Fortune Cookies

Have rediscovered the random joy of fortune cookies - but can anyone decifer these fortunes, which come courtesy of an old sage called Blue Dragon.

'Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn't know you left open'.

'The early bird gets the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese'.

and our personal favourite: 'Even the squeaky wheel gets the grease'.

Wise words indeed. Any other pearls of wisdom always appreciated at Little Miss Sixpence.

Lovely Lavender Biscuits

Been baking again.

This time a seasonal treat as my lavender has just finished flowering. Inspired by chef Valentine Warner's BBC 2 programme on what to eat now (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00dnk0x) - thought I'd give these a go. They're v tasty and same recipe as the cookies I made earlier on the blog. You just need to pick off the lavender flowers and mash them up in a pestle and mortar before adding to the mix after the egg.

Apparently you can also try lavender ice cream and meringues. Give them a go and let me know how you get on!

Autumn Winter Trend 09

I'm into upcycling this week.

It's a word I keep seeing on stateside websites which I think us Brits have actually been doing for a while without knowing it.

Think adding some quirky antique lace to your dining table, some country style quirky checks to your kitchen decor or renovating those tired but cute chairs you found at a sale...

Charity shopping is just a part of it - finding and reinvigorating vintage style accessories for your home to save on buying brand new, Far East replicas of the things Britain made well in the first place.

My only advice is to keep a cool head when you're shopping and ask yourself will it really fit in / add something to your home? The main mantra here is 'if you love it then buy it'.

The thing is, it's cheap, fun, you're giving back and best of all, the final product is unique to you.

The perfect trend for Autumn / Winter 09.

Inspiration...
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/second-hand-store

Feathers and Frills

I have spent many a lunch hour lost in a Marylebone High Street shop called VV Rouleaux. Full of beads, accessories, ribbons and feathers. They're the perfect way to embellish a bag, hat, shoes or anything really. What more can you ask for to brighten up your day? www.vvrouleaux.com

One to add to the Avoca http://www.avoca.ie/ and Urban Outfitters http://www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk/ type shop - lucky friends who go to the States often rave about http://www.anthropologie.com/ - a quirky clothing and homely place. Have a look at the bed making movie - loving the vintage style.

Grow Your Own

Veg that is. Luckily the mother in law has been doing just that, and is now offering fresh purple sprouting broccoli, peas, lettuces, sweet cabbage and cauliflowers to all those willing to cook them.

The taste is so different to anything you can buy and plus it doesn't cost as much.

Oh, and new potatoes. That's the one I forgot and definitely the favourite flavour so far.

Greens have never tasted so good...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvY311_oLXs&feature=PlayList&p=E751E3D84C593916&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=42

Like this version of the Noisettes new song Never Forget You - forgive the long intro...

Went to a great 40th party last night - the hostess had cooked for all 110 guests - pretty amazing work. She produced some fabulously fiery thai curries - a green one with chicken and a red one with pork medallions, as well as a beansprout, cashew and chilli salad.

Her secret? A cookbook from Avoca - for those of you who've been to Ireland you might know it - a fabulous store with everything from locally sourced cafes to beautifully unique clothes and quirky homely items. It's a bit like Urban Outfitters http://www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk/ but with a more homely feel. Take a look at their website at http://www.avoca.ie/ where you can order their recipe books online. And if you ever do go to Dublin or Belfast make a trip to one of their cafes to experience for yourself.

Cool, relaxed venue

If you're looking for a different place to hold a party in this year and you have a decent budget, check out these tents.

Great look visually and the events I went to and loved were a wild west theme and the second a boho wedding - complete with chill out area and sheesh pipes, check out http://www.papakata.co.uk/ for more.

Great for making an informal wow factor for your guests and apparently just as good in winter as they are in summer.

Busy Bees

It's all go today on the blog, but how beautiful is this lavender - it's in full flower and the bees are going crazy over it today.

I love picking it just after it's flowered it makes a perfect deco for the kitchen and the scent lasts for ever.

Damson Gin

Have just looked at a damson tree outside and there are loads on there - waiting for the autumn so they get ripe and ready for picking. Then I'll make a whole batch of Damson Gin - one of the finest liqueurs you can get in my opinion - and home made Damson or Sloe gin always tastes much better than any you can buy. Perfect.

Obsessed with Etsy

You know when you find out about something for the first time and you just can't get it off your mind? I'm feeling that way about http://www.etsy.com/ - it sells all sorts of handmade items from creative people in the States. I've just bought a fabulous headpiece for a wedding in vintage style gold beads and sequins - just stunning. And perfect if you don't want to look like you've been to Coast yet again for the next nuptuals you attend.

Have a look you'll love it I promise.

Credit crunch clothes shopping

Has anyone noticed that it's a constant sale in every shop you go in at the moment? If not, you're not looking hard enough! I always walk right to the back of the store to make sure I haven't missed those bargains. Shops that often have sale items in at good prices are: Reiss, Whistles, French Connection (and try their outlet stores too)...

I think TK Maxx has started to charge more than it used to - not sure why it's just a hunch - maybe they've expanded too quickly or UK costs have gone up - who knows.

I always try to buy out of season too - you can guarantee that if it's a roasting 30 degrees outside their knitwear will be discounted so keep your eyes peeled and save, save, save!

Happy sale shopping.

Home made biscuits

So I have a spare 20 minutes this morning to do whatever I want...
And although I'm actually on a diet at the moment I decide to bake some vanilla biscuits / cookies - in the shape of hands and feet no less.

I'm reliably told that 'you don't need to buy expensive cookie dough cutters', but believe me they would have helped.

Having lovingly carved out a template on the back of a cereal box I end up making about three in the shape of hands and feet and the remaining 30 in nice round shapes with a cutter.

So there we have it, home made, credit crunch friendly, biscuits...here's the recipe:

200g softened unsalted butter
200g golden caster sugar
1 medium free range egg
400g plain flour
2sp vanilla bean paste (just used extract)

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees

Cream the butter and sugar together like you would a cake, add the egg and vanilla then gently fold in the flour - combine the mix with your hands. Cover with cling film and chill for 30 mins (very important as it's easier to roll out and cut as I found by not chilling for 30 mins).

Roll out on to a floured surface and cut out, bake for about 10 mins until pale golden.

Smell delicious, waiting for a friend to visit so I can palm them off on them. Let's see how long I can last.

ed: the ones pictured are my second batch - check out the flamingo!!