Thanks to my Sis-in-Law - OOTD

I happen to be super lucky and have a very cool sister-in-law who is more like a friend then anything.  She is an amazing fashion designer and one of those people who you meet up with and instantly wish you had worn the other outfit.  She always looks put together in a super effortless, casual way and I don't know if she knows it but for the first year of being with my husband I would go into a fashion panic everytime I was going to be meeting her as I knew that no matter what I pulled out of my wadarobe and put on I would see her outfit and wish I had worn something else something better. 

But another thing sparked form this I became pretty interested in style and what works with what.  I started following a few fashion blogs and looking to see how other people in the high street dressed different items.  I could spend hours in a cafe watching the real life catwalk and not get board at all.  I soon stared to try an put items of my own wardrobe together that I never would have thought to before, sometimes I get it ok and sometimes I look back at photos and think "ahh what was I thinking".   Now don't get me wrong I am not the girl you watch go by and wish you owned half her wardrobe, I am not super cool, trendy and I don't really follow fashion.  But I do feel good in what I choose to wear about 90% of the time.  I have my wonderful sister-in-law to thank for this, you have helped me to feel confident and so helped me to have confidence in all aspects of my life. Ta Sis!

So on that note I thought I would share a few outfits now and again and perhaps the odd wish list just to mix things up in between the endless foodie items on this blog.  


Here goes! 

• Boots - Matalan (About a thousand years ago)
• Jeans - River Island
• Vest Top - ?
• Shirt - New Look
• Leather Jacket - Vintage ( this was my Mum's back in the 70s, thanks Mum)

Spanish Chicken and sweet potato Pie

This is a perfect mid weed dinner and wonderful for using up left over chicken and mash from your Sunday dinner.  Also a fab recipe to use up turkey after Christmas.  

What you need to feed two people -

• About 500g chopped potatos
• 1 large sweet potato
• 2 tsp smoked paprika 
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 sliced red onions (any will work though)
• 2 cloves of garlic chopped or crushed
• 1 400g cans chopped tomatoes
• left over cooked chicken , shredded
• 140g roasted peppers from a jar, sliced 
• handful black pitted olives, halved 

What you need to do -

1. Boil potatoes and sweet potato together and mash with half the paprika

2. Add oil to a frying pan and fry onions and garlic

3. Add half the paprika and cook on low for 1 min

4. Add the tomatoes and bring to a simmer for about 5 min

5.  In an oven proof dish add chicken, peppers and olives

6. Add tomato sauce to the chicken and mix well

7. Cover with your mashed potato 

8. Smooth potato adding ridges with a fork

9. Bake in the oven for about 15min or till the potato has crisped a little on the top.

10. Serve with some steamed greens and Enjoy !

Pumpkin Loaf

This a perfect afternoon sweet bread served with a little butter but I prefer it on its own as it is wonderful and moist due to the pumpkin.   If you get a cold day and want to fill your home with warm comforting smells then this is the bread for you.

Here goes..! 

What you need -

• 1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree ( recipe here )
• 1 1/4 cups plain flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp ginger
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2  eggs
• 1 1/2  tsp vanilla extract
• butter or oil to coat the tin
• Roasted pumpkin seeds for decoration ( Any seeds will do) 

What to do -


1. Coat your bread tin with oil or butter (I used a silicon tin so no need to do this) & preheat oven to 170°c or 350°f

2. In a medium bowl combine all the dry ingredients 


3. In a large bowl add oil, eggs, pumpkin puree and vanilla beat until you have a thick mixture.

4. Then add the dry mixture and mix until combined scraping any missed bits from the side of the bowl. Do not over mix as this will stop the loaf from rising as well.

5. Pour batter into your prepared tin, top with the seeds ( Optional- but really adds to the look of the loaf)

6. Bake in the center of your preheated oven for about 50 - 55min or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean

7. Cool in the pan for about 15min before tuning out to cool on a rack.  

Enjoy !


 

Chinese Glazed Chicken

Here is a super simple tasty mid week dinner winner. 

Serves 4 people

What you need-

4 Skinless Chicken Breast Fillets
4 Tbs Dark Soy Sauce
2 Tbs Muscovado Sugar
2 Cloves of Garlic Crushed
2 Tbs Apple Cider Vinegar (White wine vinegar works too)
100ml Fresh Pineapple Juice (Works with Orange juice too)

What you need to do -

1. Lay the Chicken fillets in a shallow oven proof dish, the fillets should be snug.

2. Mix together Soy Sauce, sugar, garlic, vinegar, pineapple juice and season with pepper.

 

3. Pour the mixture over then chicken, cover and leave in the fridge for 4 or more hours.

4. Uncover and bake chicken in a preheated oven, 180c (350f) for 30 - 40min or until cooked through. 

5. Serve with rice or noodles and steamed vegetables.  Spoon the cooking juices over the meat.

Enjoy ! 

How To Make Pumpkin Puree

I follow a fair few American food blogs and lets face it the Americans know a thing or two about cooking with pumpkins.  I have found so many tasty recipes over the years I have often wondered if I should celebrate thanks giving so I can make use of them all.

But one thing I have found to be a problem is that in England we can't seem to buy the cans of pumpkin puree as easily in the supermarkets.  I am sure I could hunt it down but who has time for that?  Especially when you can make it your self for far less money, calories and so much more nutritious.

Step 1.  Pre heat the oven to about 200c

Step 2. Take your eating pumpkin (these are smaller then their carving jack lantern brothers) and slice it in half.  This will be much easier if you use a good sharp knife.

Step 3. With a spoon scrape out all the seeds and stringy membrane.  ( Pull the seeds away from the orange string & roast in the oven for 30min, these make wonderful toppings for loafs and soups)

Step 4. Slice into quarters and place into a lightly oiled roasting dish.

Step 5. Roast for about 45min, you can tell it is ready when the skins start to shine and the flesh starts to come away from the skin near the edges a little.

Step 6. Wait for the pumpkin to cool a little so you can handle it, then scoop the now soft flesh away from the skin.

Step 7.  Place into a food processor and blitz.. or if you down own one use a potato masher.

Voila there you have it.. fresh, orange pumpkin puree.  It will freeze or keep in a sealed container in the fridge for about 3 days.

Autumn is here

Happy Pumpkin Season.. I do love this time of year.  The trees are turning fire orange colours, the nights are drawing in,  as I take my afternoon power walk I can smell the burning of bonfires and feel the crisp change in the air.  All this and the sound of the geese migrating are sure signs that summer is really over and Autumn has arrived.  You all know that that means?  We can finally stop working on our bikini body's and start working on our winter woolly body's.

Of course I am kidding, it is good to keep healthy all year round.  But I must say this is the time of year when I start craving warm wholesome foods rather then the summer salads.  So over the next few weeks I am going to be sharing some of my favorite Autumn recipes starting with one of my favorite ingredients Pumpkins!  I just think they are so bright and jolly and really help to brighten up those cold dark nights.

So keep checking in for pumpkin creations.  

A promise to both you and I.

Ahh ok so I want to post on here I really do.  I know this sounds greedy " and I am"  but this blog was meant to be something for me.  I hobby and me time I guess.  Also a place that i could share any number of things and ideas.  I guess I wanted it as a place to come, relax and write about the things that make me happy.  So as you can imagine it annoys me that I have not taken the time to write since March.. and so I have not taken the time for my self. 

So I am making a promise to both you and I that I will post at least once a week from here on.