Breakfast Bars

Breakfast is one of my three favourite meals of the day. I actually think about what I am going to eat when I wake up as I am falling asleep in bed, sound sad?
Maybe, but I like my food.

Anyway, I need energy first thing in the morning otherwise I'll be grumpy until lunch, and I've found that oats are the only thing that really keep me feeling full, plus, my Mum says to me "Eat breakfast like a King" and who am I to disagree with that?

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I saw this recipe on The Londoner a little while back, all the way back in January to be precise, I've been wanting to make them but I haven't been able to find a dairy free version of condensed milk.... Until now!
Scouring the Internet has its uses, and somewhere in the deepest depths I found a sweetened condensed milk recipe, which I actually prefer to the real thing!

For the whole shebang, you'll need:

2 eggs
1 cup of brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
2 tbsp. plain flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

350g oaty muesli (I used half oats and half this Dorset Cereals one... Tropical!)
50g goji berries
70g cranberries

Preheat your oven to 130°C / 260°F.

First combine your eggs, sugar, flour, baking powder and salt, you'll probably want to use a whisk or a fork because things could get a little lumpy.

Then add your oaty stuff, coating all of it in the sugary mixture, then finally adding your dried fruit.

Press down into  a brownie tin, or a round one like I used and pop in the oven for about 30 to 40 mins, depending on how chewy you want them.

How easy peasy was that?
This recipe is so simple to do, plus, making it on a Sunday night means longer in bed the next morning because you can grab one of these and run!

Or, if you have more time, get up early, make some hot chocolate, grab one of these and crawl back into your cave (snuggly, warm and inviting bed).

I wouldn't just leave these for breakfast though guys, take away the words "Breakfast Bar" and replace it with "Healthy Fruity Flapjack" and you're onto an all day winner!

Perfect Poached Eggs

I have been yearning for poached duck eggs ever since my birthday, the problem was I had no idea how to go about recreating them uuuuuntiiiilll I saw this post by Valentina, which is the easiest thing in the world!
All you need is some cling film, a mug and your egg!

I covered the mug with the cling film, making a little well for the egg,

























 Then I twisted the top to make an "egg parcel" and popped it in a pot of boiling water until it all goes white.

 























Give it a little prod or two if you're not sure.

 

Twist the cling film really well before it goes in the water, in case it has a tendency to unravel slightly, like mine did.

 

Then pop it on a plate and serve with whatever you like, seeing as I was dreaming and yearning for the Crabtrees breakfast that I had last week I served it with smoked salmon and the home made bread I made yesterday.

One of the easiest, tastiest and simplest breakfasts!

The Big 1-8

Yesterday I hit the big 1-8, and after my form's track record of celebrating birthdays, I wasn't sure what to expect.
The night before I had started churning out chocolate chew balls and sausage rolls in their masses ready for my form and my mum even made one of her specialities, brownies, complete with marshmallows and chocolate chips.

WARNING: FOOD PORN!

To start the day off I went out for breakfast to Crabtrees with my mummy and my godmother, Jill.

Crabtrees is the best café near me, their wedges are to die for! Sadly, I didn't get the chance to take a great deal of photos because I was so ravenous and over excited but all three of us went for smoked salmon with poached duck eggs on toast which had definatley been homemade.
It was incredible.
Ever since I can remember I have had an aversion to eggs, I don't mind it when I can't see them like in cakes but not any more!!

Both the meal and the company were the perfect way to start the day but I had bid my farewells and get off to school.

Our class have always organised joint presents, everyone puts in about £10 and gets the birthday girl a joint present, my class gave me such amazing presents, I mean just look at the card!

 

 

 

This is a cookie stamp, so before they jump into the oven I can make sure everyone knows they're homemade!

 

And obviously there were cheese pies...

 

I thought we were ordering pizzas for lunch, and I went to get them with I and M, but instead they drove me to the Suffolk Food Hall where the rest of my class and boyfriend were waiting, I don't think I've ever been so shocked, again I didn't get many photos at all because I was a little bit overwhelmed.

The week before M and I had had a mille-feuille and her lovely mum (who I've never met) made me this beautiful cake, layers of delicious puff pastry, sandwiched with cream and topped with berries and rosemary flowers, then surrounded by beautiful blossoms and sprigs of mint from their garden.

 

Outside the food hall is the most fantastic thing ever. A bouncy pillow.

After gorging ourselves silly we thought it best to work it off!

 

In the evening my boyfriend and mum cooked up a storm with some chicken satay, a delicious Jamie Oliver recipe that I must repost.
I wasn't allowed to do anything but arrange the lettuce, so here's my contribution.

 

Then it was time for cake!
I was literally so full, but you probably know by now that I can always manage some more!

I had the best birthday I've ever had, and today was my last day of school, as a little tribute to my lovely class I thought I'd include a couple of pictures of our day:

Yes, we did spend the day as chillis, there wasn't an actual reason why, and yes, one of our pranks was leaving dead mice we got from a pet food shop around the school, it wasn't my idea!