Millionaire's Shortbread, I presume?

I love to bake. It's seriously one of my favourite things and if I could figure out a way to start my own business without risking everything, I totally would. I'm thinking a kind of retro tea shop with a built in quirky book shop and I'm dreaming when I'm supposed to be working. Oh well. On second glance, it's seven minutes past my finishing time so I'm freeeeeee!

Anyway, the point of this was to impart my recipe for Millionaire's Shortbread because it's the one thing I make that I always know everyone will love. Even people who don't like desserts love this bad boy so here goes:

9" x 9" baking tray or throwaway foil tray (I tend to go with the throwaway option because it's easier to get out of the tin when the caramel has stuck to the sides. Also, no need to grease it which makes it healthier. Or as healthy as a shortbread/caramel/chocolate concoction can be)

Preheat oven to gas 5 or whatever degrees that is in your oven (190C/375F - thank you, Google)

Shortbread base
125g cold butter cut into small chunks
175g plain flour
50g light brown sugar (you can use dark brown if that's what you have)

Rub together flour and butter until fully combined and looking like buttery breadcrumbs. If there's a few lumps, it's not the end of the world.
Sieve in sugar to get rid of any lumps then stir into flour/butter.
Mix it all up until it becomes a ball of doughy goodness.
Press mixture into tin, making sure it's right up in the corners and spread evenly.
Grab a fork and stab some holes in to prevent air bubbles
Put in oven for 20 mins - when cooked, the edges will just be golden brown.
Remove from oven and leave to cool
When base is cool, start the

Caramel middle

50g dark brown sugar (again, if you don't want to buy another sugar, you can use light brown)
50g butter
1 tin of condensed milk

Put ingredients in a pan, medium heat, mix together and do not under any circumstances stop stirring until it starts to bubble. When this happens, time 5 minutes and stir like your favourite actor will vanish from the planet if you stop. Seriously, do not stop stirring like a maniac for these 5 minutes.
When the five minutes are up, pour over base. Make sure you get an even covering.
Leave to cool.

Chocolate top

200g (ish) milk chocolate (don't use less than 180gish or it won't be enough to cover)

Melt in a dish over a pan of simmering water. When fully melted, pour over caramel. Make sure to cover completely and evenly.

I'll add pictures next time I make some so you can see how perfectly neat (ha!) mine turns out. It usually looks like my 3 year old niece did it but it tastes good so what does that matter?

Much love from the QoS x

Back again...

Hello again universe. It's been a while since I've done anything with this blog. Partly because I read back over the majority of what I'd wrote and shuddered and partly because I couldn't remember the email address or password to log in and change it. I thought about scrapping it completely and starting again but it took me so long to get this just how I wanted that to start again made my brain weep in agony. Fair point, brain - I'm lazy as hell, too.

On my first blog post, I listed a bunch of things I could be ranting, raving or just being boring about but some of those have changed so I'm going to have a play around with it until it reflects the sort of junk I whine about on a daily basis. The original list will be in the usual colour which, if my memory serves correctly (not sodding likely) is a purpley sort of colour and the new version will be green, for contrast.

Things I rant/rave/bore people stupid about on a daily basis

Pacific Rim
Teen Wolf
Avengers (or just Marvel movies of any description)
Harry Potter (not sure why I forgot this last time)
Star Trek (or this)
Supernatural  
Suits
Castle   
Merlin             
Firefly             
Doctor Who
Torchwood
Formula 1
Glee This has been moved down the list because the newer seasons suck. Has only retained a place on here because of Kurt, Finn, Santana and Adam. Everyone else can suck my non-existent dick.
Vampire Diaries (I have to be in the mood but when I am I watch it continuously) 
I love a massive variety of music which you'll probably read about at some point.
Socks. The brighter and more patterned, the better. Socks are love, remember that.
Chocolate. Need I say more?
Pretty dresses. Worn with my lovely grey combat-y style boots. (RIP grey combat-y style boots. Long live black combat-y style studded boots!)
Bags. Not just gorgeous handbags (of which I seem to have a bajillion) but backpacks and completely impractical purse sized affairs that I squeeze my phone and some money in when I go out. 

There are so many more things that will probably turn up at some point that I haven't mentioned but, meh, I'm sure you'll survive. If there's anyone who is even reading this. Probably not. Oh, well. 

Much love, QoS