Update 24.01.19 I've been vegetarian for over a year and a half now and have been giving Veganuary a go as well, so I thought I'd re-share this favourite vegan dish for some inspiration. 

I haven't discussed it here on the blog yet, but I've been giving vegetarianism a go ever since watching a truly shocking documentary called 'Earthlings' a while ago. The documentary was really difficult to watch and there are some images that have stuck with me ever since, so having given the idea of vegetarianism some thought on and off for a couple of years, I thought I'd make the change and eliminate meat and fish from my diet and see what happened. I haven't gone full vegan, yet, although it's not off the cards, but where I can I will see if I can stick to a vegan meal without it causing too much of an issue. 

It's a post about chocolate, so how could it not! This recipe for soft double chocolate cookies is from a Weight Watchers magazine (so they're healthy, right?) that my Mum gets each month. I thought these looked so tasty I had to give them a go. They were really easy to make and very delicious.

Ingredients

125g low fat spread

75g light brown sugar

1 egg yolk

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

110g plain flour

20g cocoa (not drinking chocolate - it won't be chocolatey enough)

1/2 tsp baking powder

30g milk chocolate, chopped into chunks

10g amaretti biscuits, crushed for topping

Method
Beat together sugar and butter until smooth. Add egg yolk and vanilla -whisk until combined.

Add flour, cocoa and baking powder and mix to smooth dough. Refrigerate for half an hour.

Heat oven to 200*C (180*C fan). Add dollops of mixture to lined baking sheet (the recipe says makes 15, but I made 12 because that's how many I could fit on, I just made them slightly bigger).

Sprinkle with crushed amaretti biscuits. Cook for 8-10 minutes.

They'll still feel soft when you take them out, that's normal, they will firm up a bit as they cool.

Let cool on a rack. Dig in!

Sophie

A classic. Probably one of the simplest cakes to make, and yet always rewarding. I hope you enjoy and let me know if you make it.

Ingredients

240g soft butter, 

200g caster sugar (plus extra to sprinkle on top), 

grated zest and juice of 1 lemon, 

3 large eggs, 

210g self-raising flour, 

90g plain flour

Step 1: Preheat oven to 170'C (gas mark 3). Cream together the butter and sugar (I used an electric whisk, but doing it by hand would work just as well, and give your arms a bit of a workout).

Step 2: Add the lemon zest. Then add the eggs one by one, with a tablespoon of flour for each egg. 

Step 3: Add the remainder of the flour and mix in. Then add the lemon juice. 

Step 4: Pour into a lined loaf tin, and sprinkle with 2 teaspoons of caster sugar before putting in the oven. Bake for 1 hour. 

 Step 5: Leave to cool in the tin on a wire rack. Once cooled, turn out and enjoy. Makes 8-10 slices. 

Not quite as good as the original, our oven always burns things. And yes I do blame the oven! But not too bad an attempt, and it was lovely and light and delicious to boot :)

Sophie 

Today is the most beautiful day. The sun is out and the sky is blue. Spring is probably my favourite season because you're finally able to shed some of the winter layers and experiment with fresh new ideas and inspirations. Part of that for me was starting this blog - feeling inspired by the change in seasons and the glorious abundance of truly remarkable blogs already out there for all to read. 

Love; Nails with Leighton Denny Nail Varnish 'Babydoll' and Rimmel Glitter Topcoat 'Disco Ball'; A Spring Walk; Hearts; Ladybird Mouse; Topshop blush 'Pop'; French Macaroons (macaroon image from google)

I wanted to share with you some of the things I've been loving recently, as well as some random things thrown in for good measure! The Topshop blush is a really bright neon-coral shade and is perfect for pepping up tired winter skin (sorry the packaging is a bit grubby). The Leighton Denny nail varnish was one I got in a GlossyBox (possibly November or October, I really can't remember) and, whilst I don't normally go for a soft pink option on the nails, I do actually quite like this one. The coverage it provides, like all of the Leighton Denny polishes I've tried, is second-to-none and it was very long-lasting on my nails.

The macaroons are not made by my own fair hands because I forgot to capture the ones I made before they were devoured (that, and they didn't look anywhere near as good as these ones). I did attempt to make some chocolate ones using a Nigella Lawson recipe recently though, and I have to say they tasted amazing! Give them a go if you're looking for something a little bit indulgent!

Image from foodnetwork.com

I hope the weather wherever you are is as good as it is here and that you're feeling optimistic with Spring in the air! Have a fantastic day!