Recipes // Cooking The Season

July 05, 2017



Image from eatwell101

The best meals, in my opinion, always comes from the freshest foods! Strawberries and cream ... better in Summer. Roasted carrots and parsnips ... better in Winter! Some of the fruits and vegetables currently in season are;

Apples // Aubergine // Avocados // Basil // Berries // Carrots // Cherries // Corriander // Courgette // Cucumber // Fig // Garlic // Green Beans // Mangoes // Nectarines // Peaches // // Peppers // Tomatoes // Watermelon

The easiest way to eat this season would be to eat a delicious fruit salad! (Obviously topped with lashings of cream!). For those wanting something a little bit more adventurous, then below I have rounded up a few of my favourite summery recipes ...

Roasted Summer Vegetables

Ingredients:
- 2 Courgettes
- 2 Large Tomatoes
- 1 Aubergine
- 1 Garlic Bulbed, Halved
- 1 Red Onion
- 1 Red Pepper
- 1 tin chopped Tomatoes
- 200g New Potatoes
- Handful chopped Parsley, Chopped

Serves 2

Method:
Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan), chop up all veg into large pieces and toss in an oven dish with a glug of olive oil. Roast for 45 minutes.
After 45 minutes remove the garlic and squeeze the juice over the veg. Mix through the parsley and serve

Serving suggestion - Serve with slightly toasted Ciabatta bread!

Avocado Pesto Spaghetti

Ingredients:
- 200g Spaghetti
- 1 Avocado
- Large handful of Basil
- Small handful of Walnuts
- 2 cloves of Garlic
- Glug of olive oil
- Pinch of salt
- Twist of pepper
- Juice of 1 lemon

Serves 4

Method:
Put everything in a food processor (apart from the Spaghetti), cook the Spaghetti as required. Drain the Spaghetti, and warm through the Pesto and Spaghetti in the pan. And serve!

Serving suggestion - Serve with some cherry tomatoes and some roasted asparagus. Mmmmmmmm

 Watermelon Mimosa

Ingredients:
- Half a Watermelon
- 1 Bottle Prosecco
- Juice of 1 lime
- Handful mint leaves
- Ice. cubes

Serves 4

Method:
Blend the watermelon, lime juice and mint in a blender. Fill 4 glasses with ice, pour in the watermelon mixtures and top with Prosecco. And top with some springs of mint! Fancy!

If you hadn't already guessed then I'm a very, whack it all in kind of cook. A bit old school Jamie Oliver-esque. Pinch of this, and a glug of that ... I hope you enjoy!

What are your favourite Summer recipes?

The Fashion Edit // Airport Travel

July 04, 2017


 Headphones // T-Shirt // Cardigan // Leggings // Trainers // Backpack  // iPad Case

Monday Motivation // Monday Is The Best Day ...

July 03, 2017


'Monday Is The Best Day To Start Again' - Free Downloadable Print


This could not be more appropriate for me today than on any other Monday. I was out of the country for most of June, on holiday and then away with work so that was obviously a big excuse for over indulging in food, sleeping too late and the exercise regime ... what exercise regime? So today is all about wiping the slate clean and starting it all again. No matter what you have been doing over the weekend, the last week or even the last month, just pick yourself up and jump back onto that waggon!

I don't know what it is about a Monday that means you can start again, that's when your diet, job search or new habit starts. Just embrace the 'Monday Mentality' and start 'it', whatever it may be, again. I created the above artwork for you to download, download, print, stick on your wall and enjoy!

What To Do On A Sunday For The Week Ahead?

July 02, 2017


I love my weekends off. Maybe it's because for a very long time, I worked weekends! From my first ever job, until I was 26 years old, I worked weekends. Having those two whole days together, followed by five days together, means I want to make the most of it, so I love (as boring as it may sound) to use Sunday to get organised for the week ahead., and it makes me feel that I have the evenings more to myself. So here are my 5 must do's on a Sunday;

1. Meal Planning & Food Shopping
I don't know about you, but one thing that takes up a lot of my time is deciding on what to have for dinner, whether that's on my way home or when I get home. So a huge thing for me is meal planning for the whole week; breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Write the list of meals and then head to the supermarket, buying up bananas, salads, snacks and dinner ingredients saves so much time (and money) in the week, and makes me feel more like a grown up too!

2. Outfit Planning & Ironing
Yes another planning item, but your mornings will run so much smoother if verything is already gathered and ironed for the week! With underwear and accessories all ready, it means that you can have that little longer in bed knowing that everything is ready.

3. Clear Out & Pack Bag
The state my handbag is in by the end of the week is pretty gross. Receipts, leftover breakfasts ... last week I had 3 bottles of water! No wonder my back is hurting lugging those around. So clearing it, starting again and packing whatever you need, in my opinion being inner calm.

4. Prepare Errands
List all errands, and gather everything you need. For example this week I have an ASOS return, a few birthdays and need to go to the bank. So writing cards, packing up the return and filling in the forms for the bank means that I can get all errands done easier and quicker.

5. Set Weekly Goals
And my final (and most important) thing, whilst sitting in my PJ's and catching up on Big Brother on the sofa, I will list everything I want to achieve for the week, from Blogging goals (which for this week is just stick with it!), excercise goals and other goals such as buying a dress for my friends wedding next week and booking somewhere for my birthday dinner

What are your must do's on a Sunday?

Things to do in London this July

July 01, 2017





There is always a lot happening in London, but the Summertime seems to bring even more things to do! So here's a round up of my top picks of things to do in London this July!


1. Summer Streets Regent Street - Sundays throughout July (2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd)
On Sundays throughout July, Regents Strret becomes pedestrianised from Oxford Circus to Piccadilly Circus. There is a range of entertainment, food and drink on offer, including a pop up market with food from Gaucho, Masala Zone and Piccolino as well as sweet treats and strawberries and cream!! With live music, a steel band and a wildlife maze it is the perfect way to spend a Sunday!



2. Four Thieves Fringe - Various dates from July 5th
Probably my favourite favourite ... The Four Thieves Fringe! The Four Thieves is the best pub near me, it does amazing food, has a great ale selection, does loud music and on top of all that ... the upstairs is a GAMES ROOM, with car racing, mini golf and Street Fighter! And on top of that they host the Four Thieves Fringe, which is a host of evenings where comedians practice their sets before they head to the Edinburgh Fringe, from £6 for an evening set, or £25 for all events, it is a bargain for some good comedy names. (And I've already booked my tickets!)


3. London Vegan Beer Festival - 15th July
I love Beer, so any kind of Beer Festival is amazing. I have never tried Vegan Beer and so what perfect time to try it! With a Beer Hall and Beer Market filled with Vegan Beer Stalls to sample and Vegan food stalls with food to sample.




4. Overdough Pizza Party - 15th July
A brunch party with all you can eat pizza, bottomless cocktails and hip-hop karoke! Enough said!!






5. Rum Fesitval at Jam Tree  - All month long
July at Jam Tree brings Rum Festival, with different Rum elated events, from a bottomless brunch to salsa lessons. The end of the month (28th July) brings the Caribbean Supperclub, a Caribbean BBQ feast with a bottomless Rum Punch!





Other events throughout the month;
2nd July - Summer Streets in Regent Street - Street Party
3rd July - The start of the Wimbledondon Tennis Championship
From 5th July - Four Thieves Fringe - Comedy Event
6th July - British Summertime at Hyde Park - Music Festival
7th - 9th July - Wireless Festival - Music Festival
From 7th July - Nomad Cinema - Outdoor Cinema
From 7th July - Live Jazz at Pavilion Cafe in Greenwich Park (Every Friday until August 25th)
From 7th July - Regents Park Open Air Theatre - A Tale of Two Cities & Oliver Twist
8th July - Pride Parade - Trafalgar Square to The London Eye
9th July - Summer Streets in Regents Street - Street Party
14 & 15th July - LoveBox at Victoria Park - Music Festival
15th July - Overdough Pizza Party
16th July - Summer Streets in Regents Street - Street Party
16th July - Citadel Festival - Music Festival
21st & 22nd July - Ales Tales - Belgian Beer Festival
28th-30th July - Prudential RideLondon - 3 Day Cycling Festival


What will you be doing this July?