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The new digital magazine Sweet Paul is up! This guy has a direct line to my crafting heart! It’s full of recipes, DIY’s - I love it!

Check it out here! 

Here’s a sweet DIY that I put together - a fortune cookie recipe for you to tell your loved one - “I’m so fortunate to have you, because…”

Dare I ask, what plans do you have for Valentines? If you’re anything like me… home with the family, in bed by 10pm. Not terribly romantic, but still, that doesn’t mean that we can’t make an ordinary Tuesday a little more special! Sure, we’re buying into a commercial idea, but so what, it’s fun and it’s important to celebrate each other! 

For me, there is no better way to say I love you than by making something yourself. And, because you are making it, you can choose great ingredients and materials: eco-friendly, organic, natural and wholesome. Now, that’s romantic! 

So let’s do it!

The cookie ingredients (makes 4): 

• 1 egg white (Freedom Range Eggs from Singapore’s own cage free chicken farm! $2.90 for 6 eggs)
• 1/4 cup of flour
• 3 Tablespoons of butter
• 3 Tablespoons of raw unrefined sugar (Unrefined sugar contains minerals and nutrients that are stripped from refined white sugar. Did you know: brown sugar is often just white refined sugar that has been coated in brown molasses!)
• Pinch of salt
• Dash of pure vanilla extract 

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celsius.

In a bowl, mix together your egg white, sugar, vanilla, butter and blend well. Then mix in the flour and salt - blend it all up. 

Take a tablespoon of batter and plop in on your cookie sheet (mine is silicone and it’s fantastic) or parchment paper. Then, with the back of your spoon spread out the mixture to form a thin, even circle.

Knock it in the oven - and watch it carefully. It’s about 8 minutes, but what you want is for the edges to brown up, the center will remain a pale cream color. 

While you’re waiting get your work station ready - the next step is all about speed and efficiency. 

Work fast! Take your cookies out of the oven, place your fortune in the center…

Quick! Fold over your cookie in half then use the edge of a bowl to get the fortune cookie shape…ouch, it’s hot! This part hurts a bit, I won’t lie :) 

Place your folded cookie in a muffin pan to hold the shape as it cools…So why the big rush? You only have about 30 seconds to work before the cookie cools and cracks at the bend. If it did cool down, don’t fold it, put it back in oven for a few seconds to warm up again.

We’re going to serve our fortune cookie a-la-mode. I chose Julie’s Organic Ice-cream because it’s yummy and made with quality ingredients. No junk. This tub was on sale for only $8.95!! Always look in the organic section for a good deal.

Now…comes the fun part. Surprise your loved one with their little treat and watch as they break open their fortune cookie…it’s sure to bring a big smile to their face!

Tip: It’s best to start with one cookie at a time. Have all of your fortune strips written out before hand and have an organized and clean working station. You have to work fast! The recipe is for 4 cookies, so adjust it as you need.

Idea: You can make some cookies and package them for friends. Write a sweet little message about why they are important to you. Everyone can use a little reminder here and there! Spread the joy! 

I love anything that celebrates authentic food that is inspired by seasonal, natural ingredients. I love anything that inspires passion for things hand made and I love anything that has a respect and love for nature.

For all of these reasons I love these 3 magazines, plus the fact that they are free and available to view on the internet!

Sweet Paul - Created by Paul, a food and prop stylist and crafter, this magazine if full of great ideas for cooking and crafting

The Standard - A green focused magazine about great eco-friendly design and style

Styled - DIYs, recipes and tons of inspiration for Autumn

Happy reading!

Change the way you shop - consider what you can do with the packaging…

1. Paint the inside 2. Make candle holders 3. Grow a garden

4. Make stilts 5. grow a plant 6. make a magnet

7. Make a vase 8. make a table centerpiece 9. Display favorite photos

10. Catch the stars (try this-splatter glow in the dark paint inside)     

11. Organize (try this-nail the lid to a shelf) 12. Make it look expensive    

image source: youaremyfave.com, marthastewart.com, designspongeonline.com, craftedbylindly.blogspot.com, poppytalk.blogspot.com, teachmama.com, remodilingthislife.com, aprettycoollife.com, craftberrybush.blogspot.com, housetohome.co.uk