Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Let's. Get. Festive.

Mint and Chocolate - Meant to be

Squeaken squorken squaaarrgggg! – ‘Merry Christmas’ in Elf.

Yes, I speaks Elf.

Hi guys, hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas run-up and is not panicking over the fact that there is just not enough time to get everything done! Seriously, it’s the 9^th already and I haven’t even found the time to write out my Christmas cards let alone shake my belly like a bowl full of jelly! 

November Porridge Favourites

Because Oats Damn It!

Good evening all, twill just be a quick one today.

Despite last week’s pity party, a combination of some very good friends and a Simpson’s advent calendar have managed to shake me out the crappy cocoon I was stuck in. Although, what has since emerged from said cocoon can only be described as a work-defective butterfly completely geared into Christmas overdrive mode.

Guilt-free cookie dough (vegan-friendly and gluten-free)

Instant mood booster

Better than Ben & Jerry's?

*Sighs* Hiiiiiiiiiiiii (name that sitcom!) 

Sorry to start off as a bit of a Debbie downer guys but I must admit that I've been feeling a bit low this week. In fact, I would even go as far to say that I got myself into a bit of a rut. You know the type, where you start feeling lost and become unsure of what you want to achieve out of life (let alone what you believe you actually can achieve). It sounds really obnoxious coming from a 23 year old who has definitely not had a great deal of life experience I know, but I think it's actually a very common theme amongst the generations raised with social media. If you have ever found yourself in a similar predicament, I promise that this is not your fault. You see, social media constantly sets people up to feel inadequate and it's not just due to the unhealthy comparisons we make between ourselves and others' life progress. The main issue is that from a young age, we are told that we can do anything and become anyone we want. We are unique, we are special, we are *hurts brain trying to think of correct word* destined *chooses incorrect word regardless*. The media along with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube and even blogging to an extent constantly reinforce the belief that we are the most important person on the planet. People want to follow our feed, look through our pictures and keep tabs on our lives. 

I must be special right? I just got 561800 likes on my latest profile pic, right?! 

Unfortunately, all this does is set us up for disappointment when real life turns out to be a bit more REAL than internet life.

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Rosemary and Sage

Packed Lunches - The Winter Essentials

This stuff is actually keeping me alive.

Hello people who simultaneously like to stay warm and satiated at the same time, I'm glad you're here. Full-time employment has been throwing me a few curve balls recently and I'll tell you for why.

Issue 1 - I’m still getting used to eating packed lunches again. 

Yes, whilst not the most distressing of situations to find oneself in (definitely watching too much of Lady C on I'm a Celebrity...) work has had mixed effects upon the way I view lunchtime. Part of me gets a child-like glee from rummaging through my lunch-bag - yes I take a bag of food to work with me because that is REAL LIFE - however, another part of me gets slightly anxious. I think this may be due to vividly remembering how back in days of infant school, 5-year old me once cried non-stop for an hour after discovering that my dad had packed me Dairylea spread sandwiches for lunch – of which I used to view with the same level of contempt as Cher now does her cosmetic surgeon. What was quite amusing was that I wasn’t upset because I couldn’t eat the sandwiches – I did – I ate everything regardless of how much I disliked it, but it was because I knew that my dad knew that I didn’t like Dairylea and my child brain couldn’t fathom why he would have done this this to me unless I was being punished. 

Not so naughty 'nana bread

Birthdays, banana bread and braving the North!

Ayup Chucks!

It's been a little while for sure hasn't it? 

At least 11 days without writing a single word on this blog. 

*Rings bell*

'Shame!' 

*Rings bell again*

Repeat x 60

It may seem like inconsistency but I assure you it's not it's... spontaneity... Yes we'll go with that. Maybe people have been pleased by the absence of poor quality food images and incoherent rambling taking up the internet space, maybe people have been dismayed - the most likely outcome I can rationalize is that most people probably haven't noticed. Whatever the case, I'm back today with yet another recipe and a few more tales from the crypt  my life. The therapist who lives in my brain, tells me it's good to talk to other people about such things.

Chili-Garlic Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash

Getting those veggies in first thing - and actually liking them!

Hot, healthy and perfect for November!!!

Hello chums,

I hope you all had a fantastic bonfire night on Thursday and managed to find a lovely spot to watch all the wonderful, breath-taking, amazing, not at all over-done fireworks as they invaded our night sky in the same way selfie-whores took over social media!

Sorry, that came across a little bitter. I actually do really like fireworks and have nothing against the displays that often get put on, it's just that this year due to starting a new job, I didn't get time to enjoy a single firework. Nope, not one. Nada. I still haven't see any and am starting to believe that either a new brand of invisible rockets may have caught on or they are just purposely avoiding where I live (very rude). Regardless of this, I have most definitely heard them - all of them. Combine getting back into full working weeks with a ton of late night noise and it may be a bit clearer as to why I'm being a bit of a sour Susan. 

Halloween Part 2: Cheesy Pumpkin Pasta and Re-living The Cursed

Hangovers Be Gone!!!

Oh. My. God.

Evening all,

Raise your hand if you drank near-illegal quantities of alcoholic beverages last night.

*Hand shoots up so fast that it dislocates shoulder*.

I hope you all had a fantastic Halloween and regardless of what you did and whatever your physical state has been in today, it was all a good laugh. I spent the evening round my friend Laura’s flat with her workmate Rob where all three of us got absolutely wrecked playing the ‘Hocus Pocus’ drinking game. If there’s anything that I have learnt from this Disney film, it’s that:

• Bette Midler abuses her sisters too much.
• Sarah Jessica Parker is a complete perve throughout the entire movie.
• The other one barks too much.
• The word ‘children’ is used an unacceptable amount of times.