Food Help

3 Bean Chilli

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Now – we all find those odds and ends in the back of the cupboard or that we are given by friends (in my case – Haircot Beans). So I decided to do a lovely veggie version of my fave heart warming meal – Chilli!

Ingredients

  • 1 Red onion
  • 220g Haricot beans
  • 100g dried green lentils
  • 100g Aduki Beans (soaked but uncooked)
  • 500g Jar of Bolognese sauce
  • 1 Knorr Paprike and Sundried tomato stock pot
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 375g Passata.
  • .5 tbsp tomato paste
  • Mixed herbs to your taste – cayenne, paprike, mixed italian, salt and pepper.

Method

  1. Heat a little oil in a saucepan (with lid available) on a medium heat. Add the chopping red onion and the minced (or crushed) garlic cloves.
  2. Once they are aromatic and the onions are soft, add the herbs and the tomato paste.
  3. All incorporated? Good add the Passatta, Stock Pot, Bolognese sauce, give it a stir.
  4. Add in all the beans/lentils- make sure they are all mixed in together.
  5. Once the mixture is boiling turn down to a simmer and leave on the stove for a hour.
  6. You will know it is done once the beans are tender to the taste. Try and not stir it too much during the simmering process.
  7. If the beans are not tender at this stage – keep on the low heat for 30 mins at a time until they reach the right consistency.
  8. Portion up and enjoy! Best service with rice I feel.

This is super tasty, spicy enough for me, but if you like a kick add more spice to it. I am a mild person – Lemon herb nandos and korma girl right here !

Ideal Itineraries

Hackney Market

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With open air market being allowed to open in the UK soon I thought it would be a good time to share one of my favourites. Broadway Market in Hackney.

This bustling street has plenty of shops, books stores, cafes and restaurants during the week but on a saturday – it thrives! The market is along this one street – it has a whole range from little gifts, to oils, butcher, baker, (didn’t see a candelstick maker), as well as a whole range of food stalls.

It may only be one street but it a perfect place to stop for lunch for something different. Out of the centre of London the trasnport links are still not bad a short walk from Hackney overground station for me.

From la tua pasta, also found in Borough Market, to oysters, burgers and pad thai. There is something for every craving and if you are not in the mood for street food then the restaurants and cafes offer more staple options.

Sweet treats well represented here with vegan and gluten free options clear. Which is great those who have alleriges and intolerances – I was very impressed by the information available at the street food stalls in references to what was in their food – just shows the true quality there!


Fresh fruit and veg has a couple of stalls if you prefer to get your fruit and veg really fresh. . Even butchers and cheese for those who prefer local artisanal goods. I love this markets for supporting small local businesses. As with most of the these markets there are some. Unique bits too, a oil stall, jewelry, Scarves, vintage clothing. Some places take card others are only cash – again this is clearly indicated at each stall.

And as if the food and these goods were not enough there is the bonus of live music at the mid point and end. Truly a local experience, local businesses and local artists all in one place – one of the many pockes in London but definitely worth a visit for a few hours.

Food Help

Banana Oatmeal Muffins

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These muffins are super yummy, low on the calories and freezeable for on the go breakfast – all of my favourite things.

Ingredients

  • 2 bananas (overripe the better)
  • 1 eggs
  • 1 tbsp chia seeds (soak these in 3 tbpn of water 15 mins before)
  • 2 tspn baking powder
  • 3 tspn Cinnamon
  • 1 cup Lacto free greek yoghurt
  • 1 cup lacto free milk
  • 3 Cups oats
  • 1/4 Teaspoon salt

Toppings you can add are mixed – nuts, blueberries, apple.

Method –

  • Preheat Oven to 180c or 350f
  • mash the bananas and then add all the ingredients other than the oats and milk to the bowl.
  • Add the oats and the milk to the bowl
  • Whilst the oats are soaking – line the muffin tins with liners.
  • Add one and half spoons fulls to each liner – they should be about 3/4 full.
  • Put the in the oven for 30 -35 mins
  • Let cool and then..

Om NOM nom – 5* reviews from all those who had one. warning though they disappear quickly. They can stick to the casing so not always delicate eating. 🙂 ENJOY

Restaurant Reviews

Duck and Waffle

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Duck and waffle is one of those restaurants that you hear about. One of those instagramable places that you never think you will get to go to. Well what can I say I have a great best friend and she booked a table for my birthdy last year. What an excuse for a new dress and for her to do my make up properly – who does love being pampered.

Grilled Octopus

After the hours of getting ready and photoshoot in the sun. We headed off to Bishopsgate for the meal. There are a couple of restaurants in the building – it is clearly marked from the front of the building. You enter and give your name to the concierge at the bottom and then enter an elevator to the correct floor.

Ox Cheek Doughnut


We sat in the bar area before being shown to our table in the window. There was such amazing food on the menu we decided that we should get a few things and share them. You will see some of the option through out this post! The options are extensive. It was suggested that we get a few small plates to share with some bread and then a duck and waffle to share as well – this was a great idea. We got to try a bit of everything!

Cheddar Souffle


The piece de resistance (correct?) was the Duck and Waffle – who knew a duck leg would go so well with waffle maple syrup and an egg!! It was delicious. As soon as the food was ready it was brought over which works great for us because it meant we could chat as things were bought over bit by bit. The service was great, the carafe of wine we had was beautiful.
The food overall was great – so many great options. We were probably a little overdressed for the dinner we were having however we were going on to cocktails so we needed to have a two for one outfit. I felt very special when they then bought out the desert which was decorated to celebrate my birthday.

Duck and Waffle

Is it cheap? No. (£10-15 for a small plate, £20-45 for a large plate) It is special? Yes. You do not need to be dressed well there were families and others there in jeans and what could be deemed as smart casual. You will need to book a table in advance and if you are booking less than a month in advance then you might have to settle for an early or late dinner. It was still a great experience and would recommend it! The views alone are to die for. Fingers crossed for good weather for when you go.
Until next time.

Food Help

Chickpea Coconut Curry

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Cooking is a love of mine. Who doesn’t love a homecooked meal at the end of the day. I am all for the meal prep and so I wanted to share this recipe with you for a lovely slow cooker ready, coconut curry.

Many of these are odd amounts because I hate food waste and so have been try to use up bits and pieces around the house.

Ingredients

  • 50g Leek
  • 2 Shallots
  • 2 Garlic cloves, minced
  • 160g Sweet Potato
  • 300g Chopped Tomatoes
  • 200ml Coconut milk
  • 175g Chickpeas (I used dried and soaked them overnight =cheaper)
  • 1/4 cup of Quinoa uncooked.

Spices wise I used, ground coriander, ground cumin, gram masala, cayenne, crushed chills and pepper – but add whatever is in your arsenal.

Nice and easy method to this one – throw is all in the slow cook for 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low. It might not look that appealling but I promise you it is yummy – you don’t even need to serve with anything. It’s just fine on its own.

Restaurant Reviews

Le Pisani – Axminster

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For this weeks “Travel Tuesdays” – we are doing another stay cation restaurnat review.

Location: Axminster.

I was in this little town for a hen do – we had a meal out. This Restaurant was 10 mins from our Spa resrot and offered plenty of options. It is Italian overall, with plenty of pastas and pizza available. All substantial portions so do be sure you are hungry.

I had fish and ratatouille – what can I say I was not feeling huge amount of carbs that day. Very strange for me I have to say. Although this was served with a small portion of chips. Who could say no…

This meal was really tasty, the lemon as alays added that acidity that can be needed with these meals. It was well seasoned and I demolished it pretty quickly. This place as it is local, is more accustomed to smaller groups and families, so a hen do turning up was not to their perference. Therefore we ordered in advance to help out.

Axminster itself is a small town, easy to walk up and down in a morning, you couldn’t spend all day here, however there are plenty of walks in thesurrounding areas. Lyme Regis (see my post) is only 20 mins or so drive from here. So worth a visit to the coast and if you are looking for that stone walled typical English rural town. It is a nice visit, this place would be a good place for a late lunch before heading home for the evening.

Until next time.

Food Help

Things to do with Creme Fraiche

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Foodie Friday! They are going to be something different from now on. I am going to be sharing some of my quarantine cooking adventures. ..So my friend gave me 3/4 of a pot of creme fraiche – reduce the food waste right! Hence why again the amounts are a little off as I was using up things in the fridge.

What can you do with it! Turns out quite a lot. Typically Creme fraiche is put with fish, chicken, desert or even in pasta sauces. I add it to my risottos to give a tanginess but there is so much more see below.

I added some to an egg white salad.

  • 3 hard boiled egg whites
  • 1 tbsp Mayo
  • 1 tbsp Light creme cheese
  • 1 tbsp of creme fraiche
  • 1 romaine lettuce
  • Carrot and celery sticks for alongside.

The majority I made into Salad dressing.

  • 150 ml creme fraiche
  • Bunch of Chives
  • 1/2 lemon
  • salt and pepper to taste.
Uncategorized

Spitalfields Market

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Spitalfields in a covered marketing in central London. Found at: 16 Commercial St, Spitalfields, London E1 6EW. It has been on the same spot for 350 years – impressive right. Who knows when it will re open but wanted to make sure this travel tuesday it was on your radar.

With a whole range of stalls – it is worth going for a walk around even if you are not looking for anything. I found some lovely unique earrings which were like branches. So there are a whole range of different local businesses and local vendors – there are some chain shops in the permanent fixtures around the outside of the market – but that is not why we come to markets right!

There are two reasons I come to Spitalfields – the food and the books. The food is amazing. I could spend all day there eating sweet treats and lunches from all over the world. There is a whole section of the market kept just for the food stalls with old school benches and table to sit at and enjoy your food. There is a whole range of options, from asian, italian, middle eastern through to some of the more ‘traditional’ options. The sweet treats are a must… just be careful with how many to try and get home – they might now survive.

As I said the other reason I go to Spitalfields is the book stall – I love this book stall! There are the traditional reads to some different ones and all at affordbale prices. Around £3-4 a book – always end up buying a few. The choice is endless as you can see from the image above, there are a range of topics and it stretches across all of the stall, there are shelves behind and the owner is just sat on a stall on the outskirts of the stall. Generally they prefer to take cash (this might change) however it is a great place to pick up a new read or something you have always wanted to try.

Until next time 🙂

Restaurant Reviews

London grind – Review

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After a very special (and different) VE Day – 75th Anniversary. It is a day to be proud to be British and celebrate those things that make us so. One things about London and Great Britain that people like and want to try here is British Breakfast – who wouldn’t. A plate of yummy goodness to start your weekend or week!

I want to share one of my favourite breakfasts in London. It is a cute place off London bridge a stones throw from London Bridge station. It is marble tables with a selection of high tables, a counter and lower tables. It is tight fit there is not a huge about of space in this place. But it is open, airey, and chic.

They do a range from healthy to not so healthy breakfasts, mimosas and coffees – their fresh orange juice is to die for! Mine went way too quickly. Take a look at the Menu it is hard to choose! Let’s be honest.

The food is delicious – I have eaten here a few times with friends, family and solo. The breakfast is definitely a favourite – beware if you are ordering the breakfast burrito is it a substantial meal.

Hope this has given you some inspo for your weekend breakfasts, and future adventures. Until next time.

Uncategorized

Ring making workshop

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Workshop Wednesday! I don’t know about you, but during these time, I have been trying to come up with other hobbies that I could get into that would mean I would have more to do during this pandemic. This is a throwback to a workshop i did a while ago. I want to share with you guys.

In Winchester there is an opportunity to do a ring making workshop – a lovely girl named Marion runs them – she is a jewellery maker by trade. Check out her stuff on instagram: Marionlebouteillerjewellery

Upon arrival, we were given tea, of course, a shown how to use some of the mysterious tools that were on the bench in front of us. You could use hammers and etchers and all sort to see what effects you liked and what you would like to put on our ring during the process. Obviously doing it on copper to test first, but be aware how it turns out on copper is not always how it turns out on the ring – warning.

You have to admit some of the effects are really cool – you want to put all of them on the ring. but best to chose a top 3 – I did more than that and although I am pleased with the result in hindsight less is more.

Once we have had a test, and a drawing of what we would like, we were given a strip of metal to make our ring out of. Careful to not put our ‘patterns’ to the end of the metal as to not impact the joining of the two ends, we set about imprinting our mark.

Once completed, we were trusted to heat up the strip to make it into a ring – usually this is not something that is done by the individuals. It can get quite technical and if children are involved not always the safest.

I was so pleased to have Marion there, as having the advice to make slightly more complex designs and understanding each step of the process was incredible. She really helped us, especially when it came to the acid, and then the buffering it all out. Even helping us to edit the rings when they came out a bit small. With only two of us there it meant we had her undivided attention, and all of the time to be able to make exactly what we wanted.

Okay so the end result is nothing to sell in a shop – but it was a really fun workshop . The value for money was great. I think it was £50 for the day, and you get to play with the tools and create something you actually would want to wear. It was a great time to spend with my mum, a great rainy day activity. I tell you what, I have a greater appreciation for jewellery makers now!