FOODIE LOVERS GIFT GUIDE

OK so you've got you got your plant loving buddies covered and now it's time to pick up a few Christmas pressies for all the foodie lovers in your life! I sometimes find buying these gifts tricky as there are just sooooo many things to choose from! I've pulled together a little gift list to spread some Christmas cheer and get your taste buds tingling from a visual feast. Which ones your favourite?

1. the Roasting Simple Dish Dinners: £11.84 Amazon.

2. Gold Grid Wine Rack: £45 Oliver Bonas.

3. Ceramic French Press: £92 Yield Design via Etsy 

4. Ferm Living Ripple Glass Set of 4: £36 Amara Living.

5. Cheese Society Monthly Subscription: From £38 per month Cheese Society. 

6. Sipsmith Gin: £28 Waitrose..

7. Copper Marble Cheese Knives Set: From £27.50. West Elm.

8. Halo Plate: From £9  Denby Pottery. 

A QUICK AUTUMN/WINTER WARMER WITH CULLY & SULLY SOUPS

Autumn is officially here and I couldn't be loving the crunchy golden leaves and cosy dark nights at home more. I think I'm even feeling a little festive already! As the bump grows rapidly, so does my busy work schedule and I'm left juggling work, school runs, sleepless nights and hospital appointments. Fun times! So I'm rather pleased that I have found a healthy way to shave some time off my schedule with the rather delicious Cully & Sully Soups!

COOKING IN THE KITCHEN WITH HELLOFRESH

A few weeks ago I was invited to London for a super fun blogging event that involves one of my favourite things...food! Good food at that! I headed over to the very trendy HelloFresh HQ office in London with some other fab bloggers to whip up a storm and put our my limited cooking skills to the test – Masterchef eat your heart out.

Apart from delivering goodness to the nations doorstep with their recipe boxes, HelloFresh have just launched their new range, a tasty affordable takeout style bag called HelloFresh GO. I love the concept of this healthy hybrid that sits somewhere between take out meets homemade cooking.

MY QUICK SUPER SPRING SALAD & HOMESENSE HAUL // RECIPES

Some of the things I love about Spring is the early morning light, the spring blossoms, super quick spring salads and the occasional picnic weather permitting. Apart from the general spring clean and declutter that ritually takes place I have been focusing the past few months on self care, investing in mind, body and spirit so to speak. 

The easiest place for people to make change is in the food we eat, now I'm not suggesting in anyway that I'm all saintly and have cut out all the bad stuff from my diet, I mean I like a cadbury's cream egg as much as the next person, but I am trying to make informed decisions when it comes to food and trying enjoy as much good stuff as possible.

FEAST ON VEGETARIAN DISHES // RIVERFORD FOOD BOX REVIEW

When it comes to eating healthy in our house we tend to do quite well if you minus the chocolate and crisps, as I'm always keen to avoid processed food where possible and although it takes longer, I enjoy creating home cooked dishes. Over the years I've found myself being less interested in the meat side of things, and instead look for other ways to create a tasty meal with vegetarian meals.

BAKE THIS EASY AUTUMN SWEET POTATO PIE RECIPE

Hello November! The clocks have changed and it finally feels like those cosy autumn days are settling in, and with it hopefully our new routine. This last year has felt like a world of busy with lots of highs and lows, but with the stillness that winter brings I think I'm finally ready to embrace some seasonal slowness. One of my favourite things to do in autumn afternoons is create in the kitchen, baking warming food to fill little bellies, so I thought I would share this easy autumn sweet potato pie that is perfect for little ones and adults alike.

THE STORY OF BEES AND CHILDHOOD SUMMERS

Long summer days, endless exploration, laughter, ice lollies, muddy knees, running through tall grass hands outstretched, the soft hum of busy bees, all under a curtain of hazy light as evening rolls in bringing calls beckoning you home for tea. Ah the nostalgic days of summers gone, days that stretched like years from corners of my childhood. Looking down at this small boy of mine I wonder what memories his summer break will bring.

DECORATIVE BISCUIT BAKING HACK FOR SPORT RELIEF

As you might know from my various recipes, when it comes to cookies I'm your gal! There's nothing I love more than whipping up a batch of biccies with my boy, or making tasty treats to share. So when HomeSense asked if I'd like to Bake Myself Proud in the new Orla Kiely apron to raise money for Sport Relief, and share a decorative biscuit baking hack with you lovely lot, I jumped at the chance. Oh and did I mention they wanted to film it? I love the fun opportunities that blogging brings and I was certainly excited to channel my inner Bake Off and try my hand at something new.

I've been wanting to share this baking hack I found on Pinterest for a while now, I love how easy they are to whip up, plus they're perfect if you're looking to score some brownie points at the school bake sale while raising money for charity. You can easily download your free fundraising kit from Sport Relief to get you started.

I used my favourite Butter Biscuit recipe, and all you need in addition to the below ingredients is a piece of lace or crochet, it's that's simple!

You'll need:
Cookie Cutters 
225g (8oz) Self Raising Flour
Pinch of salt
170g (6oz) Organic Unsalted Butter (cut into cubes)
110g (4oz) of sugar
1 Beaten Egg

A piece of lace

To Make:

1. Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl, then using the back of a spoon to rub the butter until it resembles breadcrumbs. You might find it helps to do this with your hands towards the end to get the right consistency – little fingers will love to help.

2. Add the sugar, beaten egg and mix into a stiff dough. Once mixed with a spoon use your hands to knead the mixture in the bowl until it is a smooth, you can also knead it on a floured counter top if this is easier.

3. Make a ball out of the dough, wrap in cling film and cool in the fridge for 30 minutes.

4. Preheat the oven to 180 C / 365 F and line a baking tray with baking/greaseproof paper.

5. Roll the dough out onto a floured surface until it is around 6mm thick or the thickness of a penny. Place the lace on top of the dough and press down the firmly while rolling to create the pattern.

6. Once in place cut your biscuit shapes with the cutters and transfer onto the baking tray.Bake for about 12-15 or until golden. Once baked leave to cool on a wire rack.

You can see from the video how simple these biscuits are to make, I'd love to hear what you think about the video as I'm hoping to do more :)

This plate of cookies certainly didn't last very long, as soon as the kiddo got home from school they were pretty much demolished, giving me a good excuse to bake some more to share with friends. If you want to help raise money for Sport Relief then you can pop into your local HomeSense or TK Maxx store to pick up your very own apron or buy it online here. All profits from the sale go to Sport Relief.

Have you got any baking hacks to share? How would you raise money for Sport Relief?

*This post is in collaboration with HomeSense.

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR GIN LOVERS

There's a reason why the phrase Mothers Ruin comes into play after a hard day with a small new person, and when F was tiny my news feed was full of the cry for glasses of wine or gin to numb the sleepless nights and long days.

A sophisticated Gin & Tonic was my tipple of choice in my mid-twenties and after arming myself with a concoction of celebratory cocktails and fun nights out, the classic G&T is making a come back in my house and gracing the drinks trolley at my Christmas parties.

So I'm excited to share with you the perfect gift for gin lovers in your life with this beautiful Gintuition Set.  I love the presentation box that contains three glasses; a classic highball, anon-trend copa stem and the always stylish martini cocktail, which will have you feeling all James Bond.

Endorsed by makers of premium mixers Fever –Tree, the set comes with an expert guide to each glass with mixing tips and gin cocktail recipes. Making it the ultimate accessory to your gin loving nights and if you want to switch it up why not try a winter version using Sloe Gin?

What's your favourite tipple? Do you find yourself reaching for the glass when the little ones are asleep?

*This is a collaborative post.

A SIMPLE WINTER PLUM TART RECIPE

December is here at last and this morning I'll wake to excited squeals, little hands looking for chocolate treasures hidden behind paper doors and our annual tree hunt to find the perfect specimen to grace our flat for Christmas. To get in the festive mood I thought it would be good to bunker down and enjoy a treat during this crazy weather we're having at the moment, so I thought I'd share a simple winter plum tart recipe that takes minutes to prep and make. 

This is the perfect recipe for those wanting to indulge a little at very little cost, as there it only takes four ingredient's to create this tasty dish! All you'll need is:

• Just Roll Puff Pastry

• 1-2 Ripened Plums

• Greek Yoghurt

• Organic Maple Syrup

F loves these little tarts and using pre-made roll pastry takes all the hard work out of baking, plus you can cut them to any shape or size making them perfect bites for little ones. This has really got me craving some of the Christmas party food that we'll no doubt indulge in this month. 

To make simply:

• Take your puff pastry out of the fridge 10-15 minutes before baking to allow it to reach room temperature. 

• Cut your plums into slices and set to one side.

• Slice your pastry to the appropriate size and shape. I made three small rectangle tarts for us to snack on. 

• Arrange the slices on your pastry shapes.

• Place on a baking tray with the baking paper provided and bake 10-15 minutes at 170ºC in the oven or until golden brown. 

• The plum slices will look a little dried on the outside but are fleshy and soft on the inside making them delicious. 

• Add a dollop of fat free Greek yoghurt and drizzle in maple syrup. 

Now all you need to do is sit back, pop the kettle on and enjoy. You can find the gold cutlery and chop & serve board here. 

Linking in with #recipeoftheweek

CLEANSING GINGER AND LEMONGRASS TEA RECIPE

If I had shares in coffee companies I would be laughing all the way to the bank –  no joke – with my current caffeine consumption at an all time high, I swear I'm single-handedly keeping the industry afloat. Every now and again it's good to curb my intake and take stock of my habit, making room for cleansing teas and detoxifying drinks to help boost my immune system and keep me from the jitters. So I thought it would be good to post about my current health kick in an attempt to get back on track, with this cleansing Ginger and Lemongrass Tea.

I've noticed that my taste for good old English Breakfast tea has totally left me and I only seem to manage a cup of builders tea when in the throws of a hangover *shhhh*, instead opting for a cup of boiled water if I fancy a hot drink. Now although this is good for you it can get a little boring, you can imagine the conversation at friends houses over a good gossip:

 them: "ooh do you fancy a cuppa?' 

me: "mmm yes please can I have a cup of *ahem* boiled water"

 them: ".....erm yeah...sure...do you want a tea bag with that?'

So why Ginger and  Lemongrass tea? Well it packs a punch with anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, disinfectant and diuretic properties that allow you to detoxify the pancreas, kidneys, bladder and the digestive tract, while helping you eliminate excess fat much faster and reduce water retention in the body amongst other amazing health benefits. Plus when made with filtered water you know you're getting the healthiest version of this hot beverage.

It's easy to make, all you need is:

• 4-6 thin slices raw ginger

• 250-375ml water

• 1-2 tbsp honey or agave nectar

• 2 lemon slices

• 1 stick lemongrass, outer leaves removed

To make, simply peel the ginger and add to a pot of water, allowing it to boil for around 10 minutes to release the flavour and goodness. Pour into your cup or glass and add a couple of slices of lemon and sweeten with a little algarve honey. Serve with a stick of lemongrass. Alternatively to create an intense flavour crush the lemongrass with the flat side of a knife and boil alongside the ginger to create your tea. 

Now I'm not crazy enough to give up coffee completely, but I am trying to alternate my drinks in the hopes of helping kick start my health routine after a stressful few months. Kinetico have released a simple water recipe book which is free to download and is packed with refreshing summer drinks that give water a fun twist.  

*This is a collaborative post.

#LETSCOCKTAIL WITH MOJITO MONDAY

Yep it's Monday. The day which makes most people sigh as they leave the fun of the weekend behind them and head into work for the week. Before I started blogging/freelancing I used to get that sinking feeling on the walk to work, already planning what fun I could have come Friday. So I started a little tradition at home, for those Mondays that were particularly hard to get into I would celebrate the start of the week with Mojito Monday.

When Paul and I travelled to Rome – pre-child – we really got into our mojito vibe, having fun exploring the city by day and partying by night. So I thought we'd bring a little holiday fun home with us and indulge with a cocktail now and again in the comfort of our flat. So when I saw thebar.com had created fun and easy Shake-Up summer cocktail videos I knew it would be fun to get involved and enjoy a mojito Monday at home. Normally we use a white rum to create our cocktail but we followed the 'No Problemo Mojito' video and tried Captain Morgan's Spice Rum to give it a touch of summer.



To make your own Mojito Monday at home you'll need:

• Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum
• Ice Cubes and Crushed Ice
• Fresh Mint
• Soda Water
• Limes
• Caster Sugar

• First you need to slap the mint to release the flavour ad add to your glass

• Add two parts rum and the juice of half a lime per glass. 

• Next add two spoons of Caster sugar to give it a sweet zing.

•  Fill your glass with ice and two parts soda water, mix well and enjoy!

The recipe is super easy to follow and we made our cocktails straight into a glass rather than jug, which we'd normally do on a weekend or when drinking with friends, but as we have a four year old to wake us up early o'clock we limit ourselves to one cocktail each on a weeknight. As Paul is travelling to Budapest today we made ours last night but I might sneak a cheeky one in tonight to ease myself into my solo parenting week. 

If you want to create your own Mojito Monday a home then you can watch the video below to see how the cocktail crashers create the perfect summer drink or head over to thebar.com for more cocktail ideas.

Do you have a favourite cocktail? I'd love to see what you come up with by tagging images with #letscocktail on twitter or Instagram.

* This post is in collaboration with thebar.com

HEALTHY HOMEMADE FRUIT ICE CREAM RECIPE & GIVEAWAY

Since we returned from our travels there has been one thing on F's mind, and that is ice cream. Not a day goes by when I'm not being begged to buy a cone piled high with sugary vanilla or chocolate treats, and as much as I like to indulge him now and again I thought it was time to come up with a healthy homemade fruit ice cream substitute.

I've been making a real conscious effort to balance F's sweet tooth and include some goodness into his everyday diet, and even though he likes fruit and is great with savoury foods, he's often quick to ask for anything chocolate related. So when I was asked to try out the VonShef Frozen Dessert Makers the timing couldn't have been better, and I immediately started testing a few recipes to see what would work as a healthy ice cream substitute.

The machine is super easy to use and so compact that it can fit easily on the smallest of kitchen work surfaces. All you need is frozen fruit and a bowl to tuck into healthy soft scoop style ice cream, but without the preservatives, sugar, fat or dairy. Once you have your frozen fruit ready simply turn on the switch and place your fruit in the feeding chute while pressing down the plunger and out it comes.

F loved it and didn't really notice the difference which is great as I'm sneaking all sorts of goodness in, plus it's really easy to make. Here is his favourite recipes so far:

Banana and Pineapple Fruit Ice Cream

You'll need:
2 Bananas chopped
1/2 cup of Pineapple chunks
Mint Leaves

To make:

• Place chopped bananas and pineapple chunks into a container and freeze over night.
• Using the VonShef Frozen Dessert Maker, insert one frozen banana, then the pineapple chunks and then the second banana.
• Stir in a bowl to combine and serve in a dish with mint to garnish.

So simple, since then we've tried banana with strawberry and raspberries which was was promptly scoffed and I'm looking to find a way of adding avocado into the dessert for an extra health kick.

The peeps over at Domu are offering one you lovely readers the chance to win yourself your very own VonShef Frozen Dessert Makers so you can get ready for summer and make some super healthy fruit ice creams. All you need to do is enter using the options below. Good luck! x

*T&C Giveaway will run for two weeks and the winner will be drawn by random using rafflecopter on the 9th June. All entries will be verified. Prize will include a vonShef Dessert Maker. This is not exchangeable. By entering you are signing up to the Wild & Grizzly E-newsletter. Open worldwide. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

MY PERSONAL FITNESS JOURNEY AND EATING HEALTHY

Over the last eight weeks I've been really focusing on getting fit and have been making dramatic changes to my eating habits. So far I've been keeping this rather quiet on the blog and IG, but I have been inspired by friends/lovely bloggers who are also on a personal fitness journey such, Keri-Anne  Gingerlilly Tea, Hayley from Southwood Stores and Catherine from The Triple Triangle, to get myself into shape. After a very over indulgent Christmas full of rich food, chocolates and crisps, I was left feeling sluggish, tired and not fitting into my usual clothes, but now spring is here I want to get back in control of my bad habits.  

I've never really been one to do sports, at school I was the kid that was last at every sport in P.E and being naturally slim I've not really paid much attention to what I eat, but as I get older I'm becoming concious of being a good role model for F when it comes to healthy eating and exercise. 

So for the last month or so I've been exercising 25 minutess a day and trying to swap meals for healthier options, using Deliciously Ella for inspiration and using an eat clean diet where possible, making sure to avoid any processed food, sugars, dairy and wheat. 

I've created a seperate IG account to keep track of my fitness progress and snap pics of my meals to keep me motivated, and I'm using my FitBit to track my progress too. 

I find exercising makes me feel happier, probably all those endorphins being released, and making smarter choices with food has really boosted my energy levels. Here are some of my recent meals:1. Fruit! I've been using fruit as a snack rather than reaching for biscuits, crisps and cakes. Plus F really enjoys coming along for the fruit haul. 2. Raw energy Coconut and Cacao Bites from Deliciosly Ella. I made a load of these with F and keep them in the fridge incase I need a boost. 3. For lunch I've been eating more open sandwiches. My favourite is Organic wholemeal Sunflower Rye Bread, avocado, tuna, sprouting lentils and tomatoes.4. Breakfast has always been a tricky one for me as it is the meal I tend skip even though it's the most important. Instead I've been trying to have an energy filled start to the day with a bowl of porridge made with Almond milk, topped with cinnamon, whole almonds and poppy seeds. 5. I have rediscovered my love for salads with this healthy Nicoise Salad made with tuna, sprouting beans instead of olives and potato, fresh peppers, egg and poppy seeds.6. Homemade soups for lunch are great as they are healthy and filling. I've been trying different recipes and always accompany it with some fruit and hot lemon water.7. Pomegranates are one of my favourite things to snack on in front of the TV. This is my weakness as I want to eat lots of crisps and dips, but as this fruit is fiddly it occupies me while wanting to snack and it's super tasty too. I'm really hoping to stick to this new way of living and I have invested in some work out gear and equipment to get me going. I'm going to post once a month about what I've been eating and also a bit more about my workout routines to keep a log of my progress and in the hopes it might be inspiring. I hope you'll follow me along my journey.

WIN DESIGN LSA BAR PUNCH JUG SET WITH OCCA-HOME

Now that the clocks have leaped forward and we can officially welcome spring, my thoughts are turning to lighter evenings and enjoying a cheeky cocktail with friends. Nothing can beat sitting out in the early evening, people watching and catching up with the girls, while sipping a refreshing drink.

As Paul works away a lot, heading out in the evening isn't always an option for me and most weekdays I find myself on lock down when the clock strikes 6pm. However that's not to stop me having friends over once the boy is in bed, and with this LSA Bar Punch Jug Set I can make sure that I have enough drinks to go around.

I love LSA, for those who aren't familiar with them, they are one of the leading international glassware designers providing their stylish products for some of the most cool and prestigious hotels and home around the country. I was excited to test out a new refreshing cocktail, Cranberry Tart Punch.

 You'll need:
• 1 bottle of sparkling white wine or champagne if you're feeling fancy.
• 500ml of cranberry juice.
• One lime.
• Ice with a variety of berries to garnish.

To make:
• Add your wine/champagne into the jug, add the cranberry juice and stir gently.
• pour your cocktail into each glass and garnish with berry ice and a squeaze of lime.

To celebrate the arrival of spring, I'm teaming up with the UK's premier online interior store Occa-Home  to offer you the chance to win this beautiful LSA Bar Punch Jug Set and entertain your friends in style.

For your chance to win a set of this stylish LSA Punch Set which retails at £75 all you have to do is enter any/all of the options below for your chance to win. Good luck. x 

*Giveaway will run for two weeks and the winner will be drawn by random using rafflecopter on the 13th April. All entries will be verified. Prize will include one set LSA Bar Punch Jug Set  worth the value of £75. This is not exchangeable. By entering you are signing up to the Wild & Grizzly E-newsletter. Open worldwide.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

* Also I love this Chicken napkin c/o Thornback & Peel.

CARROT AND NUTMEG CUPCAKES // RAISE SOME DOUGH WITH COMIC RELIEF

We don't need much persuading when it comes to baking in our house, F always asks for Banana muffins or cookies when it's grey outside and loves helping out in the kitchen. I've been wanting to try my hands at sourdough bread for a while now – pass recipes this way please – but whenever I get my mixing bowls out, little hands appear demanding sweet treats.

On a grey day last week I thought it would be fun to don my new apron and #raisesomedough for Comic Relief. I love the bold graphic print and iconic red nose, and knowing that all the profits from each sale go to Comic Relief to help people living incredibly hard lives in Africa and the UK, is a great reason to get baking in the kitchen and teach F about being charitable.

So with an excitable boy at the ready, we decided to try a new recipe and whip up some Carrot & Nutmeg cupcakes. F wanted to get baking with things from his toy kitchen as well as get stuck in with all of the ingredients, stirring and measuring them carefully out. As always when it comes to the waiting to bake part F tends to wander off and play, only to shout every now and again "are they done yet?' I swear he thinks it makes them bake faster, and occasionally he'll wander in the kitchen and have a stern talk with the oven much to my amusement.

Ding! Yummy smells fill the kitchen and as soon as my back's turned two cupcakes disappear from the worktop as F sneaks then into the lounge to secretly indulge, a sign of success? I'd like to think so. If you fancy making your own Carrot and Nutmeg cupcakes you can follow the simple recipe below:

You'll need:
200g grated carrot
Zest of 1 Orange
100g Wholemeal flour
100g Self raising flour
1tsp Bicarbonate of Soda
1tsp Nutmeg
175g Demerara Sugar
2 Eggs
100g of unsalted butter (we used organic)
150g rapeseed oil

To make:

1. Preheat your oven to 180C and line your 12 hole muffin tin with cute cupcake cases, little hands will be happy to help with this task.
2.  In a mixing bowl mix together the flour, sugar, bicarbonate of soda and nutmeg.
3. Using a small grater or peeler, grate the zest of the orange (the outer orange layer) and add into the mixing bowl.
4. In a separate bowl pour in the oil and add two eggs then whisk until combined.
5. Add the dry ingredients to the whisked oil and egg and add in the grated carrots.
6. Mix all the ingredients loosely and using a spoon, divide the mixture into the cupcake cases (there should be enough to make 24 cupcakes).
8. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden and check with a skewer to check they're cooked in the middle.
9. Allow to cool and enjoy!

You can serve them with whipped cream cheese as cupcake toppers, but F prefers his cakes dry – crazy right! So it's that simple, raise money for charity and enjoy a cake with a cuppa, you can buy your apron here and #raisesomedough for Comic Relief, and when you've baked your masterpiece share it on social media using the hashtag. There will also be a twitter party between 1pm-2pm on Feb the 10th under the same hashtag if you fancy joining in the chat!

*This post is in association with Homebase.
** Mixing Bowls c/o Joseph Joseph