Nutrition & Weight Management

OK, so I've just found this post that I wrote absolutely ages ago, like last October straight out of Uni. Not sure why I didn't publish it straight away, but this subject has become even more relevant now, considering my job - I work as a Nutritionist Advisor with one of my roles involving producing healthy lifestyle content for a blog, which means I come across what I talk about below every single day on other sites/social media. Bit of a ramble though, but a topic that I'm really passionate about, so I hope you enjoy reading...

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I've noticed recently just how much misinformation there is out there concerning nutrition and weight loss - it's pretty scary to be honest. I've just finished my Nutritional Sciences masters and now want to work in improving the knowledge and ability of individuals who want to change their lifestyle. It's a tough job anyway, and the constant barrage of 'eat this!' or 'don't eat that!' certainly don't make it any easier for the professionals to be heard, and the majority of us to know who to listen to.

I thought I'd put a post together about ways to help you make sense of the never-ending onslaught of diet and exercise tips and re-focus your viewpoint so you find out what's best for you and work towards that healthier lifestyle. Eating well and getting enough exercise isn't easy, but with a bit of the right information and a positive outlook, it's not that hard either. 

Forget the numbers - focus on health!

Yes, weight is important - being overweight or obese leads to a greater chance of suffering from cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and a number of other conditions. However, getting hung up on what the scales say isn't likely to get you that far (or not in a healthy way at least). All those quick fixes that promise you'll be however many stones lighter in a month are just that: quick fixes and will probably end up being just as quickly reversed when you stop. 

Look at the bigger picture - aim for a healthy lifestyle that you can maintain. Weight loss/gain may be part of this, but there's no point getting to a goal weight just to think that's it, I can stop now. It just doesn't work like that. Small, realistic changes that add up to an overall healthier diet should be the aim. They're more likely to stick and one is likely is lead to another when you feel a positive difference.

So, to improve your diet, you could try eating one extra piece of fruit or veg a day. Incorporate it into something you already eat: I try and add a handful of frozen veg to pasta or rice a few minutes before it's finished cooking to add an extra bit of healthiness to a meal. 

The same principle works with exercise - forget the marathon for now and focus on walking an extra 15-30 minutes a day. Are there any journeys you'd use the car/bus for which you could probably walk? 

Trustworthy source or not?

Not everyone can be an expert in everything, that's perfectly understandable - we rely on others to get all the info we need. Nutrition is no different, yet we all need to know what we can eat to get the best out of our bodies. 

First tip is, if something sounds to good to be true it probably is. There was a recent headline suggesting that 'sunlight can make you thin'. Ummm what?? The fact that whoever wrote this is paid to be a journalist is a whole other issue I won't go into, but yeah, don't take everything at face value basically. This relates to the quick fixes that I mentioned earlier.

The main point I want to get across is to think about who is giving you the information. Do they have evidence-based nutritional knowledge? Could they have an ulterior motive as to why they're telling you something (e.g. so you'll buy whatever they're selling)? 

Those articles in newspapers, magazines etc. may have just been written by someone with no background knowledge who is trying to fill space. Check out someone's credentials or better still read the evidence for yourself. I get that that isn't possible for everyone, but if you are interested in the facts behind the headlines, NHS choices do some great posts that break down recent research into manageable chunks that help in understanding those confusing headlines.

Relationship advice

Our relationship with food and our bodies seems to have taken an ugly turn. I notice this particularly as a young woman but it applies to men as well of course - we're all aiming to be leaner/more muscular/curvier or whatever the current fashion is. This is a huge area and it encompasses so many areas, particularly psychology and the influence of others. 

So I thought I'd just finish this post off with what I try and live by, and how I manage to enjoy good food and exercise as part of my normal routine.

Because I do enjoy it. I absolutely love food, and from the stories I've been told by my family I've loved food pretty much since I could eat. Before I got into the science of Nutrition I wanted to be a Chef or something like that. I love exercising too - I danced growing up and now try and make sure I get a decent amount of time at the gym each week, doing aerobics and pilates classes. 

My general rule is only eat the food I like, and only do the exercise I enjoy. What's the point in wasting time on stuff that doesn't make you feel good?

A healthy lifestyle means balance, and moderation. These terms can mean different things to different people. I take it to mean having a diet predominantly composed of fruit, veg, good sources of protein like chicken and eggs, healthy fats and an amount of starchy carbs that gives me the energy I need without feeling overly full and uncomfortable. Plus I still enjoy foods considered less healthy alongside that. Just not too much, and not too often. Eating sweet food isn't terrible - I think it's pretty obvious from this blog that cake is one of my faves! Feeling guilty because you've eaten something is silly.

At the end of the day, food is fuel. It provides us with the nutrients we need to stay fit, energetic and able to do all the fantastic things we're capable of. So enjoy it, and embrace all the amazing things your body can do.

Laurent Binet - 'HHhH' & Markus Zusak - 'The Book Thief'

I thought I'd mention a couple of WWII books I've read recently. They're both interesting in the point of view they take, which gives an intriguing twist to the stories. I also felt like they had a theme in common; that of the task of writing and the power of words.

Ever since going to Berlin I've been really interested in learning more about the Second World War, particularly due to my interests in psychology. I remembered seeing this book when it came out and picked it up after finishing some of my exams a while ago.

HHhH depicts the events surrounding Operation Anthropoid, the assassination of the high-ranking Nazi Reinhard Heydrich in 1942 carried out by Jozef Gabčík and Jan Kubiš, two paratroopers from Czechoslovakia. The book explores the lives of the people involved and surrounding events, including Heydrich's role as part of the SS and the development of the assassination plan, from Britain to Prague. 

As well as giving an insight into these events to those unfamiliar with the specifics (such as myself), the book is also written in a style which sees the author switch between describing the history itself and his own journey to discovering this story, including his thoughts on trying to be faithful to the actual events that occurred. The observations on the actual process behind writing a book were fascinating to explore, particularly the difficulties of trying to writing a historical accurate scene. 

Overall, this is an entertaining account of the events and their circumstances, and it really got me thinking about the paratroopers actions in relation to current events. But I'd get a bit rambly if I went into all that, I think. 

The Book Thief, by comparison to HHhH, is fictional but uses the war as the backdrop for the story. The story is narrated by Death, and tells of a young German girl who goes to live with foster parents. Throughout she deals with the loss of her family, the struggle of learning to read, the development of a close relationship with her foster father, hiding a Jew in the family basement, along with the normal activities of a child: namely, trying to win at football with her best friend. 

She also steals books; these act as the initial challenges to conquer whilst learning to read, and become a way she can connect with those around her, especially when the war begins to hit its stride. 

I really enjoyed this book and the way it views the war through innocent eyes, alongside the other dramas of growing up and building relationships. Its sweet, sad and overall an enchanting read and I seriously recommend giving this book a go. 

Minestrone Soup

The last of the warm air is trickling away to be replaced by a brisk chill; grey clouds are gathering to shower trees whose leaves are stripped away by quickening gusts of wind:dressing the pavements in varying shades of gold.

Yep, it's definitely Autumn now which means soup is in order. This is my favourite soup, full of Italian flavours and delicious vegetables, that can be a meal in itself or served with warm, soft bread oozing melting butter.

This soup cooks quite quickly, but is fine to slow cook over a longer duration if you want to bring out the flavours more. It works well with loads of different vegetables so have fun trying out your favourites. For meat eaters, a couple of sausages can also be grilled, chopped and thrown in to the pan as well. For the pasta, there's lots of different ones to try. I used small shells in this one, but my favourite are tiny pasta stars as in the photo below.

Minestrone

Packed with veg, pasta and lots of Italian flavours, this hearty soup is perfect for cold evenings. Serve with garlic bread and a sprinkling of grated parmesan or cheddar.


Serves 4-6

Ingredients

• Olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 onion, chopped finely
• 1 reduced salt vegetable stock cube made up with 1 litre boiling water
• 500g passata
• 3 cups of vegetables - peas, pepper, carrot, courgette or whatever you fancy!
• 2 tablespoons parmesan
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning/basil/oregano
• 1/2 cup small soup pasta

Method

1. Add oil, garlic and onion to large saucepan. Cover with lid and let soften for 5 minutes.
2. Add stock, passata and vegetables, bring to the boil, then simmer for 10-15 minutes until vegetables are soft. It will seem quite watery at this stage but the pasta will thicken it.
3. Add the parmesan, seasoning and pasta and continue to simmer until pasta is cooked through. Serve!

Goose Fair

Normally Goose Fair weekend signals the beginning of Autumn in Nottingham. The last few rays of warm sunshine that make up September are swept aside for the dark, crisp days that end quite suddenly.

But this didn't quite happen like that this year. Warm sunny days seem to want to hang on that little bit longer, and while I'm definitely not complaining, it was strange to not have to bundle up in gloves and scarves to make our way to the fair this year.

The atmosphere was still great though; no matter how old I get I think I'll always love the flashing lights on the rides against the night sky, the smells of burgers and candy floss and doughnuts, and the sounds of music and children on the rides.

Pontefino, Gunthorpe

Italian food is by far my favourite food - I grew up eating home-made gnocchi and pizza and could quite easily eat it everyday. It's also Tom's favourite and we're always on the lookout for a new Italian restaurant to try out.

Pontefino is out in Gunthorpe, Nottinghamshire, in a quiet residential area next to the River Trent - a lovely change to the bustle of town on a Friday night.

We started off with garlic pizza bread and arancini (risotto balls filled with mozzarella and fried). The bread was the thinnest, crispiest base lightly topped with garlic and tomato so wasn't too heavy to start with, while the arancini were packed with flavour and beautifully served with a dash of a tomato sauce.

Our mains consisted of the calzone rustica, which had a perfect crust and was absolutely stuffed with prosciutto, cheeses, and spinach; and linguine alla Sofia Loren (I'll admit it was the name that initially caught my eye!). The linguine was coated in the type of sauce I almost always end up choosing - creamy tomato with just a hint of chilli and a sprinkling of chicken, pepperoni and olives.

We were both so full by this point but couldn't resist dessert (I'm pretty sure there's a special stomach just for dessert anyway so we couldn't leave it unsatisfied, could we?). Pannacotta arrived in a huge wine glass, smooth and creamy with a fruity berry coulis adding a tangy contrast.

Overall the food was some of the tastiest, most flavourful I've had out in a while and we agreed while still devouring pasta and calzone that we definitely needed to bring family and friends here. Service always makes a place for me and everyone was friendly and welcoming, so a winner all round!

Sorry for the lack of photos of the food; I don't really enjoy taking pictures while I'm eating out any more, apart from the odd one here and there.

Have you discovered any new restaurants recently?

Women of Intention

I wanted to share some of the ladies in rock who are fairly new on the scene and have been playing on repeat for me recently, but then it got kinda difficult to narrow it down to just a few. There are so many bad ass women in music at the moment, broadcasting their talent through amazing songs and mind blowing shows. During the difficult events occurring as we struggle towards a world where gender equality is the norm, involving sometimes confusing and sometimes sad and disheartening moments, it's inspiring to know that their are women who are doing exactly what they want on their terms. And of course, making bloody brilliant music while they're at it.

Deap Vally

If you haven't checked out Deap Vally's debut album 'Sistrionix' then you really need to get on it. I'd been hearing about this band last year around festival season; their names kept cropping up alongside the likes of Queens of the Stone Age and Jack White. I looked them up on YouTube and instantly fell in love. If you want raw, straight to the point, bluesy rock then these two women have got it covered. I saw them live last year at the Basement, Rock City, and it was such a fun show - I'll definitely be at their next one. For these gals the music speaks for itself so give them a listen.


The Beaches

I saw The Beaches earlier this year as they opened up for Brody Dalle on her UK tour and they're probably one of the best support acts I've seen. I picked up their EP after the gig and they've since released another one, both of which I love. Despite their young age these girls are seriously good live and write really great, catchy rock songs.


Rouge

Rouge are a band from London who I discovered on Twitter through being a fan of Deap Vally. I think they messaged me saying I might like their stuff and they were right! They write blues-inspired rock songs with gorgeous vocals and I'm looking forward to hearing more from these guys.


And I can't do this post without mentioning Brody Dalle. 

She's not new to the music world - she fronted the Distillers and Spinnerette - but only came out with her first record under her own name this year. She's matured and branched out in terms of her sound but is still that punk rocker I was first inspired by back in the Distillers. Brody is definitely one of those women who is not afraid to express herself and stick up for what she thinks is right. Basically, she's amazing and I love her. 

I'm gonna shut up now so you can check out some of my favourite ladies in rock. Any recommendations you have for other musicians please let me know, I'm always on the lookout for new music! :)  *photos of The Beaches & Rouge taken from their sites

Lost in Desserts

What better way to celebrate finishing the end of my Nutritional Sciences course than by a huge amount of sugar, chocolate and cream? OK so kinda contradictory but it's definitely all about balance when it comes to food and health in my opinion. And every last bite of these were worth the extra gym session I'm probably gonna need to fit in this week.

I drove down to Leicester to meet up with a friend from my course for end of year celebrations. We'd both had our ups and downs throughout the year but could finally say we'd got through the course together! She introduced me to a place in the city called Heavenly Desserts - this place definitely lives up to that. Apparently she'd tried to visit before but people were queuing outside (and this is quite common to get in?!) so had decided to wait before trying again. Thankfully we didn't have to queue and got a table in the restaurant straight away before being handed the book of a menu to choose from. You can get waffles, crepes, cookie dough, sundaes, milkshakes, shots of Belgian chocolate... let's just say it took me a while to pick. I finally went for white chocolate and raspberry cookie dough, which was served warm so the chocolate was melting and the cookie gooey, and topped with ice cream, cream and fresh raspberries. Oh. My. God. So good. And I was very glad that I'd only had a salad earlier so I could leave room for all that chocolatey goodness.

A couple of days later, back in Nottingham, my best friend treated me to a dessert plate from The Cheesecake Shop to say congrats (I have the best friends ever :)). I chose the strawberry shortcake cheesecake topped with curls of white chocolate and it was served with fresh fruit and a dollop of cream. I've been to the cheesecake shop a few times as it's fairly local and it has to be one of my favourite places to get pudding. The mudcakes they do are seriously tasty as well. There's quite a few around Nottinghamshire but I'm not sure about the rest of the UK, but definitely worth a visit if you're round here.

So it's a been a weekend of stuffing my face (and enjoying every last bit of it) but I think I'm definitely gonna feel better after a good Aerobics session this evening ha.

Long Time No Blog!

It's been a long time since I've posted here and at one point I thought I probably wouldn't again. What with university and the like I'd sort of lost my enthusiasm for blogging and just didn't feel any need to do it for the time being. But it's one of those things that when I'm in the right mood and feeling inspired I do love putting time aside for and I've found myself back here again.

Day of my last ever exam! 

So it's been over a year since I last posted and it's pretty safe to say a lot of changes have happened. I've graduated, I've moved back to Nottingham and undergone all the lifestyle changes that come with moving, I've done my masters, and I can now finally say I'm no longer a student! (well, technically I still need to graduate again, but otherwise I am done).

Graduation in Plymouth a year ago

This year I feel like I've massively changed as a person too. The move was pretty rough for me (pretty complicated and wrapped up in a lot of other stuff) and it triggered me finally getting round to sorting my head out. That kind of process means you learn a lot about yourself. Despite how difficult it's been, for me and those who care about me, I can honestly say I'm a much better person because of it. I feel like I can put the things that are genuinely important in better perspective and can brush aside all the other crap without worrying about it. Still a work in progress of course, but I'm a lot more optimistic about the journey.

'Transitory' & 'Murder of Crows' by Kit King - fallen in love with her artwork recently

Hopefully I'll get back into the swing of things with this blog and carry on sharing things related to food, nutrition & health, music, writing, places I've been and other random bits 'n' pieces that I'm interested in!

Citrus and Sugar Summer Days

Popping back home for a few days meant time to catch up with friends and family over lots of good food. In Nottingham there's plenty to choose from. One night consisted of amazing tapas at Las Iguanas, including fried plantain (new favourite!), a chorizo dish with plenty of ciabatta, and of course, nachos. The perfect meal to enjoy while chatting and trying out some delicious cocktails. An evening spent at a country pub is also always a must, especially in this beautiful weather. We finished our meal with a slice of red velvet cheesecake, with just the right amount of creaminess and sweetness to not be overwhelming.

Time was also spent on purely relaxing, enjoying the sunshine in the garden with a new foodie magazine. After what seems like a long time of being uninspired in the kitchen, turning to the same few old favourites each night that were quick to make and eat in between revision sessions, I can't wait to try out new recipes and ingredients.

A cake in the June issue of delicious magazine caught my eye, a simple bake enhanced with the summery flavours of lemons and blueberries, two of my favourite additions to a cake batter. The lemon is tangy and light, while the blueberries burst and make the cake moist and colourful.

My tin was too small for all the mix, so I ended up with cupcakes as well, never a bad thing! A sprinkling of lemon zest on top of the icing is an easy pretty way to decorate these cakes. Just the sort of thing to enjoy on a sunny afternoon with an ice-cold drink.

What are your favourite summer flavours for cooking and baking?

And... Breathe!

So after four long years, I am proud to say I have finished my degree! Now I am impatiently awaiting my results (or do I never want to know? I'm not sure) and trying to figure out what the hell to do next. Despite counting down the days 'til the end of my final year, swearing I'd never do any further education (especially NO MORE EXAMS) and just wanting to get a job, the most likely looking plan for the immediate future is... a Masters course. I don't know why I even considered this, but I came across a course that I actually got excited about doing, and if I want to have a career in that area I kinda need to get an extra qualification. So, unless a job magically ends up being mine before September I think that's gonna be the next step. Scary stuff.

Now I can finally do this...

But until then, I have a summer to make the most of! I don't have that many plans yet, but that in itself is something I'm going to relish - time to do with as I please in the moment. I'm off to France next month which will be a much needed holiday, as well as spending time catching up with family and friends. Hopefully I'll also get back to blogging properly again over the summer which is something I'm looking forward to... ahh freedom.

Music has been my main distractor while finishing my dissertation and revising. I'm currently checking out the stream of the new Queens of the Stone Age album, due out next week (already pre-ordered so I'm allowed!) and I have a feeling this is a pretty awesome album that will have been well worth the wait. Everything I've heard so far has been amazing, and I have loved the videos they've been releasing - such a great way to do promo, and it served as the perfect distraction while I was still revising! These guys are one of my favourite bands, so safe to say I have been very excited about finally getting new music from them. But I'll probably end up talking about it more when I actually get my mitts on the album itself, so I'll leave it there and I'll be back with new posts soon!

*Photos from Pinterest

Carrot Cake and Procrastination

I must be getting old as time is just whizzing past at the minute; just a few more months and I'll be finished with uni! Such a scary thought, while I've been looking forward to finishing my degree and going off into the big wide world pretty much since I first got to uni, the realisation that I'm actually almost there is a little strange. Worrying too, as there is still a hell of lot of stuff to get done before then. I'll probably have to be pretty quiet on here until after my exams, but I'm hoping to properly get back in the swing of things over summer.

But today ended up being a much needed, unintentional day off. A lovely Saturday morning lie in (again, unintentional, thanks to my neighbours screaming at each other half the night...) followed by popping into town and the hairdressers. I always forget how pretty Plymouth is until we have a gorgeous sunny day like today, so I may have lingered a bit longer, before getting home and spending the afternoon baking. 

Tom and I aren't that into Valentine's Day, and I was working on Thursday anyway, so we decided to have a home made meal together tonight. Tom made chicken burgers with garlic mayo and cheesy curly fries - absolutely delicious, he really should cook for me more! 

I'd been wanting to bake (and eat) carrot cake for ages, so decided to put one together for pudding.

To make it a bit more Valentine's themed (and just because I love making things heart-shaped!) I tried to top the cake with walnuts in a heart shape... the icing turned out to be a tad too runny for that to work properly, but it still tasted pretty good, if I do say so myself. 

So now with my cake cravings satisfied, and feeling slightly recharged, there's nothing left but to just get on with the rest of my course I suppose. Maybe my procrastination is because I'm not actually sure I'm really ready for it all to end yet, it's a scary world out there!

Sparkle and Scandal

There's a few new products I've been using recently that are becoming beauty favourites of mine.

First up, this Body Shop Tea Tree Pore Minimiser is great as a primer for make up.

I was a bit doubtful when buying this, but as The Body Shop had loads of 50% off offers on their site I thought I'd give it a go as my skin has been pretty challenging to say the least recently. It's always been a combination of oily and dry, but is becoming increasingly sensitive as well. This actually does a good job of smoothing and mattifying my skin, and sinks in nicely so my foundation goes on easily afterwards. Plus I love the tea tree in it; the smell is really refreshing.

These hand creams are also from The Body Shop, but were presents from my fiancé. My hands get really dry from both the weather and work so hand cream is a necessity for me. These are non greasy and the special edition Christmas scents of Ginger and Vanilla are gorgeous, I just wish they did them all year!

Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliners have been my favourite make up product since college, when I first bought the set of 5 travel size eyeliners. They're expensive but in my opinion worth the money; the colours are exactly what I prefer for my eyes, the pencils are soft and they seriously last all day without smudging or wearing off.
The ones from my sets are almost running out, so I thought I'd start replacing my favourite shades with the full size versions. I picked these up off eBay, for about half the retail price. Rockstar is a gorgeous deep purple that I adore, while Mainline, a dark-ish blue, is a new one for me that was being sold by the same seller that caught my attention.

Ok, now on to mascara. The one on the left, L'Oreal's false lash mascara, is brilliant - my lashes look long and dark without clumps. There's not as much volume as other mascaras, but I like that about it; it gives a more natural, everyday look.

The L'Oreal mascara is almost on the way out, so I thought I'd try a new one. I used to use Rimmel mascaras and always thought they were pretty decent. I'm not getting on with this Scandal Eyes one that well however. Rimmel state that it's the biggest brush ever or something like that - that just makes it really fiddly to apply without getting it everywhere. It doesn't give as much as volume as I expected either, though it doesn't clump, which is the main thing I always look for. It's not the worst mascara ever, but I think going for the more basic Rimmel mascaras seems to be the best bet with this brand, based on my previous experience with them.

So there's just a quick overview of some of my faves (and not so faves) at the minute. Have you used any of these products, or have any similar ones you're enjoying?

Italian Treats

Being a total foodie and lover of all things Italian due to my Italian Grandma, her and my mum put together an amazing hamper full of delicious treats for my Christmas present. I've been steadily experimenting with them throughout the month and can't wait to get around to trying out the rest. I thought I'd share a selection of some of my favourites with you.

I have yet to try out the olives, but I think they would go perfectly in a big sauce or stew type dish, or cooked with beef and cherry tomatoes in a Nigella-inspired Beef Pizzaiola, after a nibble or two of course. 

The Wild Rocket pesto has been used in a lot of things recently - stirred into veg as a flavourful side dish, drizzled over home-made pizzas, and spread onto baguettes with cheese to serve with pasta. I adore pesto anyway, and the rocket gives it an extra, subtle tang. I have a feeling that the sun-dried tomato paste used in place of normal tomato purée will bring out even more rich flavour in sauces.

The 'Lievito Pane Degli Angeli' (literally translating to Yeast Bread of Angels) is a raising agent that can replace baking powder in recipes, but is made that extra bit better by also including vanilla flavouring, and therefore smelling absolutely amazing! I could quite happily just sit and smell the packet all day... but when I do bake with it, it adds a wonderful lightness to my usual cupcakes. 

The pasta is tiny star shapes that would be perfect in soups. I've been meaning to start making soups for the past couple of years now and still haven't got round to it, so hopefully having these in the cupboard will push me to finally get on with it before Winter is over.

This nougat is by far the best I have ever had. Tom and I couldn't believe just how delicious this is - soft, squidgy nougat with huge crunchy chunks of almond, with strips of rice paper on the top and bottom - amazing!

A friend of my Grandma's brought this to England from where she's from in Italy, making this an extra special treat. 

And for a place to get started, I received the Quick Cook Italian book, which includes 3 ways to cook different dishes using similar ingredients, such as tomato risotto, tomato and rice soup, or tomato and rice salad, offering even more flexibility depending on the exact ingredients and time you have available. Basically, even more recipes! So far I've tried out lemon and rosemary pork with a cannellini bean salad, and chilli and lemon cod; both were straight forward to cook and tasted incredible.

The latest Nigella Lawson cook book is also brilliant. It's actually the first one of hers I've got hold of and I'm already in love with it. Whereas I tend to avoid 'celebrity' cook books, due to the recipes seeming too complicated with fancy ingredients, this book is perfect for everyday meals. The Italian Tray bake with Tuscan fries is already a favourite with my fiancé. 

A huge thank you to my family for getting me these, I couldn't have asked for a more perfect gift! :)

Afternoon Cuppa at Number 29

Tom and I decided to take a break from uni work this afternoon to check out the recently opened coffee shop in the Barbican, Number 29. I've always thought the only thing the Barbican was in need of was a place to spend an hour or so enjoying a coffee and some cake, and this place fills that gap perfectly.

We ordered mugs of tea and coffee to warm us up - despite the fact that Plymouth seems to be the only place in the UK that hasn't seen snow, I can assure you it's still freezing here!

The drinks came with yummy buttery biscuits on the side, a lovely little extra.

A range of cakes are also on offer, including a coffee cake of which we couldn't resist ordering a huge slice.

Number 29 also sell a variety of deli goodies, including jars of chutney, olives and chilli sauces, as well as bags of chilli hot chocolate which I'm very tempted to go back and try. The owners were happy to point out the different products on sale, and their friendliness combined with the cosiness of the café made the time away from our desks the relaxing break we needed.

Now it's back to work I suppose!

Cherry, Almond and Chocolate Trifle

You can never have too many indulgent treats this time of year. Last year I made a chocolate and orange trifle for Christmas Day dessert. For a family party this week I decided to give it a new twist, taking advantage of the Amaretto that is hanging round in my parent's kitchen. I adore this chocolate custard - some can be quite thin which means the trifle ends up a bit all over the place. This is rich and creamy and makes the dish something special.

This recipe is a mix of favourite dessert flavours all in one: the cherry, cream and chocolate combination of a Black Forest Gateau; the almond flavour topped off with cherry inspired by Bakewell tarts; all layered in the traditional trifle style. Perfect for an indulgent but reassuringly old fashioned dessert to be served at a family gathering.

I hope everyone has had a lovely Christmas!

Cherry, Almond and Chocolate Trifle

Layers of vanilla and almond sponge, topped with raspberries and cherries, a rich chocolate custard, and whipped cream, topped with cherries, almonds and grated chocolate.


Serves 6-8

Ingredients

• 1 large raspberry and vanilla Swiss roll
• 4 tbsp Amaretto 
• 200g raspberries
• 200g cherries
• 3-4 tbsp raspberry or cherry jam
• For the custard:
• 2 egg yolks
• 2 tbsp caster sugar
• 2 tbsp cornflour
• 200ml milk
• 200g dark chocolate, melted
• 250g tub ricotta
• 225ml double cream (or other cream suitable for whipping)
• Flaked almonds, to decorate
• Grated chocolate, to decorate

Method

1. Cut the Swiss roll into chunky slices. Lay these in a large serving dish, filling in any gaps with small pieces of sponge.
2. Sprinkle the Amaretto over the sponge to soak in.
3. Wash and pat dry the raspberries. Layer these on top of the sponge slices. Wash and chop the cherries, reserving 10 whole ones for decoration. Add these to the raspberries.
4. Spoon enough jam over the fruit so there is a thin coating over the sponge to keep it moist. 
5. Mix the egg yolks, sugar and cornflour in a large bowl to make a paste.
6. Heat the milk in a pan until it reaches just below boiling point. Pour it over the egg mixture and stir until thoroughly combined. Return to the pan and heat through, stirring continuously, until the mixture is thickened and smooth.
7. Return the custard to the large bowl. Add the melted chocolate and the ricotta and stir until combined. Pour over the fruit, smooth with the back of a spoon and leave in the fridge for an hour, or until set. 
8. Whisk the cream until slightly thickened. Spread over the custard layer, or pipe if wished. 
9. Arrange the remaining cherries over the cream. Sprinkle with the flaked almonds and grated chocolate. Store in the fridge until ready to serve. 

Mince Pie Slices with Lemon Icing

While I may begin making Christmas plans and buying presents before December hits, the one thing I manage to save until the 1st is indulging in Christmassy treats. Then I can't help but dig into chocolates, fruit cake, and my favourite, mince pies. Living next door to a bakery this year has been both brilliant and dangerous for my taste for thick buttery pastry encasing rich fruity mincemeat and sprinkled with sugar. I have had some of the best mince pies, but probably a tad too often than I should. Though isn't that the definition of this time of year?

I first made these mince pie slices last year and they went down very well. I do admit to cheating with the pastry; while most of the time I try to ensure everything I make is from scratch I feel there are some things that are acceptable to include a short cut. There is enough busyness in the kitchen at Christmas that sometimes it's more important to have these ready with as little stress as possible, and focus that extra time on spending it with loved ones.

This recipe is easily adapted to suit different tastes - include whichever dried fruit and nuts you fancy. Flaked almonds, pistachios or a few chopped glacé cherries would look particularly attractive in my opinion.

Mince Pie Slices with Lemon Icing

Adapted from Good Food

This twist on a Christmas favourite combines an extra fruity mincemeat filling with flaky puff pastry, drizzled with a zesty icing


Cuts into 12 slices

Ingredients

• 400g jar mincemeat
• 1/2 apple, cored, peeled and finely chopped
• Zest of 1 lemon, plus 2 tsp juice
• 40g dried cranberries
• 25g chopped nuts
• 1 heaped tbsp ground almonds
• 375g pack ready-rolled puff pastry
• 50g icing sugar

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 220C/200C Fan/Gas Mark 7. 
2. Combine the mincemeat, chopped apple, lemon zest, cranberries and nuts in a bowl.
3. Roll out the pastry and trim the end to make a 23cm square. Lay on a baking tray.
4. Scatter the ground almonds evenly over the pastry. Spread the mincemeat mixture over the whole of the pastry, right to the edges. 
5. Use the spare pastry to decorate the top of the slices. I cut strips and lay them over the mincemeat in a lattice pattern, making sure they are secure to the pastry base. Or cut shapes from the pastry (stars, hearts) and lay them equal distances apart. 
6. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes, until the pastry is risen and golden. Leave to cool.
7. Once cool, mix the icing sugar with the lemon juice. A little water may be needed to reach the right consistency. Drizzle the lemon icing over the mince pie and cut into 12 slices. 

Christmas Food Post Round Up

That this is a hectic time of year is an understatement. Despite recently beginning my break from uni for Christmas, I have been trying to get on top of my workload so I can relax a bit when I head home. Hopefully then I can fully appreciate all the things I love about Christmas, my favourite of course, being the seemingly non-stop preparation and consumption of delicious food.

I haven't done much of my own Christmassy cooking/baking yet (apart from these snowy-effect chocolate crackles), so I thought I'd do a quick post of some of the best ideas and recipes I've come across on the internet so far. 

First up, I think these cookie gift ideas from Spoon Fork Bacon are brilliant! The packaging is cute, modern and seasonal, and the cookies themselves look absolutely delicious. Check out the post here.

I adore truffles; in my opinion there's nothing more indulgent than tucking into a box of rich chocolate truffles with a light dusting of cocoa powder. These chocolate truffles from Pastry Affair flavoured with red wine add an extra sophistication and would be very welcomed as a gift or served after dinner, I'm sure. Recipe here.

And of course, not forgetting the main attraction, Christmas Day dinner itself. This twist on turkey and potatoes from Mama's Pantry looks incredible: perfectly cooked meat with a golden finish, served with crispy potatoes - what more could you wish for? The recipe here has started off my roast dinner cravings!

I'll share any Christmas cooking I get up to over the next couple of weeks and let me know of any yummy looking recipes you come across too! I've also been wanting to check out some new blogs, so feel free to leave me your link below :)

Chocolate Crackles and a Fox in a Jumper

Bundled up in burgundy gloves and a big woolly scarf whilst running around shops crammed with people, products and Christmas decorations, hoping to find the perfect gift for a family member. I'm not having much luck finding stuff for people this year so I end up popping into shops constantly, spinning around for ages but not actually finding anything. Too fussy for my own good.

As always I'm really looking forward to Christmas; a chance to go home after a few months of being at uni and get cosied up with my family and friends, laughing lots and eating too much. Because of all the moving around, my usual Christmas tree and decorations have been forgotten about, left in the loft back home, so instead I've picked up this cute little real tree, sprinkled with glitter and with a fox wearing a jumper to finish it off (just what every tree needs!). A few bits of tinsel and some lights and we'll still be able to get the flat all Christmassy feeling.

I spent the afternoon baking these chocolatey cookies from the Great British Bake Off book (How to bake the perfect Victoria sponge).

They turned out better than I hoped, soft and squidgy in the middle, almost brownie-like, with a crispy sugary outside.

The pavement-covered-in-snow type effect is made by rolling balls of the biscuit mixture into icing sugar just before baking, so it cracks as they spread out in the oven.

Perfect with a big mug of tea on a Winter evening!