Magnificent Millionaire Succulent Shortbread

Over the easter weekend I got to stay at my boyfriends family home in the midlands. This was the second time of visiting where he grew up and meeting his family. As a way to say thank you for letting me stay I decided to make my millionaire shortbread.

Serves: 12
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Oven temp: 170°c/ 338°/ Gas mark 3

Ingredients:

200g Milk chocolate (topping)
170g Plain Flour (shortbread)
120g Caster sugar (60g shortbread/ 60g caramel)
120g Butter (60g shortbread/ 60g caramel)
2 tbsp Golden syrup (caramel)
1 tin x 397g Condensed milk (caramel)

Cookware:

Kitchen Scales
Sieve
Bowl
Baking tin
Tablespoon
Fork
Wooden spoon
2x Saucepans
Glass bowl

Instructions

-Preheat the oven
-Grease the baking tin

Shortbread
-Sieve the flour and sugar into a bowl
-Slightly soften the butter and add to the bowl
-Mix the butter, flour and sugar with your hands so it becomes a dough consistency; I find kneading the ingredients together is easier
-Place the dough into the baking tin, press with a back of a spoon to help spread and even out the dough 

-Use the fork and pierce the dough 
-Put the tin in the oven for 20 minutes or until a golden colour
-Remove and let it cool

When the shortbread has cooled start on the caramel filling.

Caramel
-Pour condensed milk, syrup, sugar and butter into a saucepan 
-Cook on a low heat as you don't want it to stick or burn
-Constantly stir until everything is melted and it has turned medium caramel in colour; this might take a while but don't worry it will slowly turn colour
-Pour the mixture over the shortbread and let it cool

When the caramel has cooled start on the chocolate.

Chocolate
-Pour some water in a saucepan and put on a medium heat
-Break up the chocolate and put in a glass bowl
-Place the bowl on top of the saucepan 
-Keep stirring until all the chocolate has melted
-Pour the melted chocolate over the caramel
-Wait to cool and place it in the fridge

When the chocolate has set it is ready to demolish.

Gorgeous Golden Gooey Goodie Flapjack

With easter approaching I wanted to give my family something homemade. As my dad is staying at my house over easter looking after the cats I felt I had to make something special. I chose to make a flapjack for many reasons such as it is his favourite, it is cheap, it is quick and really easy to make. I made my first flapjack in secondary school and have since been tweaking the ingredients to get it just right and gooey.

Serves: 8
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Oven temp: 108°c/ 356°/ Gas mark 4

Ingredients:
250g Porridge oats
125g Butter
125g Brown sugar; demerara works best
3-4 tbsp Golden syrup; depending on how gooey you want the flapjack

Cookware:
Kitchen scales
Saucepan
Wooden spoon
Baking tin

Instructions

-Preheat the oven
-Grease the baking tin
-Place the butter, sugar and syrup in a saucepan on a slow heat and keep stirring until the butter has melted and created a golden syrup mixture

-Remove the pan from the heat and add a small amount porridge oats
-Mix together so the oats are covered in the syrup mixture then keep adding a small amount of oats until it is all mixed together

-Pour the mixture into the pre-greased baking tin 

-Put in the oven for 20 minutes or until a dark golden colour

-Take the tin out of the oven and let the flapjack cool

Then devour a piece of golden gooey heaven; preferably with your favourite film.

Delightful Dorset

It has been many years since I have been to Dorset, with my last visit being with secondary school studying cliff formations and tourism for GCSE geography. I used to go on days out to Studland Bay and Swanage with my parents and grandparents as it was close to my grans heart; she used to spend her summer holidays in Swanage with her relatives. So when my boyfriend suggested the idea of a day by the Dorset coast I was naturally excited to visit the places I went to when I was younger. I jumped at the thought and immediately started to plan what I wanted us to experience. 

Corfe Castle

The journey to the Jurassic Coast was a different route to the past which meant we bypassed the ferry from Poole to Sandbanks. However it meant we had to go pass Corfe Castle which always is a breathtaking view. The weather in the morning was partly hazy with the sun trying to burn through. This created an amazing silhouette of the castle on the mount. We drove past to get to our first stop of the day.

Swanage

Swanage Wall

We started our day at the seaside town of Swanage. It was already bustling with life when we arrived on the sunday morning. To the right of where we parked was a boat moored to the pier and to our left were female gig rowers preparing for their morning row. We managed to find a little angling shop in the town centre to buy some crab bait. Originally we were going to crab off the pier after reading online that was the best place to crab, however the woman in the shop gave us helpful advice by recommending the jettys as it was closer to the water. 

View from jetty

With our bait we set off to a jetty we already passed that was deserted. We loaded up the lines and began crabbing. Soon after some children chose to crab by us with their parents with them catching the first, second, third, fourth and fifth crab whilst my boyfriend and I had an empty crab bucket. I am normally rubbish at crabbing as I usually lose the bait bag in the sea, however I was lucky enough to have my bag already tied onto the line. As I was catching nothing I chose to move away from the jetty onto the walkway. 

After forty minutes I managed to catch the first crab between us. My boyfriend and I had a competition between us on who could catch the most crabs, this pushed myself in the lead. This meant I could relax and take photos of the previously moored boat which was now sailing. I had a couple of crabs clinging onto my bag but when I tried to pull the line out the water they dropped off. Just as we were about the leave I pulled my bag out and somehow caught another crab whilst my boyfriend caught nothing but seaweed. 

Crabbing Bucket

Two Crabs

Durlston Country Park

Great Globe

Our next stop was Durlston Country Park. I wanted this day to be like my old family days out so I packed us a lunch so we could have a picnic in the car. I made special sausage rolls, sandwiches, crisps, chocolate bars and some cakes we brought the previous day from a local farm shop. Following lunch we walked to the Great Globe which looked magnificent against the blue sky. After I took many photos we walked along the coastal path back to the castle which had been restored since my last visit. We walked through the grounds to the roof of the castle. 

Roof of Castle

View from roof

Studland Bay

Knoll Beach

The last stop was Knoll Beach at Studland Bay which is run by the National Trust. In the spur of the moment we decided to become a member as there is a few properties and parks near us which we want to visit. After signing up we walked along the beach, the urge of feeling the sand between my feet was too much so I removed my shoes. We spent some time playing with a beach ball we brought with us. We then went to paddle our feet in the sea which was quite cold. I fancied an ice lolly however the queue to the cafe was quite long and we wanted to head back home, so on the way back we found an ice cream van parked in a lay-by which overlooked Studland, Poole and Brownsea Island. This was a perfect end to a wonderful day out. 

Paddling

Cold Brew Tea

During my time at university when I was working at my part time job with a tea and coffee retailer, I was introduced to cold brew tea. At that point it was a fairly new concept that was becoming popular. The retailer decided to product launch the cold brew tea by introducing a cold brew tea bottle and matching it with their consistent tea blends. This meant I was lucky enough to try a lot of different cold brew teas and was able to pick out my favourites. A key sale point was to set the scene of having a picnic on a hot summer day with a refreshing cold brew tea or drinking it at a BBQ with friends and family. 

I feel this drink is amazing on a hot sunny day when you want something refreshing yet flavoursome. Though this has now become a staple drink in my everyday life so I tend to drink it all year, which helps in the winter if I am coming down with an illness. I will admit with some people like my boyfriend, it might take a while to find the right blend which you enjoy to drink, however if you already like flavoured teas this won't be a problem. You can use normal tea blends like an english breakfast, however I prefer to have a tea with a flavour as the cold brew process really bring out the different notes. Not only is it delicious it has many health benefits compared to the traditional hot brew.

My cold brew bottle

So what is cold brew tea?

As the name suggests it is tea that is brewed in cold water. Though unlike the traditional method this tea has to steep for 8 to 12 hours for black or oolong tea and 6-8 hours for green or white tea. You can't cold brew herbal or fruit infusion tea as they haven't been treated and can make you very ill.  When the product launch with work we were warned of a reported case of someone in Germany that cold brewed a herbal tea and they ended up in hospital.

Health Benefits?

Nowadays with people becoming more health conscious it was quite easy to sell this process and tea due to the many health benefits. 

When you cold brew tea less tannin is released that helps make the tea less acidic and bitter in taste. Tannin is known to cause headaches and interfere with starch digestion. 

Cold brewing tea release less caffeine which means as it contains less stimulant you can have this anytime of day or night.

It is high in antioxidants which can help fight cancer, reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes. In some cases it is also said to help aid weight loss. 

Not only is the tea amazing it helps you look amazing too.

How to cold brew?

To cold brew tea you will need a bottle or pitcher that you can filter and some loose tea as this creates a cleaner yet more flavoursome taste.

Chilli Mango through the cold brew process

1. Scoop two heaped teaspoons of tea leaves into the bottle/ pitcher

2. Fill the bottle/ pitcher with cold water

3. Cover the bottle/ pitcher and place in the refrigerator

4. Let it brew for 8 to 12 hours for black or oolong tea and 6-8 hours for green or white tea

5. Pour the fresh cool tea into your favourite glass and enjoy

After you have finished the tea you can repeat the process with the tea leaves already in the bottle/pitcher for another cold brew. You will get a lighter brew but still delicious. 

My favourite blends

Piccadilly

This is a blended black tea with hibiscus and cornflower petals. I would describe the taste as sweet and delicate yet with notes of floral and fruity. 

Chilli Mango

This too is a blended black tea with cactus blossoms, mango pieces, pomegranate blossom and chilli flavouring. Don't be fooled into its compost like appearance. The taste is surprising sweet and floral with an after kick hotness from the chilli. 

 Mango and Bergamot

This a blended green tea with mango flavouring, cornflower petals, red rose petals, sunflower petals and bergamot flavouring. This has incredible taste that is clean, light and sweet.

Top 5 Reasons to Cold Brew

1. Healthy

2. Anyone can do it

3. Conversation starter

4. Tastes incredible

5. It's cheap