The Sunday Roast

Hi. It's totally me again.

Thought you'd got rid of me for another week? Well yah. You did.
I bet it was stupidly lonely and laugh-less though...
Am I right, or am I right?

1) Hug me. It's Monday tomorrow.

2) I've been muchin' on these. All week. Revision makes me so huuuungreh.

3) In case you were wondering, (which I know you always do) exams are actually going kinda well right now. It's completely my excuse for not baking a whole lot this week... but hey, what's a gurl to do? Gotta get ma grades. Then I can make all the friggin' delicious browniez I like.

And for all of you out there taking exams at the moment, you're going to relate to this.
I really do apologise for bringing up all the pain/hand cramps/oh-my-god-I'm-a-failure-crying-fits, but here is my week in photos.
Hey, don't look like that... you never know, it might cheer you up. Might.

4) Understatement of the year, I feel.

5) I am super proud of my colourful French tense revision. Took ages. Bloody ages.
So worth it.

6) "I am malicious because I am miserable." -   Huh. I feel ya there, buddy.

7) SO MUCH COLOUR. CAN'T. HANDLE. IT.

8) A sharpie jug will save your life. I'm not even kidding - the blue one's my fave.

9) Staedtler coloured fineliners. Makin' revision bearable since 1835.

(yeah, I Wikipedia'd Staedtler's founding date. Don't judge. I've memorised a stooooopid amount of Frankenstein quotes this week.)

10) I just love random acts of kindness. Yeah, yeah, yeah, totally cliché, but it's true. And look what turned up out of the blue the other day...

Isn't it gorgeous! And inside? A beautiful pair of pearl earrings - a good luck present from a family friend.
It took me completely by surprise, and actually really moved me... just shows, it's worth the effort to make someone smile.

11) Look at this, what do you see? (Other than those damned revision plans):

I totally know what you're thinking...
"Is that Eurovision I see printed in beautiful handwriting and in an exclamatory form - therefore signalling it's importance?"
Well, yes. Yes, you do.

For me, Eurovision takes pride of place on my timetable, because it's the highlight of my year. Serious.
I made these to take to Harry's. We watch it every year. It's a tradish.
Don't believe the hype? Don't know what Eurovision is? Firstly : What is wrong with you. Secondly : Google it. You will not be disappointed.
Here is the winner from this year's competition! I bet on her to win. Harry lost. He predicted Germany. Pfft. Eurovision amateur right there.  

12) I made smoothie!! It was pretty scrum. Though, kinda needs an iddy biddy bit a'tweakin'.
Jus'saying. They're a great revision snack. In between the crying fits.

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Cookies and Cream Fudge Oreo Brownies. (aw, yeah.)

Oh my goodness, guys. Congratulations.

No. Seriously. If I could, I'd give you a massive bear hug right now.
You've made it through another week.
And even though you've probably suffered some bumps and bruises along the way (metaphorically of course. However, if it applies to you literally, I wanna know what happened. You obviously had a crazier week than me.) it's finally Friday evening. And you're alive.

Go and get yourself a cup of tea. You so deserve it.

The weeks seem to be whoosing past us at a pretty unnerving rate, right now, don't they?

In fact, their whooshing has been so fast, that I'm all disorientated. And I completely forget what time it is, what day it is, even what month it is.

Marty Mcfly. I know how you feel. I've got your back.

Unfortunately though, not everyone's problems can be solved with a flux capacitor.
Even if you have it on a t-shirt.
Though... I wouldn't mind a beat up DeLorean. That would be kinda cool.

And if you're at school/college right now, you'll know what I'm talking about when I say:
"okay, you lot. These next couple of months are the most important months of your lives..."

Let's face it. They say it every year. But I guess it still matters.

For those who haven't quite cottoned on yet?
It's code. It's school code. It's school code for "This shizz is serious. Get your game-face on. It's exam time."

And in amongst all the revision, staying late after school, doing homework, re-doing homework (worst. thing. ever.) it gets pretty darn difficult to find time for yourself, for your friends, for a book, for a bake.

And, well, these brownies are a kinda great excuse for making up for lost time.
For having a break in between writing an essay on Frankenstein, and doing French grammar.
Or for inviting a friend over, having a baking afternoon. Feeling great 'cause you've already finished writing about  Shakespeare's Original Performance Conditions.

And c'mon. They have oreos in them.
Surely you're just sold on that, right? Yeah. I know you.

My situation was a little different, however. I've been making this recipe for god knows how long, and I've been desperately wanting to share it!
I baked this for a meeting at school. Cake was demanded. Brownies of epic proportions were delivered.

I don't think anyone complained.

Fudge-y. Goo-ey. Oreo-y. Nom. Nom. Nom.

Please, for me. If you do anything for yourself this weekend. Let it be setting the time aside to bake these little beauties. You owe it to yourself.
(and if you want my honest opinion, I'm sure ol'Billy Shakespeare will let you off.)

 P.S. just a big wave and hello to Jenni, Elizabeth, Jenny, Agnes, Katie, Harry, Tom and all the other wonderful people munching on these at the meeting this week. Your support is amazing and I have a feeling the next school year is going to be a good'un! :) mwah. x

P.P.S. if you're not following me on twitter yet. Where have you been? Haven't you heard? I'm technological now! x

Makes 19 bite size pieces. (means I'll be having 4, then.)
Ingredients
165g butter
200g dark chocolate, (about 70% cocoa solids works best) finely chopped
3 free-range eggs
2 free-range egg yolks
2tsp vanilla extract
165g soft, light brown sugar
2tbsp plain flour
1tbsp cocoa powder
pinch salt
154g pack of oreos, broken into quarters

Method
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees
Grease and line a 20cm/8in square baking/brownie tin
Melt the butter in a pan over a medium heat
When melted, remove from the heat and add the chocolate, leave to stand until the chocolate melts, then stir together
Whisk egg yolks, eggs and vanilla together in a large bowl until it gets light and fluffy
Add the sugar in two additions, whisking between each (when adding the sugar, make sure you pour it around the side of the egg mixture, so as not to knock the air out)
Keep whisking on a high speed until the mixture becomes thicker
Then, pour the chocolate into it, again around the sides
Add the cocoa powder, flour salt and 1/3 of the biscuits
Mix together until combined (you really start the smell the chocolate at this point. Deeeee-lish)
Spoon the mixture into your lined pan
Plop the remaining pieces of biscuit on the top of the mixture and press in slightly
Bake on the middle shelf of your oven for about 25-30 mins
The middle should be still goo-ey.
Leave to cool.

Salivating yet? You should be. x

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Analogies and Cinnamon Cookie Cakes of Deliciousness

Can we start with an analogy here?

I like analogies. They're sorta, your own tiny little parable, right? Always with a cute meaning at the end.
Sometimes. Most times.

And that is why we're beginning with one.

Do you like analogies?
Oh, you do? Fab.

O.K. Let's go.

So, I kinda hate being late. You know, just anywhere.
I'm pretty conscious about getting places on time, be that a train/bus/spinning session (yeah, really.) or anything that involves me looking like a complete and utter stupid-person when I finally turn up.
Like running between platforms,
or shaking my fist at the bus driver as he smugly chugs into the distance,
or trudging in reluctantly and getting the last bike left. Which is always that damned wobbly one.

But the worst, for me, is being late at school.
I mean. Being in 6th form, it's not such a scary prospect now but...
Ugh. You get my drift.

(guys, bear with me. I am totally going somewhere with this.)

You know the feeling, when the bell has long gone, and you're huffing and puffing your way through school, knowing that somewhere, there is a very quiet class and an even quieter teacher (they're always the worst) waiting for you with a stony, you're-going-to-die-because-you're-late-to-my-lesson sort of glare on their face.
And you're still running. Kinda sweating a little with fear and a need-to-go-to-gym-more mentality. Maybe if you just slink in quietly, nobody will notice?

What a joke.

You get to the door, deep breaths.
You peep your head around the side (you may have got the wrong classroom, happens to everyone)
and walk in. The personification of humiliation. With added beetroot face.

And that, my friends, is how I'm feeling right now.

Picture it.

Me. Red. Sweating. Humiliated... (okay. don't. please.)

But, why? Well, because I haven't kept to my one post a week rule.
I am that late student.
Give me as many detentions as you wish.
I am truly sorry.

But, I have made you these.
As a make-up kinda present.

I've named them 'Cookie Cakes' because I changed the original recipe and added muscovado sugar, just to give it that wholesome, hearty-cookie sorta edge.
And the almond milk? Well... I didn't have any vanilla essence on me.
Are you cool with that?

I think you'll like them.

P.S. The original recipe is in cups. I've done some rough conversions, so they may not be completely exact. Bear that in mind, my lovelies! 

Ingredients

2 cups/256g plain flour

2 teaspoons bicarb of soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 

6oz/170g unsalted butter, softened

11/4 cups/275g muscovado sugar

1 teaspoon almond milk

1 large egg

handful (or 2.. or 3) chocolate chips (optional)
handful (or 2.. or 3) chopped almonds (optional)

Method

Preheat oven to 180 degrees and line two baking trays with greaseproof paper

In a bowl, whisk/mix together the flour, baking soda, salt cinnamon and ginger

Beat the sugar and butter in a separate bowl until light and fluffy

And egg and almond milk, beat again

Add the previously mixed together dry ingredients at once, and beat slowly until it forms a dough

Drop the dough in tablespoon size balls onto the paper
Bake for about 10 minutes, or until browning

Cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack

[adapted from Joy The Baker- she is amazing!)

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The 'Meltiest' Melting Moments with White Chocolate Buttercream!

So...
I had a dilemma yesterday.
Yes. A dilemma. A big, fat one. One that could've destroyed the very fabric of the space time continuum and shroud the world in darkness forever.

Okay. I totally over-exaggerated on the last one.
BUT HEY, DATS ME. If there was a Queen of hyperboleland. That would be moi.
And I'd have a massive tiara... And all the Louboutins I could want... Ever...

AHEM.
This dilemma doesn't sound so bad now, does it?
Well it was. And it was this...
Cast your minds back to Saturday morning. What were you doing?
Something exciting, I'll bet.
Me? Not so much. I'd been suffering from a STUPID COLD. So I slept in... like, really, really in.
I practically BECAME my bed.

So, to cut a long story short. I missed my Saturday morning gym session.
I slept through my spinning class and everything.
Runny noses ruin lives.
Which left me with said 'dilemma'...

Do I make up for lost time and go for a cycle in the only good weather we've had for months?
Or do I stay in and bake away my sorrows until the boyfriend arrives?

I think we all know what I did.
But hey, you can't blame me for it.
If I didn't do what I did, I wouldn't be here doing what I do now. Comprende?
I JUST LOVE BAKING.

Looking back on it. My dilemma was a bit wubbish.
It was a win win really wasn't it?
I love it when life is like that.

So here's what I made!
Simple. Delish. Melty. Yum.

And with my brother home from his hectic life in London, it was kind of an unwritten rule that I make something that uses insane amounts of buttery goodness.

Aaaaand then Harry arrived and got his mitts on them..
"STOP!" I was yelling, "THEY'RE NOT SANDWICHED YET!"
Boys...

TAH DAH! Oh, look at Harry and Mumma in the background.
Out-of-focus and mesmerized beyond belief.

Don't they look adorable! Expertly sandwiched by Harry.
Oh gawwd... I want another one...
But I'll refrain, and save them for you - (and Joe, and Harry, and Dad, and Mum.)

Hope you've all had a lovely weekend! Without any earth-shattering dilemmas.

Ingredients
For the biscuits
250g unsalted butter, softened
60g caster sugar
225g plain flour
85g cornflour

For the White Chocolate Buttercream
60g unsalted butter
125g icing sugar, sifted
50g white chocolate

Methods
Preheat the oven to 170 degrees and line two large baking trays with baking paper.
Cream the butter and sugar together until creamy.
Sift together the flour and cornflour, then add this to the mixture and beat well.
Using floured hands, take tablespoons of the mixture (it's a kind of doughy consistency) and roll into balls.
Put them on the baking sheet and flatten slightly with a floured fork.
Baking in the oven for 15-18 minutes, or until the biscuits start to turn golden.
Leave to cool on a wire rack.
While they're cooling, make your buttercream!
Beat the butter and sugar until completely smooth.
Melt the white chocolate and add this to the mixture, tablespoon by tablespoon and beat well after each addition until your buttercream is the right consistency to be spread.
Sandwich Time!
I found the best way to do this, was to pair up your biscuits beforehand (I got Harry to do that for me - it's nice having a slave) so you're not scrabbling around to find biscuits of similar sizes while your icing is starting to dry - we hate unnecessary stress!
Scoop a generous tablespoon of your delish buttercream and plop it on one biccy, and put the other on top, moving it in a circular motion to warm the icing and flatten it.

LET'S EAT.

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Chocolate and Vanilla Pinwheel Biscuits

Okay, so as you all know from my previous post, it's all going on down here in Somerset! The snow has arrived, and although it only fell for one day and has started to thaw today *sad face* everyone is still on a hype about it. And quite rightly so! We're desperately deprived of sledging antics in this part of the world...
However, although I love watching the snow fall and going for walks across the hills, I'm not really one for getting cold. Call me a scrooge if you like, I just have rubbish circulation in my hands and feet. :)
So, instead of trudging up the Knoll with a sledge that's inevitably going to break anyway, I did something MUCH more productive with my time yesterday.
Yep, you guessed it. I baked!
But I wasn't craving cake, or muffins, or anything like that... so instead I sifted through my Mary Berry's ultimate cake book and found these little gems!

PINWHEEL BISCUITS! Aren't they just the cutest?

And yes, I did go a bit crazy and run into the snow with my slippers on... just to get some nice pictures.

Being quite crumbly, they're surprisingly perfect for dunking!! Especially in a steaming hot mug of coffee. Sat inside while the snow falls. Watching a film... no prizes for guessing what I spent my day doing yesterday. ;)

Makes about 20 biscuits
Ingredients

Vanilla Biscuit Mixture
50g hard margarine - softened
25g caster sugar
25g cornflour
50g plain flour
a few drops of vanilla extract

Chocolate Biscuit Mixture
50g hard margarine - softened
25g caster sugar
25 cornflour
40g plain flour
15 cocoa

Method
Lightly grease 2 baking trays.
Measure all the ingredients for the Vanilla Biscuit Mixture into a bowl an mix until combined and it forms a dough.
Knead slightly.
Wrap in cling film and chill in the fridge for 30mins.
Make the Chocolate Biscuit Mixture in the same way, also wrap and chill the dough.
On a floured surface, roll out each piece of dough into 2 oblongs 25x18cm (10x7in).
Place the vanilla dough on top of the chocolate dough and roll the two together from the longer edge .
Wrap in cling film and chill for a further 30 minutes.
Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees.
Cut the roll into 20 slices with a sharp knife and place on the baking trays.
Bake for 20 minutes until the vanilla biscuit is golden in colour.
Lift onto a wire rack. Leave to cool.
Then enjoy!!

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The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies!

HELLO EVERYONE! :D
Oh goodness, I've got all behind... MERRY CHRISTMAS! HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope this post finds everyone well and happy during the latter stages of the festive season, and the start of a new year!
How were your Christmases? Non-stop present opening and food eating? Yeah, me too. :)
And while I sit here, writing this post, watching Mary Poppins and munching on a bag of jelly tots, I'm still saying to myself, 'oh, this doesn't matter! It IS Christmas after all!'. Is that sad? I suppose it is. Seeing as right this minute my dad is staggering with the Christmas tree out of the lounge and through the front door. Oh well, only 357 days till we do it all again!

But, I have to say, I've had the loveliest Christmas and it's always better to go out on a high note.
And by courtesy of my lovely mum and dad, I've adopted a new piece of tech to my ever growing hoard of baking electrical equipment. Ladies and Gentlemen, may I introduce to you...
MY NEW KNITCHENAID ELECTRIC MIXER! Isn't she a beauty?

And so, to ensure that my new mixer's début usage was a GLORIOUS one. I made a batch of possibly my favourite biscuits ever, from my favourite recipe ever, from my favourite blog ever! Thank you KatieCakes! These cookies are so wonderfully easy to make, and you can store them in your freezer, meaning you'll never be out of a homemade batch of cookies should the time arise. :)
This is definitely my 'most made' recipe and everyone loves it (especially my boyfriend Harry, who's always clamouring for some of these mega cookies!)

Ingredients
150g unsalted butter
125g soft light brown sugar
100g caster sugar
2tsp vanilla extract
1 egg, fridge cold
1 egg, yolk fridge cold
300g flour
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
350g pack of chocolate drops

Methods
Preheat the oven to 170 degree, line 2 baking trays with baking parchment.
Melt the butter and let it cool a bit.
Put the brown and white sugars into a bowl, pour the slightly cooled melted butter on the top and beat together.
Beat in the vanilla extract, the egg an egg yolk until the mixture is light and creamy.
Slowly, mix in all the flour and the bicarb, then fold in the chocolate chips.
Scoop tablespoons-full of the dough and plop them down on the baking tray.
Bake for 15-17 minutes, or until the edges of your cookies are a light golden colour.
Remove from the oven and leave to cool, then transfer to a wire rack.

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Garibaldi Biscuits : My Granfy's favourite. :)

Merry Christmas Everyone! I can't believe it's Christmas eve already! It always comes around so quickly and here in the Shiner household the festivities have certainly begun!!!
I hope this all finds you all well and jolly my little Christmas Puddings and although the weather here is possibly the most un-Christmassy I've ever seen it, that wont stop me bopping around the kitchen to Ella Fitzgerald with a shortbread biscuit in hand. :)
In fact, Christmas has been pretty relaxed this year, so relaxed that I wrapped my last present THIS MORNING! I know, crazy.
However, there is a reason as to why I've left it so late. You see, whenever I bake it's almost always for my friends and it's heartbreaking watching the forlorn faces of my parents and brother as tins of treats get carted through the front door and out of sight. They never get a look in.
Bless.
So this year I've decided to bake a whole lot more! And this specific recipe goes out to my Granfy. He is the sweetest, loveliest, kindest, gentlest man I know and the best Grandfather ever! However at Christmas, he's awfully hard to buy for... but then I suppose, most men are. ;)
So this year I decided to make his favourite things. Garibaldi biscuits and I used a recipe from BBC Food. He eats them by the packet and can't get enough! So this year I made a large batch, scooped them up and popped them in a box, complete with ribbon and a bow. :)
These biscuits are so yummy! And smell gorgeous too. :D
Merry Christmas Granfy! These are for you. x

Ingredients
110g caster sugar
110g butter, softened
1 free-range egg, separated
225g flour, sifted
pinch of mixed spice
55g currants
30g candied peel
3tbsp milk

Method
Preheat the oven to 160 degrees/Gas mark 3.
Line 2-3 baking trays with greaseproof paper.
Cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl until light and fluffy.
Beat in the egg yolk.
Fold the flour into the mixture.
Stir in the mixed spice, currants and candied peel.
Stir in enough milk to form a stiff dough.
Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut the biscuits into your desired shape.
Place on a baking tray and bake for 10mins until golden brown.

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The Perfect Gift : Sugary Christmas Biscuits and Snowflake Decoration!

Mum was being sneaky with the camera..
Moi, in my element.

And so, little sugar lumps, for my second act tonight I bring to you a gift idea! My first, actually. And I'm so proud of these little beauties. :D
As a close group of people, my friends and I absolutely love Christmas! We buy gifts, bake cake and generally have a really good time! Anything to make school less of a drag. :)
But as we've got older, buying a gift for every single person in the group became difficult and money became pretty tight for a lot of us... *sigh*.
So this year, we decided to bite the bullet and try secret Santa. Buying only one gift?! It seemed ridiculous!
But actually, it worked so well! And my secret Santa (who actually turned out to be my good friend Sophie) got me the most beautiful bracelets, nail varnish and chocolate! She knows me so well. :)
In fact, this Secret Santa was such a success that I found the time to bake for everyone instead!
Using a really great biscuit recipe from The Primrose Bakery book, my new snowflake icing plunger from The Happy Cupcake Company, some Thorntons chocolates, lots of cellophane and metres of gold ribbon I managed to make gifts for everyone! Reeeeeeeeeesult!
Not being the most creative person ever, I was sooooooooo unbelievably proud of these and I hope it's not too late to inspire some of you lot either! :D

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..

The Result!

Makes approx. 30 biscuits depending on size of cutter.

Ingredients
85g unsalted butter
100g golden caster sugar
1 large egg
200g plain flour, sifted, plus more for rolling
1/2tsp baking powder
1/4tsp salt

Method
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees/Gas mark 4. Line 1 or 2 baking trays with baking paper.
Cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl.
Add the egg and mix well.
Gradually add the flour, salt, baking powder and mix.
Flour a work surface, roll the dough to a thickness of 5mm.
Cut out biscuits in your desired shape and place them well spaced out on your baking tray(s).
 Bake for 10-12 mins or until they turn a light golden brown.
N.B. Remember to keep a really close eye on the time, these cook really quickly and actually do continue to cook once out of the oven!
Leave to cool on a wired rack.
Decorate as desired! If you can, these plungers are a must have baking purchase!

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