I think that afghans (like I made the other day) could almost be called our National Chocolate Biscuits. I remember making these as a very small child- at first my job would be to shell the walnuts (we had quite a fruitful nut tree that would keep us in walnuts all year) then make the icing, before I learned to make the biscuits all by myself. Looking back on baking as a child, I realise it kept me happy and occupied and gave me a feeling of Being Useful. I was so lucky to be given nearly complete freedom to do whatever I wanted in the kitchen, from a very young age, so thank you Mum! I hope I can be as relaxed with Arlo and Keira's culinary adventures.
So anyway, here is my recipe for afghans. If you happen to have any small people in the house, I'm sure they'll enjoy helping out too:
Afghans
200g soft butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups plain flour
1/4 cup cocoa
2 cups cornflakes
chocolate icing
walnut pieces
Cream together butter and sugar, then stir in sifted cocoa and flour. Lastly fold in cornflakes, breaking them up as you mix them in.
Roll into small balls, flatten with a fork, then bake at 180 degrees Celcius for 15 mins or until 'set'. When cold ice with chocolate icing and place walnuts on top.
The dress with the mismatched buttons from yesterday really didn't want to be photographed today. After many tries, this is as good as it was going to get, but hopefully you can get the idea. The print is a sort of greeny-yellow and brown apple blossom design, there's a big collar, mismatched green buttons and a brown ribbon around the waist. I love dresses from this era and think I might start a collection.
While I'm thinking about blossom, and the fact that winter will soon be over for my friends on the other side of the world, I have to share this link: linen + leaves at shim and sons. How beautiful.
