naughty bedtime biscuits

What can I say? I was bored, and in the mood to bake, so I whipped up these little goodies.

A prior warning for you though, they do get a bit messy when you eat them, but you don't mind do you?

So let's start. You will need.

Shortbread -

125g -  butter/marg

55g - caster sugar

180g -  plain flour

1 tea spoon - vanilla essence

Frosting -

125g - Icing sugar

40g -  butter/marg

15ml - milk

1 tea spoon - vanilla essence

100g - white chocolate (not cooking chocolate)

mixing bowl / whisk / spoons / shape cutters / rolling pin

So let's go...

1. Start by mixing your butter and sugar together (here's a cheats trick, I put my butter in the microwave for about 20 secs to get it nice and soft, it makes it much easier to mix)
2. Then sift in your flour and mix together. Then mix in the vanilla essence.
3. You can start with a spoon, but then start to use your hands and knead the mixture together (if you need help kneading, click here for instructions) You can use extra flour to help.
4. Once your mixture is not sticky, you are ready to go
5. Sprinkle flour over a smooth surface, and roll out until the mixture is 1cm thick
6. You can now use your shapes to make whatever shapes you want. Or use a knife to make your own
7. Once done, place in the fridge for 20 minutes and pre heat your over to 180 degrees
8. Bake for 15-20 until golden brown

Whilst your cookies are cooking we can make the frosting. You will need a whisk, or a very strong hand.

1. Mix together the butter and icing sugar (this can get messy)
2. Slowly add the milk and the essence. This will suddenly all come together.
3. Place your chocolate in a microwave safe bowl and pop in the microwave for a total of around a minute, but keep stopping every 15-20 seconds to stir
4. Add chocolate to the mixture. Taste (of course) and then you’re ready.

Once your cookies are baked, leave them to cool on a cooling rack.
I must recommend having some warm though, the frosting sinks in to the warm biscuit, and it tastes devine. Take a spatula, and go all Jamie Oliver on your ass. This isn’t about presentation. Slap on the frosting and squish the biscuits together and your ready to go.

Sit down, relax with a glass of milk and let your troubles go...

and we finally got to eat dinner outside

HALLELUJAH (I actually just spelt that correctly on the first attempt. Go me.)

I am sure we were not the only ones to grab the patio furniture, don the sunglasses, wine and sit in the garden for the evening, it’s nearly the end of July people, and this is the FIRST time we have been able to sit outside for dinner. I have been dreaming of this day for many a month, the appropriate dinner was stored away in the depths of my brain, waiting for this very day to come.

For your own epic summer garden dinner you will need.

Chicken

Cherry tomatoes
Rocket
Salsa/sour cream/guacamole
Wraps
Rice/potatoes to serve (optional)

It is so easy and quick, and you can of course mix it up as much as you like.

Cook the chicken and add whatever flavour you wish. I added a little drop of jerk sauce to add a little flavour, but you can add whatever you please.

Fry the tomatoes for 5 minutes to get them nice and soft, and then you are good to go. Just grab some wine, music and settle in for a night relaxing in the garden.

royal biscuits

Okay, so according to myself, Si, my friends and all my family these are the best biscuits EVER. Even Prince William served something similar at his wedding reception. Now I have no idea if the same recipe was used, but this recipe has been passed down to me from my gran, and she named them Pralines. Now I am no expert but I'm pretty sure these aren't pralines {or if they are please enlighten me, it might just be a Scottish thing} so after racking my brains for another name, I have aptly come up with 'Royal cakes' {don't sue me though if there is another cake under this name}

So anyway, I begin...

8oz chocolate {baking or normal}

2oz castor sugar

2oz drinking chocolate

4oz margarine

2oz dried milk

2 table spoons syrup

1 table spoon vanilla essence

1 cup of raisons

1/2 ib rich tea biscuits

This recipe is easy peasy, just make sure you have everything measured out before getting started.

So here we go-

1. Break biscuits into small crumbly pieces in a bowl

2. Add the raisons and vanilla essence. Mix everything around

3. Melt the marg, sugar, syrup, with the drinking choc and dried milk, until you have a smooth mixture

4. Add to the biscuit mix

5. Roll the mix out in a tin 1/2 inch thick {cheats tip, I use a plastic bag over my hand to press the mix down}

5. melt the chocolate and then spread over the mixture

6. Leave in the fridge for 30-45 mins, or until set.

7. East those bad boys up. 

Let me know what you think :)

homemade wagamamas

If you happen to love noodles and Wagamamas like me, then you are in for a treat. Today I have a very easy replica version off my favourite dish, Beef teriyaki Soba.

So here we go, the ingredients you will need are,

{for 2 people}

Meat

1 large sirloin steak {or 2 small}

Veg

1 red chilli

1 large red onion

2 pak choi

small bunch of coriander

handful of mange tout

handful of bean sprouts

small amount of sesame seeds

2-3 bunches of soba noodles

{these are not essential, egg noodles can be used as a replacement}

Jar of teriyaki sauce

{From any leading supermarkets - or you can get wagamamas own from waitrose}

Here we go then, your will be sitting down eating away in just 20 mins,

1. Prepare all the veg-

• finely cut the chilli and onion
• cut the mange-tout into small pieces
• finely chop 3/4 of the coriander
• peel back the layers of the pak choi

The trick is to get the timing perfect, this is something I struggle with and the kitchen ends up looking a mess, but we only learn right?


2. Boil the kettle, ready for the noodles
3. Place a frying pan on a low heat with a drizzle of oil, ready for the meat
4. and finally place the wok on a medium heat, again with some oil and add the chillies. Fry for 3-4 minutes

5. Then add the onions and mange tout

  6. Fry these off for about 5 minutes and get ready to start cooking your meat. I prefer my meat medium, but go with what you like. Here is a quick guide.

rare - 1 1/2 mins each side
medium - 3 mins each side
well done - 4 mins each side

I always brush some of the teriyake sauce over both sides off the steak to add to the flavours.

7. You now need to add your noodles to the boiling water, and cook to package instruction {normally about 5 minutes}

8. Start to fry your meat {cooking times above}

9. Add the remaining veg. Pak Choi, coriander and bean sprouts and give it a good old stir. Also remember to keep stirring the noodles



10. Once your noodles are done, drain and place immediately under cold water. Then transfer back into the wok.

11. Add the teriyaki sauce, mix it all together and simmer, whilst you prepare your meat.

12. It really is up to you how your serve your meat, but I like mine to look exactly like the real deal, so I cut my steak up ready for serving.

13. Nearly there, I promise. Place your noodles on a plate, and neatly pile the steak on top. Sprinkle the remaining coriander and sesame seeds on top to create your very own Wagamamas. Now tuck in, enjoy. You won't need to leave the house for noodles again :)

and why not cook some spring rolls to accompany?

*note* this can also be cooked with salmon instead of beef. Follow the same instructions, but the salmon will take 10-12 minutes to cook.