Worm's World

With the imminent arrival of our first born we just thought it would be nice, and a fun way to raise a little bit of money for an excellent cause. ( Guess via Just giving page ) (Updated 10th Dec)

I'm actually in for Trick or Treaters tonight (although Tesco had run our of pumpkins so my pac-man design will have to wait for next year) but one of the joys of being a grown up is that no one stops you buying Halloween editions of sweeties - and with money off token for Krispy Kreme doughnuts it would have been mean not to buy one for Mr. Wearn when he comes home from running a jam night) I'm also happy that my bowl of sweeties contains many of the top scoring treats as listed below, including pumpkin shaped peanut butter cups - now if they survive long enough for the Trick or Treaters is another matter... http://boingboing.net/2014/10/31/the-candy-hierarchy-2014.html

It's been all change furniture wise in the Wearn household - I've got a smart new desk, the last goldfish has finally died (RIP, umm, fish) so we're taking a break from fish keeping for a little while - and moving some bits and pieces around to make way for inevitably more stuff. We're also being sensible grown ups and putting the 1950/60's bar up for sale (booze not included) It's a restoration project we just don't quite have the time or money for and I really hope it goes to a good home. Ebay Listing is here

I left uni after my MA with sizable amount of debt - about £13K from the MA and the cost of living in the glorious city that is Liverpool and £10-11K from the BSc. I have no issue with that, I wouldn't be where I am now without it, it's all good. The MA loan (a now non existent service called a Professional Studies Loan that evil HSBC provided) was a little bit more pressing since they kept phoning me and that was cleared in April 2012 - and now in August 2014 I've paid off my Student Loan from the SLC - Hoorah!! (in fact I've overpayed by £18 - so I'll be claiming that back and buying something exciting) So, I suppose that's not bad really - I scraped 3 C's & a D' at A-Level, I graduated from Staffs with the 2:2 BSc (Hons) in Interactive Entertainment Technology in 2004 an a Pass in MA in Digital Games from Liverpool John Moores in 2005 ( I'm a diligent and enthusiastic, if not an astounding student ) and it's only taken a decade or so ...

Part 1 Is here What is it with Americans and Corn Syrup - they put it in everything! It took me ages to find a simple icing recipes I thought would work on my biscuits. I plumped for -  http://www.cleverlysimple.com/how-to-make-the-best-and-easiest-sugar-cookie-icing-glaze / in the end, because it only had 2 ingredients, both of which I had in and understood. It was also a recipe that was easy to adjust the quantities of. I did go and buy some proper metal piping nozzles (Wilkos - who have a fantastic baking range these days) and some disposable icing bags (Sainsburys). This also gave me a chance to work out what I actually had in the way of cake decorating / colours etc Blank Slates I now know half a cup of icing sugar & 2 tsp of milk ices 3 unicorns, 3 moomins, a ninja belt and a bunny rabbit (not shown) A useful guide I think. And here's the 2nd batch of icing, with some blue gel in it, although I'm slightly disappointed at how light the colour is - but I was too scared ...

I'm not great at making things pretty - but it's an Afternoon Play picnic Today so I though I'd give icing sugar biscuits a go - Since I have loads of cookie cutters I never use. I also don't have fool proof go to recipes for icing and biscuits - I've always used the Nigella rainy-day cut out biscuit recipe in the past, but I didn't have any ground almonds and I've found they don't keep thier shape all that well. Anyway - This is What Pinterest was made for. Much hunting and looking at pins later and I came across :  http://www.inkatrinaskitchen.com/2011/12/best-sugar-cookie-recipe-and-kitchenaid_28.html (which didn't take 24hrs of pre planning or use weird american ingredients. It worked ok, although some of the more delicate shapes didn't take to it, but I'll keep with it until I find something better. It did take the punch out Dr. Who impression cookies well, and the Moomins look like moomins which is nice.  The Ninjas however had a tende...

I'm trying to perfect sugar biscuits with pretty icing, I now can't decide what shaped biscuits to make...