Zesty Cookies

 

Welcome back, today I wanted to share some baking I’ve been doing. I find baking therapeutic and would love to dedicate more time to it at some point. I used a recipe from The Hungry Student Easy Baking book by Charlotte Pike, it’s great for cookies, traybakes, cakes and much more. (Page 91.)

I edited the recipe a little, for example I added sultanas instead of chocolate chips for a healthier option. Because of this change, I think these would be a suitable breakfast snack. The sultanas add a touch of natural sweetness, along with the zestyness of the orange peel.

There was an extra step to the recipe which was leaving the dough in the fridge for an hour before cutting out shapes with cookie cutters. This gave me a chance to wash up and have a sit. I used a drinking glass for a perfect circle but you could opt for other shapes if you wish.

The zestyness of the orange and sweetness of the sultanas came though in the end result. They had a lovely texture, just a little bit crumbly. If I feel like using the recipe again, I might mix things up and try lemon zest and nuts or something.

What do you like to bake? 

Do you have any baking book recs for me? :-) Xx

These are a few of my favourite things #16

Books:

Save Your Planet by Ben Hoare

This book aims to educate children about the global environmental crisis. Chapters talk through topics such as climate change, food and farming, pollution, energy at home, etc. It also tells the story of many activists already making a difference to inspire new voices. The book is presented beautifully with striking illustrations.

The Great Food Bank Heist by Onjali Q.Rauf 

This is a story about Nelson, and his family who visits a food bank once a week. It brings up a very important topic, while they solve an important mystery at their local supermarket donation drop off. This book was new to me, and a fairly new release; I would recommend it whole heartedly for its message of empathy and friendship.

Break the Mould by Sinead Burke

This is a book about the power of being different, and celebrating your uniqueness. Written by Sinead Burke who is a well known activist and also a little person. We are taken through chapters such as to dream, to be curious, to be kind, to find your words, etc.

I appreciated the memoir section of this book, and learning more about the authors experiences. Throughout there are also tips and advice for those who also want to break the mould. It’s beautifully written with a strong message about being true to yourself.

101 Morale Boosters by Gael Lindenfield

I first heard of this author after listening to one of her audiobooks from the library. I really resonated with her words so decided to read more of her works. I found this one secondhand, it discusses morale boosters and came at a time when this was helpful. 

Get Fit Walking by Sam Murphy

I picked this up from the library to get some inspiration for walking and I found it to be a surprisingly interesting read. It covers most bases such as training know-how and sticking with it, etc. It would be a good one to pick up if you are just starting with walking.

Our Rainbow Queen by Sali Hughes

Here we are invited to learn about Queen Elizabeth’s colourful style, going through the colours of the rainbow. I thought this might be a bit novelty, but I was pleased to see the idea being executed very well. I learnt plenty about the queen’s looks through history, and insightful things about the royal family.

 

The queen has an eye for bright colours, and it was lovely to see how to style those vivid hues. I also appreciated how the queen thinks carefully about her choice of clothes to make sure it’s appropriate for her event. It’s a beautifully presented coffee table book, with pictures and text along side them.

A Dictionary of Dream Symbols by Eric Ackroyd

I’ve read up on the topic of dreams previously, and wanted to revisit this interest. This book includes an introduction to dream psychology, and then a dictionary of dream symbols. I just dipped into this instead of reading it cover to cover and found it enjoyable.

The Lost Spells by Robert Macfarlane

The Lost Spells is a beautifully illustrated poetry collection for children about the wonders of nature, and how animals go about their day. It’s very aesthetically pleasing to peruse as well as educational; I loved the images and text in equal measure. I actually attended one of Jackie Morris’ art exhibitions, which featured her amazing illustrations from her previous book The Lost Words, and note she is very talented.

Films:

Bewitched (2005)

‘A producer remaking the classic sitcom ‘Bewitched’ unwittingly casts an actual witch in the lead role.’

Originally Bewitched was a TV series in the 60’s but never knew much about it until recently. This film adaption is more current, featuring Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell. It was a bit of fun, and found myself enjoying it.

Moonstruck (1987)

‘Loretta Castorini, a bookkeeper from Brooklyn, New York, finds herself in a difficult situation when she falls for the brother of the man she has agreed to marry.’

This one was more outside my comfort zone, because of its era, and some of the themes. Loretta is played by a young Cher (the singer), and this was what made me curious to watch it. My favourite part was when Loretta gives herself a makeover.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)

‘A young New York socialite becomes interested in a young man who has moved into her apartment building, but her past threatens to get in the way.’

Out of the recent films I’ve watched, this was a solid highlight. I’ve seen clips of this film around Christmas time, but wanted to watch it all the way through. I loved Audrey Hepburn, and could see why she is a fashion icon.

Have you read any of these books?

Do any of these films interest you? :-) Xx

Magazine Review #1 (Teen Breathe)

 

Name of magazine

Teen Breathe (Issue 6)

Who is it aimed at?

As the name would suggest it’s aimed at teens, so 13-19 

year old’s. But I am an adult and got some enjoyment out of it.

The slogan

Be inspired, be brave, be kind, be yourself. I really like 

this, and it was what made me pick it up to read.

What the magazine aims to achieve

As the slogan mentions, it encourages teens to be brave, kind, inspired and yourself. I can see a lot of parents buying this magazine for their children because of the positive values. Some of the topics include mental health, and career goals.

Favourite articles

The don’t be sorry article struck a chord with me, talking about how we say sorry when really, we don’t need to but it’s a very British thing. It gives tips for ways to take a different viewpoint in communication.

The sense and sensitivity article talks about how sensitivity can be a gift. I’ve read a little a bit about this subject before but it covers some good starting points if you are interested to learn.

Further notes

The illustrations are absolutely stunning, particularly the ones on the front cover. I think Teen Breathe is still running, if you are interested in picking up a copy. They also have an adult version which is called Breathe.

Would I buy another copy?

It’s a possibility, but I have lots of other magazines I want to try. I’m curious about trying Breathe, aimed at adults. If you are after buying this magazine, I would try eBay, a good newsagent, WHSmith’s or supermarkets.

Do you read many magazines?

Do you have any recommendations for me? :-) Xx