Marianne Cookies | First Baking with Minna!

Hello to everyone!

I love baking and so thought I could share with you some of the recipes I like. Let's start with something I recently baked - Marianne Cookies. I don't now where my sister found this recipe originally but whoever created it, thank you.

     These cookies are named Marianne Cookies since one of the ingredients is a Finnish candy called marianne (producer Fazer). It is basically dark chocolate bites covered with peppermint candy so instead of using crushed mariannes you could try mixing crushed dark chocolate and crushed peppermints. Now, let's get started!

Marianne candy for those who might not know these

The ingredients you will need:

• 300g  margarine
• 3 dl caster sugar
• 2 1/4 dl brown sugar
• 3 tsp vanilla sugar
• 3 eggs
• 4 1/2 dl plain flour
• 1 1/2 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 3 dl crushed mariannes (or crushed dark chocolate and peppermints)

1. Preparations

I usually start baking by gathering all of the ingredients on my kitchen table so that I won't forget anything. :)
     If you haven't bought already crushed mariannes I recommend you start of crushing them, for example in a reclosable plastic bag with a hammer. #girlybakingtimewiththehammer Naturally, be careful with the hammer.

Next you can already mix flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and vanilla sugar or do it later.

     Then preheat the oven to 225ºC.

2. Making the dough
First, mix the margarine and caster sugar. Once properly mixed add the eggs one by one mixing them properly in. Then add the brown sugar and mix thoroughly.

Next mix rest of the ingredients, except the marianne cursh, in a separate bowl if you didn't do it earlier. Then combine the mixtures and mix thoroughly. Finally add the marianne crush and mix it into the dough.

3. Baking
Take out a baking tray and cover it with parchment paper. Put 4-6 small lumps of dough on the tray. The cookies will spread so take that into account. Bake the cookies in the oven for about 7-10 minutes.

Let the cookies cool down and enjoy! :)
(Sorry, I kinda forgot to take the final "serving suggestion" picture.) If you have any questions about the recipe feel free to ask.

Anyway, till next time! 
xxx

   

End of Semester, Hanami and Sunrise Avenue Concert

Close up cherry blossoms :)

Last week was surprisingly busy and I think I tried to manage too many things at the same time. If you have been reading my blog you might remember that I failed this one exam I had.

     Well. I tried to pass the same course again it seems I failed it again. Oh well, I can attend the course again next semester. It's an obligatory course so I have to pass it at some point before getting my bachelor degree done.

     Anyway, I sincerely tried my best so there is nothing I can do about it now. I was busy trying to prepare for the exam so I thought that after the exam I could have had a small holiday before since I had a couple day-offs from work. However, I ended up doing spring cleaning that took a whole day. I was so tired after spending the entire day cleaning my apartment and washing winter clothes to store all the unnecessary items for the summer season.

     Good thing is though that I got to take pictures of a clean apartment so that I can give you a small apartment tour in a few weeks time.

Luckily, Thursday was a bit more relaxed. Since it was the Ascension Day almost everyone got to have a day-off. In Roihuvuori, Helsinki, a hanami (aka flower viewing) event was arranged that day so together with my sister we decided it would be nice to visit there.
     The cherry blossoms were so beautiful! I had never seen so many cherry trees in the same place. The Roihuvuoren Kirsikkapuisto (literally translated as cherry park of Roihuvuori) was filled with visitors when we got there and the flow of people seemed never ending. On a small stage various performers entertained the gathered audience and few stalls were selling Japanese food and some snacks like Pocky biscuit sticks and Ramune sodas. It was nice event but both me and my sister were quite tired and so decided to leave the event quite soon because there were so many people.

     We returned to Helsinki centre and ended up shopping a bit. It had been quite a long time since we last went shopping together so it was really nice way to spend the rest of the afternoon before my sister had to catch the train back to our parents.

Want to see a post about these? Leave a comment.

Saturday was quite a hasty day with my mom and sister. First we went too see this "spring event" arranged by the small local dance association in my parents hometown. After that we hurried to my apartment before leaving for the dinner and after that to Sunrise Avenue concert. If you don't know the band go ahead and google it. All three of us have been fans from the first album.
     No words can describe how much importance their music has had in my life. All I can say that their music something I can never listen too much. I never get bored with their songs.
     I always felt I've missed out something because I had never got a chance to go see the band live before this concert. But then again I was glad I got to go this time since it was part of their Best of Fairytales tour which means they play various songs from the very beginning till this day - I got to see them perform nearly all of my favourites. <3

Couple pictures from the concert I took with my phone so the quality is not the best

If anyone from the Sunrise Avenue happens to read this: "I LOVE YOU GUYS! KEEP UP WITH GOOD WORK MELTING THIS YOUNG HEART AGAIN AND AGAIN!" xxx

Everyone has the right to act like a teenage fan girl from time to time. Right? :)

Well, that's all for now. I felt I needed to do a little update since this week I have had plenty of time in my hands so I thought I could use it to write new post and start planning next ones too. So hopefully till next week! xxx