House biscuits

I got this lovely french biscuit stamp a while ago, and decided to share my ultimate simple biscuit recipe. The thing I like best about this recipe is you can alter pretty much all the aspects of it and still get some pretty tasty biscuits!

 

You will need:

100g sugar (caster, granulated, demerera, dark brown, doesn't matter)

100g butter (or margerine, I used stork for these)

1 egg

200-220g of flour (it changes from time to time)

Anything extra you'd like to put in! This can include:

• Spices (nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, ground cloves, allspice)
• lemon zest 
• vanilla essence
• peanut butter
• cocoa powder

I try not to put things like chocolate chips or fruit in, because then the stamp doesn't work as well.

• Preheat the oven to 180/gas mark 4
• Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. 
• Beat the egg, then mix in - add any extras at this point. 
• Sift in the flour bit by bit until you have a good consistency - not too floury because the biscuits will be dry, but not too sticky or the stamp will stick
• Form the dough into a ball and put in the fridge for 30 minutes - DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP. It makes the dough much easier to handle
• Form the mixture into 9 or 10 little balls on a greased baking sheet, then stamp each ball down into a flat cookie shape

  

 

• Bake for 8-12 minutes, until they are golden-brown. Enjoy!

 The stamp I have says "Biscuits Maison" which means "Biscuits of the house" or "house biscuits", which is a nice concept I think! I like to have some about the house :)

The biscuit will keep in a tin for about 5 days, but mine never last that long! You can also freeze the dough for 1 month and whip up a batch any time you feel like it! Let the dough defrost thoroughly before stamping and baking it.

Manchester escapades

Will and I went on a little trip to Manchester recently, as his folks had gotten us some vouchers to stay in a fancy hotel for 2 nights as a birthday present (Thanks, Sue and Ken!) and it had been a while since we went for a little holiday.

 We did the full-on tourist bit and went to the museum to see the dinosaur bones and lizard house before accidentally getting lost in an industrial estate - damn you google maps!

Then we went to this amazing patisserie for some treats...

Wowza.

I was sad that we didn't get a chance to visit Duke's 92, which is apparently this amazing bar/restauranty type place that has all this amazing cheese and pate, served with freshly-baked bread. Sadly, this was the point when google maps decided to take us on a wild goose chase and we ran out of time. However, we did manage to get to Affleck's, which was this Vintage emporium - an amazing big building that was at least five stories of little individual shops. We got Will this amazing buttery leather jacket, it looks like something James Taylor would've worn in the 70s!

We also went along to the John Rylands library - a beautiful old building which had an exhibition on "50 years of A Clockwork Orange" - fascinating and bizarre. They had props from the films, letters which Anthony Burgess and Stanley Kubrick wrote to each other, the typewriter that Burgess wrote it on...

And his thoughts concerning typewriters...

 I really want a typewriter now. I got a copy of the book on the way out, as I've never read it before - wow. It's even more unintelligible than the film! In the exhibition, they talked about the fact that by reading the book, you are being brainwashed into getting an understanding of Russian slang, which sort of sets you up for the concept of brainwashing later in the story.

On our way to get the megabus home (classy), we spotted this interesting bit of artwork on the side of a multi-storey car park - I wonder if someone had been contracted to put it there, or was it the work of some kind of yarn-bombing graffiti artist?

Lately...

I'm so glad that I'm back at Uni, I can finally feel productive again! Self-motivation is clearly more of an issue for me than I realised... summer was not productive in terms of personal projects. However, I did go to many festivals (to gig), I started home-brewing, wrote 1 tune and 2 songs and learned some French, so not all was lost! 

As usual, I have too many plans for the autumn, as I have considerably less time now (but more money) than in the summer. I have decided to make this year a lot more frugal than the last, as having to spend all my savings and birthday money on rent this summer was a sobering experience. The ways in which I intend to save money are:

• Shop (for food) more mindfully - as in shop around for the best deals, budget, only get food that I know I'll eat
• Stop eating out so much casually. Only for special occasions.
• Learn to sew better and fix clothes rather than buying new ones
• Get better at making food stretch - use up leftovers in creative ways
• Walk everywhere - don't get the bus
• Make more things (this really needs it's own sub-category as it's the thing I'm most excited about!)

On the subject of making things, I have recently forayed into home-brewing cider, making yoghurt, ginger beer and bread. I am hoping to have a crack at cheese, soap and laundry liquid soon, all courtesy of the wonderful Rhonda over at Down to Earth. She is all kinds of self-sufficient awesome.

Other stuff I'm planning to do/doing at the moment:

• Keep running - I've lost 8lb so far and I intend to keep a steady stream of weight-loss going!
• Create a youtube channel with Will in order to play funny/silly music in addition to all the serious music we do...
• Study like the dickens and get good marks this year
• Do lots more gigs

    

 Yes, it's a pineapple on Heaton park gates. No, I'm not sure what it wants either.
That's about it for today! Peace out xxx
 

Autumn anticipation

I don't know about you, but I am nothing short of impatient for it to be autumn now. It has overtaken summer as my favourite season, and now that it's September proper, I think that the time has come to be excited about autumn things!
 
1. Back-to-school style
Summer fashion always leaves me a bit cold - it's all a bit flimsy, and although my happy hippy side comes out and dances around in pretty dresses, I always feel much happier when I can layer up a few tops with some mittens bunches around my wrists and cosy socks on. This year, my hopes for autumn style are:
Leather Jackets!
Plaid anything!
Animal sweaters! and More animal sweaters!
Colourful opaques! 
ALL THE SOCKS AND SLIPPERS ON THIS PAGE 
Fair Isle jumpers! 

2. Autumn food
Soups, beef stews with dumplings and chanterelle carrots, fish pies, roast veg with couscous, home-made pasta, roasts, pies, baked potatoes, sausages...
I intend to go mental with soups in particular over the next couple of months - I have recently had:
Roasted tomato and onion
Roasted parsnip with parmesan
West African chicken and peanut, and am intending to try soon:
Russian winter vegetable
Pea and ham
Carrot and corriander
Leek and potato
Sweet potato and chorizo
Italian bean... and many more. 

3. Weather
Sun and warmth is all very well, but I burn easily and generally tend to run quite warm anyway, so I often find summer months quite uncomfortable (even in the north of England! Ridiculous). The feeling of being wrapped up against the wind in my many woolen layers is only topped by when I get home, shed my "outside layers" (jumpers, leggings, coat, boots, socks, hat) and put on my "inside layers" (pajamas, cosy jumper/hoodie, slippers) and curl up by the fire.

4. Celebrations! 
Bonfire night, Hallowe'en, Thanksgiving (for Americans, but I wouldn't mind having a dinner and a holiday that's about gratitude at all. It's a lovely idea), not to mention the excitement and anticipation of Christmas! 

5. General productivity
This is me more than other people, as I have become pretty sluggish over the summer (not really giving myself enough to do) and I'm really looking forward to being busy again with uni work.


Oh, how I'm looking forward to it! Crisp air, all wrapped up, cups of hot chocolate and excessive amounts of soup! Huzzah for autumn!
 
 
 

Stag weekend

All the boys have gone away for a friend's stag do this weekend and I have the place to myself! I actually couldn't be more excited - I'm intending to spend the whole time lounging about matching underwear and nighties etc, like Dita von Teese's protegee; drinking everything out of a champagne flute and having immaculate makeup at all times.

 She is all kinds of amazing - I bought her book Burlesque and the art of the teese/Fetish and the art of the teese a few years ago, and it completely amazed me. Part autobiography, part history of the burlesque industry, part coffee-table book complete with the most beautiful photographs - she's a real inspiration.

There is something quite delicious in having the house all to myself, although a lot of the things that I'm planning to do are things that I could easily do while they're here - so why put them off? Having a bit of space to think and breathe can certainly be helpful though.


 

In which Rosie goes to the pub and has a spiffy time

I had a pretty lovely birthday this year - check out my birthday pizza! And it's Domino's as well - no expense spared!

We went for a picnic, then to the beach after visiting my friend Gareth's chocolate shop in Tynemouth - he does the most amazing ice creams these days - the hazelnut praline was heavenly...

 Gareth was in, so he took us upstairs to view his chocolate-room, including his amazing drawer full of decorations! It was pretty awesome. I did a bit of frolicking in the sea afterwards...

 Looking a bit sunburnt there! 

It did start raining shortly after that, so I made my merry way home and headed pubwards in the evening. It was such a fab day and people are so generous - below are two of my favourite presents:

 

A record player from Will's Grandma, care of his parents - thanks guys!

  A great book about outdoor swimming - something I'm hoping to try out more - from my awesome big brother Dan

Massive thanks to everyone who made it a lovely lovely day!

 

 

Favourite things: Sarah

Hey, time for another set of favourite things! I am a massive fan of these posts - I end up finding so many new things through them! Today we have...

Sarah

Age: 19

Occupation: Stalling for time

Book

Mostly anything by Nick Hornby, but trying to wean myself off him and venture elsewhere in the literary world... I just finished Douglas Coupland's The Gum Thief this morning which was incredible, with the relationship between Roger and Bethany striking me very similar to Seymour and Enid in the film adaptation of Daniel Clowes' Ghost World, which is a brilliant segway to..
My top 5 books currently... 1. High Fidelity - Nick Hornby, 2. Ghost World - Daniel Clowes, 3. The Rotter's Club - Jonathon Coe, 4.The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath, 5. Fight Club - Chuck Palahniuk

Film

In a nutshell...Kevin Smith/Studio Ghibli/Coen Brothers/Jason Reitman

 

Breakfast

Anything involving bananas and/or marmite! Banana and marmite toasted sandwiches, banana pancakes with marmite, if I'm feeling a little less racy perhaps just toast with bananas, or toast with marmite.

Song/artist

I love Tom Waits to bits, and my Dad bought me Closing Time for my birthday which absolutely broke my heart, especially Martha and I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You. Lovely lovely lovely. When I'm not being so soppy, I can't get enough of Le Tigre, or JD Samson's brilliant new project MEN. Lots of great electric lady dance music

 

Drink

Morgan's Spiced with Diet Coke, or Desperados with a big hunk of lime if I'm at the pub, but I mostly just drink litres and litres of water during the day.

Internet time-waster

blogsblogsblogs. Tumblr is my new favourite thing - http://birdatron.tumblr.com/archive/ gone slightly off the boil recently, but hunting down some nice new things...I also can't get enough of the fantastice feminist blog The Vagenda - http://vagendamag.blogspot.co.uk/ - super smart, and super funny. Well worth a read.

Piece of clothing

My ultimate LBD - an incredibly comfy jumper dress I bought in the H&M sale on a whim about 5 years ago, and is my go-to piece. Whack on some tights, boots, and I'm set

Board game

Articulate! ARTICULATE! I am hooked. My first New Year's of legal drinking age, I spent at home with some friends, beers, and Articulate and it was the best. Lots of frantic hand flapping and shouting...

 

Sleeping position

starfish, belly down...it's a wonder why I'm single!

Your best things in life

libraries, museums, galleries, cookie dough, knitting, friends and family.

This and that

Isn't this the greatest? I found this old record in an oxfam shop, kind of kicking myself for not getting it now...

 

Things that have happened lately:

• We have just completed moving Will and his flatmates into their new house
• I have been helping prepare for my Mum's civil partnership
• I have found a potential new flatmate for next year in the lovely Sarah! 
• I have decided to take up homebrewing (and have all the kit - now all I need is some apple juice to begin my first batch of cider!!)

 

 Will's brother Louis decided to get a motorbike, so for his birthday we got him and jacket and decided to wrap it ridiculously!

 I have drunk lots of earl grey

And appreciated how lovely my hometown is...

Will's Birthday!

Well, SOMEONE has a fabulous party hat!

It was Will's birthday on Friday - the big 21! We had a lovely chilled out day comprising mainly of food...

(Scones, pavlova, choc-chip banana bread and chocolate-peanut-butter pie were Will's requests)

... drink... (virgin apple mojitos)

... and board games.

We went out with the family in the evening, but somehow I completely neglected to take any photos. Whoops. But we had delicious Indian food and then went back to Anis and Becky's for yet MORE cake, so all was well :) 

 Pudding stick!!

One of Will's birthday presents from his brother and sister-in-law. I really can't recommend the pudding sticks, they were bizarre...

Happy Birthday baby!

Summer frolics at Warwick

Another update of Teacup adventures! 

A couple of weeks ago, we all went to perform at Warwick folk festival - and had quite the fun long weekend! 

So far, Warwick is definitely my favourite festival to visit as a performer - they looked after us so well. At a surprising number of festivals, the "organizers" don't know the answers to your questions, they act as though you're lucky to be there, don't tell you important details etc etc. However, at Warwick, everyone we talked to knew what the score was, and were super friendly and accommodating. Not to mention we got put up in the dorms of a private school instead of having to camp, AND got free breakfast every morning! (Not that I mind camping at all, I LOVE camping, it's just not the easiest for me to feel pretty on stage when I have crumpled clothes and ma-hoo-ssive fluffy hair)

Something I always notice about folk festivals is that they seem to be in the loveliest little towns and areas around the countryside - this one had boats on a river that you could hire! So we did.

We also got to perform in quite a few different locations - this was a lecture theatre that we sung and also answered questions in, as we were doing a "meet the teacups" hours. We also performed in this lovely tea-shop in the town...

... which resulted in the inevitable cream teas.

I also got a super pretty henna tattoo! The lady who did it for me told me all about how she does henna parties for Indian brides and does designs all over the bride's arms, and then smaller tattoos for all the women in the bridal party. Phew! So pretty though - and it smelt gorgeous!

Three festivals down, one to go - bring it, Whitby! 

Dateland: Las Iguanas

Will, being the delightful chap that he is, decided to take me out for dinner last night - I'm a lucky lady! We went to one of our favourite haunts - Las Iguanas. They are all about Latin foods and drinks - they serves tapas, Mexican and Brazilian specialties, and delicious cocktails! All manner of good things.

We decided to go for a tapas selection, and happy-hour cocktails...

Date rundown

Location: Las Iguanas

Occasion: Just felt like it

Food: Honey piri-piri chicken wings; prawns cooked in garlic, lemon and chilli; roast duck and caramelized onion wraps with chilli jam; sweet potato fries with aioli; dulche de leche and macadamia cheesecake; Mexican berry mess

Drink: Cherry fizz and Virgin fizz

High point: when we realized that pretty much everything we ordered had to be eaten with fingers and we descended into ungraceful pigging out