Coffee and Biscoff Muffins

I have joyfully managed to track down some more Lotus Biscuit Spread (aka Biscoff, though I don't know why) since I singlehandedly finished the jars I brought back from America last summer. We had 8 jars in the cupboard a mere 5 days ago. Now there are just 5. I did give one to a friend, but it doesn't negate the fact that 2 have already been consumed. Not quite all by me, I have allowed the gorgeous husband and the amazing sons to sample a little. Please understand that I have given up chocolate for Lent and you do not want to come between me and my Biscoff. 

My favourite way to eat this deliciousness was initially on a spoon cold from the fridge. Somehow a jar found its way into the microwave and I discovered that when warmed and runny it is possibly even more amazing. And provided the inspiration for some late night baking (ok, we're talking 8pm) yesterday. Coffee muffins topped with Biscoff Spread. The week is looking good with some of these to eat!

I used this recipe but upped the coffee a little as we like it strong. I also put a good dollop of the Biscoff in the middle before baking, and then simply spooned the melted spread over the top when the muffins had cooled. The gorgeous husband and the amazing sons have gone to work/school with one each. See, me being generous again and sharing. The rest are mine though. All mine.

The Quest

There is nothing I like more than a really good brownie. Well, with the possible exception of macarons. I could happily eat brownies for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And have been known to come closer to achieving that than should be allowed. They need to be dense, moist and fudgey with  a slight crispy crust on the top. We are talking about the need for brownie perfection here. It is something of a quest of mine. I am usually disappointed when I buy ready made ones and prefer to make my own. This has meant eating many, many brownies trying many recipes. One of the few exceptions to the ready made rule are Paul A Young brownies. This man is a chocolate genius and his come very close to being everything a brownie should be for me. Sadly, they are only available in London. Nice excuse for a trip, but not feasible on a regular enough basis. I needed a brownie in my life yesterday so decided to try a Paul A Young recipe that I stumbled across. I tweaked a bit as I only had light brown soft sugar and molasses sugar in the house, and I added extra marzipan chunks to the brownie batter. The gorgeous husband declared them "the best brownie I have ever made". I am having to avoid the kitchen to stop myself from eating anymore today. I'm not sure I'm the 'brownie queen' yet as the mince pie maker claims that crown for himself still, but I'm working on it.

Brownie Love - complete with a molasses sugar and marzipan crust

No Guttersnipe

My favourite film of all time is My Fair Lady. I absolutely adore it. Admittedly, Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Shrek come pretty high on my list so please don't think me too posh cultured. As a child I endured benefitted from regular elocution lessons so I have always felt something of an affinity with Eliza. Professor Higgins may not have been able to label me a "guttersnipe" to begin with but I'm sure even he would be impressed by my high standards regarding grammar and enunciation nowadays. I'm not even sure I like text speak/abbreviations in messages. I only use them as they do save time. I am going to have to lie down in a darkened room after receiving the most recent text message from amazing son number 1.

Professor Higgins may be needed if that is ever articulated out loud, believe me.

Wally

So amazing son number 2 is off to school in his Where's Wally costume. I've done my best, and still think I am better at cakes than costumes. But he is happy - mostly because he gets to wear skinny jeans to school and have hair product in his hair. I have to admit that he manages to look cool even when dressing up in costume. I think I might suggest the book character 'Gangsta Granny' next time.  I have a feeling he would even manage to pull that one off too.

Enough cheekiness!

#BFF becomes #BFW

#BFF is sadly no more. Amazing son number 1 is now out every Friday evening at a "yoof group". So #BFF has had to move to a Wednesday. Making it #BFW obviously.

Today we had pulled pork with spicy carrot salad, and BBQ sauce which was a combination of 2 different recipes (this one and this one) because I couldn't decide which one I preferred. Oh, and homemade hummus which I made up as I went along. Basically, chick peas, tahini, olive oil, yoghurt, garlic, salt and pepper. And I also made tortilla wraps to eat everything in. Because I felt like it and was obviously avoiding the housework or ironing. And we had cake - my version of St Clement's cupcakes as I have decided I really don't like buttercream icing. Definitely housework avoidance issues.

Everything was guzzled before I had time to remember to take a photograph. But it was tasty and the boys are all happy. Good job because we will be eating leftovers tomorrow.

I've also just finished putting together the outfit amazing son number 2 will be wearing to school tomorrow as part of Book Week. We compromised agreed on him going as Wally from the Where's Wally books as I thought it would be fairly straight forward to do. Who would have thought that finding a red and white striped top or hat would prove so problematic. Admittedly I only started looking today, and he is meant to be wearing it tomorrow. Will I ever learn? So the top is red and grey, and the hat definitely not red and white. I think I am better at cakes than costumes.

Feed A Cold

I've been feeling somewhat under the weather with a nasty cold for a few days. A good excuse then to follow the old advice of 'Feed a cold, starve a fever'. I'm so glad I haven't got a temperature. I started with something sweet and made some Breakfast Muffins, basically combining a couple of recipes according to the ingredients I had in the cupboards. Nice, but they didn't quite hit the spot. So I started to flick through my recipe books for something savoury and stumbled across Dan Lepard's Lentil Stuffed Flatbreads. Easy. Tasty. Spot on. Definitely one to make again. The amazing sons declared them 'delicious' and 'amazing', so I think they might make their way into lunch boxes for tomorrow. Which saves me having to make sandwiches. Always a good thing.

Lentil Stuffed Flatbreads

Big Trip

Please excuse the lack of posts recently. I've had the most fantastic August away with the amazing sons and the gorgeous husband. The headlines of the big trip (now that the jet lag is dealt with) have been:

Aunty CC and Jack-Jon
First off, the amazing sons and I flew to Eugene to see my twin sister and her family. What a great week we had seeing Toria, Mr Dave and Lady P. We ate a lot of ice cream, frequenting most of the various establishments nearby. The boys bought some baseball caps that go oh so nicely with their new trainers. I don't think sarcasm comes across in the written word as well as the spoken one does it. We went to a theme park and a Scandinavian food festival. And I got lost several times out running.

We got a bit damp on the log flume!

The Girls

Missing Flights and Missing Luggage in Vancouver

After a week in Eugene, the amazing sons and I flew to Vancouver to meet the gorgeous husband at the airport. Except we didn't. We did fly to Vancouver (albeit after some delay). But we didn't manage to meet the gorgeous husband there. Or retrieve my bag which went missing. So we flew on to Prince George to see the gorgeous husband's brother and his family without said husband or bag. We laughed a lot the next day once we were all reunited and after some sleep.

Prince George and More Chuis
It was good to see the gorgeous husband's brother and family for 6 days. We visited Barkerville, a former gold rush town and the cousins enjoyed panning for gold together. There were also trips to lakes, fishing, kayaking, swimming, tennis and much discussion as to why I had to pay for a glass of wine on my long haul flights despite the fact that I was the one travelling with the children. Apparently the gorgeous husband was offered copious amounts of different alcohol on his flight, seemingly from take-off to landing.

The cousins hunting for frogs.

The gorgeous husband took some amazing wildlife shots!

Lots of Chuis

Road Trip Through The Rockies
Then began our road trip though some of Canada. We drove to Jasper, then Banff before flying to Vancouver for a few days. Amazing. Breathtaking. Stunning. Awe-inspiring. Those are (I think) the 4 words we chose to describe all that we saw. Highlights would be the grizzly bears, the earl grey tea, the chocolate buffet, the oysters and all the scenery. And Tim Horton's, who we have probably kept in business for another year after all the coffee and doughnuts we ate there.

Me and my boys at Lake Louise.

More wildlife photos and my pedicured toes.

Doughnuts again!

Back to Eugene to Finish
The amazing sons and I then went back to Eugene for a few days while the gorgeous husband flew back to the UK. Undoubtedly with plenty of alcohol offered to him throughout the flight. We wanted to stay longer but were unable to change our flights. We made the most of the final part of our holiday by eating ice cream again. And I fell over on a run, which did mean I didn't get lost as I had to stop and go back. We also stocked up on Biscoff, which is the most amazing invention. I say we, but I fully intend to eat all of it single handedly.

It was simply a once in a lifetime family holiday, that has given us many wonderful memories. Shame it had to end.

Lake Louise