Rolling with the Stones

Since the weekend's activities at Glastonbury, all we are hearing about is The Rolling Stones. After finally agreeing to play after all these years, apparently they didn't disappoint! Although we are green with envy that we weren't there, it's great to hear that they've still got it and that they still love what they do. That's why, this week, we're playing homage to  those five London boys who exploded onto the music scene back in the 60's and have been at the top of their game ever since! 

Salsa Monday

We hope you all enjoyed a glorious sunny weekend. We're sure there were plenty of barbecues happening across the country with many more to come throughout the summer! One of the things that always goes down a treat at our alfresco parties is a fresh, home made salsa. It's a million times better than the store bought stuff and is unbelievably easy! Serve with some tortilla chips on the salad table. Be sure to make a few pots as it disappears fast!

Ingredients

3 roma tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 garlic cloves
2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 jalapeño
1/4 tsp salt

In no particular order chop everything up, add the salt and give it a good stir. You can also try adding pineapple, black beans, or avocado if you want to be a little bit fancy. That's it! Grab some chips and start snacking. We won't judge you if you eat the whole bowl in one sitting.

Words of Wisdom

"Be yourself. The world worships the original." - Ingrid Bergman

So into Suede

Suede is one of those materials that, if cared for properly, can last a lifetime, even the vegan friendly imitations! It is so versatile and can be dressed up or down whatever the occasion. Somehow, the soft, matte-ness of it just draws your attention in, often making your bag a statement item. We of course love the mint fringe bag and the bold simplicity of the orange number. How do you feel about suede and how would you choose to wear it?

The pitter patter of tiny feet!

This week, we're going all gooey-eyed over these gorgeous retro nurseries. Whether you go for the minimalist look or prefer and organised chaos kind of style, these vintage touches will add a hint of cool to the tiny one's bedroom. These rooms are so chic that they could be easily grown into over the years, with a few chops and changes here and there. A good, retro wallpaper is definitely an investment buy! 

Woodstock

We're currently amidst festival season here in the UK with Glastonbury happening this very week. All of this just makes us wish we were back in 1969 listening to Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock with braids in our hair and our flares drenched in mud! We could do with three days of peace and music right now, although a bit more sunshine and a little less rain wouldn't go amiss! Sonar in Barcelona or Coachella in California would just about cut it! What are your festival plans this year?

Ice Cream Sandwiches

This weeks recipe is one for the kids (or any of us adults looking for a little kick of nostalgia!). Actually, we're not sure anyone could resist these gooey brownie cookies stuffed with delicious vanilla ice cream. The rainbow sprinkles add a touch of fun and colour as well but really you could use anything from crumbled nuts to edible glitter! The recipe is so simple so if you are entertaining the kiddos on a rainy day, it's something they can help stir and assemble quite easily. Just be sure to confine sprinkles to one corner unless you want the whole house covered in hundreds and thousands. They get everywhere!

For the filling:


1 pint vanilla ice cream


rainbow sprinkles

For the Cookies:

1 package brownie mix


¼- ½ cup flour


¼ cup vegetable oil


3 tablespoons water


2 eggs

Preheat oven to 350°. Line a baking tray with baking paper and set aside.
Combine brownie mix, ¼ cup flour, oil, water, and eggs. (Depending on the brand of your brownie mix, you may need a bit more flour.) Add in more flour one tablespoon at a time (up to a ¼ cup) until dough is just slightly firm. This is a wet dough. Form heaping tablespoons full of dough and set 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheet. They will look slightly messy, but form nice round cookies once they’re baked. Bake in preheated oven until cookies are just set, about 9 minutes. Let cool on baking sheets for two minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cool, place in freezer for 30 minutes.

Remove ice cream from freezer five minutes before assembly. Place rainbow sprinkles in a shallow bowl or plate. To assemble the sandwiches, take a scoop of vanilla ice cream and place it on the bottom of a cookie. Using the back of the ice cream scoop, press down the ice cream slightly so it spreads across the cookie. Top with another cookie and press down again, squeezing some of the ice cream to the edge of the cookie. Roll in rainbow sprinkles and serve.