The Cookie Brownie

Today's recipe is one that is very popular with my friends, whenever I send a photo of these cookies, I'm bombarded with messages asking for some. I found this recipe online, and have adapted it to a more brownie like texture, because lets face it, who like a hard cookie?

For this recipe you will need:

• 1 egg
• 270g Self raising flour
• 210g Margarine
• 300g Caster sugar
• 80g Cocoa powder
• 50g milk chocolate
• 50g dark chocolate 
• 50g white chocolate

1. Preheat your oven to 200 degrees (fan assisted).
2. Cream the butter and sugar in a bowl until light and fluffy
3. Add in a beaten egg and mix until its combined.
4. Mix in the cocoa powder and flour, until a dough consistency is formed and its not sticking to your hand, add milk if its too dry.
5. Break up the chocolate into chunks and add to the dough, making sure its distributed all the way through the dough.
6. Using your hands make the dough into balls, whatever size you want your cookies to be. Personally I make them the size of a ping pong ball, and place them on a lined baking tray with a 2cm gap between each one.
7. Bake for between 8-10 minutes depending on how gooey you want the Cookie brownies to be. When you take them out the oven they won't look cooked, however they continue cooking out the oven and start to harden, so its important you don't leave them in too long.
8. Leave to cool for 30 minutes.

I hope you like this Twist on Chocolate cookies. Let me know if you make them!

Lemon Drizzle Loaf

Sunday is the main day I bake, mainly because it means that I start the week with a delicious bake. Mondays are more manageable when you know you have cookies, or cake, am I right?

For the cake you will need:

• 6oz Self Raising Flour
• 6oz Caster Sugar
• 6oz Margarine
• 2 eggs
• 1 lemon squeezed
• grind of 1 and a half lemons

For the Icing you will need:

• 1 lemon squeezed
• 2oz Caster Sugar
• Grind of half a lemon 

To make the cake, put the flour, sugar, margarine, and eggs into a bowl and mix until the mixture is light, fluffy and pale in colour. Add in the lemon grind and the juice, and mix until combined. This should only one minute. Pour the mixture into a greased loaf tin and bake at 180 degrees (fan assisted oven) for about 30 minutes or until golden brown, and a knife comes out clean.

While the cake is cooking, make the drizzle. To do this heat the lemon and sugar in a pan until the sugar is dissolved. Pour the drizzle of the lemon cake, while its still hot. This will help the drizzle soak into the cake and make it really moist. Sprinkle the Grind on top and leave to cool in the tin, so that the cake soaks up all the drizzle. Remove from the tin, place it on a plate, and serve! 

I love simple and straight to the point recipes. Baking is meant to be fun, who wants to spend their time reading a 20 step recipe? Not me, that's for sure.

Hope you enjoy recreating this recipe!

                           

                           

Urban Decay&Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette - Beauty

In November, Urban Decay released a limited edition Collection in collaboration with Gwen Steffani. The collection is based on what Gwen would wear herself, Urban Decay have said its her 'Dream Come True Shades' and I was really surprised when I saw the eyeshadow pallete and lipsticks, that they are quite neutral, there isn't many that are very extravagant, which makes this collection very wearable for everyday, aswell as creating a glam night time look. The collection includes an eyeshadow pallete, Blush Pallete, Brow Box, Lip Pencils and Lipsticks. I picked up the Eyeshadow Pallete and was given samples of the lipsticks, and wanted to share my thoughts.

Before I buy any makeup product, I have to search reviews on them, to make sure I'm buying something I will use, especially with high end products, it's a lot of money to spend for something to just sit in your makup bag. And after reading Zoellas Blogpost, I realised I needed this pallete in my life.

The packaging stands out and is eye catching for all the products. The eyeshadows are in quite chunky box, with gold trim, I love the simplistic yet outstanding design. It's too pretty to hide away in the draw so I keep it on my dressing table. I was drawn to the vast amount of neutral shades, and shimmers in this pallete. It includes 7 matte shades and 8 shimmers and I knew that I wouldn't be disappointed with the quality of the product, because urban decay are well known for their long lasting and pigmented eyeshadows. 

The only colour I won't be wearing much is the danger, because it's a bright blue, but the rest will be getting a lot of use. My favourite colours are 'pop' which has a very wet metallic look on your eyelid, 'punk' which is a lovely deep purple shade and 'Bathwater' which works as a highlighter aswell as a base colour, to really brighten your eyes. I honestly can't fault this palette, and it's by far my favourite makeup item that I own. For £40 I really believe this is a must buy, a little on the pricey side, However the naked palettes are £38 for 12 shadows, and this one has 15, but with the naked you do get a brush. 

The lipsticks are very pigmented, and last on your lips for ages! I'm so impressed with the quality of them and will definatly be purchasing one or two. They are very smooth to apply and creamy in texture. My favourite is 'Ex-Girlfriend' which is a nude with a hint of purple. I'm not one for a very bold lip, but I will use the other colours as I'm trying to be abit more daring with my makeup.

Have you brought anything from the Gwen Stefani collection? Is their anything you want to buy? 

* I couldn't take swatches as my camera would focus on the colours, however this blogpost has all the swatches :) -https://www.zoella.co.uk/2015/11/urban-decay-gwen-stefani-eyeshadow-palette.html