Five on Friday-Random Thoughts!

A very busy week since returning to my little island. It will be a somewhat random 5 As I join Amy for 'Five on Friday'

One.

I returned home to find my son and partner are now happily established in their new home. We even had an invite to Sunday lunch which was truly superb. Have you noticed that food you don't cook yourself always tastes nicer! 

Two.

Top tip from our recent trip to Copenhagen. Do treat yourself to a Copenhagen card. It can be bought in different amounts of days. You get free travel on the greater Copenhagen railway which includes travel to and from the airport and the 45 minute journey as far as Helsinor. Many museums and attractions including the Tivoli gardens are also included. Buses and canal trips are part of the deal. It is such an easy way to enjoy Copenhagen and you get to save money as well. In the next few weeks I will be posting about different aspects of our trip so make sure you check in regularly to Coastal Ripples.

Three.

My senses have been very confused during the last few days. On one hand signs of Autumn are definitely clinging on. Yet Spring has arrived in the form of daffodil fields fully flowering! All I need is to see magnolia flowers blossoming and I will really know this world has gone mad! Hey Ho….

Four.

My little grey brain cells are definitely whizzing this week. I have decide to do a link blog on art named Paint Monthly. Everyone is welcome to join each month either to tell something about an exhibition they have visited or a painting or artist that they like. Click on the Paint Monthly image on the side bar to be taken to my ideas for December. It would be lovely if others added their own musings from the art world. Just think of all the news from different parts of the world we could share. Fingers crossed! 

Five.

Christmas has now officially started in my mind anyway! Spent the morning at my old school watching 'A Wriggly Nativity' which was lovely and definitely gave that 'Tingle ' feeling! I have also made some Christmas cinnamon biscuits in the shape of Christmas trees. They are a favourite of my time teaching Year 2, so I felt I should continue the tradition!

Speculaas biscuits (traditional continental Christmas biscuits)

Ingredients

100g plain flour

1 tsp cinnamon

1⁄2 tsp ground ginger

1⁄2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg 

1⁄2 tsp baking powder

1⁄2 tsp salt

50gsoft brown muscavado sugar 

1 tbsp whole milk

75g butter

2 tbsp candied peel, finely chopped flaked almonds, to garnish (optional)

Preparation method

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper.

2. In a bowl, mix together the flour, cinnamon, ground ginger, nutmeg, baking powder, salt, muscavado sugar, milk, butter and candied peel until well combined.

3. Using your hands, bring the mixture together as a dough.

4. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and roll out to

a 0.5cm/1⁄4in thickness.

5. Using a cookie cutter, cut out shapes or circles from the dough and place them onto the lined baking tray. Decorate the tops of the biscuits with flaked almonds, if using.

6. Transfer the biscuits to the oven and bake for 15-18 minutes, or until golden-brown. Set aside to cool on a wire rack, then serve.