Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip Cookies

Peanut butter is just not as big here in the UK as it is in the US. Did you know we can't get peanut butter M&M's here?! On a recent trip to Atlanta I picked up some Reese's peanut butter chips which is pretty exciting for me as you can't get these in the UK. Cue some peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies.

I was really happy with this recipe - it definitely rivals "the only chocolate chip cookie I will ever need to know how to make for the rest of my life" and does not need to be rested overnight so is a lot easier. Pull these out of the oven as soon as the edges start to get slightly brown and you'll get the perfect soft cookie with chewy edges.

You will need:

170g melted unsalted butter

200g soft light brown sugar (or dark)

100g caster sugar

250g plain flour

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 egg + 1 egg yolk

1/2 tsp salt

300g mix of chocolate or peanut butter chips

Preheat the oven to 170C. Mix the melted butter, brown sugar and caster sugar. Add the vanilla and eggs, and then the flour and salt until just mixed. Lastly add the chocolate / peanut butter chips. Drop a spoonful on a baking tray and do not flatten the mixture. Cook for approx 15 minutes - it's really important not to overcook these or the edges will become crunchy. Remove from the oven as soon as the edges begin to turn brown. Leave on the tray for 1-2 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack.

Tweet

Classic Victoria Sponge

Afternoon tea and cake, anyone?

I'll have a large slice please!!

You will need:
200g caster sugar
200g butter at room temperature
4 eggs
200g self raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
150ml double cream, whipped (or whipping cream)
Jar of strawberry or raspberry jam

Heat the oven to 180C and grease two round 20cm tins. Mix together the butter and sugar, then mix in the eggs and flour until smooth. Pour into the tins and shake gently to even out the batter. Cook for 15 minutes or until a knife comes out clean. Turn out onto a rack to cool, and whip the cream. When the cake is cool, add the jam to the bottom layer, the top with cream and sandwich together. Dust with icing sugar if you like.

Tweet

Silver Clay Jewellery

I've been on the lookout for a silver jewellery course for ages - you used to have to do a lengthy silversmithing course for this, but not anymore. I attended a jewellery course using silver clay (or silver art clay), which is nearly pure silver held together with a binding material. It's made as a way to capture the silver dust that is created in manufacturing processes. It's really easy to work with, you can make endless shapes and designs, and when you burn off the binder you are left with 99.9% silver. Cool huh?

On the course we were given 5-6 grams of clay, which doesn't sound like a lot, but does go quite a long way. I made 5 charms for a bracelet, a necklace and some earrings. To make it easier to work with you need a tile, a rolling pin, a craft knife and any stamps or shapes you might want to cut out. Always keep the clay you are not using in the packaging to stop it drying out. You can keep what you don't use for the next shape, just add a little water if the clay dries out.

If you buy any silver clay it will probably come with better instructions than this, but here is the general process: 
- Mould and shape your designs on the tile until you are happy with them, always remember to put a hole in the clay using a toothpick if you want to attach it to something later! 
- Blow a hairdryer on the highest setting on the pieces, until they come free from the tile, be careful as they do fly about once they're loose. 
- Once they are loose, turn down the hairdryer to the low setting and keep going until the  pieces are dry, you can tell this by putting them on a mirror, if you see condensation they are not yet dry enough. 
- Use baby wipes to smooth the edges. 
- You "fire" this clay on gauze laid over a gas ring - place the silver clay where the gauze glows, where it is hottest, and time for two minutes, and immediately place into cold water. 
- Rub the jewellery with metal wire or a metal brush to reveal the silver underneath - it's magic to see your design in clay now in beautiful silver.

Moulding the clay / keep the spare clay in the packaging

Firing the clay / place the pieces into water & brush with metal wire brush

Finished charms

Silver clay is not cheap, but you can buy cheaper versions in bronze or copper if you want to practice, or more expensive in gold if you prefer!

Tweet

Chocolate Mendiants

I had so much fun making these - minimal preparation and lots of decoration!

I have never worked with gold leaf before this month and it's SO strange. I had read how delicate it was before I opened it but I was still amazed by how delicate it actually is. You really cannot even breathe near it! I had a tiny brush ready but I found it best to tear it and place it with a tiny craft knife. It's amazing stuff and I think it looks stunning on the finished article.

You will need:
Good quality dark chocolate, one bar makes about 12
Crystallised rose & violet petals
Silver balls
Sugar decorations
Gold or silver leaf (make sure it says edible)
Other ideas: chilli flakes, sea salt, dried fruit, nuts

Melt the chocolate in a glass bowl over hot water, or very slowly in a microwave, and remove the last lumps by stirring. Place a spoonful on baking paper and decorate. Cool in the fridge.

Tweet

You can now...

Follow my blog with Bloglovin !

Tweet

Button Magnets

Just a simple one today. I love this idea because you can get so many amazing buttons these days so you can customise this to any room, colour scheme or person. Who doesn't love buttons?!

I've used magnetic tape, but it would be better to get hold of magnets and stick them on with glue, as the tape is not a very strong magnet.

Tweet

Giant World Map Pinboard

I LOVE to travel. I love dreaming about travelling, planning trips and reminiscing about past adventures. So, a gigantic world map pinboard is exactly what I want to mark the places we've been, and get inspiration on where to go next. Plus, it's a lovely thing to have on the wall.

You will need:
Gigantic world map (mine is 1400mm x 1000mm) from Amazon
Foam core boards (picture below), enough to cover the size of the map
Cork tiles (picture below), enough to cover the size of the map
Duct tape
Pencil
Sharp craft knife
Contact adhesive
Spray glue
Pretty pins
A rather large floor space

Step 1:
Stick together the foam core boards using duct tape so that they are the same size or larger than your map.

Step 2:
Use the contact adhesive to stick down the cork tiles onto the foam board. Open the window if you have a strong glue!

Step 3:
Duct tape over the edges of the cork tiles (you might not need to do this if you have a really strong glue)

Step 4:
Lay your world map on top, lining up with two edges. Draw around the other two edges and trim down your board to match the size of the map. I found a metal ruler and a craft knife the best way to do this.

Step 5:
Use the spray adhesive on the back of the map and stick this to the cork tile side of your board. Leave to dry.

Step 6:
If you want to hang this map on the wall, the best way is to glue two pieces of wood to the back and screw some nails into these, and attach picture hanging wire. The map is quite heavy so make sure that whatever is in the wall is strong enough.

Step 7:
Pin all the places you've been and begin planning your next trip!

Tweet