August Antics

I’m way too hot right now. Taking a respite from the blazing Cretan sunshine, I’m sat under the umbrella writing this post, also the only place I can see the screen. Is there such a thing as a laptop screen that you can still see in the sun? No matter how much I turn up the brightness I’m still staring into a black void, which isn’t so ideal for editing photos, and god knows what I’m actually typing here.

So yes, I’m spending my last week of August in Crete, near to the city of Rethymno. We have a beautiful villa here, surrounded by olive groves and pomegranate trees and the mountains in the distance. Did you know that Greece is approximately 80% mountain?? I didn’t!! It’s so peaceful here too, except for the sound of crickets, birds (not forgetting the bloody barking dogs, they’re not so peaceful but we can forget about them) and the swilling of the pool, well that’s about it.

The so-called British summer has been pretty poor this year. All those who don’t believe in global warming, well surely it’s proof enough when our summer’s have been getting wetter and cooler year on year. The boots and puffer coats never get put away and the sandals and bikinis are too shy to come out. I’m very grateful to be here and to end August on a good note in a beautiful setting. I’m sick of the rain, so when I get back home to England can you please have gone away? Thanks.

With next coming September (my birthday month, annnnddddd it’s a big’un!) I’m very much looking forward to it, celebrating with a bang. Also what’s not to love about Autumn, the last of the seasonal fruit and vegetables, foraging for blackberries, low and golden sunshine beams and walks through the falling leaves. But that’s next month it’s a while to go yet, so back to now! Here’s what I’ve been loving this August, just a couple of things, mainly with a sunny theme of course!

#1 Daily morning swim

There’s no way that I could go on holiday without having a pool nearby, just a few steps away is ideal. I’m not a huge fan of the beach, sand gets everywhere in every single crack and crevice, you can’t eat or you’ll end up chewing on the stuff and swimming in the sea gives me the heebie jeebies. The pool is a must. On holiday I like to have a little routine of waking up putting my swimsuit on and swim a few lengths. It’s just me and the pool, some time for myself to reflect on things in my mind and get my body moving before a hard days’ work of lying down, reading books, doing crosswords and eating. The pool isn’t so big where I am right now, maybe only four or five strokes per length, but hey that only means more lengths. I’m currently on eighty, let’s see by the end of the week if I’ll make it to one hundred. I highly doubt that! NOTE: One day I did manage one hundred, pretty chuffed with myself I must admit, also pretty ravenous the rest of the day. Can’t complain about that just means more cheese for me!

 

#2  This dress from & Other Stories

The love affair all began way way back on a shopping day with my mum to Manchester, let’s say around May. I spotted this dress in & Other Stories, the skirt with the same print too, and just fell in love. I knew I had to own it. Unnnntttil spying the price tag of a lofty £79, well that idea was swiftly put aside. A week or so later I did a shoot on Formby Beach (which is absolutely beautiful on a sunny day by the way) and what was to be one of the looks? Of course that dress. It’s was as if it was fate. So again on another shopping trip in the summer months, I spied this beauty. ON THE SALE RAIL. I felt like all my stars had aligned and karma was on my side (something which doesn’t happen very often). It was meant to be after all! So finally last night I had the chance to wear said dress for a meal by the sea. It was a little breezier that anticipated and the waves were definitely crashing on the rocks, and the waistband perhaps was a little too tight so I had to undo the zip (too much feta maybe?). But it got its first outing and that’s all that matters!

 

#3 Greek Tea – particularly this brand Krocus Kozanis

There’s a theme this month if you haven’t already noticed, I am pretty in love with Greece. They like tea, as do I, meaning we get along well together. They do something called mountain tea which is made from the dried leaves, stems and flowers of the sideritis plant. But many other herbal teas are popular including the likes of sage and oregano all with supposed individual health benefits but a delicious flavour too. I’ve found this brand Krocus Kozanis, who sell a small range of organic greek teas, it is available in the uk but not the easiest to get hold of. The best of the lot are the herbal tea with sage, lemon verbena and saffron and the herbal tea with rosemary, thyme and saffron. I will be stocking up whilst we’re here and packing my suitcase with teabags. If we’re overweight on the baggage allowance – I’ll sure know why!

 

#4 Pistachio and dark chocolate cookies with sea salt from Joy The Baker

This is one of my go-to’s. Whenever my family is pining for something sweet or I need a present to take to someones’ house, I know it’s a pleaser. A mixture of finely chopped almost ground pistachios with chunkier ones for some bite, dark chocolate chips (the darker the better to contrast with the sweetness) and a good sprinkling of sea salt on each one which is totally obligatory. They’re a little more adult than your regular chocolate chip, and just that little bit better. Joy the Baker has some brilliant finds on her blog, I’m a repeat visitor for her cookie recipes and also her chats about cats, I’m always into that. Cats are life. As are cookies.

 

#5 Organic cold-pressed rose hip seed oil from The Ordinary

Rosehip oil is something I’ve intergrated into my beauty routine for some time now. A few drops on slightly damp skin (nothing which a good spritz of rosewater can’t solve) massaged in then left to absorb before applying my moisturiser. It’s highly hydrating, full of Vitamin A and Fatty acids which are beneficial for our skin, is lighter than many other oils such as coconut oil so won’t clog your pores and it gives you a natural glow due to its orange colour (I’m not talking oopma loompa, but just eough of a tint). I’ve been faithful to this rosehip oil from Pai, it has a lovely scent but also a bit costy too. A friend suggested the company The Ordinary to me, a new beauty brand which aims to bring trustworthy products to the market, dispose of false advertsing and to sell everything at a reasonable price. Well at £9 a pop I can’t really argue with that.

 

#6 Swiss cheese plant or Monstera (or as I like to call it Grilled Cheese Plant) from Ikea

Oh Ikea, you walk in with intentions of tracking down the one wardrobe, to walk the wrong way down the aisles, get hungry halfway round so stop for meatbealls and a cinnamon bun, buy way more unnecessary things than you intended to and then struggle with the trolley on the way to the car as the flat pack is way heavier than you anticipated and the trolley has a Dickie wheel. We’ve all been there! HOWEVER they do sell everything at a reasonable price and you can get some pretty snazzy finds. Even though I have just bought this mirror for my room (which I love to pieces may I add) but every other man and his goat has the same one, which is rather annoying. They also have a really good plant section. I bought two plants from there, a Calathea (obviously purchased entirely on the basis of the name) and the Montera (or swiss cheese). Perhaps plants have become that indie ‘staple’ to be seen in every coffee shop and young persons apartment. It’s true I also have a pinterest board full of plant inspiration for my bedroom, I’m talking planters, macramé and succulents. Buutttttt it’s also true that plants are really beneficial to our health when kept inside. They increase the quality of the air by removing pollutents, keep the air more humid and less dry and supposedly encourage an increase in mood and lower stress levels. Well I’ll be having some of that please. Also they just look really nice. The swiss cheese plant, has holes in its leaves, similar to an edam or gouda (d’ya get it now?), and a hell of a lot easier upkeep than a dog or cat. I’m just praying that after a 1 week holiday it hasn’t given up on me!

 

August it’s been a fun ride but here we are on the other side. I’ll be chatting here this time next month when I’m another year older. 21. Pretty excited I must admit, but do I feel like I can officially call myself an adult and I have my life in check. Hell NO. Am I looking forward to eating my weight in birthday cake, drinking way too much prosecco and seeing all my family and friends (ooh not forgetting the new outfit)? Why OF COURSE!!

Ta ta

X

July Jamborees

July. A month of variable weather. Full of promise one day for that scorchio summer at home that we all hope for, to wake up the next morning to torrential showers and gusting winds that leave a chill in our bones. When it comes to what to wear that day, preparing for all weathers is a must, or in my case giving up and just wearing jeans and a t shirt with some jazzy earrings and a neck scarf. And under no circumstances forgetting that umbrella even if it’s broken and sagging, as all of mine are, it will provide some protection against that unforgiving weather of ours.

The summer provides some serious downtime for me. As the whole of Europe prepares to shutdown for August, the UK decides to take a break too and jet off to some warmer clime. Meaning not much work to go around in the modelling industry. A time I am now learning to take in my stride, not get stressed about having a free schedule and just make the most of it and doing things for ME. So far having involved decorating my room, a few lunches out, shopping trips, plenty of cooking and soon to come will be trips to other cities in the UK, gallery visits and *fingers crossed* a day at the seaside.

I hope you have the most fantastic summer if you’re in the northern hemisphere, and if you’re in the south and moving into winter, don’t worry too much as I’m sure it will still be a hell of a lot warmer than it is here in Manchester!

Here’s the things I’ve been loving this month. Enjoy!

#1 Belazu Rose Harissa

If I had to, which I’m hoping no one holds me to this, choose ONE food that I would eat for the rest of my days, I reckon harissa would be a strong contender. Harissa is a chilli and paprika paste mixed with spices, oil and in this case rose petals, used frequently in North African and Middle Eastern cooking. I’ve tried many supermarket brands in the past, and they’ve been fine, perfectly acceptable but I’ve had my eye on this harissa from Belazu for a while and finally got my hands on some. A gloriously deep red spiced up paste, which is fragrant, sweet and smoky, compared to the supermarket versions it wins hands down. Also the company is based in the UK, YAY for that too! I’ve been swirling it through my hummus, spreading on a sandwich, dotted across eggs, mixed into salad dressings and using as a marinade for salmon. Come along harissa, I reckon you’ve surpassed peanut butter in the Thea’s Top 10 list, and you won’t be going anywhere for a long time.

 

#2 ManiLife Deep Roast Peanut Butter

Ok I go on and on and on about peanut butter here. I’m sorry. I’m sure many of you also share the same feels? Please say yes. I’ve been happy eating the same brand of peanut butter for a good while, Meridian Crunchy Peanut Butter is found in the majority of supermarkets, made with no added sugar or palm oil just roasted peanuts and salt. It’s good. Then however I discovered Pic’s Crunchy Peanut Butter. Made in New Zealand, again just salt and high-oleic peanuts, it surpassed Meridian on the flavour scale, but money wise it’s slightly more pricey. Not much later, ManiLife Deep Roast arrived in my life. A British company grinding and producing in London and sourcing their peanuts from Argentina. They roast them for longer so it is dark, verging on the bitterness of coffee, utterly AMAZING. I can’t look at normal peanut butter anymore…I am a changed woman 😉 Visit their online shop here, as it is impossible to buy in the north of the UK but found in many shops around London and the south. Hop onto it, you will be forever grateful. I am.

 

#3 Home brewed Kombucha

One of my favourite treats to buy whenever I go to London. If you’ve never heard of it, kombucha is a fermented tea drink which has a slight effervescence, the taste not completely dissimilar from cider. It’s made using a sweetened black or green tea and a SCOBY which feeds on the sugar to create an acidic environment and when bottled up the CO2 increases which makes it that bit fizzy. I’m a huge fan of Jarr, a company haling from Hackney, their passionfruit kombucha is particularly dreamy, not too sweet and really provides a good pick me up as well as some TLC (tummy loving care that is). With only one place I’ve discovered in Manchester which sells kombucha, I’ve taken to making my own as a little project for over the summer. One batch down, in a ginger and lime flavour I’m pretty chuffed and getting all jazzed about the flavour combos I have lined up. If you want to give kombucha brewing a go, I bought a scoby from ebay and then there’s many blogs full of all the information you need to get started. See here, here and here. Happy fermenting!

 

#4 Bundobust – Leeds and Manchester city centers

Any of you Leeds/Manchester-ites will be well aware of this gem of a food spot. And if you’re not where have you BEEN? Originally an craft beer bar in Leeds which sold Indian street food for a snack, turned out the food was more than good so now it’s an Indian street food restaurant with a well stocked bar full of beer, lager and ale. Completely vegetarian and most dishes are vegan too, that’s not saying you shouldn’t go if you’re a meat eater. You won’t miss the meat at all. Offering all the classics such as Massala Dosa, Idli Sambhar, Chole Batura, Tarka Dahl and Vada Pav alongside their own Gujarati-inspired creations like the Biryani Bhaji Balls and the Onion Gobi Bhaji Bhajis. Do not visit without ordering the Okra Fries. And you will want a portion for yourself, those aren’t for sharing. See their website for the rest of the menu and where to find them.

 

#5 Light Before Dark Black Gingham Wide Leg Culottes – Urban Outfitters

You know when you walk into a shop, see something and know that you NEED to own it. That happened with these culottes. At heart I’m still 8 and would happily live in my junior school red gingham summer dress. So, in flies in these black and white gingham culottes, slightly cooler, more ‘hip’ as my dad might say, whilst still living that ‘mini-me’ life. They’re loose and airy, perfect for those times when the weather is in our favour, or layered up with a jacket and some trainers to withstand the rainy days. The high elasticated waistband, well the fashion isn’t the only reason I wear them. Going out for a big meal? Stick these on and you can squeeze in that dessert instead of your jeans button popping open. Comfort and style, I’m in.

 

#6 Flamingo wallpaper

So last week me and my mum spent a few days redecorating my room. Going though the whole procedure of painting the ceiling, woodwork, walls and finally coming to the best bit, the wallpapering. When your new wallpaper is pink and covered in flamingoes it’és particularly exciting. As glorious as it sounds. I have plans for a corner full of plants, terrariums and succulents to keep the air fresh and clean, lots of artwork by me, a handmade crocheted throw which I’m currently in the making of and some white artichoke lights as there isn’t enough of a 70’s throwback as there is. If anyone has any Pinterest boards that they would be happy to share for some bedroom/plant/artwork inspiration, I’m all eyes!!

X

 

 

What’s the dealio with dairy?

We pour it on our cereal, splash it in our tea, our coffee, eat it as an after dinner dessert or slice onto crackers with chutney for a mid-afternoon snack. Dairy in all its forms is something we have been brought up on. In the western world we are told as soon as we stop breast feeding to drink our milk, so much so that is an integral part of most peoples’ diets.

Memories of a glass of warm milk before bed as it helps to send you to sleep, that minuscule red wheel of Babybel cheese you fished out of your lunchbox daily, and squeezy yogurts that you stuck in the freezer to make into ice lollies on those (more frequent back then) days of stuffy summer. Frubes I’m looking at you! Dairy, seemed to be a fundamental part of the diet.

Marketing campaigns encourage parents to feed their children dairy products, enforcing the fact that without it they won’t get enough calcium to grow and have strong bones, ‘it will make you strongerer’. The fear of rickets is probably on most parents minds, so if the guidelines say to eat dairy, the children will eat it. What if they were lactose intolerant though? Around 10-20 years ago the only option you had as a dairy alternative was fortified soya milk. Probably sweetened. Most likely a bit gross. There wasn’t really much development in terms of dairy free milks, yogurts and cheeses, and the free from aisle…what free from aisle? If you were lactose intolerant you either gave it up cold turkey, or suffered the consequences.

I can’t pinpoint when exactly, but here in the UK, let’s say 5 years ago? Something triggered a small amount of the population to go dairy free. We also became more aware of the effects of soya on the environment and how it disrupts hormone levels (particularly for us women). The dairy free market was steadily growing, the occasional almond and coconut milks were accessible, still didn’t taste that good- mainly water and emulsifiers – so the need for creamy dairy wasn’t ever satisfied. You know it’s become a thing when Starbucks catch onto the trend and almond and coconut milk become an optional extra, with a 30p charge of course. Soon the media channelled into it spreading the word that dairy is the devil, it leads to cancer and causes osteoporosis, and every other ailment under the sun.

Around the same time, another tribe of people were touting that low fat dairy should be avoided at all costs. You can still eat your cheese, yogurts, milk and butter, but ensure that it is full fat. The higher the better for some, swearing off high fat – low carb diets. Bulletproof coffee (that is indeed coffee blitzed with butter to supposedly give a creamy drink without the crash from the caffeine), full fat yogurt, choosing cheese over dessert and searching out raw milk if possible. Totally contrasting to the dairy free crowd, making it utterly confusing to us consumers.

There doesn’t seem to be a definitive answer to this problem for the time being. The government guidelines include dairy as part of a healthy balanced diet, it’s a good source of protein and calcium ensuring that you stick to lower fat varieties as the amount of saturated fat can be high. Personally, I find a happy ground in between all this conflict. I eat full fat yogurt (organic if I can, Yeo Valley is my go to), spread salted butter liberally on my toast and eat cheese when I want. I enjoy dairy. Cutting it out from my life would make me miserable and being unhappy doesn’t contribute to a healthy lifestyle. If you’ve ever experimented with removing or reducing your consumption of something, you will have realised that it penultimately ends up in being substituted with something else. The best dairy substitute by far is nuts, healthy though they are, you can always over do it. Need some cream, use cashews, spread nut butter instead of butter on toast, make cheese from cashews herbs and garlic, and milk from, yet again, more nuts.

Nuts aren’t the only culprits in the dairy free gang. Rice milk has been a favourite for many for years as it’s naturally very sweet, and coconut milk too for something a bit creamier and richer. Oat milk hailing from Sweden and even hemp, quinoa and tiger nut milk can all be spotted. If you’re wanting to switch up your milk routine and try something new here’s a list of dairy free milks that I would always choose. They are tried and tested, all of them with a different flavour which lends themselves to different things.

• Oatly – Oat Milk

A personal favourite, creamy milk which tastes as delicious chilled from the fridge as it does on your morning muesli or stirred into your porridge. Also note that it is one of the best dairy free milks for using in tea and coffee as its foams well and doesn’t separate. I tend to choose the blue Oatly carton as it is fortified with calcium, vitamin D, B12 and riboflavin and it is also cheaper than the organic version.

• Rude Health

I’m a huge fan of the company Rude Health, having sampled all of their range of milks (many times I may add) they still are a firm staple on my shopping list. Their almond, hazelnut and coconut milks all are made with a base of brown rice so are delicately sweet, perfect for those of you wanting some sweetness without adding sugar, and when blended into smoothies or lattes have a nice subtle flavour. Then there’s the ultimate almond for the purists – with a heftier price tag – and a higher percentage of nuts and none of the rice. The cashew milk too, which I’m highly fond of, purely made from cashews and water, it is the creamiest of the lot and makes a mean turmeric or matcha latte. All of the Rude Health milks have the added bonus that there are no emulsifiers or stabilisers so they do require a good shake before pouring. However if you’re worried about missing out on certain nutrients when you cut out milk, none of these are fortified so you may want to opt for another brand for the everyday use.

• Alpro – Unsweetened roasted almond milk

Alpro is well known by the masses notably for soya products, which has a bit of a bad rap. This almond milk though is the best of the lot they offer. Unsweetened and fresh, it’s the sort of milk that fits into your everyday life. More cost-effective too at the cheapest on offer, but with a very low content of almonds and quite a neutral flavour it may not be the most exciting for your tastebuds.

• Califia farms – Unsweetened almond milk

New to the UK and currently found in Sainsburys, Califia Farms is a bit of a game changer in terms of almond milk. Carageenan free, no added sugars and utterly delicious I have to add, this one is something to hunt down. It’s so good I enjoy drinking it as is, from a glass (and when I’m that desperate straight from the bottle) and that’s that. Also brilliant for use in hot drinks as there is no curdling and it isn’t thin so you won’t require half a carton to get your tea how you like.

Now what’s my stance on dairy? I love the stuff and have tried (vow to never again) giving it up, and believe that if you aren’t allergic or intolerant and most importantly you enjoy it, don’t deprive yourself. Dairy is high in saturated fat but as long as you don’t overdo it, there will absolutely be no problems. Here’s some of the dairy products that I like to eat, I always try to stick to organic if possible and mix it up by consuming not only cows milk, but sheeps, goats and buffalo too. You will be surprised how many of your favourite cheeses aren’t actually made from cows milk.

 

• Yeo Valley – Natural yogurt, Greek style yogurt and salted butter

 

I love this brand as all of their products are organic the cows are fed on luscious grass and made in Somerset . I always return back to their natural yogurt, or the greek style if I want something richer, as it has a good tang and you can find it in most supermarkets and even corner shops. The butter too is lovely, a bright marigold yellow with a little salt, spread it on sourdough. That’s what you call heaven.

• St. Helen’s farm – Goats yogurt

This may be a dividing option. It’s rich, but with a salty savouriness that balances all out. The flavour too is much stronger than a cows milk yogurt so a little goes much further. Dolloped on a crumble, topped with strawberries or strained to make a labneh. Perhaps keep it real simple with just a drizzle of local honey and a little pinch of salt, bloomin’ marvellous!

• Feta cheese

The most famous of offerings from Greece. That salty crumbly cheese that none of us can get enough of. It makes every meal better, whether that be avo on toast, a mundane salad, a sandwich or a pile of broccoli. Add feta and automatically it is elevated. Traditionally feta is made only from goats milk so try to opt for one of those, searching in your local Aldi or Lidl should do the trick.

• Halloumi

Halloumi tends to be the vegetarians’ choice (and eaten by all the carnivores too) particularly when BBQ weather rolls along. You Nando’s aficionados will know the drill. Squeaky cheese, as my mum refers to it, takes on flavours well so when marinaded and griddled to leave blackened scorch marks, that rivals any sausage or chicken drumstick. Another cheese which traditionally is made from goats or ewes milk and found in the Mediterranean sunnier climes of Cyprus.

• Longley Farm – Crème Fraîche

From a dairy local to me comes this crème fraîche. Alongside many yogurts, butters, milk and creams they produce, this is the better than any supermarket version. If anyone knows in more detail, please back me up on this, but supposedly this is the only variety of cream available to buy in France. Crème fraîche goes through a fermenting process to give it that tang, meaning it lasts longer in the fridge and is better for our digestion than cream.

• Godminster – Organic Cheddar cheese

Having worked a stint in a farm shop and on a cheese counter, a good few chunks of cheese came my way. Blue, Cheddar, Lancashire, Cheshire, Brie, goats cheese, I like them all, but when it comes to making a cheese board I know that a good cheddar will always be the first to disappear and everyone fights for the last slither. This Cheddar cheese from Somerset is mature and punchy enough to stand up to any chutney, but still creamy and lingers on your palate…until the next piece. Available to buy in the UK at many delis by the slice or in individual truckles. Grated into a cauliflower cheese or sliced in a cheese sandwich, guaranteed it will be the best you have ever made.

To wrap it all up, I still don’t think there’s an outright decision on whether we should be eating dairy or not. Do what works for you. I do try to limit my dairy consumption, so that means substituting dairy milk for a plant based milk instead, for environmental reasons mainly as methane production is one of the main causes of global warming. Milk is something in the western diet that is consumed at least once a day, particularly for us Brits – we’re all rather partial to a cuppa – very swiftly by switching that up you’ll be eating and drinking much less. Yogurts, cheeses, butter and cream don’t tend to be an everyday thing. Also yogurt and crème fraîche (and some butters if they’re french) are all fermented or cultured. They’re beneficial to our guts and if you’re not a huge fan of other fermented products such as sauerkraut, kombucha and kimchi they are a good way of getting those good bacteria into your diet.

Do what’s right for you, your lifestyle and your budget. As long as we’re all ensuring to eat as many vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains, mainly plant based, then that cheeseboard and a glass of vino, it’s there to ENJOY!

Until next time

X

April ‘Appenings

Can you tell I’m struggling to think up a title each time for these monthly posts? I will still need another A for August and just the one was hard enough.

I’ve resorted to improper English. Say it in a Yorkshire accent and I reckon it just about works.

So yes it’s the end of April. Already! Wow that really did fly by. So what’s happened for me this month? Apart from a new haircut, bleached to blonde and dyed back to brown again, that’s about it. Yes that’s the most exciting my life really does get. Not forgetting time spent gathering up the best bits to share with all you lovely readers.

I feel like I’ve neglected the blog recently, I’ve been ferrying around London and and up and down the country on trains, so there hasn’t been much time in my kitchen for some recipe crushing. Well, there has been a few baking attempts, majority of which ended up in the bin, let’s just forget about those. But panic not. I have some things waiting in the pipeline. A new dip recipe – perhaps I should change the blog name to ‘In Homage To Hummus’ it’s becoming a recurring theme – and talking about beans, a little sweet treat for that 4pm afternoon slump. For now, here’s what’s been ‘appening this April.

 

#1 Black patent trench coat, M&S

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 17: Alexa Chung attends the J.W.Anderson show during London Fashion Week Spring/Summer collections 2016/2017 on September 17, 2016 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Darren Gerrish/WireImage)

April showers. The saying has never rang truer. The past four weeks have included weather from all the seasons, sun, warmth, clouds, rain, hail, wind and snow. YEPP you read that right. It makes getting dressed in the morning incredibly difficult. A huge winter puffer coat isn’t really necessary (it’s still not packed away for winter yet…) but a light leather jacket is just too thin, and I don’t care about functionality there is no way I’m wearing a rain coat or pac-a-mac. Ok, it’s trench coat time. I bought this coat last year from M&S, before any mumsy thoughts pop into your mind your mum would have to be pretty sassy to wear this for the school pick up. A black patent trench coat, that squeaks when you move your arms. I just love it. Having been a fan of a classic trench coat for a few years, that beige colour that goes with EVERYTHING, this little black number is here to mix things up a bit.  And no you can never have too many shoes, coats and handbags. I will sit firmly on that mantra.

 

#2 Sunflower Seed Milk

Have you ever made your own nut milk? If not and you need a little help, see this post, if you’re not a newbie perhaps it’s only almond you’ve attempted. Cashew maybe has been blitzed or you’ve even stretched as far as hazelnut (that in a chocolate milkshake would be utter heaven). I’m a bit obsessed with seeds lately, I’m trying to reduce my consumption of nuts as sometimes it becomes a bit excessive (particular when in the form of nut butter) so I seem to be turning towards their seedy friends for a dose of protein and healthy fats. I’ve been seeing many fellow bloggers making hemp seed milk recently, I reckon it would be lush and creamy, but alas I had ran out of hemp seeds. It’d been a good while since I last had a nut milk DIY sesh as I’m not entirely sure it works out any cheaper, it is a bit of a messy faff, it’s not fortified with vitamins and minerals we’re missing from not eating dairy but ignoring all of that the taste is miles miles better. I soaked some sunflower seeds for around four hours, drained and added 4 times the amount of water, a pinch of salt and blended it all up. A quick strain led to a subtle flavoured milk, lightly sweet which of course was drank up wayyyyy too quickly. Give it a try, pumpkin seed milk will turn out a lovely pastel green and sesame seeds will have that bitter toasty flavour we love so much about tahini. It’s not an everyday thing, but once in a while some proper nut and seed milk is called for.

 

#3 Masterchef

Masterchef is back, and it doesn’t get tougher than this. Although it seems only moments ago when it was last on telly. I love a good TV competition and the fact that this one also includes food, well it’s a no-brainer. John Torode and Greg Wallace host the UK version of the show, I’m not sure if it’s me but has Greg been coming out with some ludicrous innuendos this time around, a bit much for the BBC I would have thought, and he’s definitely no Nigella. It’s the perfect week night show that you can lie on the sofa and let your mind wander, forget about the stressors of everyday life and get stressed instead at the contestants making yet ANOTHER chocolate fondant that isn’t cooked enough and instead serve a plate of molten goo. Find it on BBC 1 or catch up on iPlayer.

 

#4 The First Mess cookbook

I’ve been a fan of Laura Wrights’ blog, The First Mess for some time now. A vegan plant-based centric delight to your eyes and your belly, using beautiful produce and no weird meat substitute business. Her cookbook came out earlier this year and with it being published in America and Canada and not here in the UK, I had to wait WEEKS for it to arrive. Oh but the wait was worth it.  I’ve already earmarked a number of recipes, particularly the miso turmeric chickpea scramble, fluffiest multigrain pancakes, sunshine crackers and a whipped chipotle lentil dip, all of which will be made ASAP. The photography is beautiful and everything looks doable with no need for fancy machines like dehydrators and sprouters which are a common feature in most vegan books. Take a look at her blog with the same name, The First Mess and follow her on Instagram @thefirstmess.

 

#5 Asparagus

What? It’s asparagus season? Perhaps my favourite of the vegetable family that I wait around allllllll year for, then fit it into as many meals possible between the months of April and June. Breakfast, lunch and dinner it will be sneaking onto my plate. FUN FACT: ever noticed that your wee smells after eating asparagus? It seems only 40% of us, more likely in women, have this ability to smell the particular whiff, all due to having a certain gene. I’m of the more dominant 60% of the population and don’t understand what all the fuss is about, but if you can smell it or not, it is definitely not going to affect my consumption. Green asparagus is most common here, but in the Mediterranean countries white asparagus tends to be a speciality and if you’re very lucky you might even come across the purple variety. Make sure to use it before we lose it again for another year!

 

For us in the UK it is the time of many bank holidays, the very beginning and very end of the month, time to spend picnicking, playing in parks, cooking up feasts and an extra day to relax (or party hard and spend the day in bed recovering). However you wish to spend yours, enjoy it fully with all of your heart doing what truly nourishes your soul.

Until then.

X

 

Some fashion week sustenance

It’s come around again, yet another season, 1/2 a year has been and gone. Something which first started off as a biannual event, has now spawned into hundreds of millions of shows new ones popping up each season, mens collection, cruise, couture, anniversary shows, pre collections, the fashion ‘week’ never ends for some.

From afar it seems a wondrous thing to be a part of – which it is when we eventually reach the following Tuesday and look back and say, ‘finally it is over!’ The slog though, it sure is a long and arduous one.

So the Monday before it officially begins on Friday we begin castings. Always one of the castings is the Fashion Scout event, a hall full of at least 20 designers where we must strut up and down, up and down, up and down until out little feet can’t carry us any longer. Add on top of that a good 5 or 6 castings and then crash on the sofa come 9 o’clock in a state of delirium.

And that’s only the first day!

Wake up and more castings again for the Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday (Yayy no more on Tuesday!!). The list each day gets longer, castings start earlier and finish later and later and then the fittings, which can go well into the early hours of the morning as the teams behind the designers are putting the final touches to their shows.

All this running around, tube to bus, west to east and casting to show to fitting, it leaves us all rather hungry – ravenous fits the bill a bit more suitably. No matter how much the majority of models love you, Propercorn and Coconut water, I think we need some proper sustenance in our tummies.

So snacks are where it is at. Along with our heels, models cards and books (reading and portfolios) there will usually be a good array of snackage action in model handbags. I want to give some more ideas that stray away from said popcorn and popchips, because maybe they do fill that little hole but there’s not much in them to keep you going for very long. Things you can pick up quickly in supermarkets, cafes or have in your pocket for when that much needed energy dips. If you’re reading this and you’re not a model, they’re most definitely brilliant snacks to have on hand at anytime – the wait between lunch and dinner is hard enough to get though!!

 

#1 Squirrel sister bars

Find them in a trusty Boots, these fruit and nut bars are a delight. Sweet, but still full of nobbly nutty pieces that make it feel a satisfying snack rather than just a hit of pure energy. They come in four flavours: Cacao brownie, Raspberry ripple, Coconut cashew and Cacao orange, and each is portioned into two little finger bars, one for now and one for later, give one to a friend (if you’re feeling really kind), but most probably both at once because they are OH SO GOOD! If you can find it, make sure to get your hands on the cacao orange, I’m always out of luck as it’s sold out and it is definitely the best of the flavours!!

#2 Hippeas

The new crisp on the block. These chickpea puffs are perfect for when you can’t get that bag of skips off your mind. The come in four flavours; Pepper Power, In Herbs We Trust, Sweet and Smokin’ and Far Out Fajita. Nicely savoury with a good puffy crunch. Thanks to incredible marketing and advertising I’m sure you’ve already heard of Hippeas as they’re so easy to find in the majority of healthfood stores around London, but also Whsmiths and Waitrose. Listen to the guys and, ‘give peas a chance’!

 

#3 Deliciously Ella energy balls

Brought to you from the famed Deliciously Ella, these balls which currently come in three flavours popular from the blog, can be found in Starbucks, Waitrose, Sainsburys, The Mae Delis and various health food stores. They are very sweet, from the dates so will be perfect for a quick pick me up alongside your mochachococcino. The three flavours are Hazelnut and Raisin, Cashew and Ginger and Cacao and Almond, each made from only a few ingredients but all wholefoods, just fruit and nuts and some spices.

 

#4 The Giving Tree, Broccoli crisps

Now for another savoury snackaroo. Little green broccoli trees which are vacuum fried and just a little salt is added. They are super crispy and munchable, you’ll find your way to the bottom of the packet in no time. There are a few options in The Giving Tree crisps, a mixture of sweet and savoury, the sweet ones are freeze dried and the savoury ones are vacuum fried both ways retaining all their nutrients.

 

#5 A piece of fruit

Couldn’t write a snacks list without some fruit. I tend to opt for oranges, pears and apples because bananas usually end up as a big mush over my heels. Full of natural sugars, fibre and loads of vitamins and minerals, which are much needed as our tired-out bodies are pushed to their limits, all in one portable package.

 

#6 Trail mix

Another oh so simple one. I like to make my own up as it’s cheaper and I get to choose what goes in the mix. Chuck in any of your favourite nuts, seeds, dried fruit and perhaps some coconut flakes for a quick energy boosting snack. The protein and fats in the nuts should keep you sustained for a good while (at least hopefully until you get some proper lunch or dinner). Try a variety of nuts, not just your typical almonds and cashews for some interest. Also, if chocolate goes in there, I won’t tell.  Fashion week is a devilish time and chocolate soothes everything.

 

#7 Emily’s Fruit/Veg Crisps

Another of the vacuum crisped crisps.  My favourites are the Root Veg crisps and the French beans, Sugarsnaps and Black Edamame. Munch on the bus or add as a lunch topper for some crunch. Also available are fruit crisps in flavours such as pineapple, apple and banana.

 

 

#8 Rawsage

An unassuming snack bar I received once in a Lifebox. If you’re like me and crave something savoury to add to your snacking instead of all the sweet fruity based bars, this will be your new go to. A raw vegan version of the popular salami snack, Peperami, indeed a raw sausage! It tastes pretty fab, brazil nuts, sundried tomatoes, herbs and spices combine for a flavour full of umami and even a very similar texture to the original. Find it in Planet organic, and give it a try!

 

#9 Rude Health ‘The Oaty’

A lot of the time I am sick and tired of fruit and nuts, and need a little biscuit, reminiscent of a Digestive but so much tastier and wholesome. The oatcakes from Rude Health are a great handbag snack and the best of the oatcake bunch. They come in a few variations, The Oaty, The Spelt Oaty, the Rye Oaty, the 4 Seed Oaty and the Ginger and Turmeric Oaty. In the box there’s portioned packets ready to take on the go. My favourite, the Ginger and Turmeric Oaty is lovely with a cup of milk, or perhaps a golden milk for a double turmeric hit, as a bedtime snack – the slow releasing carbs will help you with a restful sleep. In my humble opinion, the best oatcake out there, I’ve tried a few and these most definitely have no similarities to cardboard!!

 

So don’t let fashion week get you down, and don’t let boring snacking get you down either. There’s plenty of options out there, just pick something that you enjoy and that will help you keep on trudgin’. Also make sure it stands the handbag test, noone wants a mass of crumbs in the bottom or an explosion when you go to find your purse. Tupperware is the saviour in this scenario, oh and baby wipes!!!

Happy Fashion Week to you All, and GOOD LUCK!!

X

 

Croatia

So, it’s time for my post on Croatia. I was hoping to write this sooner but stress levels recently for me have been pretty high. Taking a driving theory test shouldn’t cause as much bother as it has done, but the feeling of not being prepared, most definitely not wanting to fail because doesn’t everyone pass? And I spent my holiday learning the Highway Code, poolside reading can’t get anymore depressing than that. It is all a recipe for panic. But it all ended fine and THANK GOD I passed.

Ok I know it’s not really a big deal, it’s not like it’s even the practical test, but hey one step at a time, and I’m one step closer to being able to drive. Alone. On the road. <SCARY

The square on the old streets of Pula

So, Croatia. It truly is a beautiful place, it’s a loving relationship that grew and grew over the week. I’m sorry to say I landed in Pula a bit unhappy and worried that I wasn’t going to enjoy my holiday. It all started badly enough when the travellator stopped and we couldn’t get our cases for an hour and then we stepped off the coach into a HUGE hotel and apartment complex. So large that it had its own supermarket, kids running left right and centre, and aqua aerobics in the pool, basically not my ideal holiday. After a little wander by the coast overlooking the BEAUTIFUL blue sea, mum and dad eating a pizza in a grotty beach cafe (I tried to hover above the seats), we caught the bus into Pula centre. I wasn’t expecting great. I’d read it was an industrial town, and to be honest that’s what it was. Sometimes I need to stop reading into everything so much and be a bit more spontaneous, don’t think that everything is going to be terrible before I’ve even arrived. There’s beauty hidden everywhere sometimes you just have to be patient and wait for it to find you.

The roman amphitheatre , which is still being used to this day for open air concerts

THAT grotty caff, however it was the first day, so sunshine and cold beer were on the agenda

We quickly found the Green Market, always my first stop in a new city. surrounded by smelly cheeses, meats and the sweetest of fruits I was in my happy place. Piles of neon green lettuces, mushrooms of all varieties, the reddest tomatoes basking in the late sun, and what we all get excited about on holiday…STONE FRUIT! Dribbley peaches and nectarines that cascade down your arm, you’re dive bombed by wasps but that’s all in the pleasure.

Shrooms a plenty

Before I go away to a new place, I always research the best places to eat, tourist traps are a big no no. It’s local and traditional allllll the way. We know what makes a holiday a holiday, copious eating and drinking, eating some more and then taking the memories back home with you. Swearing you’ll recreate that paella or spaghetti dish but, it won’t taste the same will it!! From my googling and watching of Rick Stein (I recommend his Venice to Istanbul series) I’d learnt to expect very simple food, but seriously fresh fish and seafood, an Italian influence meaning tonnes of pasta, lots of truffles, brilliant olive oil, a ham called prsut not dissimilar to prosciutto, not lots of vegetables on menus, lots of potatoes and of course cheeseeeeeee! And that’s exactly what I found in Croatia.

Can fresh produce really get any fresher or more beautiful than that!

Quickly I discovered something that I ended up eating every night. Blitva! A Dalmatian (no it’s not spotty) side dish simply comprising of spinach and boiled potatoes sautéed together sometimes with a hint of garlic and plenty of that Croatian extra virgin olive oil. When I was in Athens i fell in love with wild greens, boiled leafy green veggies drowned in EVOO with hunks of lemon to squeeze over. That’s me done, I’m that weird gal who loves vegetables, I truly do. It’s the perfect thing to eat alongside fresh fish with a glass of Malvazija white wine in one hand and a hunk of freshly baked bread in the other. Maybe the ‘Adriatic diet’ will become the new ‘Mediterranean’?

A shop in the market selling Istrian meats carved off the bone and local cheeses

Ok maybe not, I don’t believe a whole veal shin between three people is recommended to eat on a regular basis, which one night we did indeed. In Croatia they have restaurants called konobas. Think of a Greek taverna no frills or fuss, fill it with locals, add badly translated menus (pasta with seaSHELVES anyone?), sometimes there may be rude service it’s all part of the charm, and that’s a konoba for you. I was desperate to make it to at least one on our trip, so after a recommendation from a taxi driver (always get into a conversation about food with taxi drivers, they’ll tell you the best places to go) the three of us ended up in Boccaporta.

There’s two types of cooking in Croatia. Nearer the coast you get your fresh fish and seafood, but venture inland and you’re thinking spit roast lamb and slow baked meats influenced by neighbouring Hungary. After all the previous nights having our fill of seafood it was time for some meat. Slow baked veal shin, for god knows how many hours, the potatoes cooked in all of the fat served with a green salad, homemade bread and most definitely blitva. Now this is proper food. Good quality ingredients treated well. That night we left with full, OK stuffed to the brim, but happy tummies.

Croatia is just across the Adriatic from Italy, and where I was in Pula was just a 3 hour ferry from Venice. So there is a hugeeeee Italian influence. In many of the Istrian restaurants and konobas I can guarantee there will be pasta,  usually homemade and called fusi, or ravioli which we tried with a cream sauce, truffles and prsut. However I’m sad to say I never had a chance for the traditional ‘must try’ dish of cuttlefish risotto. Picture jet black oozy rice tangled with the salty but sweet cuttlefish, it only means a second visit right? Also with quality olives, their olive oil lives up to any you’ll find in Greece or Italy, with a real peppery kick at the back of your throat, the sign of a true Istrian Extra virgin.

Shrimps in tomato sauce, called Buzara in Croatia. seriously DIVINE

Seafood pasta, the traditional Istrian shape called Fusi

Now what sticks in my mind most of all? Sorry to say it’s a dessert, actually I’m not sorry at all. I may avoid refined sugars and overly sweet things in my day to day life but life is for living, especially when on holiday. A lavender semifreddo with a hot fig and pine nut sauce sound good to you? Moussey but almost nougat like in texture and then the sauce, jammy and rich to cut through the malloweyness of the semifreddo. Utter BLISS.

I recommend if you’re a foodie and visiting Croatia, you must get a car. We managed without by walking A LOT, but there were so many places I wanted to visit that just weren’t possible. The best places aren’t in the centres of larger towns , but that’s typical of most tourist destinations. You need to visit the outskirts, they might look a lil bit dodgy, but you can always expect to pay less and eat better. Win win I say!

On the final night we went to a restaurant that I’m sure most tourists would pass by. Sitting at the side of a road on rickety metal table and chairs and no one around speaks a word of English. To order your food you walk into the kitchen point at what you fancy and that’s about that. The fish is all locally caught and changes from day to day, it will simply be grilled and served with salad and chips, don’t forget the blitva.

 

Of course we had mussels in a seafood restaurant. With obligatory bread for dunking!

And then came the main of squid, red snapper, langoustine, salad, blitva and chips

I really can go on and on about the gems we found. My favourite of them all, Vodnjanka. The best of the best in Pula. All local produce, organic wines and just two things on the menu, fish or meat. It has a feel of your grannies dining room and the food reflects that too. Everything handmade, using what’s best from the market that day and not trying too hard. For starters it was one of those plates, you know when you can’t stop eating? There’s so much deliciousness, where to start is a difficult decision. Both the fish and meat was such a celebration of all the tastes of Istria, that each mouthful we were all ooing and ahhing, saying ‘try this try that!’

We were guided through the courses by our lovely waiter, who explained what each thing was and gave recommendations of the best wines to go with the food. And of course he persuaded us to eat a hazelnut and ricotta cheesecake with a red wine and raspberry sauce. Along side some complimentary cherry grappa, that night I had my fill of alcohol, maybe I was pushed over the edge just a liiiitttleeeee…

 

A malvazijan white wine, organic and one of the nicest (few) glasses of the week

A starter of Istrian meat and cheese 

 

So apart from eating, days were filled with a morning swim, shadow hopping (no tanning for me), wasp wafting and laughing at all the men attempting aqua aerobics who were ogling the girl instructors (classic), and getting slightly addicted to crosswords. By night we wandered in the cooler air around the charming streets of Pula, a haven for buildings with peeling paintwork and shutters galore. It was so nice to visit somewhere different, not the usual Spain or Greece and with only a 2 and a half hour flight. I would surely visit again, ideas for a tour along the coast spring to mind, and get to visit Dubrovnik after all then maybe on to Montenegro. If it’s a holiday with culture, sunshine AND nice beaches that you want? Then Croatia is the right place for you. Drop by pula, maybe only for a couple of days and wander round all the Roman remains. But make sure you get there quick, Croatia is increasingly becoming more and more popular for tourists. So before they take over, enjoy it for what it is, a country with undisturbed beauty and people with the kindest of hearts. And some seriously good grub.

 

I hope you visit the country someday in the future, consider it for your next holiday. I’d love to know your thoughts so don’t hesitate to drop me a message, say hi!

On Instagram @theahudson

Much love and blissful holiday memories

X