2016

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  2016 so far for me has been super busy and very productive. I have really given myself time to reflect on 2015 and how I want to do things slightly differently this year. 

So you may have noticed that on the right hand side somewhere I have an etsy badge, click the link and you’ll see what I have been busy getting up to so far this year….Yes that’s right, I am now the proud owner of my very own etsy store. All of the things you see have been designed by me… I am in love with the gift cards, super cute. So please head over there.

I have also been debating taking up vlogging, this is something for me that seems so much more personal and nerve racking… I don’t know why even. So in the next week or so that is what I am going to start getting up to! I will of course upload my vlog here…. I feel nervous even committing to you all I am going to make one!
So how’s your 2016 going? Have you got things you’re trying to do differently? I’d love to know!
See y’all soon 

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Blueberry pancakes

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So 2016 so far has been super busy for me for May reasons, I’ll explain in my next post. Part of what I am trying to do for 2016 is enjoy the naughty food I love with a healthier twist and this recipe is one I have to share! It’s super easy and delicious! The pancakes are gluten free and dairy free.

Ingredients:

Almond flour 1.5 cups

Eggs 3

Almond milk 1 cup 

Oats 1/2 cup

Handful of Blueberries

2 teaspoons of Coconut oil

Honey to taste (optional)

Method:

This is the super easy, whisk together the Almond Flour, Almond Milk, Eggs and Oats until you have a pancake consistency. Then add in your blueberries.

Once you have the right consistency, heat the pan with the oil inside spoon in some of the mixture ( I was able to get 3panckes in the pan at the time as I made them small) ensuring you have a few blueberries in each. Heat on a medium heat for 3-4 mins depending on how thick you make them, then flip them over.

Serve in a stack on the plate and and sizzle with honey to taste.

Enjoy!

To make these slightly more savoury don’t add the blueberries, smash up some avacado and cook up some bacon as a topping to enjoy..

  

Cauliflower Base Pizza

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So for my birthday I was super lucky and a great friend brought me a brilliant book by ‘Sarah Wilson’ called ‘I Quit Sugar’. This is a truely delicious cauliflower based pizza and it’s super healthy too! I’ve adapted the recipe myself but you can pretty much put whatever you want onto it. I couldn’t not share this with you all!

A great way to eat healthily and deliciously this January,  

So to make this delicious pizza (enough for 2), you will need;

For the base:

1 cauliflower- grated, cooked, drained and cooled

100g goats cheese

1 egg

Sea salt and pepper to taste
Topping:

2 tablespoons of Passata

4  tenderstem Broccoli  stalks

1 finely sliced red onion

2 eggs 

And whatever else you fancy really
To start pre-heat the oven to 200C. So to make the base mix all the ingredients together. Flatten the mixture out to around 1cm thick onto baking trays the mixture can make 2 large or 4 small pizzas spending on how you want to divide the mixture. Cook these for around 30-40min until the base is crusty.

Remove these from the oven and the add your topping, really this can be of your choice or you can use my suggestion. If using my suggestion, smear the Passata over the base and lay your toppings on top leaving the egg till last. Find somewhere to crack the egg, and then place into the oven for a further 10-15 mins (or until the egg is cooked)

Serve warm and enjoy!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

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A big Merry Christmas from me to all my lovely readers! I hope you’ve all even well and truely spoiled. 

Sorry I have been out of touch, I’ve been enjoying an amazing Christmas with my family on a beautiful island on the west coast of Ireland and what a treat we had, and amazingly beautiful place that made feel so grateful to be able to experience it with all my loved ones.

I really hope all of your Christmases were filled with family, food and fun!

Here’s a quick video I put together of my time there, please don’t judge my editing skills as it has all been done on my iPad!*

 
 
* please note the music is by an amazing artist Ben Howard and it is not mine.

Birthday Surprise

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IMG_2847 copyThis year for my Birthday I was in for a lovely thoughtful surprise from Josh. All I knew was that the Tuesday before my Birthday I was to have nothing planned after work that evening and that he would meet me at work. That Tuesday came, we walked through Hyde Park and I still had no idea what we were doing or where we were going I was looking at everything and suggesting that it might be it…

However we then showed up outside Claridges, I was so excited to be so lucky to be dining in such an amazing place (whilst feeling slightly under dressed). We walked into such a Grand Entrance that just sparkled. We were shown to the restaurant where we left our coats and bags in a cloak room and made our way into Fera a 1 Michelin star restaurant (ahhhh I was so amazed happy and excited and this point). We were treated so well with a glass of Champagne waiting for us. We were having a set menu which came with a nicer price tag and a great variety of foods.

The Service was out of this world, we had some delicious taste warmers followed by a tasty 3 course meal! I was in a foodies heaven.

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Chocolate Treats

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The Other weekend me and Josh were setting off to Central London, for some shopping and to see the iconic Harrods Christmas lights! They really do make you feel christmassy. We then went in to see if we could see any decorations for the tree that tickled our fancy, and on the way to the Christmas hall, got completely distracted by the Godiva Chocolate Cafe, and boy what a great distraction it was. With so much chocolate around I think anyone would struggle not going in there.

We were seated really quickly, but then we were left with the difficult decision of what type/form of chocolate should we get? Hot chocolate, cold chocolate drinks,white, Milk or dark, fondue, cake, crepes or chocolates. I mean seriously I’ve never seen such a variety of ways chocolate can be done. So finally having spent a fair bit of time choosing our decisions were made. I opted for a white hot chocolate and josh a dark hot chocolate, along with a chocolate cake layered with mouse and genâche served with a hot chocolate sauce. Essentially chocolate on chocolate.
Yes, it was delicious, yes it was sickly!  It really is a great place to take that Chocolate lover in your life.

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‘Tis the season to be jolly

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So I’m sure if you follow any of my social media accounts you’ll know I’m fully embracing the Christmas spirit this year! I am so excited… The tree is up my Christmas jumpers on, just the presents to finish buying.  

  

But I wanted to take the time to write this post to really think about what Christmas is for me. Yes it’s about the giving and the sharing, it’s about everyone, including all of those people who are less fortunate than us all around the world. It’s about helping others in ways that you can, to spread this Christmas spirit. It really makes you realise how lucky we are to have amazing people around us roofs over our heads and the Internet to even be able to read this post.

Today I have done some small things to try and help in my own way, donated to a food bank and brought a big issue, yes they’re only small things but the more people that do all these small things the bigger the community spirit and the more people able to enjoy Christmas. 

So here’s a Christmas challenge, don’t just walk by that big issue seller, help them out and buy that edition, buy some extra mince pies and give them away so we can all help those less fortunate around us, and enjoy doing it. 

DIY Advent

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Happy Advent! This is by far my favourite time of the year. Time to officially get festive and enjoy the season of giving. This year, with the help of KhrissieLoves I have made some really cute advent calendars, which allow you to customise the daily treats. This is really simple yet really cute and easy way to be able to have a bespoke calender.So for starts you will need;
1. Cork Board
2. Drawing board Pins
3. Ribbon
4. Pegs
5. Parcel Tags (optional)

To start, take the ribbon and cut 5 pieces to the width of the cork board. Then spread these evenly down the board, Using the drawing pins, pin the ribbon on the positions you’re happy with. The next thing to do is position your pegs, I opted for some advent calender specific ones, but you could DIY the pegs too! Then of course the filling, this could be anything from things that make you smile to a daily treat, the great thing is you get to choose!

Have fun making…

  

Yoga Time

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So yes it has been a very very long time since I last managed to get pen to paper but I have got lots to tell you but I thought it best to start with this post to stretch off and limber up.

So in October I was off to Alexandra Palace with the Lovely Victoria from Fitique, for the OM Yoga Show. We went along to the show to take a look at all the amazing brands available and all the lovely new styles. We met some great brands and caught up with some of the stores stockists. These are some of my personal favourites and what we got up to throughout the day.

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First stop to grab some delicious juices to get our energy up and ready to see lots of exciting exciting brands.

 

 

 

 

 

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We came across the amazing designs form Dharma Bums and these were my ultimate favourite shape style and pattern leggings, I couldn’t ask for more in a legging.

We also got to meet up with the lovely ladies from Emma Nissim and admire all the lovely t-shirt designs that she has here

 

 

 

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As well as getting shopped out we also got to see some amazing yoga and if you want there are plenty of yoga classes to join in on (this isn’t something I realised you could do).

 

 

 

I can highly recommend this yoga to anyone at any level to get themselves to the show next year! Who knows maybe see you there next year! Don’t forget to check out the beautiful view with a sunset on your way out… IMG_3857.JPG

 

Beetroot Brownies

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Following the The Great British Bake Off I have been inspired to get back into the kitchen! Trying to sneak a healthy twist in there too. I came across this delicious recipe on BBC Good Food and made a couple of amends to make it gluten free. I also use all organic ingredients as a preference! This is a must try as they are truly delicious!

  • 500g Whole Raw Beetroot (3-4 medium beets)
  • 100g Unsalted Butter, plus extra for the tin
  • 200g Bar Plain Chocolate (70% cocoa)
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 250g Golden Caster Sugar
  • 3 Eggs
  • 100g Brown Rice Flour
  • 25g Cacao Powder
keeping my fingers stain free, and getting messy!

keeping my fingers stain free, and getting messy!

  1. Start with Beetroot, I pop on a pair of rubber gloves so I don’t get Beetroot stained fingers. Then peel and chop the beetroot, pop in a steamer and cook until soft.
  2. Pre-Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. While the Beetroot steams, butter and line a 20 x 30cm tray bake or small roasting tin. Roughly break the chocolate and cut the butter into cubes and pop into a blender with the vanilla. Once the Beetroot is tender, add this to the blender and mix it up until you have a smooth mixture. (The heat from the Beetroot will melt the butter and chocolate)
  3. Pop the Sugar and Eggs into a large bowl, and whisk together preferably with an electric whisk until it is thick, pale and foamy. Gradually spoon in the Beetroot mixture, and using a large metal spoon, fold the mixture in. Trying to retain as much air to the mixture as possible.
  4. Sift in the Flour and Cacao powder, gently folding into the mixture to make a smooth batter
  5. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 25-30mins or until the brownies are completely risen and there’s a tiny bit of mixture left on the knife when you check the centre of the bake. Once cooked cool in the tray and cut and enjoy!
delicious and soft here's the final thing (they didn't hang around long)

delicious and soft here’s the final thing (they didn’t hang around long)