Santa Baby...

The time of year has arrived that we all mentally do 'Christmas Wish Lists' - admit it! I see my nieces and nephews, with serious concentration (tongues hanging peeking out of the sides of their mouths) write their lists..changing them regularly over a couple of days ...much to the annoyance of their parents & of course Santa :)

As a child I put a lot of thought into what deserved inclusion on my lists before properly 'signing them off' in time for Christmas. Over the years I had various must haves, as a child Barbie was always up at the top, oh she had a great life. No wonder I am so disillusioned 'But I thought all girls grew up to have a white sports car' - Barbie lived in a dream home with a walk in wardrobe bursting full of clothes (I'm not quite sure what she did for a living but she earned a hell of a lot of money to buy a lot of frivolous items. Come to think of it judging by her collection of patent boots, metallic short skirts or drain pipe sprayed on trousers and cocktail dresses - I am starting to think old Bab's may have been...how do I put this nicely 'A Lady of ze Night' WINK WINK)

I lived in this dreamworld where Barbie would throw on one of her ridiculous OTT ensembles, jump in her sports car and whizz around the city (or my parents dining room) - for weekends she would 'rough it' in her mobile home, pink of course complete with en suite and full kitchen - though I doubt she got much use out of that (my Barbie had an invisible chef you see).

Now when I think of my beloved Barbie I think of her with disdain. Oh I too thought I would grow up to live in the lifestyle I had so (imaginarily) become accustomed to. This Christmas if either of my nieces are playing with Barbie's I feel it is my duty to inform them that it's a recession and Barbie should downsize maybe not get the sports car and go for something more practical...I just couldn't bear to see another child's dreams shattered :)

These are some of my favourite things...

Alex Monroe & feathers...beautiful

 Topshop Allegra boots

my non purchase regret...investing for xmas

My style crush; Sunday Girl

This sweet rope ring..sometimes simplicity is best

Baking!

my rocky road bites were demolished by the girls in my office

so need to get creative in the kitchen again!

And finally....

Ali's Rocky Road Bites

*An easy peasy (naughty but oh so nice) treat you can whip up in a couple of minutes*

Ingredients

125g unsalted butter

300g Cadbury's Milk Chocolate (broken into pieces)

3 Tbsp Golden Syrup

200g Cadburys Shortbread Biscuits (broken, but remember to leave some chunks)

100g Mini Marshmallows (would normally use pink & white but only had white in cupboard)

Icing sugar

Pop your butter, syrup and chocolate in a pan and put on a low heat, stirring

Put your broken biscuits into a bowl

When the pan contents are almost melted add the marshmallows in, whip off the stove and fold most of mixture into the biscuits - be sure to leave some choc mix in the pan

When biscuits are fully covered in the mix, pour into an ovenproof dish, flatten the mixture with a wet spatula

When nice and flat pour the remainder of the pan over the biscuit mix and spread with the wet spatula (doesn't have to be perfect looking hence the name)

I left mine to refrigerate overnight and finished with a dusting of icing sugar.

*When I produced these in work the girls raced to have one! While I accompanied mine with a creamy Nespresso from our kitchen.

Happy Baking

Ali x