This photo was taken moments before their disappearance. It is suspected that their own deliciousness may have contributed to their abduction and, it is feared, consumption.

The friands were last seen in the company of a mug of tea (pictured below).

This mug is considered to be highly dangerous and ought not be approached unless accompanied by an irresistibly delicious lemon and blueberry friand. Government officials are recommending all those who wish to have a mug of tea today should approach the mug and possibly even the tea bags with caution… and with an irresistibly delicious lemon and blueberry friand.

You had better be safe than sorry. Here’s the recipe! Deliciously wheat and gluten free.

Ingredients
100g ground almonds
3 egg whites
25g rice flour
Pinch of xanthan gum
125g icing sugar
Rind of 1 lemon
Blueberries

Makes 6.

Method
1. Preheat your oven to 180 degrees Celcius.

2. Sieve the flour, xanthan gum and icing sugar together in a bowl. Stir in the ground almonds.

3. Grate in the lemon rind (or do that in a separate bowl and then add it if you think you’ll do what I did and drop the lemon into the flour and end up with a floury lemon).

4. Whisk the egg whites until they make a floppy foam – a few minutes off a good meringue.

5. Fold in the egg whites and spoon the mixture into six bun cases in a tin.

6. Stick as many or as little blueberries into the top of each bun.

7. Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes or until golden brown on top.

8. Assist abduction with mug of tea.

If you, like me, had no idea what a friand is – apparently it is a type of bun made with ground almonds as a base and usually has meringue, butter, flour and icing sugar in it. Mine didn’t have any butter because despite going all the way to the shop to get some right before I made them, I forgot to put it in. But they taste great and are very light.

It has been an interesting few days. Let me start by showing you this. Did you know that chives flower? I didn’t!

I finished my Turtles hat (ie, plain hat with turtle buttons sewn on) on Saturday afternoon.

I know it looks a little bit pointy but it’s not noticeable when it’s on. Lamb’s Pride instantly won a place in my heart: it’s warm, it feels good, it’s great value for money and I love all the colours it comes in! I already have plans for other colours.

I finished one Tangled Yoke sleeve yesterday and have been plugging away at the Yoke Detail top. This afternoon, I finally joined all the pieces up and got started on the yoke.

I’m going to save how stupid I think the pattern is for when I finish it. It’s a great idea, and a wonderful combination of yarn and design, but the way it’s written is driving me crazy.

I was knitting on the bus out to This is Knit yesterday and, when we pulled up at Trinity, noticed a guy gaping at me through the window. It’s not the first time it’s happened so I paid no heed but when he quickly jumped on the bus before it pulled off, I became a little alarmed. However, it turned out to be a nice man from another country who simply could not get over the fact that people knit in Ireland. Although his enthusiasm was lovely, the reasons for his enthusiasm were depressing: upon coming to the country, he was dismayed at how materialistic and, well, alcoholic this nation is. So my knitting really cheered him up, even if he did alarm me a little.

Remember that enormous pile of gingerbread men I baked before Christmas? I dug the last of them out of the freezer earlier and decided to give them life (a.k.a. defrosting).

There were a few casualties

If you’re feeling peckish, go to here NOW! Heck, even if you’re not. What a place.

You know you’re better when you want to bake cinnamon twists! Cinnamon twists are just strips of a basic yeast dough dipped in butter, rolled in a mixture of sugar and cinnamon, twisted up and baked until crispy. This was my first time making a yeast dough and I have to say, leaving a bowl in the hot press and coming back an hour later to find that the dough has expanded into Michelin Man’s nephew really does fall into my category of entertainment!

Yesterday, I discovered the existence of Swedish Semla. It’s a type of cream bun traditionally eaten on Shrove Tuesday. Imagine a big puffy bun with the inside scooped out, mixed with almond paste and replaced, topped with cream and the lid of the bun. I need to make these buns. I cannot explain why, since I wouldn’t be able to face the result if I ate one. Maybe it’s the prospect of making something so utterly delicious and getting to watch others bury their faces in a thoroughly ovine fashion.

I have been knitting but it is very dull and would send you to sleep. The only update I’ve got is that the green thing is now longer, but not by much. Semla, anyone?

… Gingerbread men, that is.

I made double the quantity and rolled the dough out thinner so I ended up with nearly 50 men. I’ve popped them in the freezer in little bags of 6 until they are needed – the icing I use dries pretty quickly so all I need to do is remember to take them out the night before!

I set out only to make some more gingerbreadmen, but once I got going I figured I should bake up a large batch to cover all those extraneous gifts one always ends up needing. So, I made some almond and lemon biscotti…

…some coconut puffs…

…and some proper ginger bread.

Now I’m going to put my feet up in front of whatever ridiculous children’s movie is on tv and relax!