Walking Through 2013 in Claire´s World | Lifestyle

Hi peeps!
I can't believe that we're nearing a new year. It seems like only yesterday we were all celebrating the arrival of 2013, and now 2014 is on the horizon.
It's scary how times flies, but people say, as you get older the years go faster. That certainly seems the case.

For me 2013 was an eventful year. It had its ups and downs, but it will be one that I wont be forgetting in a hurry.

2013 saw me finish and graduate 6th form high school, and boy was I glad that that time had come. I was overjoyed school was over, but sad that another chapter in my life had come to an end.

I also had to make a very important decision this year. Choosing between university or a long distance course. After a short period I chose the latter. Now that I've had time to start the course, I've realised I had made the right decision and am thankful for the support I've been getting.

This past year has been full of lessons, but what's life without learning.

#2013TaughtMe that maybe sometimes it's better to think things through rather than choose your first option. Everything is achievable if you have faith in yourself.

As one of my new year resolutions I am going to try my best a posting a least once a week on this blog.

I hope you all have a happy and safe 2014 and thank you for reading a following this blog. It may not be a popular blog, but it always brings a smile to my face to know that people are reading my posts.

Happy New Year!

here are a few photos from 2013....

 

Graduation Day.

 

spending the day with my bezzie.

 

 

Christmas Baking with Claire... Gringerbread Biscuits | Lifestyle

Merry Christmas Eve everyone!

I'm back with another festive recipe for you all to try. Today it's all about gingerbread.

 

Gingerbread Men

 

What you will need...

 

250g unsalted butter

200g dark muscovado sugar

600g plain white flour

7 tablespoons golden syrup

4 teaspoons ginger

2 teaspoons cinnamon



2 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda

For decoration.....

whatever you feel like!

Method

1.Pre heat your oven to 200ºc

2. Melt your butter, sugar and syrup in a pan on a low gentle heat. Be careful and try not to burn it because then you will have to start again.

3. Mix together the flour, sugar and ginger in a mixing bowl. Then add in the bicarbonate of soda and the cinnamon.
* You can even add in a hint of cayenne pepper if you wish. Just to give your gingerbread a kick.

4.Pour the melted butter, sugar and syrup into the mixing bowl. Stir together until it forms a dough.

5.Tip onto a floured surface and roll out with your rolling pin.

6. Grab your chosen cutter and cut out. Place onto a non stick tray and place it into your oven for 12 - 15 minutes.

Now your ready to decorate. Enjoy

I hope everyone has a happy and safe Christmas, and I will be back in the New Year.

Christmas Baking with Claire.... Rocky Road | Lifestyle

Christmas is my favourite time of the year. It's also the busiest and most stressful time. There's all this rushing around trying to get things done, like buying gifts for loved ones, wrapping up presents, decorating the tree and sending out cards.....the list goes on.

One of the many things I love about Christmas is baking. Every Christmas Eve I'm in the kitchen making some delicious goodies for the festive period.

This year is no different, so I thought I'd share with you two great recipes that you should all try. The first is a recipe I've been using for the past few years. It's simple and easy to make.

 

A Very Rocky Road
 



For the ingredients you will need.....

 

250g dark chocolate

150g milk chocolate

175g soft butter

4 tablespoons of golden syrup

200g amaretto or digestive biscuits which ever you prefer (I've gone for digestive as I think they taste better)

150g red glace cherries
100g sultanas

1 tablespoon icing sugar

 

Now that you have everything let's begin preparing.

 

1. Break up both dark and milk chocolate in to small pieces, put into a heat resistance bowl then add  the butter and syrup. Melt on a gentle heat until the chocolate becomes a smooth liquid.

 

 

 

 





 2. Grab your digestive/amaretto biscuits and put them into a freezer bag, then bash them up with a rolling pin. They need to have a crunchy consistency.

 

3. Next, divide your cherries into two lots. You want some that are whole and the rest that are halves.

 

 

4. Now its time to combined all the ingredients together. Grab yourself a mixing bowl and pour in the melted chocolate and digestives. Stir together then add in the cherries and sultanas. Make sure that everything is covered in chocolate.

 

 

5. Line a baking/foil tray with  a few layers of Clingfilm, then cover the base with a piece of baking paper. Tip the mixture into tray smoothing it out as best you can, although it will look bumpy.

 



 

6. Pop the tray into the fridge for an hour or until it is firm. After the mixture is set take it out of the and cut it up into bite-size chunks. Sprinkle some icing sugar on top to give that snowy effect.

 

 

And there you have it. Rocky Road with a hint of snow. Enjoy.

 

Hope you liked this posted. If you made some of these then comment and tell me how you got on. Catch you later xxx