Monday, September 5, 2011

Pink Bubbles for Spring


Well Spring has well and truly sprung and the myriad of social get togethers has begun in earnest.  We had birthday parties, end of season soccer parties and a father's day do to attend over the weekend.  I am not keen on the endless supply of sugary rubbish that the kiddos constantly get their hands on at these events, so I thought I'd provide them with and alternative.


I made some pink lemonade and cranberry and white chocolate cookies to munch on.  Mr Beach House has recently returned from the States and has become a cranberry convert.  There are packets of these things gracing the pantry and in my concerted effort to use up all the produce in the pantry in the interests of tightening our belts, I am finding new and interesting ways to use these lovely little red bundles of joy.


As I made the lemonade the day before, it had a chance to settle out. It did so in a beautiful layered effect, that seemed to resemble one end of a rainbow.  Funnily enough, only one of the Beach House Brats liked it.  The bigger one has been totally corrupted and only likes the full sugar hit that drinks like fanta and coke provide.  But I only had my pink lemonade or water  on offer at the soccer picnic.  He chose the latter.  I on the other hand, usually only drink water or black tea, but this pink lemonade was slightly bitter, as it holds alot of lemon juice and I absolutely loved it.


The cranberry and white chocolate cookies were also not over kill on the sugar, so they too were preferred by the adults.  So lets call this a pink picnic for grown ups shall we.


Madam was in though and blew some little pink bubbles of her own.


As and aside, my arum lillies are particularly pleasing.  A year ago when I made this garden, I took the half dead things out of a dry pot and they have never looked back.  Lately they are giving me lots of pleasure as they seem so happy.


So after dancing around the back deck capturing the sun kissed nature of a beautiful Spring morning, we packed up the picnic basket and set off for a great weekend.


These recipes are inspired by Bill Granger's book appropriately named, Holiday

Cranberry and White Chocolate Cookies
Makes 30
150g/5.5oz softened butter
165g/3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 egg lightly beaten
2 tspns vanilla extract
1 cup plain all (purpose) flour
1 tspn baking powder
pinch of salt
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup white chocolate chips
2/3 cup dried cranberries

Preheat oven 180C/350F and line baking trays with baking paper.
Cream sugar and butter until pale and creamy.  Add the egg and vanilla and beat until smooth.  Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together add to the mixture together with the oats, chocolate and cranberries and stir well.

Roll small tablespoons of the mixture into balls and place on the baking trays. Flatten with a folk, dipped in flour.  Bake for 12-15 minutes until pale golden. Leave to cool on the trays for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.  I just cooled them on the tray and it worked fine.



Pink Lemonade
serves 6
1/2 cup super fine sugar
1 cup cranberry juice
1 cup fresh lemon juice
3 cups soda water
Put the sugar and 1/2 a cup of water in a saucepan and stir over a low heat until the sugar has dissolved.  Remove from the heat and leave to cool.  Mix the sugar syrup with the cranberry juice, lemon and soda water and stir together well.



Today I am linked up with

19 comments :

  1. Beautiful photos and captures of those cookies. Your little darling is just too precious too. Thanks for sharing with my newbie party.

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  2. Cute pics and what a darling little one you have.

    Blessings,
    Linda

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  3. Your images are so beautifully styled. Those cookies look great. Your daughter is such a cutie!
    Beth x

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  4. lovely photos with the drinks ,so cute of your daughter and that dress! love it!!
    x

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  5. Yeah - love the start of spring and any excuse for a party. so enjoying the warmer longer days and nights. Bring it on!

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  6. Thanks for the recipes, Carolyn. I love the layered look of the lemonade, and the cookies sound delicious!

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  7. These are beautiful photos of your picnic. Your little one is adorable in her burberry dress. And the cookies are on my to do list cause I love oatmeal cookies.

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  8. That pink lemonade looks so good and so pretty! :)

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  9. It looks so good! It is still so funny to see you coming into Spring as we are getting cooler here. I hope you enjoyed your weekend!
    xo

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  10. Oh what a fun idea. Love your daughter, such a cutie and she's really enjoying her pink lemonade. How fun is that. Thanks so much for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty

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  11. Pink lemonade and white chocolate cookies look so tempting.

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  12. Beautiful photos and thank you for sharing the recipes! I would love for you to link up Thursday (actually it starts tonight) to It’s a Party!

    www.acreativeprincess.blogspot.com

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  13. Lovely post! I love the pink bubbles!! Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing it at the Tuesday To Do Party last week! Can't wait to see what you link up this week!
    Smiles!
    Jami
    www.blackberryvine.blogspot.com

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  14. Yum! Love this post!

    Thanks so much for linking up to Tuesday Talent Show! I would love to have you stop by and link up again tomorrow with more great projects!
    -Nikki
    http://chef-n-training.blogspot.com/

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  15. What a colorful celebration "feast"!

    SOME CALL IT RED

    “I don’t have time,” my grandfather said,
    “to dither around and stand on my head,
    pretending that crimson is blue, not red—
    just tell me the truth, if you please.

    “I’m much too old for being lied to,
    so tell me the truth about the rose hue
    that colors the sky when the day is through
    and adds a bright blush to the trees.

    “Some call it red and some call it pink,
    some call it strawberry wine-colored ink;
    I call it rubicund, that’s what I think—
    now leave me alone, if you please.”


    © 2011 by Magical Mystical Teacher


    Featherless Pomegranate

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  16. We are enjoying fall starting here on Friday, I'm ready for falling leaves and cool weather after our 100 degree summer! Your spring goodies look fabulous and your little daughter is the most precious little one, love her little plaid dress.
    Ann

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  17. Oh, what a cutie :)) She so adorable :) Wonderful juice for the hot summer days, and cookies are, also!

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