink.

In her words “Sometimes my observations lead me down the path of abstracting my subject completely, and sometimes I feel inspired to represent the subject realistically. Frequently it is a combination of both – capturing a perfect natural subject in a highly abstracted environment.”

In all cases, her focus is on capturing the most subtle, magical and ethereal aspects of natural subjects, attempting to stimulate the most subtle, magical and ethereal aspects of our inner selves.

Susan is endlessly fascinated by how art is able to access the parts of ourselves for which we have no words. “To me making art is soul work.”

·         How did your journey as an artist begin? Did you have any formal training or is it self-taught? 

My journey as an artist began when I was 15 and I begged my mother to let me take oil painting classes with a local artist.  I didn’t stick with painting at that stage though, I went on to study art history, become an academic and then made the surprise move of starting a clothing label which I’ve had for 18 years now.  I returned to painting in a big way after the birth of my second daughter about 4 years ago.  I was having a hard time emotionally and painting was my way of processing it all, it really helped me to heal some old wounds.  I could never have predicted that painting would become my new full-time profession! I took some great online classes in that time by people like Kelly-Rae Robers, Mati Rose McDonough, Faith Evans Sills and Flora Bowley. I totally went to art school online and it was the best!

·         How would you describe your art style? 

Well, I can only describe my art style in terms of what I am making currently. And at the moment I am painting wild, colourful abstracted florals and also loving abstracting the more structural botanical blooms found here in Australia and South Africa. So I think it’s safe to say that my style is Floral and Botanical Abstract.

·         What's your inspiration for your art work? 

Flowers and gardens are my biggest inspiration.  But the paint itself and the act of swiftly moving it around is also incredibly inspiring for me.  I’m a big fan of ‘happy accidents’ in art. I truly believe that we do ourselves a huge favor as artists when we relax, get out of our own way with our desire for perfection and allow something bigger to move through us! That’s where the real magic happens and also where people respond best to your art.

·         What is the most challenging aspect about your work?

Firstly, having enough time! I have two kids, the youngest of which is just about to start school, so hopefully I will have more of that soon.  I’m weirdly comfortable about doing large scale commission work, which is super-challenging, but I’m totally up for it as I absolutely love creating work for others and also painting very big! I am also about to launch an art retreat on the French Riviera, which is really exciting, but has also pressed ALL my buttons and has been a huge challenge.  To be honest, I find the act of painting the easiest part of my job as an artist.

·         What is your creative process like? And what keeps you motivated?

My creative process is very swift and free.  I like to work fast as I love the feeling of just allowing the creativity to move through me.  This really helps with not getting too ‘precious’ about my work.  For me this kind of creativity is very spiritual. I feel like something universal and beautiful is running through me veins when I paint, and I really trust that and give myself up to it.  Not every painting I make is ‘good’, but enough are to keep trusting this process.  I’ve always been a pretty driven and motivated person when it comes to my creativity, my biggest problem is usually the opposite- knowing when I need to slow down and put the brakes on the million projects I could potentially take on.  Over the past year, I have learned to be a little more selective about what I take on.  Saying no to opportunities that just didn’t feel right, was very empowering for me.

·         Do you commission different projects? And how can people purchase your paintings?

I do a lot of commission work these days, as I mentioned, and I really like it.  People have mostly gotten in touch with me to create something for them after seeing my work on Instagram or Facebook. I use those platforms very deliberately as my primary organic marketing tool. I really enjoy the process of creating for someone else, but I have made a system for that so that I am absolutely as clear as possible on what they are after.  I also sell my work directly from my website http://susannethercote.com/  

·         What is your favorite art piece that you have done till date?

I have just recently completed a large, 3 canvas commission for a waiting room at an IVF clinic in a major Melbourne hospital.  Since I went through IVF myself to have my first child, this project was very close to my heart. I am very proud of these paintings. 

·         Any tips or words of wisdom to aspiring artists who want to pursue a similar career.

Being a successful artist also means being a business person.  Invest in a website with an online store.  Learn how to take good photos of your art (even an iPhone can take amazing photos if you pay attention to lighting).  Share you art and your art journey on social media, especially Instagram. And by far, the best marketing decision I made was to by stock photography of interiors and Photoshop my art into them so people can picture your art in their home.  My art business has grown so much over the past year as a result of each of these aspects.  And also, allow yourself to get messy, real messy, that’s where the magic happens.

Thank you Susan for sharing your inspiring journey with me and my readers. Wishing you all the best Susan in your creative journey!!

Please click here to follow Susan's work  on Instagram and click here if you wish to buy her work.





All Images and work are copyright Susan Nethercote