she bakes: mint slice biscuits

i had been looking for a chocolatey cookie that resembles a mint slice and came across this recipe for thin mints - an American girl scout cookie - and it definitely did the trick. It doesn't have the cream filling like a mint slice does so i think next time (i still have heaps of dough left in the freezer) i will make my own mint creme and incorporate that. either on top like a mint slice then dipped in chocolate, or maybe join two thinner biscuits together with the creme in the middle and then dip in chocolate. since the cookie itself is a perfect base the possibilities are endless! I didn't make all of the cookies up at once so i didn't follow the chocolate/butter ratio, instead i just melted what i thought would be enough chocolate for the cookies i had and then added butter in portions until i got a good consistency for dipping. I used nestle dark chocolate melts and that worked fine although i would have preferred cadbury (but they weren't on special and i am still a student).

weekend wants

I love these

http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/192365

weekend wants

Jacket; Jeans; Glasses; T-shirt; Heels; Earrings

caution

I was hunting for something sweet and yummy to make that wouldn't require a visit to the supermarket for more ingredients. I eventually found this recipe and luckily had everything i needed in the cupboard. Honestly these are just amazingly delicious. Proceed with caution because once you start you'll want more and more and before you know it you've eaten all the cookies in one sitting as well as the dough you were saving to make a second batch tomorrow. I made them small and they were a perfect chocolate fix. I'd like to try them again with white chocolate chips too. xx

life

one of my favourite quotes is this one by John Lennon:
"life is what happens while you are busy making other plans"

...and that's what happened to me this last week. Intentions are all well and good but all in all life will just do its thing. Even though it's Wednesday already i hope you all had a good weekend. This is a small snippet of mine.
xx

fallen petals on my bedside make way for new life

beautiful day for a walk along the river

homework

study break in the sunshine at my local cafe

gummy

living in Auckland there aren't too many reasons for one to own a pair of gumboots, in Palmerston North on the other hand it's what all the cool kids wear. While I'm not usually one to conform I figure any excuse to wear gumboots all day I'll take it.

I searched high and low for the ultimate pair (and when I say high and low I mean I didn't look at all but in fact a pair stumbled into my lap in the form of a fashion mag article), I knew I wanted something stylish and was über jealous of my friend who had just picked up a pair of hunters from asos.com, but unfortunately a pair of those would mean no rent or food for a week and flatmates don't take too kindly to a) having to cover your rent payment and b) catching you stealing their food in the middle if the night.

so I spotted these glorious Karen Walker things which are not only a steal at $75 but crazy comfy. Now I can look cool AND stay dry. My life is officially complete. X

she bakes: winter white rocky road

although i would never turn it down if it was handed to me, i can't say i would ever go out of my way to make rocky road. This recipe, however, is a different twist on a tired old slice. I based it on one i tried at a morning tea earlier this year. While away on holiday i was craving something sweet and basically just made up the recipe myself. You can also add shredded coconut but as i'm not a fan, i left it out. I also used orange flavoured cranberries which added a lovely flavour to the slice. It turned out perfectly rustic and was so easy to make. Just what i needed to cure the sweet tooth on a wintery day.

Ingredients

• 150g Mini Marshmallows
• 100 g Dried cranberries
• 110 g Macadamia nuts
• 500g White chocolate

Directions

1. Grease a 20cm square cake pan. Line base and sides with baking paper extending 2cm over sides.
2. Combine marshmallows, cranberries, nuts and coconut in a bowl. Place chocolate in microwave proof bowl. Microwave medium high for 1-2 minutes, stirring in between with a metal spoon until smooth.
3. Pour chocolate over marshmallow mixture. Mix well. Spoon into prepared pan, pressing down with a spatula. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until set. Cut into squares using a warm knife.

before placing the mixture in the tin i spread a fine layer of white chocolate on the base to avoid any big gaps in the mixture or ingredients sinking to the bottom.