Round one!

As I'm leaving both my current job and my house I thought I'd get a little bake happy and make everyone presents. A tasty parting gift!

For work I went for Peanut Butter cups and vanilla shortbread. They went down a treat!

I have to admit, I cheated a little with the PB cups! Whoops. As it was my first time making them I found a recipe for them here; however I didn't actually have enough for the exact measurements so I kinda just made it up as I went a long. In my freezer was a big bag of dark Hershey's chocolate going to waste, so I melted that down. They're very rich, so unless you like dark chocolate I'd go with milk choc. On the plus side, everyone at work loved them! 

I resorted to a firm favourite recipe for the shortbread, which you can find in a couple of previous posts. Chocolate is optional, I just had some left over from the cups. 

Giving food as gifts always works well, so if you're ever stuck for ideas these are quick and easy, and super tasty! 

Hangover cure

I went out Tuesday night (it's now Thursday) and suffice to say, I still feel rather icky. Seeing as I could barely stand yesterday, today seemed like a good day to bake something. Something simple, sweet and comforting. And nothing says "CURE ME" better than m&m cookies. 
My plan was to make proper cookies, but I forgot the eggs so I reverted back to a shortbread recipe. Just as tasty. 

Ingredients:
-4oz butter
-2oz caster sugar
-6oz flour (SR or plain)
-Pinch of salt
-tsp of almond/vanilla extract
-M&M's for decorating (i've got peanut ones)

Method:
-Pre-heat oven to 170c / gas mark 3
-Cream the sugar and butte together
-Add flour, salt and extract
-Knead it into a doughy consistency 
-Leave to sit for approx. 15mins
-Once you're bored of waiting, roll it out on a flat surface to about 1/4inch in thickness. Take your cutter of choosing and cut away! I thought i'd give one of my new Halloween ones a go. 
-Decorate with the m&m's
-Pop in the oven; they cook pretty quickly, so just keep an eye on them and take them out when they're a little firm and golden brown.

Now, if like me you're not feeling too good: take a biscuit (warm), find a dark corner and veg out.