Midweek Treats: Cranberry, Walnut & White Chocolate Cookies

For the first time in a long time I have a Saturday off (hurrah!), so this months instalment of Midweek Treats comes to you on a weekend! I must say I have certainly made the most of my unexpected day off as I've been doing all the things I love to do: thrifting, baking, sewing and blogging.

Today I made some crunchy cranberry, walnut and white chocolate cookies, but the best thing about this recipe is that you can substitute any of the flavours to suit your taste. You could try anything from raisins, chopped apricots, dark chocolate, almonds, toffee pieces or hazelnuts - anything goes!

Ingredients: 

110g unsalted butter

50g caster sugar

110g soft brown sugar

170g white chocolate/died cranberries/walnuts

150g plain flour

1 large egg (beaten) 

2 tsp vanilla extract

Method:

• Preheat oven to 180˚c and line a baking tray with greaseproof paper
• Mix together the unsalted butter, caster sugar and brown sugar
• Add the egg and vanilla extract
• Stir in the flour, a bit at a time, until the mixture forms a dough
• Add in white chocolate, cranberries and walnut pieces (or your choice of flavours). Make sure they are evenly distributed throughout the dough
• Mold small balls of the mixture into circles and place on the baking tray, leaving a large gap between each cookie so they don't stick together while in the oven
• Bake for 12 minutes

*Recipe make 12 medium-sized cookies*

Now, put that kettle on and serve with a mug of English Breakfast Tea!

{Image: Laura Blanksby for High Street Home, using Instagram}

A New Year

Wow, how did it get to the 26th of January already? Time seems to fly when you're having fun doesn't it? Anyway, I apologise for the lack of posting on here recently, Christmas and New Year seemed to pass in a flash and it's been all-go since going back to work shortly after.

I want my first post of 2012 to be a positive one and so want to air my resolutions with you for the year ahead. It's something that a lot of thought has gone into and I've been mulling over them for a while.

To begin, my first new years resolution is to read more, absorb more and generally take note more. In a world which is full of on-line and printed content, it's easy to just skim the images sometimes and miss the meaning. So this year I want to make more of an effort to read, learn, enjoy and make the most of the wealth of information that surrounds us. Yes, there will be a day where my Bloglovin' count reaches 200+ but I vow to get through it all, no matter how long it takes.

Secondly, I want to be more productive. I want to make sure that if I'm doing something I'm going to do it right. Everyone has those days where they think 'that'll do' but I hope this year to stop if I know I'm not at my best and come back to it when I know I will do better. I want to manage my time more effectively and make sure I am using my time wisely.

Lastly, and one that my boyfriend should appreciate, is my aim to horde less. I have an overwhelming tendency to keep things 'just in case' but this year I hope to change that and aim to live by the words of the great British designer and poet William Morris:

''Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful''.

Here's hoping that I can follow through with my intentions and 2012 will be a positive, productive and happy (and clutter free!) New Year!

Happy New Year! x

{Image: Amy Merrick}