wishful thinking

It's not such a little known fact that I am yearning after a sausage dog. I have been for the last three years now but am yet to actually pet one, let alone hold one in my arms. When I was little we had neighbours who had two long-haired dachshunds. Their names were Tumble and Truffle (great, I know), and though they pinned my brother down under a table and mentally scared him forever after, I loved them and always ran around trying to pick them up. 

          

^^^this isn't Tumble and Truffle, but they looked pretty similar- if not more handsome. 

Fast forward a number of years and here I am now- living in London, in a tiny flat and feeling more broody for a dachshund than I thought possible. Every time I walk past one I squeal and give puppy dog eyes to the American, who flat-out refuses to get one for me. Boooo. 

   

I just. I can't. It's.too.much. 

To make up for the lack of my sausage dog (she'll be called Noodle by the way, and will live under my desk with her navy studded collar and the American will secretly love her) we made biscuits shaped like a sausage dog instead. Almost as great. Maybe. 

The recipe is as follows: 

Pre-heat your oven to 180*

1 cup butter (softened at room temperature)

3 cups sifted flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 and 1/2 cup sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

Mix dry ingredients together

Add butter, eggs and vanilla and mix with a fork until thoroughly blended.(Do not use a mixer, it will give you different results.)

Shape dough into four balls with your hands.

Chill for an hour or overnight.

Roll out on floured board and cut into shapes. 

Try to use as little flour as possible -- just enough so the dough doesn't stick to the board or rolling pin. 

Remember to cook on grease proof paper!   

I found my Noodle dogs cooked perfectly in 11 minutes, but this does depend on how thin you rolled the dough. Keep an eye on them- you don't want to end up with hot-dogs!

   

   

We decorated ours with icing, silver balls for eyes and a little bit of stem ginger. You can of course flavour them however you'd like. How about lemon? Add a little cocoa powder to the dough for chocolatey dogs or decorate with coloured icing. 

   

   

Yeah, so they're not a thing of beauty, but they're great with a cup of tea! We were clearly over zealous with our icing technique... I blame him entirely. 

   

   

A great recipe to make with children, or even to curb your yearnings for a little dog named Noodle.



L. 

a word of warning

There I was, enjoying my Peter Mayle book, slurping away on a latte with the American by my side, tapping away on his computer- a daze of Saturday afternoon bliss. Having decided our evening plans, we gathered our belongings to head home. This is the moment we were both quickly snapped out of our reverie. My bag had been stolen.  

It's an easy thing to happen and a total pain in the backside. Call the police, cancel cards, re-order driving license, get a new oyster, replace house keys and student rail card... Not to mention the loss of a beautiful new handbag, sunglasses, umbrella and that last stick of gum.

So, my advice to you: don't be as naive as me and leave your bag hanging on your chair, even if you are resting against it- you don't know who might be lurking in the shadows.. even in leafy West Hampstead. Keep it in your sight and boys- don't leave your wallets on display in a coat pocket either. 


It really puts a dampener on your weekend, trust me. 



L.

sunny islington

Spring is finally on its way. The birds are tweeting, mornings are getting lighter and I've gone to work three days in a row now without wearing a scarf. It's official- bye bye winter! 

This week has been particularly lovely so whilst on my lunch break on Friday I took a few snaps of beautiful Islington. 

   

I'm just a little bit in love with houses like these. I love being able to sneak a peak into them when you walk by-even into the little basements below. 

   

   

   

   

   

Regent's Canal will always remind me of "Peaky Blinders" from now on. I'm sure there have been plenty of dodgy dealings here in years gone by...

   

            

Today (Sunday) looks glorious too. I shall be sure to make the most of the blue skies and cooler air. I hope you will do too. 

L.