This award was just the motivation boost that I needed.  AND it allows me to boost the motivation of a few other new blogger colleagues.  This award was created for bloggers from bloggers.  Blogs don’t get the million readers they are aiming for from day one.  It takes time and effort, I don’t have to tell you that!  The Liebster Award helps new bloggers to grow there readership.

What are the Liebster Award Rules?

By accepting this award I am committing to the following:

• Answer 11 questions from my nominator
• Pick 11 nominees of my own
• Create 11 questions for my nominees
• Inform my nominees that they have been nominated

Here goes…

My Answers to Angela’s questions

What does your blog name mean to you?

• • Since my daughter was born, 9 years ago already, it has become very important to me to create a real home.  A place where our little family is save, can relax, find their roots and come down to earth in times of stress.  A place where life is comfy, where cosiness lifts all the clouds and where our family is living.

• What is your most comforting comfort food?
  • In times of stress or worries or just on a bad day, I mostly wish for, what I call, “mummy-food”.  Things my mother made when I was a child.  Not at all very easy as mummy dearest is about 700km away.  And whatever I try, I can make these recipes myself but they keep on lacking the mothers touch.
  • On the other I can find much comfort in a good peace of chocolate.  I’m still Belgian at heart, what would expect?!?!?
• What is the worst part of your day?
  • The two minutes before my alarm clock goes off and the 3 minutes after it.  If I survive those, I have lift off.
• What positive thought do you use when you are feeling down?
  • When I am really really down, I just have to cuddle my daughter or see her laugh and my world is right as rain again.
• What is your favourite food made with chocolate?
  • Chocolate sauce – Goes with everything
• Who is your favourite blogger and why?
  • My favourite blogger colleague is Tina from Tina’s Tausendschön.  Her German blog has mouth-watering recipes, breath taking pictures and a very relaxed writing style.
• When was your happiest moment?
  • In life??  Saying yes to my husband and slipping the wedding ring on his finger, whilst I was holding our new born daughter in my arms.
• Where have you gone that felt the most like paradise?
  • The first apartment that I rented and furnished with my first salary
• Why do you blog?
  • To improve my writing, in the hope to inspire others and with the never diminishing wish to be inspired by my readers.
• How much time do you spend doing the things you love?
  • When I’d say 24 hours, it would sound a bit cliché, right?  But 20 hours is not far off!
• What is one thing you want more than anything?
  • To keep husband and daughter save and sound at all times.  Although winning the lottery wouldn’t come amiss  (If only I would play!!)

My Nominees for the Liebster Award are

Homegirllondon

Lifevoyagers

Maleknitting

Life could be a dream

The seasoned homemaker

Tina’s Tausendschön

Simply fabulous chic

Mein Lykkelig

Choose happy

Tastesherrif

Nadelwahn

My Questions

–  Which country could imagine yourself living in?

–  What was/is the biggest project you’ve ever worked on?

–  How do you prefer to celebrate your birthday?

–  What recipe never works in your kitchen?

–  How does your dream garden look like?

–  You win 1 Million €/$.  What is your first decision?

–  What is your favourite piece of furniture?

–  Who would you love to see in concert?

–  What question would you like to ask your head of state?

–  Your husband brings home a present without reason.  What’s in it?

–  What makes your day perfect?

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Heavenly lemon macarons

Two years ago I made the first attempt to make macarons.  I was asked to make a beach picnic proof desert for the 10 wedding anniversary of our neighbours.  The result then was not at all bad, but for some reason all my trials to repeat that recipe failed catastrophically.  Ever since I have been surfing the web in search for THE no fail macarons recipe.  I was determined to include macarons in this Valentine marathon.

Why macarons?

Many many reasons make macarons the prefect sweet treat for me.

-  They can be a great present when you’re invited to visit friends.

-  Macarons are a very good alternative to celiac patients as they don’t contain flour or other gluten products

-  Macarons shells can be stored in the freezer.  So you make them batch wise and you always have a few at hand when spontaneity is required.  Even the stuffing can be quickly organised, then we all have a good marmalade in the fridge if needed.

-  They can be the finishing touch to that wonderful cake you’ve made.

-  …

Macarons: The recipe!

Credit where credit is due:  Shinee at Sweet and Savoury did a great job taking pictures of every step incl. a video to show us the folding technique.

I have chosen to add an extra security feature for my macarons: a silicon mat instead of parchment paper.

  

I will be making macarons on a weekly basis, I think!

So, if you will excuse me, this Lady needs her beauty sleep.  Tomorrow Valentine needs to be prepared   What are you up to?  Big plans; dinner, cinema, I’m playing bowling with a whole bunch of friends.  We don’t a special day actually to be romantic, we celebrate valentine every day!!

The post Valentine marathon: heavenly lemon macarons (4/4) appeared first on Comfy, Cosy, ... Living.

Am I glad to see you here!!

Yesterday was one of those days, I tell ya!  Some kind of higher force didn’t want me to get home after work, I think.  First a fire brigade was blocking the tracks (yes, I am a brave train commuter!), next a power cut rendered the central station out of order and finally our train suffered technical disruption.  It took me 3,5 hours to get home!  Frustrated and dead tired (I had to get up at 4:30hrs in the morning!) I didn’t think I would manage to write my planned post.  But as I read all your feeds, and my fingers started to tingle.  I have to wright!  I planned it, I will write Most of all as I planned to tell you the proud story of how my daughter Charlotte made fortune cookies.  I did write, but didn’t finish

So here goes:

Charlotte starts to read magazines.  You know those early teeny magazines?  This month it featured fortune cookies including quotes.  And before I could make my own cooking plans for the week, I got to hear:  “Mum, I NEED the Kitchen this weekend!”  So I did clear the kitchen for a couple of hours and this is what came out of the oven:

Ab Fab Fortune Cookies

* 40 g plain flour * 10 g corn starch * 50 g icing sugar * 50 g room temperature Butter * 1 egg white (40 g) * 1 EL Oil * 1 pinch of salt

Mix all ingredients together with 2 tablespoon cold water.  Leave it for an hour to set. (Perfect for children to have a play break as concentration fades!)

Spread the mixture on a lined baking tray, forming little circles from about 10cm across.  Bake them in a 160°C preheated oven for about 8 Minutes.

Now be quick and be prepared for burning your fingers (but it such fun!!)  Take each of the biscuits of the paper with a spatula.  Put a quote on it and fold it to a half circle and then fold the end tips down to form the traditional fortune cookie shape.  Put them in small glasses to cool and keep their shape.

And there you have it:  Fortune cookies á la Charlotte!!

Mother final note on the personal Valentine theme:  sprinkle some lemon zests in the batter give these cookies a wonderful lemon taste!

Thank you, dearest Charlotte!  You have a real baking talent and I look forward to handing you my baking sceptre.

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