Archive for month: July, 2015

You are here: Home / 2015 / July
Smoked salmon and avocado salad with herby crème fraîche dressing

Warm smoked salmon and avocado salad

/0 Comments/in , , , , , , /by

This salad came about a little by accident, which, of course, is how all the best things happen. The very lovely people at John Ross Jr sent me some of their rather delicious smoked salmon (it’s traditionally smoked in red brick kilns) and it was in the fridge when I happened to be making a salad and rootling about for something yummy to put in it. I was going to add a poached egg, but then on a whim decided to warm the salmon through and - wow - that little bit of warmth brings out all the glorious, salty, smoky sweetness of the salmon. Do give this a go, it’s rather good (even though I say so myself).

Read more →

The finished dining room end

My dream kitchen - tantalisingly within reach!

/4 Comments/in , , /by

So last time I told you about project kitchen refurb, the wall was down, but not a lot else was done. We’ve moved on a little bit, and in an effort to feel like we’ve made a little progress in all the dust and rubble, Mr E finished the dining room side and painting it a beautiful shade of blue. The kitchen is awaiting our poor kitchen fitter, who is currently stacked out, to come and fit new wooden worksurfaces, and then all it needs is a bit of tiling. Which brings me neatly on to my first wishlist item:

Read more →

Spiced chicken pilaf

Eating organic on a budget

/4 Comments/in , , , , , , , /by

So recently. The Organic Trade Board challenged us to take the Thrifty Organic Challenge and switch our usual weekly shop for organic. The average grocery shopping budget for a UK family of four is £83 a week. Could I switch everything we usually buy to organic , stay on budget, and still produce yummy, healthy food for my family? Here’s how we got on.

Read more →

Spatchcock chicken

Roast buttermilk spatchcock chicken

/1 Comment/in , , , /by

This week we’ve been doing a little challenge to live solely on organic produce (more of this tomorrow). For Sunday lunch, I wanted to make something really special. Marinating chicken in spiced buttermilk makes it really tender and juicy, and flattening it means that it cooks really quickly and evenly. It’s especially good for barbecuing and means that you end up with really crisp skin. I can never be bothered to actually buy buttermilk, so I make my own by adding the juice of a lemon to the milk. You can choose whatever herbs you like - I have thyme in the garden so I used that, but anything will do.

Read more →

chicken, red lentil and coconut curry with cauliflower rice small

Chicken, red lentil and coconut curry with cauliflower rice

/2 Comments/in , , , , , /by

My lovely friend Dave was telling me recently how yummy cauliflower ‘rice’ is (basically cauliflower shredded, or whizzed in the food processor to make faux ‘rice’ - a less carby alternative). I was sceptical, but then my buddy Laura told me she loves it too and that she stir fries hers and makes it loads. Inspired, I thought I’d better give it a go. I know curry isn’t much of a summer staple, but it’s a great Friday night takeaway avoidance technique when the weather’s not that balmy.

Read more →

Frozen Summer Fun at DLP

All the gossip on Frozen 2

/0 Comments/in , , /by

With Frozen being the largest grossing animated film in history, it’s safe to say that everyone’s pretty interested in Frozen 2. At The Walt Disney Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders held back in March, Chairman and CEO Bob Iger joined John Lasseter, Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios’ Chief Creative Officer, and Olaf himself, actor Josh Gad, to announce that Frozen 2 was officially in development at Walt Disney Animation Studios. So what’s the gossip on Frozen 2? Does Elsa die? Does Olaf find love?

Read more →

Image (c) gbbf.org.uk

The Great British Beer Festival 2015

/0 Comments/in /by

One of the many things we do really well in this country is make beer. To celebrate this fact, The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is once again organising the UK’s biggest beer festival. The Great British Beer Festival takes places at Olympia from 11th to 15th August and features all sorts of real ales and ciders (not just British ones, there are plenty of beers from all over the world to discover). If you’re tempted to go along and join in, here’s what to look out for:

Read more →

Michael Kors handbag

Celebrate your graduation in style!

/0 Comments/in /by

 

Last night we were talking about graduating. Sam’s got a couple of years left, but when the time finally comes and you’ve completed your degree and ultimately, completed your academic career, we reckon you should mark the occasion in some way. All too soon, it will be time to enter the big wide world of work, so before that happens, there should be a moment (or longer) of celebration. Something that you’ll always remember. Here are my thoughts:

Read more →

hush Summer Parka

My top festival tips

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

Glastonbury has ushered in festival season good and proper. I watched all the BBC coverage with mixed feelings. My boys love it, but I’m still not sure I’m a festival person. Still, there are still a good three months of quality festival action all over the country to make us change our minds, so book tickets to the one you fancy as soon as possible – I’m seriously considering Blogstock actually. I think it’s probably quite easy to do a festival badly, you know, assume it’s going to be sunny every day or you just bring bottles of wine and find out at the door (as my boys did) that no glass is allowed on site. So here are my top festival tips for making the most out of the experience.

Read more →

Summer toast small

My new intu article - feeling happy and healthy this summer

/0 Comments/in , , /by

As you know, I’m mad about fashion and lovely things for the home, so I’m absolutely delighted to have teamed up with intu, the fab shopping centre people, and as I’m currently writing this from my hotel room in gorgeous, sunny Paris, I feel that it’s perfect that I should be talking about bringing a little sunshine into every day! So even if you can’t spend every day on a sun lounger, cocktail in hand, I’ve got some wonderful tips for feeling summery and happy all the time and there are even a few tips for deliciously healthy, easy summer suppers too.

Read more →

Mango, chicken mozzarella, and proscuitto salad

Mango, mozzarella and prosciutto salad with lime and ginger dressing

/2 Comments/in , , , , , , /by

Oh isn’t it just heavenly to see the sunshine? I’ve been waking really early, the sun streaming through the curtains (this makes Mr E really grumpy but I LOVE it), making myself a cup of honey and lemon in hot water (current obsession) and wandering around the garden, watching Tails the cat hiding under the delicious-smelling jasmine (by the way, look at the size of him - will he ever stop growing?), watering my little terracotta pots of herbs and other bits and pieces, playing tug of war with Lyra…

Read more →