Christmas Comes to Cardiff

If there were any questions over whether Christmas had begun in Cardiff, they’ve been answered now. 

Winter Wonderland has arrived in the ‘Diff. meaning Christmas mode has been fully activated and the festivities can begin! 

I don’t know about anyone else, but I find the annual arrival of the Christmas markets and Winter Wonderland one of the true green lights, signalling that Christmas can begin. The lights, snow machines, big wheel, festive treats, to name a few, create a festive atmosphere that lights up the city centre. 

Due to barely being able to contain our glee over the Christmassy arrival, we headed down swiftly and promptly to the grounds outside City Hall mid-November, to see what was going on this year.

After buying a hot chocolate for what seemed a small fortune, we took in the sights of lights and laughter, as Winter Wonderland provides such a joy to many, young or old.

Braving a fear of heights, we went around the big wheel, which provided a rare glimpse of the city from above. I found something quite magical about being able to oversee the going-on of Cardiff, all lit up and the hustle and bustle about town. After entertaining ourselves with, we did what most people do at these events, decided to waste a bunch of money at ill-fated fairground games.

Now I may have thought we’d have been totally useless, but we came annoyingly close to winning on several occasions. I don’t know what it is about these games, but they fill you with a sudden desire to win a giant stuffed toy, which any other time of the year would seem the most gigantic pile of rubbish not worth spending money on. My heart was set on a gigantic penguin (again, for reasons I cannot even fathom), but alas, it was not meant to be- which is probably for the best.

My face lit up when I started to see snow fall, only for my illusions to be shattered when I realised it was a fake snow machine producing little drops of icy foam over our heads. Still, in-keeping with the Christmas magic, it did just the job and still provided me with excitement. 

After another walkabout, a gander of the rides, a listen to the music and some obligatory photos, we headed back to reality. I have to say I do regret not booking the ice-bar, a new addition to the Winter Wonderland this year, although a hot chocolate quite sufficed.

Our reasoning for not going on the skating rink was a little self-explanatory for anyone who’s ever seen me try to skate- spoiler alert, it doesn’t usually end well. So even though we may not have done everything the attraction had to offer, we certainly ticked all our desired boxes.

Cardiff’s Winter Wonderland is a must for those wanting to get their festive cheer on and escape the mundane for a few hours. You can be in your own Christmassy bubble for an evening, and it’ll surely put a smile on your face.

Words by Gabi Page 

Can We Start Decking the Halls?

The Halloween decorations have gone down, the clocks have gone back, and the nights are drawing in. We’re now left with that awkward gap to fill until December 25th. This then propels the question- is it too early to start getting the tinsel and tree out?

I was thinking this whilst walking through the hustle and bustle of Cardiff City Centre. Shops stocked with Christmas decorations and extending opening hours for keen shoppers, the markets being set up and the Winter Wonderland starting to take form, Christmas is truly in the air whether you like it or not. 

Maybe we have just come to accept that November means Christmas for the sheer reason that there’s so much build up and planning needed for the most magical time of year. 

Finding the perfect presents, ensuring everyone at the table is catered for and well fed, making memories with loved ones, these things take organising and often can’t be done on a whim, in fear of suffering the chaos come Christmas Eve when shop pandemonium peaks and you’re left with nothing to give your nan on the big day.

But does it just enforce the idea that Christmas has become just consumerism at its peak, with no real thought as to the meaning behind the day or the fact that it’s a chance to spend time with family and friends. We can so easily become entrapped in the idea that we ‘need’ to do this and ‘need’ to do that to have the ‘perfect’ Christmas, but surely the perfect day costs not much at all. The company of loved ones, the merriment of some time off work and a chance to embrace the spirit by thinking of others, surely that’s what Christmas is all about?

Don’t get me wrong, my hands are practically shaking in anticipation of riding the big wheel, drinking hot chocolates whilst admiring the lights and trees and splashing out on gifts for my nearest and dearest, but sometimes I think it helps to stop and reflect. Think about whether I need to spend my years earnings on one day, when really, some goodies and a jokey gift or two is enough, and instead I should just appreciate the extra time to slow down and be with those I love.

Christmas is a magical time of year, my favourite to be exact, but maybe we should start to embrace the simplicities of the season, instead of worrying about how big the turkey is going to be or already fuelling the local economy by buying endless pairs of socks, chocolate, and more gifts aplenty. 

Let’s instead think about who we can see this Christmas, what we can do for others, and be grateful that we’re here to see another after the year, or two, we’ve just had.

Prepping For a Haunting Halloween

Pumpkins, orange autumnal leaves and sugar rushes aplenty. Yes, it’s that time of year again, Halloween is creeping around the corner with only two weeks to go, meaning now’s about the right time to make sure everything’s in order for the spookiest day of the year!

Whether you’re planning a haunting Halloween gathering or a night in on the sofa with for a scary screening is more your thing, having an idea of what you’re doing is always the key to success. We here at KCL are here to help with your nightmare-ish plans to provide you with the perfect ghoulish inspiration you need for all things Halloween. 

Drinks

These will prove especially handy if you’re planning a Halloween party, as you’ll of course need some refreshing beverages for guests to sip on throughout the night, but they can also keep your solo-self or small group of friends refreshed when needed. 

·      Grasshopper Cocktail

·      Blood Beetroot Cocktails

·      The Witch’s Heart Cocktail

·      Halloween Mocktail Punch

·      Beastly Blackberry and Bay Lemonade Mocktail

·      Green Beer

·      Sparkling Ginger Sangria 

·      Zombie Brain Cocktail

·      Vampire Floats

·      Toxic Tonic

Food

Again, you don’t need to be having a party to enjoy some scary snacks, but if you are then it’s important to remember you can multiply recipes to cater for your crowd. Adjusting and experimenting with methods can tailor your food to your needs for your get-together perfectly- but we won’t tell if you chose to keep all the goods for yourself!

·      Easy Halloween Cookies

·      Eerie Eyeball Pops

·      Pumpkin Cheesecake

·      Witch Hats Cupcakes

·      Spider Pizza

·      Bloody Finger Hot Dogs

·      Rotten Devilled Eggs

·      Poison Apples

·      Bloody Mary Syringes

·      Halloweentown Marshmallow Spiders

Music

Now it’s all good having ‘Thriller’ on for the 100th time, but you’ll want to diversify your Halloween playlist a little, for fear of growing tired of the same music and to keep things fresh and new. As you may have guessed, music is very important to us here at KCL, and we feel it’s important to ensure you have a good idea of some spine-chilling songs so that you can make an informed decision when it comes to your playlist.

·      ‘Thriller’, Michael Jackson

·      ‘Monster Mash’, Bobby Pickett

·      ‘A Nightmare on My Street’, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

·      ‘Werewolves of London’, Warren Zevon 

·      ‘Somebody’s Watching Me’, Rockwell

·      ‘Superstition’, Stevie Wonder

·      ‘Psycho Killer’, Talking Heads

·      ‘Heads Will Roll’, Yeah Yeah Yeahs

·      ‘(Don’t Fear) The Reaper’, Blue Oyster Cult

·      ‘Zombie’, The Cranberries

·      ‘Dead Man’s Party’, Oingo Boingo

·      ‘Witchy Woman’, The Beagles

·      ‘Monster’, Kanye West

·      ‘Black Magic’, Little Miz

·      ‘Black Magic Woman’, Santana

·      ‘Feed My Frankenstein’, Alice Cooper

·      ‘Dracula’s Wedding’, OutKast

·      ‘Red Right Hand’, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

·      ‘Bury a Friend’, Billie Eilish

·      ‘Howlin’ for You’, The Black Keys

·      ‘This is Halloween’, Marilyn Manson

·      ‘Sympathy for the Devil’, The Rolling Stones

·      ‘This is Halloween’, Michel Elias

·      ‘Disturbia’, Rhianna

·      ‘Highway to Hell’, AC/DC

·      ‘Dragular’, Rob Zombie

·      ‘The Monster’, Eminem 

·      ‘Runnin’ With the Devil’, Van Halen

·      ‘Ghostbusters’, Ray Parker Jr. 

·      ‘Halloween Theme’, John Carpenter

·      ‘Spooky Scary Skeletons’, Andrew Gold 

·      ‘Ghost Town’, The Specials

·      ‘Spooky’, Dusty Springfield

·      ‘I Was a Teenage Werewolf’, The Cramps

·      ‘I Put a Spell on You’, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins 

Films

Maybe you’re hosting a frightening film night for friends or family, or perhaps you’re choosing to go it alone on Halloween eve, whichever you decide you’ll want some great films that will keep you on the edge of your seat. From classics to modern-day horrors and thrillers, there is no shortage when it comes to suitable Halloween films. 

·      Beetlejuice 

·      Adams Family 

·      Halloweentown

·      The Nightmare Before Christmas

·      Edward Scissorhands

·      Shaun of the Dead

·      Witches

·      Ghostbusters 1 & 2

·      The Rocky Horror Picture Show

·      Little Shop of Horrors 

·      Hocus Pocus

·      Gremlins

·      Hotel Transylvania 

·      Zombieland 1 & 2

·      Scream

·      Jennifer’s Body

·      Hubie Halloween

·      The Nun

·      The Conjuring 

·      Midsommar

·      Hereditary

·      Halloween film collection

·      It Follows

·      Insidious 

·      Carries

·      The Birds

·      Coraline

·      Corpse Bride

·      Casper

·      Donnie Darko

·      The Invisible Man

·      Heathers

·      Paranormal Activity

·      US

·      A Quiet Place 1 & 2

·      The Cabin in the Woods

·      The Babadook

·      The Omen

·      Poltergeist 

·      The Exorcist  

Now that you’re feeling inspired for what you can get up to this Halloween, all you need to do is decide what spook-tacular things you’ll be doing this October 31st.

REVIEW: A melodious marvel with angelic acoustics– Laura Marling is a master of her craft

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A sold-out venue is a very good sign with a concert, hence why I anticipatedly arrived with such eagerness to Cardiff’s Tramshed on the evening of Wednesday 13th.

I was excited with the hope of basking in an evening of sublime song and breath-taking vocals by one Laura Marling. I was not disappointed. 

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A newbie to Marling’s repertoire, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from her show. Some lovely acoustic songs from a small band on stage perhaps. But no, Marling carries her shows solo, and what a job she does.

Opening the set with a four-strong salvo of songs from her 2013 album ‘Once I Was An Eagle’, the 15-minute compilation, of which she playfully remarks to the audience “I thought I’d ease you in with a short 15 minute song”, set the tone for the rest of the evening, in that Marling has no problems with commanding a stage and playing as if she were joined by others.

Her soulful singing along with her exquisite guitar playing made for the most beautiful music. From a rampage of stumming with ‘Take the Night Off’s’ to the witty lyrics and biting from ‘I was An Eagle’, there was clearly a lot of thought behind starting with these songs. Setting a scene for the audience, the music established what many in the crowd already knew, that this was a show of spectacular intimacy with a very talented woman, taking us on her journey through song. 

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The faultless vocals and mesmerising music made you feel no loss by having no-one else on stage with her. You’re simply entranced by her presence. I couldn’t get my head around how quickly each song seemed to go by. Not due to their shortness, but simply because I found myself so positively lost in the music that nothing else in that moment seemed to matter, and I could immerse myself in the show.

‘Master Hunter’ was a personal favourite of mind, with the slightly edgier guitar and notes creating a darker and more haunting effect. ‘Song for Our Daughter’ was another that stood-out for me, with her lyrics written to a fictional daughter about, as Marling puts it herself, “all the confidences and affirmations I found so difficult to provide myself”, providing a striking and heartfelt setting.

 Laura’s stagehand deserves a special mention from the night, as she revealed herself that he had to lend an extra helping hand with putting her guitars over her shoulders due to an unfortunate fall in the woods days prior, which resulted in her putting her back out, making twisting for guitar straps an uncomfortable affair. 

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The blistering heat of the Tramshed seemed irrelevant, as no matter how hot and flustered I may have been getting, the distraction of Laura’s performance was enough to help me leave those troubles behind. How she kept so in time, so in tune and so consistent with her playing whilst making it seem simply like second nature to her boggles the mind and left me simply in awe- with a hint of jealousy that my 4-chord wonder songs would never amount to quite her level.  

A stage presence to capture a room, a talent that will leave you wondering how she does it and a sharp wit, it’s hard to find fault. Laura Marling is truly a master of her craft, with a painstakingly beautiful show, this is an artist you must try and see live at least once. 

 Review by Gabriela page for Keep Cardiff Live

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Setlist:

1.     Take the Night Off

2.     I Was an Eagle

3.     You Know

4.     Breathe

5.     Strange

6.     Master Hunter

7.     Hope In The Air

8.     What He Wrote

9.     Hope We Meet Again

10.  The End of the Affair

11.  Your Girl

12.  Sophia

13.  Salinas

14.  Once

15.  Daisy

16.  How Can I

17.  Held Down

18.  Goodbye England (Covered in Snow)

19.  Wild Fire

20.  Fortune

21.  Song for Our Daughter

22.  For You

REVIEW: Corsets, Charisma and Classics- Erasure Had It All

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Fans of Erasure will know they never do things by halves, with their first post-pandemic tour being no exception.

The British synth-pop duo, consisting of Andy Bell and Vince Clarke, landed at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena on Tuesday 12th with their dazzling array of lights and dramatics to glitz-up the Welsh Capital, and they certainly made up for lost time.

Going into the show, I knew my 20-year-old self would likely bring down the average age of the audience, but with the 80’s being my favourite genre, this didn’t faze me in the slightest.

Myself and my boyfriend’s fabulous mother were ready for a dance, and as we surveyed the crowds around us, it looked like everyone else was as-well. My expectation of some dazzling outfits was met, with feather boas, sequins, light-up clothing and jewellery aplenty. We were in good company for a party. 

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When singer Andy Bell strutted out onto the stage, I think it’s safe to say I wasn’t the only one who had Rupert Bear spring to mind. His striking yellow chequered trousers remarkably resembled the cartoon characters’, although admittedly his bright blue compact corset made the complete look a little different. 

His below-the-nipple contraption looked about as comfortable as having a rock for a pillow, but comfort to Bell is likely his last thought when considering his wardrobe. Clarke on the other hand stuck to a more formal grey suit, pairing perfectly with his notorious deadpan expression, broken occasionally with a wry smile often caused by Bell.

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Striking lights graced the stage in reflection of the tour’s name: ‘The Neon’, with additional glows and graphics flashing to light up the arena. In true Erasure style, the techno-beats and electronic music were as lively as ever and kept audiences on their feet as they partied the night away to the dance anthems.  

Kicking off the 23-song setlist, the band opened with their 1991 hit ‘Chorus’ to set the upbeat tone for the evening. The duo were accompanied on stage by two brilliant backing singers, Valerie and Emma, who appeared in flamboyant fur coats before ditching them for neon dresses to cool down- their vivacious fashion very fitting for the show. 

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New songs from the album accompanied hits such as ‘Sometimes’, ‘A Little Respect’, and ‘Blue Savannah’ well, and was proof that this was more than a greatest hits tour. The superb new singles cemented Erasure’s status as being as fresh and current now as they were in the 80’s and 90’s. 

Ever the showman, Andy made sure to connect with his audience as well as perform for them, engaging in conversation with people in the front row as well as reaching out to the whole arena. The only problem I, and no doubt others, found with this was that often the sound didn’t balance out quite right, and his words were a little lost. 

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I think we all breathed a sigh of relief on Behalf of Andy, when Vince cut him free from his corset halfway through the show, breaking free from his restraint and opting for a cheeky yellow vest with a monkey on instead. ‘This is the monkey who took a selfie. I have him on a top’, he proudly informed the arena, with the cheeky photo perhaps reflecting his own personality. 

A show dazzled with lights, extravagant fashion and pop classics that just kept on coming, what wasn’t to love? A packed Motorpoint saw thousands dancing and singing the night away, loving every minute of the show. It’s safe to say we all enjoyed ourselves that night, and Erasure have still got it. 

Review by: Gabriela Page for KCL

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Setlist:

1.     Chorus

2.     Hey Now (Think I Got a Feeling)

3.     Fill Us With Fire

4.     Sacred

5.     The Circus

6.     Who Needs Love Like That

7.     Nerves of Steel

8.     Blue Savannah

9.     Chains of Love

10.  Turns the Love to Anger

11.  Careful What I Try To Do

12.  Sometimes

13.  Save Me Darling

14.  Shot A Satellite

15.  Love to Hate You

16.  Love Is a Stranger (Eurythmics cover)

17.  Drama!

18.  Always

19.  Stop!

20.  Push me Shove Me

21.  Victim of Love

Encore:

22.  Oh l’amour

23.  A Little Respect

Review: The last hurrah- Genesis rock their final tour

In a digital world where trends seemingly change every minute, new singers and bands coming onto the scene every day, it can be easy to have a short-lived career in the industry. Most artists can only dream of having a career that spans 54 years, Genesis have done just that though.
With over half a century of recording music and performing to crowds, it’s no surprise they wanted one final tour before ailing band members and old age gets in the way and they pack it in for good.

The Last Domino? Tour has seen the band tour for the first time in 14 years, covering North America, the UK and Ireland. The first in 14 years, the last forever, this tour carries significance in not only giving the band closure and the chance to play together once again, but for fans to experience them live one very last time. 

Phil Collins’ poor health is no secret and was evident as he walked out onto the stage, taking a seat in the centre with his visible frailty apparent to the 15,000-strong crowd. This didn’t stop him from bringing his talent and humour to the show though, as his vocals and dry wit rang out through the arena for all to enjoy.

As he perched on his chair, he was accompanied by the rest of the band, which included his 20-year-old-son Nicholas on drums. The show took off with the 1980 instrumental ‘Duke’s End’, transitioning into ‘Turn It on Again’, to build up the sound whilst luring the crowd into the performance.

If anyone was doubting Collins’s ability to front the band still, those doubts quickly melted away once he started singing. Sure, his vocal range wasn’t quite the same as it was in the 80’s, but the power projected from Collins voice and his sincereness from the singing, along with a natural charisma, entranced the crowd.

Arguably, things wouldn’t have sounded quite the same if Nicholas Collins hadn’t of inherited and practised the ability to play his dad’s parts with such precision. You’d be forgiven for thinking it was Phil himself. Clearly the natural talent running through his DNA along with years of hard work and dedication have paid off, as even Phil couldn’t help but look on with pride at his sons masterful drumming. 

Founding members Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks, along with long-time touring guitarist Daryl Stuermer, all showed they’ve still got it, all carrying the weight of the show between their talented fingers. 

The band’s decision to also have two backup vocalists on stage was the right one. Daniel Pearce and Patrick Smyth aided Collins with some of the higher notes which aren’t quite as reachable in his is older age, whilst remaining unobtrusive and appearing infrequently, proving that Collins clearly doesn’t need much help.

When Collins promised at the start of the show that this tour, which was supposed to kick off in November 2020, was going to be a fun one, he wasn’t kidding. 

Bringing hits such as ‘Land of Confusion’ (my personal favourite), ‘Invisible Touch’ and ‘No Son of Mine’ to name a few, along with concert classics like ‘Home By the Sea’ and ‘Domino’, created a perfect setlist for fans to dance, sing and rightly have fun to. 

The bands acoustic diversion after their first set meant saying goodbye to the keyboard and anything else with a techno beat or vibe, even leaving Nicholas Collins with noticeably smaller drumming utensils. Stripping down ‘That’s All’, ‘The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway’ and ‘Follow You Follow Me’ was certainly a good choice and felt a rather personal touch from the band to the audience.

The almost sombre, thought-provoking tone reflected how this would be the band’s last string of live rendezvous together, with them wanting to create something magical to leave fans with.  

The on-stage graphics and designs were quite a marvel- nothing new as Genesis have long been renowned for their stage design since the Peter Gabriel days. A movable lighting rig imitating giant dominoes, large screens across stage and plenty of animations to accompany, but not intrude, on the songs was the icing on the cake for this show.

As Collins’ pointed out, a currently particularly topical song, ‘Land of Confusion’, was the perfect illustration of how the bands songs have moved with the times and are as current now as they were then. Masked animated figures patrolled over cities and land in graphics on screen- another sign perhaps of how Genesis’s songs will forever remain relevant. 

Should miracles be scarce, or Peter Gabriel have a sudden longing to perform with the group again, this is Genesis’ farewell. Collins has made it clear he has no intention of playing with the band after this tour, and that this would be goodbye.

For life-long fans and newbies alike, this tour provides the perfect farewell. A magnificent spectacle as the final curtain prepares to fall on Genesis performances forever.

Setlist:

Set 1:

Behind the Lines / Duke's End

Turn It On Again

Mama

Land of Confusion

Home by the Sea

Second Home by the Sea

Fading Lights

The Cinema Show

(second half; with "Riding The… more)

Afterglow

Acoustic

That's All

The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway

Follow You Follow Me

Set 2:

Duchess

No Son of Mine

Firth of Fifth

I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)

(with "Stagnation" snippet)

Domino

Throwing It All Away

Tonight, Tonight, Tonight

Invisible Touch

Encore:

I Can't Dance

Play Video

Dancing With the Moonlit Knight

(1st verse)

       The Carpet Crawlers

By Gabriela Page

Daily Nuisances

Today it’s a bit of a rant on our blog. Not a full-blown end-of-the-world type rant. Just a little moan to get stuff off our chests, stuff that is not doubt very relatable to many.

It can be the little things in life that gets to us, can’t it? As a nation, we’re renowned for complaining but often lack the ability to stand up and right our grievances face-to-face. We may not be too impressed with our main course at the restaurant, but God forbid we let the chef know! ‘Oh yes it was lovely, thank you’, we mutter as we flash a false smile and proceed to leave a tip out of sheer panic that anyone may think we didn’t enjoy ourselves.

Whether we like it or not, nuisances are riddled throughout daily life. Take not being able to find the matching sock to complete your pair, now that’s an all too familiar scenario come Monday morning. Why can we not seem to keep the same colour together instead of inevitably resorting to odd socks for the day? 

The smaller an issue, the more annoying it can often be. It’s a bit like when stubbing your toe on the bed can feel so much worse than any other pain you’ve experienced, we often sweat the small stuff and get more annoyed the pettier the issue. 

But why do we get this way? What causes us to feel these frustrations over life’s niggly nuisances? Is it because we simply enjoy complaining? Personally, I have another theory.

When there’s a big problem, and I’m talking big picture things like real emergencies and incidents in life, it can feel like things are out of our control, like we’re helpless. We have a better way of accepting that we can’t do anything, but when it’s something smaller, more trivial, we get annoyed as it could’ve been prevented easily. There’s more control in those situations, and we perhaps struggle with the fact that something so silly can happen. 

I feel that is where our true frustrations and nuisances lie. Lapse of control in the most trivial of momentary problems. We could’ve thrown away the 50 chargers that don’t work so that they’re not clogging up our draws. We could try a better job of keeping our matching pairs of socks together. We could even check replace the loo roll BEFORE we go to the toilet. But these things have a sneaky habit of escaping our busy schedules of life, and come back in the form of daily nuisances when forgotten. 

Time to cool off with some Ice Cream talk

By now, most of us have encountered sweltering summer days and had our fans turned up to the max throughout the 25-degree nights. Summer is well and truly upon us, and what better way to cool down than with a scoop or two of the frozen goodness that is ice cream. 

We tend to turn to this sweet treat when the warmer weather hits, but really, it’s a staple that’s enjoyed all year around- surely, I can’t be the only one to eat a Ben and Jerry’s tub in front of the fire on a winter’s eve? 

Some fun facts about ice cream:

·      It takes 12 pounds of milk to produce just 1 gallon of ice cream.

·      According to the International Dairy Food Association, chocolate mint ice cream is the second most popular flavour of ice cream in the United States, after vanilla.

·      The average number of licks to finish a scoop of ice cream is 50.

·      The country that consumes the most ice cream is USA, followed by Australia then Norway.

It’s not all about scoops and cones though. The humble ice cream is more versatile than one may think. National Ice Cream Sandwich Day happened on 2nd August, and this fun and whimsical holiday highlights one of the creations that can be made with the tasty treat.

Many countries around the world have their own version of the ice cream sandwich. For example, in Iran, rose or pistachio ice cream is sandwiched between two thin wafers, however in Vietnam, street vendors will be found selling ice cream stuffed between two layers of bread as their take on the indulgent creation. 

Fancy making your own sweet sandwich? Well never fear, we have a recipe here just for you!

To make 12 you’ll need…

Ingredients

- ice cream, any flavour of choice  

- 24 cookies (shop bought or homemade) 

If making homemade, follow the below recipe:

• 280g light soft brown sugar

• 225g granulated sugar

• 250g butter

• 2 large eggs

• 1 tbsp vanilla extract

• 450g plain flour

• 2 tsp baking powder

• 300g good-quality milk chocolate , roughly chopped into chunks

1.     To make the cookies, tip the sugars and butter into a large bowl. Blend them together until the mixture looks smooth and creamy, and a little paler in colour.

2.     Carefully break in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well between each egg and pausing to scrape down the sides with a spatula. Mix in the vanilla. 

3.     Sift in the flour and baking powder, then mix well with a wooden spoon.

4.     Stir through the chocolate chunks. Use your hands to squeeze the dough together in 1 big lump, then split into 2 even pieces. Put each piece on a sheet of cling film.

5.     Roll each piece of dough in the cling film so that they form thick sausage shapes, then seal the ends. Put them in the fridge and chill for at least 3 hrs or overnight – can be frozen at this point.

6.     Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/ gas 4. Take the dough rolls out of the fridge, unwrap and use a small knife to slice each one into 12 pieces, so you have 24 in total.

7.     Place the slices on a baking tray lined with baking parchment. Ask a grown-up to put this in the oven to bake for 20 mins or until the cookies are golden brown on the edges, but still pale in the centre.

8.     Allow to cool slightly before lifting them onto a wire rack to cool completely. 

Method for ice cream sandwich:

1.     Simply take a biscuit, place a scoop of ice cream on top, and then sandwich it together with another biscuit on top. Make sure to place the biscuits together firmly so that the ice cream stays in place but not too hard so that the biscuits break.