I though I would bring you a review on these popular Japanese DIY sweets. They're not really that new, as I remember making a couple of these sets about 3 years ago, but they're still quite intriguing to see and actually make!
You can get many different sets, like Bento, Ice Cream, Waffles etc.
There are a lot of videos on YouTube that show how each set can be made, and it's relatively easy to sit there and watch loads of them in one go! If you do try these sets out, give the videos a watch first, as the package is solely in Japanese, and if you don't read/understand it then it might seem more difficult.
I bought the "Happy Kitchen Doughnuts" and gave them a go.
Inside this magical box are all of these wonderful sachets of different things that you can make and adorn your Doughnuts with;
1) "Doughnut Sheet" - Literally, a presentation sheet for your creations
2) Chocolate Doughnut Mix
3) Custard Doughnut Mix
4) Strawberry Sauce
5) Vanilla Sauce
6) Chocolate Sauce
7) "Crunchy" - These are tiny bits of crushed biscuit/something similar
8) Piping Bag
9) Sprinkles
10) Mixing Tray
11) Ideas Sheet
Rather than making this a completely picture-heavy post, I'll just be sharing some photos of the process.
Unfortunately, my creative talents leave much to be desired.
Ease of use: ***
While it is essentially "child's play", this set does require some patience, especially when mixing the Doughnut mix. Aside from that, it's super easy to use and make
Taste:****
This set tasted SO much better than previous ones I have made. Sure, it's not going to be an exact replica of a real Doughnut, but texture and taste wise, they're pretty close! Even my Dad ate one, and didn't mind it. the chocolate sauce was actually amazing to just eat alone!
Price:***
Obviously taking into consideration import fees to this country etc, but it still feels slightly pricey even if it is slightly regarded as novelty. I assume in Japan it's probably well worth the money you would pay
Overall: ****
Giving the Doughnut set 4 stars! Really not a bad little set at all.
I'm pleased to bring you (my first) a sponsored review! This is thanks to the magical people at Violent Lips!
Who are Violent Lips?
Violent Lips are an American company who make temporary lip tattoos!
What ARE lip tattoos?
Lip tattoo's are literally the same as temporary skin tattoos, except they're made for your lips! They're applied in exactly the same way, with a cotton ball/wool and plenty of water, and are removed the same way too, with baby oil
I was sent The Pink Polka design and here's how I got on!
Really cute, yet simple packaging. The lip determines which colour/style you've been sent, although there's also a sticker on the back telling you! Each packet contains 3 applications and all Violent Lip products are tested on Supermodels, not Animals!
Inside is a small card with their current styles available to buy online, and on the back of the card is a set of instructions (which I forgot to photograph). There is also (and obviously) your 3 applications of tattoos! And here is what it looks like straight out of the packet.
You pop the tattoos out of the card and voilà! You're ready to begin :D! On the back of the patterns are small lines which show you where you need to cut the excess away. The instructions for application are as follows:
Items Needed: Scissors, cotton ball or make-up sponge and water
Your lips must be completely clean, dry and free of any oils, lotions or products.
Cutting Top & Bottom lip stencils
1. Pop the pre-cut Top and Bottom Violent Lips pattern out of the application sheet. Place the lip stencil on the centre of your lip then open mouth wide to "Ahh" shape. Measure your desired length to both corners of your mouth. Carefully trim the excess length on both sides using the printed marks as guides
2. Placing the trimmed stencil once more to the center on your lip, measure the depth to your inner lip, stay slightly outside your natural lip water line. Carefully trim the excess width using the centre printed marks as guides
My trimmed stencils
Application
1. Remove transparent covering from the pattern side of the stencil and place the sticky side of the pattern on your lip - lining up the centre first then to corners with your mouth open to an "Ahh" shape. Place and shape your Violent Lips correctly with your mouth still in the "Ahh" shape
2. Once you have your Violent Lips in place, apply water onto the back with a wet cotton ball or sponge. Make sure the back is thoroughly wet. (Don't be shy to use lots of water!) After 40 seconds, gently peel off the back. Gently wet your lips and smooth out any creases. Do not stretch your lips. Relax and wait to dry for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes you can apply a light gloss or lip balm
On my top lip :p
Just after applying (I stuck it a little too far down at the left on my top lip but it looked fine)
Typically, Violent Lips will last between 4-8 hours depending on your skin type and care, and I put my lips on at 10am and still have them on now as I write this entry at 10:40 so my lips have lasted 12 hours and are still looking fabulous!
My lips now!
Close up (crappy quality, sorry)
You can eat, drink and make-out (all tried and tested!) with your lips on and they won't budge! I'm actually astonished at the staying power of these babies! Of course, you need to take care while eating and drinking; using a straw and avoiding greasy foods is a must!
Today while I wore them at work, I got SO MANY positive comments from customers and staff alike! The first thing people would say was "WOW HOW DID YOU DO YOUR LIPS LIKE THAT?!!!" and the second thing was "DO YOU SELL THEM HERE? I WANT TO BUY THEM!" Needless to say, these things really do impress everyone! Even guys were stopping and staring and going "woah that's cool".
Each design ranges from $9.99/£6 to $14.95/£9 and you get 3 applications per packet. It's a real bargain as they DO last a very long time and are definitely worth the price! You can save them for special occasions like a wedding, or use them on your Saturday night out! Violent Lips currently have free shipping (yes, even internationally!) and a 20% discount when you buy $30/£18 worth of lips! Pretty damn good!!
EASE OF USE: ★★★★★
They're definitely something that will get easier with practise, but from trying them today for the first time, I found them incredibly easy to apply. It seems a little daunting at first, trying to figure out what to cut and so forth but the lines on the stencils really help out. They've even made an updated "how-to" which will come in all packets from now:
WEAR AND TEAR: ★★★★★
Definitely impressed! These can last through drinking, eating and kissing, all of which I tried (more than once ;D) today! By the end of the day I noticed a few small cracks in my bottom lip but you could hardly see them, especially when my lips were closed. Today was a scorching 29oC and the lips managed to last through my full face of make-up on a hot day in a crowded store, so imagine the lasting power if you wear them to a hot club at night!
I really, REALLY cannot fault these at all! They lasted me the WHOLE day (as mentioned countless times above!) and got me so many positive comments! You're sure to feel sexy and fabulous while wearing them and you'll definitely get some attention, of the good kind! Thanks once again to the people at Violent Lips! Girls, go buy some!
Hi guys! I have a tasty thing here for you...I hope you enjoy it!
This is a review and "how-to" of とろけるカレー(Torokeru Curry). It's a sauce mix that you can make Japanese Curry with! Torokeru is made by S&B, the same company that makes ゴールデンカレー(Golden Curry), which I know many people have already tried, including me, and it's really delicious! You can buy both of these kinds (as well as many more) of curry mix in a "small" size; serves 5 people and contains one block of curry mix; and a "jumbo" size; pack of 2 blocks of curry mix, which would technically serve 10 people, or make your 5 person curry very thick! A mistake I made the first time I tried Golden curry >.<. The curry mixes also have different "spice ratings" going from mild to hot.
I bought the "small" mild mix, as I was only feeding myself, my boyfriend and Rosie and my boyrfiend doesn't really like spicy food. We also set a little aside for Perry, but I think he only dipped his finger in to taste instead of actually eating the leftover lol! Now, onto the rest!
Front and back of the box; the instructions are in English and Japanese.
Step one: Cut up your vegetables and meat of choice, and throw them into a pan with some oil.
Carrot and Potato
Chicken
Let's cooking!
Step two: The instructions say to add onions and cook until they have turned brown, but I HATE onions (lol) so I cooked everything until the chicken was cooked all the way through.
Step three: Add water and bring it to the boil. Reduce the heat and and leave to cook until the vegetables are completely done; basically, until they're soft and not very hard! The potato should go soft pretty quickly but the carrot may take a little longer until it's soft and not so al-dente!
When everything had finished cooking in the water
Step four: Remove the pan from the heat and break the curry mix into 5 cubes. Add this into the pot and str until everything has completely melted. Simmer for 5 minutes and you're done!
Curry finished!
You're now ready to serve your curry! Like any curry, you serve it with rice, so at some point while your curry is still in the making, you can start to cook your rice, or if you don't fancy cooking rice from scratch, you can always get the microwaveable stuff and stick it on just before you plate up. I personally prefer cooking from scratch as it tastes better! I used short grain rice for my curry, as it's sticky and kind of glutinous, which I love!
The rice I used; "Koshi hikari". This cost me £1.20 from Japan Centre on a promotion they were having
Done!
The finished product!
OVERALL RESULT; Torokeru Mild Curry Mix, Small size (Serves 5) PRICE/VALUE FOR MONEY:★★★★★
This cost me £1.66 at the Japan Centre and for a small box that feeds up to 5 people, i'm very impressed. The jumbo box costs £2.92 and works out cheaper than buying 2 small boxes
EASE OF USE: ★★★★★The curry mix is super easy to use, and I can't fault it's simple instructions at all! This is definitely great for cooks of all levels, especially beginners, and does what it says on the box, so there's no stress or worry about possibly getting things wrong
TASTE:★★★★★
DELICIOUS! This curry tastes so good! I can't totally remember the taste of Golden Curry, but this one definitely tastes fabulous. It really tastes like it could be a homemade curry by a little Japanese woman somewhere! Hands down, really tasty!
I hope this was somewhat enjoyable for you guys to read, and hopefully informative too for all the chefs out there! You must give this stuff a try, you will definitely be happily satisfied!
