Easy Apple Strudel

After a wonderful skiing holiday to Slovenia I came home to more snow and a mild case of the January Blues.  So I figured yey Apple strudel will make things better.  I needed something quick, easy and simple to do.  This is what I came up with.

What you need:

3 Eating apples (I used brayburns)
filo pastry
sultanas or raisins as many or as little as you like
1 Lemon
2 tbsp Brown Sugar
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Nutmeg

What you do:

1. Peel and dice apples into cubes

2. In a medium bowl combine 1 tbsp of sugar, cinnimon, nutmeg, half the grated rind of the lemon & the juice of half the lemon.  Mix it all together and leave to sit for 5min.

3. Mix in the apples

4. Lay 1 sheet of pastry out on grease proof paper and brush with melted butter.

5. Spread the apple mixture along one side of the pastry.

6. Using the grease proof paper to help you roll like a swisroll.


7. Brush with a little more butter and bake at 200c for about 20 - 30 min till crisp and gold on top.
8. Repeat with rest of pastry and mixture.
(I got 2 good sized ones out that I split between 4, half each)

Serve hot with a sprinkle of icing sugar and custard or ice cream.

What to pack for a ski trip!

So I head out to the mountains tomorrow with friends for a week of skiing and I thought I would share my packing list as it may help out any first timers looking to go!  This maybe different to what others post online but its what works for me and after working a season in the Mountains I feel I have a pretty good idea. 

Equipment
I hire ski's, Poles, boots and bindings - I do own a snowboard but this time I am skiing!

A good warm ski jacket go for bright colours as then you are easy to find in the snow.  Plus its a good excuse to dress in the kind of colours you favored when you were a kid!  Always fun.

Ski pants / Trousers - I prefer the ones without the braces that sit a little lower in the hips but thats just me.

Goggles - Go for ones with a yellow or orange lense as they work for all weather ( I know the dark ones look cooler but if you are stuck in bad weather you are not going to be able to see a thing)
Sunnies for when the weather is fine

Ski clothing

This is where I may differ from some! I am not into the technical gear as much - Perhaps it is the snowboarder in me! But I find a long sleeved T-shirt and hoodie are just fine!  You can go out and get all the tech stuff it its a lot of money and not worth it if you ask me.  But there are a few items you will need to get.

A couple of good hoodies
Cammi tops ( Its all about layering) 
T-shirts
Thermal leggings ( stick them under your jeans on a night too for a little extra heat)
Enough Ski socks for your stay  (These are a must they are going to save you from blisters and rubbing they will also wick sweat away keeping your tootsies warm and dry)
A funky warm Hat

Water proof thick gloves & a second pair to go inside
Neck warmer that can be used to go over your nose should it get cold.


Après-ski

I like to keep it causal as do most people in the mountains!

Jeans
Thick leggings
A couple of cute sweaters
Plain tops that can be dressed up a little cute accessories
A couple of nice scarfs ( I own so many of these and use them everyday anyway)
Good grippy warm snow boots (Ladies this is no time for heels)
Cute hats and gloves

I use my ski jacket on a night as well, with modern fabrics they are really waterproof and dry super fast.. I just had one jacket all season when living in the mountains.

For around the hotel or chalet I just dress in leggings and hoodies, I always pack a pair of slippers though as I hate cold feet and may places have a no shoes rule! 

Misc
ipod
A cheap Camera a SLR is just going to be too big to lug about but you are going to want to take snaps for your friends and the stunning mountain views
a good book or two for by the fire
Sunscreen - ( at least spf 25 as when it is sunny the UV bounces off the snow as well as coming from the sky so its like double strength)
Lip Balm
A little pocket torch ( this has got me out of so many dark situations)
Passport photo for your ski pass ( Some resorts need them some don't)
Insurance Docs
Travel Docs

Ummm so I think that is about it I am sure I have proberley forgotten something but other then the usual stuff pants, socks etc thats about it!

So if you are heading out for a ski trip this season be safe and have an amazing time. 

New Year Plans

Ok so I know its kind of a week late but "Happy New Year" !

So originally I was not going to do any new years resolutions as I am not the biggest fan.  Why do I need to wait till Jan to make the change.  I am more of a do it now kind of girl! 

But then I got a thinking and decided to instead make a  list of all the things I am looking forward to this year.  And here is what I got!

1.  After a very successful Games night before Christmas I want to try and host one at least once ever 2 months perhaps even more.  They are the perfect night in with friends, everyone brings something to drink and I put on some finger food, we play games and have a laugh. 

2. Valentines day... I have a super cute idea this year but as darling husband reads this I am going to keep that one to my self for now.

3. A trip to Italy, this is a place I have always wanted to go to.  We are planning it for April over mine and my husbands birthday ( Yup we share a birthday 1st of April)  I want to see so many parts of the country but this time I think we are going for Rome and possibly one other place.. any recommendations?  Lets face it I am mainly going for the amazing food! 

4. Going to see Friends in france

5. Trying out lots of new yummy recipes keep your eyes open for some on here!

6. Just enjoying another year together with my wonderful Adrian!  (Eeeek puke I know)

So thats it way better then boring new year resolutions and really helps to had a little brightness to the old January Blues!

What are your plans for 2013?

2012 The year that has been!

Well i hope you all had a wonderful Christmas full of family, love and way to much good food!  I know I sure did but as 2012 rolled to an end I started thinking about what this year has brought and taught me. 

I started off the year saying "see you later" to my wonderful sister-in-law who was setting off on a world wide adventure traveling for 8 months thats soon turned into a year.. in fact she is still not back but that is another story. 

We had a quiet few months but enjoyed celebrating a the Birthdays of my Brother and Farther-in-law.

We traveled to Singapore to celebrate a 30th birthday with Christina

We then went to Borneo and met some Orangutangs as well as watched some sea turtles lay eggs

Then we set off for Hong Kong and all its technicolor glory and bustling streets

We celebrated the Diamond jubilee with a wonderful tea party

Then we witnessed the olympic torch travel through our Village while on its UK tour

We walked on the East Yorkshire wolds with friends and shared a singular barbeque in the brief bit of heat we had.

Took a trip to Devon to stay with Friends, enjoyed surfing, long walks in the rain and afternoon tea
with the peacocks.

Met and cuddled my Friends new arrival

I attended many many weddings

Took a trip to Portugal to celebrate 1 wonderful years marriage to my perfect husband Adrian did some more surfing

Ate many many good meals ...... Cooked a fair few too

Went out with friends

Carved pumpkins and ate a few!

Celebrated a friends well earned award

Ate cake.. oh so much wonderful cake!

and enjoyed so many morning runs around my local villages to burn it off!

All in all a pretty wonderful year if you ask me.. and I have a feeling 2013 is going to be even better.  We have so many things planned, ski holidays, trips to Italy, not 1 not 2 but 3 big birthdays in the family and much much more.. So I hope you have all had an amazing 2012 and here is to an even better 2013. 

Happy New Year!