Cheese, biscuits, records and a birthday. A good day.

I love birthdays and I love December so December birthdays are absolutely my most favourite (after my own of course). Both my sister and Rich are December babies so it's triple the food, fun and presents this month whoppie! Today is Rich's so he's taking a half day off work this afternoon and we're going to head down to a new vinyl and coffee shop that's opened on Mill Road. It's the first of it's kind in Cambridge, the only vinyls you can buy here (apart from in Fopp and HMV) are from the market so having a real life record shop that also sells lots of tea and cake can only be a truly wonderful thing. We're excited. We're also heading out to Midsummer House this evening for a birthday tea. It's a 5 courser set in a little house on Midsummer Common and the food is supposed to be really quite fancy. I can't wait.

Because it's only the two of us today we thought a full on cake this evening, after a 5 course meal may be a little indulgent (and also we would definitely eat it all by Friday, which is not ideal) so we're saving the Hummingbird Mississippi Mudpie cake until our party on Saturday (I think it's going to take me most of Friday to make). However, it is a birthday and what's a birthday without a cake of some description? I've opted, as a surprise to go for some blue cheese and savoury biscuits. When I started the baking thing he said he was waiting for me to get to the savoury biscuits, and he loves cheese so I thought why not create a cheese and biscuit cake of sorts. 

I couldn't find spelt flour anywhere so went with wholewheat so they don't have the same nutty taste as Spelt biscuits would but they are tasty. They have a wholesome flavour and would be smashing with some blue cheese and a dollop of chutney. (This is also counting as today's advent recipe. A bit of savoury in there can be a lovely little addition).

I followed this recipe from the Guardian making a few little changes

Oat and Seed Biscuits

250g wholewheat flour, plus a little extra for rolling

25g dark brown sugar

½ tsp bicarbonate of soda

½ tsp salt

125g unsalted butter, softened

75g rolled oats

50ml cold milk, plus extra to finish

2tbsp golden linseeds

2tbsp pumpkin seeds

Pop the flour, sugar, bicarb and salt in a bowl, and rub in the butter. 

Stir in the oats, then mix in the milk until you have a smooth dough. 

On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough till about the thickness of a pound coin and cut using circular cookie cutter. Place them on a tray lined with baking paper. 

Brush with milk and bake at 170C for about 25-30 minutes, until crisp.

These are perfect for a homemade Christmas present, as an after dinner treat with friends or in front of Love Actually, wrapped up in a cosy blanket with a glass of mulled wine.

Now bring me some figgy biscuits...(please)

It's the first of December yippee! It is now officially acceptable to have on the Christmas scents and listen to carols whilst baking. I always get so excited at the beginning of December, the build up to Christmas is such a fun, magical and truly delicious time of the year.

Rich's birthday is tomorrow so we don't put up our tree or decorations until after it. We'll put them up on Friday this year, just in time for our 'Deck the Hall's' Christmas party. The advent calendar however is allowed to break these rules so I went down to the shed and fished it out today yay! Last year was our first Christmas in our very own home so we decided it would be festive and homey to make our own advent calendar. I say we, I had nothing to do with the production of it. Sewing is not my forte. Rich on the other hand is a dab hand with the old sewing machine so was able to whip up a little advent stocking calendar for us.

Last year we stuffed it with Terry's Chocolate Orange pieces. Yum. This year though, as I'm starting the old biscuit business and biscuits are a daily bake in the flat now, I've decided we'll have a little biscuit treat in there instead. So I'll share our advent biscuit recipes on here.

I mentioned in the other post I'd been trying a bit of healthier baking and baked a batch of raw cookies. They passed the taste test so now I'll share them with you. I think they're particularly festive because they contain figs, walnuts and some christmassy spices. They are gluten, refined sugar and grain free. Full only of healthy goodness, which means you can nibble away guilt free! So a super way to kick off this fabulous month.

Christmas themed Figgy Biscuit

1/2 cup almonds
1/4 cup rolled oats
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp pomegranate juice
6 dried figs
Pomegranate gems to decorate

Whack it all in the blender and blend until a sticky dough forms

Lightly flour a clean surface and roll out the dough.

Cut into suitably festive shapes (or whatever you would prefer). You could also roll them into little balls, which are equally delightful to munch on.

Pop in the freezer for about 10 mins to firm up

Store in the fridge.

Rosemary and Walnut Figgy Delights

1/2 cup walnuts
1/4 cup rolled oats
6 figs
A few rosemary leaves (I used too much, you only need a subtle hint)
1 tbsp honey

Whack it all in the blender and blend until a sticky dough forms

Lightly flour a clean surface and roll out the dough.

Cut into suitably festive shapes (or whatever you would prefer). You could also roll them into little balls, which are equally delightful to munch on.

Pop in the freezer for about 10 mins to firm up

Store in the fridge.

These are wonderful served just before bed, with a steamy cup of decaf tea and and a little listen to a traditional carol, like this one.

Have the most delicious December.

Lizzie x