Beautiful Blue!!…

So, it is DEFINITELY coming on Autumn now, you can really feel the chill in the air at night – but yet we have another day of beautiful blue skies…

It wasn’t like this a couple of weeks ago though! At the start of the month we had the wettest September in 20 years – I don’t mind it getting colder, but rain, for the most part is a right hassle – it’s nice when you’re wrapped up on the couch but sucks when you’re meant to be doing stuff out in the world.

I was meant to go on the Folk Train from Chester on the first Wednesday but couldn’t because it was raining so bad – it’s this night were you get the train from Chester and a load of musicians play on the train, you go to a pub in Plumley all play there – have food and drink, be merry and then all get on the train again back to Chester – it’s meant to be loads of fun so was pretty gutted when it didn’t happen…BUT i did use my time wisely to sort through loads of music sheets and put them into a shiney new file and stop them being scattered all round the house – and hopefully they’ll organise another one soon…

And as it’s getting even colder at night time I thought it only right to treat myself to a new pair of flannelette pj bottoms – ain’t they cute? They’re so soft and warm and have little birds on and a friggin’ velvet ribbon – what more do you want – they’re just-got-out-the-bath-cosy-fantastic 🙂

Donna had her girls pyjama party last weekend and the weekend before on the Sunday I finally tested out the cheats Maryland Cookie recipe I’ve been meaning to do for ages – they turned out great – tasted just like Maryland but they were bigger! Took them to Sunday Jazz and The Cali and Charlie’s birthday in Sound and they went down a treat so  made them again for this weekend 🙂 Laura King has requested Oat and Raisin cookies for tomorrow 🙂

Ha ha ha and I was using the little mixer for the first time and had one of those comedy moments when as soon as I switched it on it went everywhere and I got covered in cookie dough – deeper bowl needed next time I think :S 🙂  

Here’s the recipe…(I halved it though as didn’t need 35 biscuits!)

Ingredients

Serves: 35

• 165g vegetable shortening (e.g. TREK) or margarine (you can buy this in Tesco’s by the butter amd margerine!)
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 75g sugar
• 4 tbsp golden syrup
• 2 tsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 260g plain flour
• 1 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 100g plain chocolate chips

Preparation method

Prep: 20 mins | Cook: 10 mins

1.

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C. Make sure the rack is on the middle shelf.

2.

Put first 3 ingredients into a bowl (of standing mixer if your using one). Turn on your electric mixer and mix the ingredients until fluffy.

3.

Add the next three ingredients and continue to mix until thouroughly blended in.

4.

Mix in the last 3 ingredients by hand. If mixture is dry, add enough milk so the dough is moist but not sticky.

5.

Shape dough into teaspoon sized balls and place on a greased cookie sheet. DO NOT flatten dough.

6.

Bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes. Put on cooling rack 1-2 minutes after they come out of the oven. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days

 

I’m steaming ahead with the winter scarves too – my beige one is pretty huge now and I decided that the green one was a bit ‘army-ish’ so…I went and bought this other wool and it’s BEAUTIFUL! It reminds me of a Peacock, loads of different, rich winter colours, ace.

 

 

I found this amazing tutorial on youtube on how to crochet mittens.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpC-aqltEog

 

And…Ta Dah!!!

They’re so frickin’ cosy and warm AND they only take like an hour each to make – so basically EVERYONE is getting woolly stuff for Chrimbo 🙂

 

Also learned how to do granny squares yesterday so have already started a blanket – woo! S’gonna be beautiful! – have learned how to do hearts as well so thinks I’m gonna make a garland of them for somewhere – ace!

 

AND I finally, FINALLY got my kitchen finished with my Spanish tiles and the last cupboard sorted – I keep forgetting then walking in and being like ”wow!” so I will now be found mainly making paella and other Spanish food whilst dancing round the kitchen to Flamenco music 🙂