Monthly Archives: May 2012

It’s easy as ABC…. but learning your letters when you are only 3 years old isn’t that easy.

My youngest is working through the alphabet at nursery at the moment….and the best way for her to learn is to be surrounded by the letters so they become familiar and fun to remember.

So I wanted to buy a new alphabet chart to become part of our household furniture, something that we would enjoy way past our ABC learning days!

On my search I discovered Little Fine Day, a Swedish company. It has a lovely blog, full of design inspiration and a shop with a mix of great products from chopping boards to blankets. The entire work is of the artist Elisabeth Dunker, who founded the business, and simply wants to makes art and design something that brings pleasure to our everyday life.

As well as the simple and stylish ABC print, I also have the Friends of Violet print. I  love the vintage toys - especially the abacus and the ‘bu blankie’ is inspired.  I have added the pocket scarf and dots mugs to be my wish list!

Learning is so much fun!

What better way is there to pass time on a rainy afternoon than making chocolate brownies and these ones are soooo delicious!! This is a can’t go wrong Fay Ripley recipe that I had to share. Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 180g dark chocolate (70%)
• 180g butter
• 260g caster sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 80g plain flour
• 50g cocoa powder
• 200g milk chocolate, such as Galaxy, roughly chopped ( or left over Easter Egg!)

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (fan), 200°C, Gas mark 6.

2. Line a brownie tin with baking paper (I use a 25 x 25cm baking dish that works well). Let the paper fall over the edge so that you can use it to lift the cake out later.

3. Break up the dark chocolate and put it into a glass or metal bowl with the butter. Gently melt by placing the bowl over a pan of simmering water until smooth. Let it cool slightly.

4. Separately beat the sugar and eggs with a whisk until creamy, and then fold into the chocolate mixture.

5. Sift the flour and cocoa over the whole lot and mix in with a big metal spoon.

6. Finally, fold in the chopped-up chocolate pieces. Pour into your dish and bake for 35-40 minutes.

7. Leave to cool before lifting out, using the lining paper as a sling. Cut into squares. The size is up to you.