Recipe: Peanut Butter Cookies

These peanut butter cookies are so simple to make, having only 3 ingredients.  They are also gluten free!  This recipe makes between 6-9 cookies, depending on size.

Ingredients:  1 cup caster sugar
                     1 cup peanut butter (crunchy or smooth)
                     1 beaten egg

Take 1 cup of caster sugar and combine with 1 cup of peanut butter,  I use crunchy peanut better for added texture but it's your own preference.

Add the beaten egg and mix in.

Place spoonfuls of the mixture onto a baking sheet lined with baking parchment.  Leave room between them as the cookies will spread whilst baking.

Place into a pre heated oven at 160C fan and bake for 15 minutes.  The cookies should be soft and have changed colour.

Leave to cool on a wire rack.  Serve and enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee!

All Change!

I haven't blogged in quite a while but things have been pretty busy lately.

Having spent the majority of my working life in admin, I decided that the time was right for a career change.  I needed to do it sooner rather than later or I would never have gotten round to it. For a few months I'd been thinking about making a change and so I took the plunge and went for it!

I left my job of 5 years and just before Christmas qualified as a Teaching Assistant.  I enjoyed the study and it was good learning something new.  Already having decided I wanted to be in primary education, I approached a local school and they were happy to support me with a placement.

This week I started at school and it was great to finally be in the classroom.. I'm going to work across all ages during my time there and the experience will be invaluable.  Working with the children in small groups, I offer support and also assist the class teacher.  I'm getting the chance to work with foreign children too and this is a real challenge as they don't speak much English but it's good to see them picking things up.  The children all work hard and it's such a good feeling to be able to help them and make a small difference to their learning experience.

This new role motivates me and I feel enthusiastic, which I hadn't done for a long time.  I'm looking forward to the future and the opportunities which may come along.  Onwards and upwards!

Photo courtesy of Nottingham Trent University

Steak In Cardiff Bay

When in Cardiff, we always stay in the area around the Bay.  Our evening meal was at Miller & Carter, a steakhouse chain of restaurants.  Discovered quite by accident a few years ago, this restaurant is our 'go to' place of choice whenever we're in the Welsh capital.  Clearly we're not the only ones who find Miller & Carter's food top notch, the company recently opened their second Cardiff eaterie  in The Hayes.

We had booked our table in advance, a wise decision as the restaurant was packed on the Saturday night we visited.  We waited in the bar area and were then shown to our table.  There's a good range of drinks on offer, including their 'softails', ideal for anyone driving or who prefers an alcohol free option.  The virgin mojito is my particular favourite! The service was efficient and staff are always ready to answer any questions you may have regarding the menu.   A good choice of wines were available and we chose a bottle of Pinot Grigio at the table. 

To start, I chose the bourbon glazed chicken skewers to start and my partner had the pork belly bites.  Both dishes came swiftly and were a lovely appetiser to the main event.  The main course was steak (other dishes are available lol) and didnt disappoint.  We both had sirloin and although mine was slightly overcooked, it did not detract from the taste of the meat.  With accompaniments of fries, salad garnish, steak sauce and the famous onion loaf, we tucked in happily.  A lettuce wedge is served with your choice of dressing and is a nice side dish.  We have previously had lobster mac and cheese as a side but decided on this occasion to share the garlic mushrooms and it was a good choice. Too full for dessert, we instead chose Irish coffee and a chocolate pot to finish.  This provided a sweet end to our meal without a filling pud.  The menus are tweaked regularly and although the lemon roulade has disappeared, the sticky toffee pudding remains, so it is obviously a popular choice!

We were very happy with our dining experience at Miller & Carter Cardiff Bay and judging by the continual queue of diners waiting for tables, we are not the only fans.    I'm just waiting for the restaurant chain to open a new restaurant closer to home than the current nearest one in Wolverhampton!

 

  

  

5 Things To Visit In Wales

Wales offers the day tripper or seasoned holidaymaker a wealth of things to do and see.  Here I have listed just 5 of those, the list is by no means exhaustive and purely my opinion.  I have tried however, to cover as much as the principality as I can in this article so whether you visit the north, mid or south - there's a tourist attraction for you.

Attraction 1 - Harlech Castle.  This mighty castle of Edward I stands overlooking the town with views out to the Irish Sea.  A new visitor centre with an exhibition timelining the castle's turbulent history is part of the admission price.  Photo opportunities abound here and the castle remains atmospheric and invites you to listen to its story. On selected dates there are historic recreations taking place, you may be lucky enough to spot a knight!  A new cafe is a welcome addition to the visitor experience and the culture hungry visitor can get lots of information on other places in the locality to visit, from the information bureau.  If you only visit one Welsh castle, Harlech has to be at the top of the list!
http://cadw.gov.wales/daysout/harlechcastle/?lang=en


Attraction 2 - Cardiff Bay.  The Bay has undergone a huge redevelopment with the former docks giving way to stylish eateries and cultural spots of interest. The iconic pier head building houses a free exhibition about the history of Cardiff Bay docks and the Norwegian church just a few minutes walk away is well worth a visit.  The Doctor Who Experince resides in a strange armadillo type of building and is a great place for fans of the Time Lord to visit.  With costumes and props from all the series, an interactive beginning to the tour and a shop and cafe, it is a hugely enjoyable attraction.  Whilst in the Bay you must also take a sightseeing boat trip on one of the launches operating there.  a unique way to view the Bay and River Taff and also the Cardiff Bay Barrage.
http://www.doctorwho.tv/events/doctor-who-experience/

Attraction 3 - Talyllyn Railway.  This volunteer steam preservation railway is one of the Great Little Trains Of Wales and my personal favourite. It is also the inspiration behind Thomas The Tank Engine and his friends! The narrow guage line wends its way through the picturesque scenery of mid Wales passing Dolgoch Falls and offers passengers a relaxed journey. With catering and shop facilities at Tywyn and Abergynolwyn stations, pick up a souvenir of your day or even sign up as a volunteer member.  For a nostalgic train ride in beautiful surroundings, this little gem is hard to beat.
http://www.talyllyn.co.uk/

Attraction 4 - St Davids Cathedral.  The smallest city in Britain shares its name with the cathedral that was started to be built in 1181.  A peaceful place, the Cathedral retains a vibrant place in modern day life with worship on a daily basis.  Concerts take place every month and it is possible to book a guided tour with a local volunteer.  The Refrectory offers homemade refreshments to the visitor and often hosts visting artists/craftsmen.  Some enchanting walks can be made from the Cathedral site and are recommended.
http://www.stdavidscathedral.org.uk/index.php?id=760

Attraction 5 - Llandudno.  The Victorians called this seaside town Queen Of The Welsh Resorts, and rightly so.  Its gentle promenade hugging the bay and elegant seafront hotels hark back to a more genteel pace of life.  Llandudno Pier is the longest in Wales and the cable car running up to the Great Orme was opened as the longest passenger system in Britain.  You can also take the Victorian Tramway up to the headland and take in the summit visitor centre and country park whilst you're there.  The association with Alice in Wonderland is evident with a town trail ideal for younger visitors.  From the copper mine to the traditional Punch and Judy shows, this handsome resort offers a wealth of attractions as well as a wide variety of shops and eateries.
http://www.visitllandudno.org.uk/

I hope you've enjoyed reading through my list, why not check some of them out next time you're in Wales!

The Spring Garden

The last 48 hours has seen all sorts of weather here in The Shire.  Saturday morning saw us awake to snow, albeit just a covering.  In mid April this was pretty unexpected and someone ought to tell the weather that it is now officially spring!  Sunday was a nice day with blue skies, a fresh breeze and sunshine.  The hedgerows really do seem to be coming to life and fresh shades of green are springing forth everywhere.  I think we have a pair of nesting blackbirds close by, they can be seen busily digging in the flower borders and flying away with their beaks full of food.  As I write this, today is overcast and windy but judging by the weekend's weather, we could end up having a heatwave this afternoon!  Ok, a girl can dream.

Spring traditionally is that time of new hope and rebirth and I certainly feel the air is filled with optimism.  Blossom is starting to appear and the leaves on the Japanese Acer are starting to unfurl, their vivid scarlet hue bringing a splash of colour to the garden.  Work is continuing on the borders to clear them of overcrowding and plant out fresh shrubs and plants.  Tulips are steadily replacing the daffodils and the dwarf lilac tree we recently planted is thriving.  I'm sure in a few short years it will be a worthy centrepiece of the garden.  Delivery of a new garden bench is awaited, we are looking forward to spending time sitting in the sun and admiring the results of all our garden endeavours.

 

Internet Dating, Friend or Foe?

Our modern lives have more and more aspects available online; whether its shopping, booking a holiday or job hunting.  With people leading busy lives and being short on time for socialising, many have turned to internet dating in the hope of finding a suitable partner, with the computer replacing the lonely hearts adverts of old and even speed dating.  The cyber date is replacing the face to face meeting.

There are a bewildering number of dating websites out there, some more responsible run than others.  It seems whatever your wishlist, there's a dating site for you.  From those promising to match you with your perfect partner to the sites aimed at people who wish to cheat on their other halves, if you want it, it's out there!  Dating apps are also used, meaning you can check on the progress of your love life just by using a smartphone.

Internet dating is a subject that divides people.  For some, it has resulted in happy relationships and even marriages.  I know someone who found their spouse using an internet dating site and they are still blissfully happy a few years on.  For every success story however, there has to be a greater number of disappointed romantics.  Those who have dipped their toes in the water but found the world of online love is full of  pitfalls.  Some members of dating websites appear to just want to 'virtually wink' and nothing more, whilst others are happy to chat. There are those who make it clear they're up for 'fun' and waste no time in requesting saucy pics and rendezvous in hotel rooms.  Sadly there is the sinister side to the internet dating world, with users having to be mindful that not everyone they're chatting to is genuine.  Is their profile picture actually them?  Have they been honest about their circumstances or career?  Are they an aspiring model, airline pilot etc as stated? Or is the truth a little more down to earth and less interesting?  Some users of these sites are actively looking to financially defraud lonely, vulnerable people and others may have an altogether darker reason for being on the site than finding romance.

It is clearly up to the individual to be aware of the benefits and risks of using internet dating websites. Safe to say, the websites are here to stay so if you are tempted to sign up, get all the facts you can first and then make your decision.  Happy hunting!