A Gingery Friend For Those Cold Spring Nights.

I've been stuck in work trekking up the country for work over the weekend luckily spring seems to be on its way finally. Waking to crystal blue skies and mist across the city has made the early morning starts and travel just bearable. 
However snuggling up with a hot water bottle in bed with a good book or in front of a roaring fire on getting home in the evenings is still very much needed but can be very lonely. 

But wait I have found the perfect friend to keep me company on these cold spring nights.
They give you so much pleasure.......
Always smile.....
Are pretty.....
Don't answer back....
Smell amazing...
And taste even better..

Meet my EDIBLE GINGERY FRIEND

You can be the best of friends in under an hour. 

For 5 friends you'll need: 
85g Plain Flour
65g Margarine
25g Sugar
1tbsp Ginger
1 tbsp cold water

To decorate:
Coloured writing icing.
Smarties (or what ever you want to decorate with, love hearts, chocolate buttons, M&M's)
Glitter sugar
Icing sugar

Pop the oven onto 180 degrees, fan oven 160 or gas mark 4.

Step one:
Mix the flour, margarine, sugar and ginger together, until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. 

Step two:
Add 1tbsp of cold water and using your hands knead the mixture together into a ball. 

Step three: 
Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of approx 0.5cm.

Step Four:
Cut out 3 ginger men shapes, re-roll the remaining dough and cut out a further 2. 

Step Five: 
Place your ginger bread men on a baking tray and put in the oven for approx 10 mins until lightly golden brown. 

Step Six:
Remove from tray and leave to cool for 15 minutes other wist the decoration will melt straight off.  

(while they are cooking and cooling, you can get the dishes washed up and the decoration ready. For the icing mix 3 tbsp icing sugar with a drop of cold water and mix)

Once cooled bring your gingery friends to life.

Then pop the kettle on and head into the warm depths of your bed with your new best friend for the shortest friendship you will ever have, but also the best. 

I told you it would be best but quickest friendship you'll ever have. 

I personalised one for each of my housemates and left them on the side for when they got in from work so they also had a friend each to take to bed too. 

Yummy Jammy Hearts

So its officially the most depressing day of the year for all us singletons however a quick 30 minuets in the kitchen and the blues of being single will soon be lost. 

There is no reason not to treat those close to us. So whip up a batch for the girls for that girlie night in, house mates, children or parents just to say I LOVE YOU. 
or 
for those of you that are loved up for your other half, perfect if you have forgot that its valentines day and need to do something quick and romantic without showing any sign that initially the day was over looked. 
Plus all of the ingredients should easily be found in your kitchen cupboards so you wont even have to hit the supermarket.

Makes about 15 depending on heart size.

For the biscuit base you'll need: 
175g Plain flour
125g Butter/ Margarine (I use margarine as its a lot lighter than butter)
50g sugar 

For the filling:
125g Icing sugar
100g Butter
3 tbsp strawberry jam (you can use any flavour jam, but strawberry is the traditional heart colour) 

2 different size heart shape cutters. Mine I picked up from paper chase but you can pick them up in cook shops, good supermarkets especially at this time of year I've seen them every where. 

Step one: 
Pop the oven on to 180 degrees, 160 for a fan oven or mark 4 for a gas oven. 

Step two: 
Mix the flour, sugar and butter into a bowl and blend together until it resembles bread crumbs. 

Step three: 
Add a tbsp of cold water so the mixture goes sticky and lightly knead so it forms a dough. 

Step four: 
Roll the dough out on to a lightly floured surface to a thickness of about 3-5 mm (if you don't have a rolling pin and bottle works just as well) 

Step five: 
Using the larger heart cutter cut out as many as you can. Place these on a lightly greased baking tray or baking paper. 

Step six: 
Repeat step four and five and before placing the hearts on the baking tray, use the smaller heart shape to cut out the center. 

Step seven: 
Pop in the oven for 10-12 minuets until they slightly turn golden brown.

While these are in the oven mix the icing and butter together to make the filling and spoon your jam into a small dish and give it a little stir (this makes the consistency a little less jam like and is easier to spread onto the biscuits)

Pop them on to a dry surface/cooling rack and leave to cool for 5 minuets or so other wise the icing middle will not set when you put it on. 

Once cooled using a knife spread a layer of the butter and icing mixture on to all of the full heart biscuits followed by spreading a layer of jam over the top. 

Finally place the hearts with the cut out over the top and leave to set for 15 minutes. 

Plate them up and put the kettle on ready for those loved ones to arrive home from school or in from work. They will love the surprise but even more the thought. 

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

X