Hi guys. So I do not have much time to write a lot in this post, though it includes an awful lot (contradictory, aren’t I?) 😛
But don’t blame me – it is SO my brother’s fault – he got me involved in a very heated Scrabble battle.
In the tiebreaker we TIED – 307 to 307, we are what champions aim to be 😉
But anyway, you are probably wondering about the title. I do this a lot to you.
“Hi guys, so I have exams so I won’t be posting”
“Hi guys, so I had writers block”
“Hi guys, so I can’t believe I haven’t posted for so long”
One would think I couldn’t be bothered blogging! But no, that is not the case. It is just, I am a busy teen. I have things to do. Well I did. And just when you think after finishing high school forever, I will be blogging incessantly, another thing comes up.
Holidays. I am trying to be solemn and sorry I won’t be blogging but I am too excited so let me rephrase that.
HOLIDAYS! 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
That’s right, tomorrow, I leave on a 16 hour flight to reach Dallas, and from there, I will be travelling around the US!
That’s right my US blogging buds, I am coming to your home country. For 3 whole weeks.
Beware. Actually. You have had a British Invasion. Now get ready for an invasion of the Choc Chip variety.
I intend to photograph everything that moves, doesn’t move and looks remotely like matter. And share it all with you 😀
So you find me typing rapidly in the midst of last minute packing, trying to find clothes that do not make me look fat and trying to find my travel kit. My room is a mess. If you mothers saw it, you would ground me.
And then you would ground my mother for not grounding me 😛
Despite going on holiday, I am not leaving you hanging! NOPE, if all goes to plan, then there will be posts (once a week) automatically being published for your pleasure, acting almost as a countdown till Christmas, for which I am here to share it with you all ❤
So let me tie up a few matters of business now, share a recipe with you, then bid you adieu for 3 weeks my darlings – don’t miss me too much (and I promise food porn beyond amazement when I come home, just for you all!) 🙂
Firstly: I would like to announce the very lucky winners of my Menulog Giveaway 😀
DRUM ROLL PLEASE! My first random winner is…………………..
Benjamin Travia!
And my second random winner is……………….
Amy Zhong from Milkteaxx
CONGRATS my friends, you will be emailed (very soon) some codes for some fabulous takeaway, just begging to be used for Italian and Thai food 😀
Simply enter them in at checking out and you are good to go my lovelies!
Conditions: Valid until 26/12/2013. Credit card and delivery only. 1 use per household. 🙂
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Secondly, considering I am going to be in the US quite shortly, I would like to wish all my US friends a big Happy Thanksgiving! I have seen you blogging all sorts of delicious dishes as part of this festival, and though I only know you must be gratuitous (extra), I hope you had a wonderful festive day!!!
In pretending to get all in on the action, I would like to share a special infograph with you all so you can even save your thanksgiving leftovers in the best way possible – I hope you find it useful! 😀
And to any one like me, who has no idea about Thanksgiving, don’t worry! Looking through the infograph, it has brilliant tips for everyone, even if you do not eat these foods all on one specific day 🙂
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I would never leave you without a recipe. A to-die-for, soft, crumby, sweet recipe. Which doesn’t even include chocolate weirdly enough 😉
The jam in this cookies suits the shortbread crumbliness so well, and it melts in your mouth (as it should with all that butter inside it :P)
I wish I could bake you guys a massive batch of these jam drops (for each of you) as a proper goodbye but c’est la vie non?
Jam Drops
Adapted from: Exclusively Food
Ingredients:
- 130g butter, softened to room temperature
- 3/4 cup caster sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
- 1 large egg
- 24g cornflour
- 36g Self Raising Flour (SRF)
- 150g plain flour
- 1 jar jam (choose your own flavour!)
Method:
- Preheat oven to 150 degrees C
- Line 2 baking trays with baking paper
- Use an electric mixed to beat butter, sugar and vanilla till pale and creamy
- Add in egg and beat till combined
- Sift in the flours together and spoon till the stir the ingredients till they are mixed – the dough should be very soft
- Refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes to 1 hour (especially on hot days)
- Roll heaped teaspoons of dough and place onto the baking trays – make a deep indentation using the handles of a rolling pin, coated in flour
- Fill each indentation with jam, ensuring it does not overfill (otherwise it will leak out of the cavity during baking)
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the cookies are pale golden
- Cool on trays on a wire rack for 10 minutes before allowing to cool to room temperature on the wire racks
- Store cooled biscuits in an airtight container (funny right, cause after all, they won’t make it there!)
Notes:
- My cookies spread (as you can see) quite a bit and that was total unexpected – the given time of refrigerating 20 minutes was definitely not enough – furthermore, if you want no spread (as it makes the jam look puny in the middle), I would definitely not add in any SRF, instead just using plain flour in its stead
I guess it is Ciao for now sweeties, I hope you enjoy my Christmas posts coming up and I shall miss you for the coming three weeks!
All the best!
Well what exciting news. I can’t wait to hear all about your travels & what you think of the States. I hope you get to see much and have a wonderful time.
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Promenade Claire – Happy, happy, happy holidays my friend! Holidays are simply the best, yes better than food!! Wishing you a very happy Christmas and New Year….. and oh my those jam drops look divine! Claire
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Have a great trip. I love your cookies.
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Nami (Just One Cookbook): It’s so cool we’re in the same country! And your cookies look so delicious – perfect with a cup of chai. 🙂
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atasteofmadness: Have fun in the States! Also, these cookies look too good 😉
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Edible Celebrations (@lavesta): You are only young once Uru, you go for it!!! I can’t believe you are in the US as I write this comment, so very cool. I do hope you are tucked inside for that snow in Dallas. Very unusual for this time of year. where are you going? Will you be near Pennsylvania? Oh I wish I knew you were coming!!!
Can’t wait to hear of your adventures. Thanks for leaving us with these yummy looking cookies too, Have FUN!
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Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic: Hope you’re having fun in Dallas! Happy holidays!
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Dana @ Simply Romanesco: Have an amazing trip, Uru! I can’t wait to hear all about it. And these cookies look super-tasty 🙂
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eliotthecat: Hope you enjoy your U.S. tour!!!!!!!!!!!! (Love the cookies btw!)
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Lisa: Thanks so much for your sweet words regarding Lis’s passing. Sorry for the long delay responding. That said, I adore jam drops/thumbprints and yours look sensational 🙂 Enjoy your trip!
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Inger Wilkerson: Delicious holiday cookies. Have fun in your travels.
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Jennifer Eloff: Hahaha, loved your excuse! 😉 Timeless cookies … beautiful.
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Suzanne: Have a nice time and trip, I love the cookies, I could eat about a dozen!
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Simply Sweet Justice: What a perfect tea cookie! Let me know if you make it to Colorado. 🙂 Safe and happy travels!
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Abbe @ This Is How I Cook: You will have an awesome trip! Enjoy it to the fullest!
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The Squishy Monster: Have a great trip, Uru!!!
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Geni-Sweet and Crumby: These look delectable! Have a wonderful trip! If you are coming to LA, you could meet with me and Alice above of Nom Nom Cat! 🙂
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navane64: These cookies are fabulous, as usual with the rest of the desserts/sweets you have been sharing. Have a great time in Dallas and yes, looking forward to the scheduled sharings.
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Ruby @ The Ruby Red Apron: You’re coming here or you’re already here?! That’s so cool. Have so much fun and yes.. do take lots of pictures! 😀
These jam drop cookies look yummy!
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Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes: I love scrabble! So fun!! Hope you had a nice trip!!
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The Vegan 8: Those look so good Uru and I love that you added the corn flour and I love the colorful centere! Sooo yummy!
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sprint2thetable: You’re HERE?! If you come close to ATL you MUST let me know!!! Safe travels!
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mjskit: Hope you have a great trip! Where all will you be visiting? Have fun! Love these wonderful little cookies!
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Vicki Bensinger: I hope you have a wonderful trip. Your cookies are darling and I love the dot of filling – so festive!
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Balvinder: Guru Uru, I am not sure what happened either I accidentally deleted or haven’t received last two of your posts. I thought you have taken a long break this time but didn’t realize its me who is not visiting your blog. sorry about that. Enjoy your vacation to Dallas. The cookies recipe you have posted is delicious!
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Sandra Garth: You are the busiest teenager on the planet! Have a good time!
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Simply Life (@SimplyLifeBlog): hope you have a wonderful trip!
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Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl: Have a great trip! Can’t wait to see posts on all your adventures! Enjoy it!
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Como Water (@Como_Water): Haha! I can TOTALLY relate to heated scrabble battles! And to yummy cookies 😀
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hotlyspiced: How exciting, Uru. Have a great time and I look forward to hearing all about it xx
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Kim @ Treats & Trinkets: Have so much fun! If you happen to have a layover in Newark, let me know and I will find you like a weirdo stalker. 😛
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Paula @ Vintage Kitchen Notes: hope you packed some of these cookies for that long trip! They sound like our cornstarch alfajores, so you should try them with dulce de leche. Enjoy your vacations Uru! Have fun girl!
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Juliana: These cookies look great, love the jam on it…light and so flavorful…
Enjoy your trip Uru!
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annesturetucker: I hope you have an ABSOLUTELY AMAZING time Uru 🙂 Have fun girl!
Love your delicious cookies!
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grace: thumbprint cookies are wonderful, especially for a holiday cookie tray. the fillings look like little gems, so pretty!
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Britanny: Scrabble is so fun, now I want to play!! ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAYS FRIEND! Eat lots of these YUMMY cookies!
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Curry and Comfort: Have a lovely holiday! I hope the US exceeds your expectations. 🙂 Love a jam cookie too. 🙂
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Three Well Beings: Wonderful cookies. I’m looking forward to giving the recipe a try! And I’m thrilled you’ll be touring the United States. I can’t wait to find out what you find interesting. 🙂 Enjoy it all. ox
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sprinklesandsauce: these cookies looks great! now we want some!
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thatskinnychickcanbake: Mmmmm….your jam drops look marvelous!!! Have a wonderful trip to the states…you’ll have a blast!!! xo
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healthyyou72: First, I love your jam drop cookies. My Aunt used to make thumbprint cookies every year, love them. Oh my gosh, have a beautiful trip to America!!! Will you be in North Carolina at all? Safe travels my friend, Hugs, Terra
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Caroline Taylor: Have a great time on your trip, these sound great.
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thoughtsappear: Have fun visiting us here in the US!
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Dixya @ Food, Pleasure and Health: you are coming to Dallas – I am in Dallas lady, If you have time – shoot me an email dixy.bhat@gmail.com, maybe we can grab a coffee or something 🙂
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Amanda: have a great trip!
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Joanne: What a super fun trip!! If you are going to NYC definitely let me know!!
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Sugar et al.: Safe travels Uru! I am waiting for my turn;-( Till then we will be contended with these fantastic cookies.
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Tandy (Lavender and Lime): Have a super time away! America is an interesting place to visit as it’s so diverse 🙂
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minnie@thelady8home: How coool is that!! Are you headed for Boston? If you are, ping me 🙂 Have a safe trip!!
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Georgia: Happy travels! 🙂
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Swathi: Have fun and enjoy as much you can.cookies looks delicious.
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Libby: OMG how exciting! So happy for you! Have a safe flight and looking forward to reading all about your travels 🙂 xx
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Beth: Hope you have a wonderful holiday! Looking forward to hearing all about it when you get back.
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apuginthekitchen: What fun, are you coming to NYC? I’ll look out for you, LOL! Delicious cookies, love thumbprints or jam drops. Have a great time in the USA, bring your warm coat!!
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cookingactress: ooooh where in the US are you gonna be??
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John@Kitchen Riffs: What a fun trip! And Dallas is a good start – I lived there in the 80s and enjoyed it immensely. It’ll be fun to see where you visit, and of course all the photos you’ll take. Have a great trip, and thanks for leaving us with this recipe so we won’t starve. 😉
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cquek: Thanksgiving wishes from across the miles from our house to yours. May your home be filled with laughter and happiness!
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Blackswan: Huh, you’re off again?? I can hardly catch up with you. Have fun!
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Lail (With A Spin): Welcome to Dallas, Uru. I would have loved to meet you here in Dallas, in person, but we’re off to see my family in the Northwest.
I love crumbly, jam drop cookies. Would love to munch on some.
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Coffee and Crumpets: If you’re headed for some skiing in Colorado, you know where I am! Look me up. Have a safe flight Uru!
Nazneen
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Kathleen Richardson: You’re coming our way? Welcome to the USA! I’d invite you to Corning, but tomorrow I’m leaving for the Washington DC-Baltimore Md area and I’ll be away for three weeks, too. If you happen to make it to DC, There’s a little shop on Connecticut Avenue that you’d absolutely love… http://www.chocolatedc.com/info.html. Hmmm, if I make the Jam Drops, I’ll fill them with Bam’s jam.
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thecompletebook: Ooo, what a fantastic holiday you are going to have!
Enjoy every minute of it. 🙂 Mandy xo
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Angie@Angie’s Recipes: Thought you want to keep the post short…:-))
Eat more cookies and have a good time!
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milkteaxx: thank you! yay free food! have a lovely and safe trip to the US!
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Alice @ Nom Nom Cat : 1) I LOVE jammie dodgers, so I’ll have to make some of these before the Doctor Who Christmas Special.
2) Where in the US are you touring? Does it by chance include… Los Angeles? 😉
3) Happy Thanksgiving even though you Aussies don’t celebrate it!
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Culinary Flavors: Have fun and absorb as much as you can on your trip! You will have a great time I am sure! Delicious cookies!
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