Rainy days & Mondays.....

The 4 year old is finding his new school regime a bit tiring. It didn't help that this morning was dark, dreary, wet and Monday! 9:20am till 2pm seems a long time to be away from his mammy, his sister and his toys. He has a packed lunch at school and when he comes home he loves a piece of fruit, a biscuit and a glass of milk. When I went through my macaron making phase he adored the pink ones and keeps asking when am I going to make them again! I haven't the heart to say "never" to him but hopefully these little rose syrup cookies will keep him happy!

This is a handy little recipe and one of the few that I have memorised in my head. It's originally from the bible according to Darina, The Ballymaloe Cookery Course. It makes 12 shortbread cookies which you can leave plain or top with whatever you fancy. Feel free to add in lemon/orange zest, chocolate chips, raisins etc.

2oz caster sugar
4oz butter, softened
6oz plain flour

Preheat oven to 160 degrees.
Line a baking tray with grease proof paper.
Cream the butter and sugar together.
Add the flour to form a dough.
Roll into 12 individual balls and flatten them down onto the baking tray.
Bake in oven for 15 minutes or until golden.

To ice today's batch I used some icing sugar made into a paste with some rose syrup. Rose syrup is a handy little syrup to have in the cupboard, great drizzled over ice cream, in cocktails, added to whipped cream or stewed fruit also.

One of the best things about Isaac going to school is his little face lighting up in the school yard when he spots me at home time. All the tea in china wouldn't make me as happy. Such a shame that these little people have to grow up so fast.

What little treats do your children enjoy after school?