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. 

Happy Pancake Day.

So what better day to let slip to you my favourite breakfast recipe for the most healthiest pancakes I know than on pancake day itself. 

There's no need for milk, flour, sugar and the rest, just one egg and that one other secret ingredient..... A banana. 

Now you must be thinking how will that work and how will they stay together but trust me. If you've seen my numerous Instagram posts of variations of the recipe then you'll know it works and they come in at just 170 Calories a batch. 

So here you go... get the kettle on as they wont take you long (2 minuets prepping and 5 minuets cooking if that).

Step one:
Peel, dice and then mash the banana into a cereal bowl.
Doesn't matter what consistency you mash your banana too. It can be lumpy where you can tell its still banana or complete mush and look more like baby food.

Step two:
Crack the egg into the banana and mix together so the yoke is broken.

Step three: 
Heat a small amount of oil or margarine into a frying pan. Keep the heat on low as you don't want the to cook too quickly so they blacken on the outside before being cooked in the middle.

Step four: 
Here you have the choice as to whether you want mini pancakes or giant ones.
For mini use a large serving spoon and spoon the mixture into the pan or if you want giant ones pour half the mixture into the pan.

Step five: 
As the they cook and the edges lift slightly so the mixture isn't stuck to the bottom of the pan flip it over and lightly cook the other side. The first side will take longer than the second so be careful not to let them over cook.

Step six: 
Plate them up and garnish with what ever you fancy.
I always top mine with soya yogurt as its so light and keeps the Calories down and then with what ever else you fancy.

Here's some ideas:
- Forest fruits.
- Apple and cinnamon.
- Banana and honey.
- Layer them with jam.
- Grapes and coconut.

Or if you fancy being a little bit naughty or want them served as pudding:
- Peanut butter and banana.
- Raspberry and chocolate chips.

 Soya Yogurt with winter berries and honey.

(above and below)

Soya yogurt, sliced banana and peanut butter. 

Blueberries and banana. 

Blueberries, Grapes and coconut and vanilla Greek yogurt.

Melon, Strawberries, Blueberries, soya yogurt and cinnamon. 

Steamed apples, cinnamon and winter berries. 

What a better way to start the day.

Happy Breakfast