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Festival Food Tips & Ideas

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The first time I went to a festival (Blissfields back in 2011) I think I half filled the car with food and cooking equipment. I seriously overpacked and had no clue on how to do it the easy way. Since then I have been to quite a few festivals and have upped my festival food game each time. Now it is important to remember that festivals these days have incredible food on offer so if cooking by the side of your tent doesn’t appeal well there are lots and lots of options, both healthy and indulgent so you will do just fine. I, however quite like being able to cook meals outdoors and enjoy them tent side whilst also having the occasional meal or snack from a stall and financially it helps me keep to a reasonable budget too.

I have put together a selection of tips and ideas, both from myself and fellow food bloggers to help you plan your festival food for the season ahead. Some will seem obvious but hopefully you will get one or two new ideas along the way.

Freeze everything. Butter, Bacon, Sausages and Milk as well as juices and any bottled drinks freeze well and will keep your cool bag cool without having to add extra bulk with cool packs. I should add that cocktail pouches are especially handy and squish in those little gaps.

Prepare and cook two filling meals before you go, one ready for your first night after setting up camp and one frozen for later in your trip. Bolognese, stews and curries are the best options for this.

festival food

Pre grate your cheese, dice your veggies and portion them up. It is so much easier to make a meal without all of your kitchen equipment when you have everything chopped or diced and ready to cook.

Tin foil is your friend. Washing up facilities on festival sites aren’t always close to hand so sometimes I will line my pans with foil when cooking greasy food like bacon and sausages, yes this isn’t especially environmentally friendly but it’s not something I do at home and foil can be recycled so I don’t feel too bad about it.

Dried fruit and nuts make more sense than a huge basket of fruit. Over ripe fruit in a tent can be a little grim, apples are fairly hardy but bananas will stink up quite quickly.

Take a good, sturdy water bottle for each person, every festival has multiple filling up spots. No need to buy bottled water on site.

Take a bag of tortilla chips, a tub of salsa and some grated cheese and make campfire nachos. So simple but delicious!

For a few days eat cereal bars instead of actual cereal, less milk needed and a lot less mess. Or just opt for bacon!

Make a traybake such as brownies or lemon drizzle cake before you go and cut into squares ready for when you need that sugary energy burst. Those types of cakes tend to stay moist for longer.

Take tea, coffee and hot chocolate. Hot drinks taste better sat outside a tent on a bright, warm morning. It is a fact. Also you kids will be up as soon as the sun rises so ..be prepared with ALL the caffeine.

In terms of equipment you need at the very minimum:

  • bbq or camping stove
  • 1 small saucepan
  • 1 frying pan
  • tongs/spatula for turning
  • cups, bowls and plates ( 1 per person )
  • cutlery including 1 sharp knife and a tin opener
  • foil
  • 2 tea towels
  • washing up liquid

Take time to read the festivals rules and guidelines, some will have dedicated cooking areas, which makes sense when lots of festival camping sites look like this:

Helen from Fuss Free Flavours says:

Make sure every member of the family has a mini packet of wet wipes and some cheap unscented nappy bags in their pocket – so useful for small amounts of messy trash, or for wrapping half eaten food in for later.

Jane from The Hedgecombers says:

Festival food is renowned for being expensive, so if you’re on a tight budget aim to eat out just once a day.
If you have some way of cooking food in your tent there are all kinds of easy one pot camping meals you can make, otherwise just aim to get the calories in with easy no-cook foods. Protein bars, pre made pasta salads and sandwiches. It’s also worth popping some just-add-water foods too (think pot noodles, cup a soup, hot choc sachets) in your kit too. Stall holders will happily fill them up with hot water for a little donation and a big smile.

10 Delicious Camping Recipes

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It is about that time of year when the weather gets a little kinder ( not a lot mind you ) and you can start to plan out camping trips and festivals. I’ve rounded up 10 camping recipes to help with your planning from top UK Food Bloggers.

Starting off with this Chocolate Orange Campfire Cake from Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary because camping or not dessert is still needed.

As is breakfast, make your first meal of the day an easy one with these Overnight Oats from Hedgecombers:

As much as bacon and sausages tend to fill a lot of my meal plans when camping its always nice to have some veggie options and these Curried Lentils from Rough Measures look fab:

Another Lentil based dish from Veggie Desserts with this Lentil and Tomato stew:

And one more recipe from Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary, these Middle Eastern Spiced Camp Fire Chickpeas sounds amazing!

Fancy something a little indulgent? How about this Coconut, Prawn & Spinach Camping Risotto from Foodie Quine?

This next two recipes both feature in this post from my blog which you can find here:

First up cheesy stovetop potatoes:

And Camping Frittata:

One Pot Camping Mac N Cheese from Hedgecombers

And finishing up with a Simple Flatbread Recipe from Hedgecombers. I make flatbreads a lot at home but wouldn’t have thought to make them whilst camping. These look delicious and so simple!

 

Movies, Meals & Muddling Through Life – April 2018

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It’s between about two months since my last ramble about what I’ve been watching, reading, eating and drinking. It has been a busy and rather stressful time and I have an awful lot on my mind but I am trying once again to turn to my writing, my hobbies and exercise to help clear my muddled mind.

Without further waffle about me and my silly brain let’s get straight to the important stuff:

Movies

I have re watched The Greatest Showman because it’s awesome. I imagine it will be something I watch over and over. The girls love it too and Chloe often wanders around the house singing This Is Meeeeee. And that is it for movies..which is quite shocking for me. I need to get back into the swing of watching films and going to the cinema but quite often I settle for a book or a quick episode of something these days.

TV

Thanks to the wonder of Netflix I have almost re watched every Friends episode. I am now on season 9 and loving it just as much this time around. Also on Netflix I have watched Humanity – Ricky Gervais and the Seth Rogen special.. I forget what it’s called. I have also discovered real trash TV in the form of last years Love Island and woah it is addictive. Proper mindless telly which really does make you escape reality a little.

Books

I am reading more. It was something I really wanted to do this year so I am happy to say I am doing it. I’ll write more about books soon but I have recently read Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine ( which is outstanding ) and I am on the final Harry Potter. I am also enjoying reading magazines such as Simple Things with a cup of tea.

Food

Hmm. Where do I start with this? My appetite really decreases when I am under stress and I have somehow managed to lose over 10lbs in the last three months. I am working on getting it back to normal and eating little and often on days when I just don’t get hungry enough for large meals. That being said I have had some incredible food over the last month. I ate at Michelin Starred restaurant The Ox in Belfast on a press trip and wow it was one of the best meals I have had. Chef Stevie Toman is creating some magic with the tasting menu and I highly recommend a visit if you are in the area but book early!

At home I haven’t created many new dishes but I have made quite a lot of bread and indulgent, comfort food like dauphinoise and lasagne.

Music

I’m still a little stuck on the Greatest Showman soundtrack and I have a playlist of massively cheese 80’s tunes that I am playing over and over.

Everything Else

Life is stressful and hard at times. Right now is one of those times. It will pass, I know that but right now it is hard. I have started with a new fitness challenge, not to lose weight or to get super toned but for my general and more importantly mental health. I am aiming to walk 10k steps a minimum of five days a week which sounds easy I’m sure but it really isn’t. 10,000 steps is approximately 5 miles. Last week I blasted through my aim with an average of 9.7k steps every day rather than just five days and I am going to try and repeat that this week. There are some days where I only do about 4k but then others when I do over 18 so it balances out. The days I walk I feel brighter, more energised and I just have a clearer mind.

I thought I’d finish off with a couple of products I have been using and loving lately:

Primark sleep mask. Was reluctant to try this and kind of expected to wake up a greasy mess but actually yay. Great results. Bargain price. Also..it smells like marzipan!

And one more..also Primark. Overnight lip treatment – I’ve never really had any lip problems but I’ve felt a difference since using this, much softer and supple. Recommended.

Filed Under: Life ·

The Mid 30’s Panic

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The title is a little misleading.

You see I am just about to hit my mid 30’s. Next month I turn 35. 35 …which still seems kind of astonishing. I mean I feel like I am in my early twenties in lots of ways. We all do I guess. But I think I have an exceptionally young soul. Yes that means childish.

I thought I’d feel a lot more uncomfortable about getting older than I actually am. Because there isn’t that sense of panic. I’m not worried about getting older really. In fact I embrace it in lots of ways. 35 is still pretty young in the scheme of life.

I know that life throws really tough times at all of us. I know the bad things that can happen and have and possibly will happen again.

And I am both stronger and weaker for it. Stronger because I’ve made it out the other side, somewhat intact. Weaker because parts break when things happen and perhaps never fully recover.

I never used to believe when people said you stopped worrying so much about what everybody else thinks as the years go by. So much of my twenties was eaten up by thoughts of inadequacy, my elder siblings all had better jobs or just seemed to get on with life more easily than I did. I constantly compared my body, weight and beauty with others. And now well.. I still feel inadequate at times, I still have body hating days but I can brush it off now. I am me. I am not anybody else. I cannot hope to have longer legs but I can enjoy being petite and focus on my good points. It is all about acceptance I guess. It takes a long time to accept yourself and all of your flaws. Imagined or real.

The only thing that really worries me about getting older, is that it means my parents are also getting older. That is my biggest problem with the passing of time. And I can worry on that at 2am when every problem in the world seems massive or I can start to accept it as a part of life and enjoy my wonderful parents and family right now without worrying about what happens in 10/20/30 years.

I’ve accepted that I am unlikely to be rich unless my lottery plan falls into place but that I really am ok with that. I don’t need a lot of money or material goods to be satisfied in life. I know that my belly will always show signs of pregnancy and birth and whilst I am not going to give up on getting in better shape I am also not going to beat myself up about it. Because for having carried two kids in such a short space of time it’s actually not that bad.

I asked on Twitter earlier today whether women were happier with how they looked and less worried what people thought about them in their 30’s than in their 20’s. The poll is still running but so far is an overwhelming yes.

I questioned this a few weeks ago, am I where I expected to be in life? Am I where I thought aged 16 that I would be aged 35? No. I am not, but it’s alright. Life doesn’t go as planned for many people. You can still make it what you want to be though.  Make it something.

 

Filed Under: Life ·

A Focus On Welsh Bloggers: The Rare Welsh Bit

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This is the first in a series of posts about Welsh food and travel bloggers. We have an excellent blogging community here in South Wales and I wanted to be able to introduce some of my favourites to you so that you can get to know them too!

Kacie is the author of The Rare Welsh Bit and her social media channels alone will make you drool. I’ve let her take over from here on answering a few questions and telling us what she loves about blogging. You’ll find her social links at the end of the post so go follow her, you won’t regret it.

Why did you start blogging?

I first began blogging because I was studying journalism at university and I wanted to develop a portfolio of published writing to show potential employers, and one of my careers advisors suggested I start a blog as a way of achieving this.

What has been your favourite experience as a result of blogging?

Even seven years into blogging, I still get excited whenever I meet someone new and they tell me they recognise the name of my blog, or that they read it. I also love it when readers contact me to thank me for reviews I’ve written which have inspired them to visit particular restaurants or destinations and they have gone on to have an amazing time there.

I am very lucky to be able to travel with my job too, and I recently went on a fantastic press trip to Belfast, Northern Ireland with Becky from Munchies and Munchkins.

Boxty in Belfast:

While we were there, we attended BelFeast Food and Drink Festival, went on the Belfast Food Tour and ate at a number of fantastic restaurants, including the Michelin-starred OX Belfast and the Bull and Ram – home to what could be Belfast’s best roast dinner. We even found time for a spot of beer and cheese tasting, and a seafood chowder workshop at Belfast Cookery School. You’ll be able to read all about it soon over on my blog! 

In May, I will be covering Grenada Chocolate Festival and I can’t wait!

What do you think of the blogging community?

On the whole, the blogging community is very friendly and supportive, both on a local and national scale. Connecting with like-minded individuals is one of the things I enjoy the most about blogging and I have become close friends with a few of the bloggers who I have got to know over the years. 

If I am ever struggling with something blogging-related or just need a bit of advice, there is always another blogger that I can turn to for help, and I often help others out too.

Lamb Cawl at Milk and Sugar Cardiff.

How has blogging changed since you started?

The popularity of blogging has skyrocketed within the past 3-4 years. When I first began blogging, there weren’t a great deal of blogs around, but nowadays, there are thousands of blogs all over the world, covering just about every topic you can think of. 

Whereas blogging used to be (for the large part) centred around hobbies and interests, it is now a way of making an income for many, including myself. However, making an income from blogging is hard work and so if you’re not genuinely passionate about what you’re blogging about in the first place, it’s very difficult to make money out of it. You need to love it so much, that you don’t mind spending all your spare time working on it – as that’s what it might take at times!
As the quantity of blogs has increased, it’s also become more important to share content across a range of platforms. When I first began blogging, I would write a post and then share it to my personal Facebook page and Twitter. These days, I spend much more time promoting my posts across several different platforms; it’s no longer just about producing quality content, but about knowing how best to promote it to your audience too.

Where would you like to see your blog in five years?

In five years’ time, I’d love to see my blog attracting a bigger audience, enabling me to monetise my blog more successfully through affiliate marketing, so I can use the income from this to cover my running costs and produce an income, as opposed to concentrating primarily on sponsored content.

I also hope that I will have become better at video by then! I find the idea of editing video a little daunting, but I really need to get into it because it has huge potential in terms of helping me to improve my content.

One of the recipes on my site, Baked Brie in Puff Pastry:

Find me on:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Favourite posts:

 Black Bean, Coconut and Sweetcorn Stew The Occasional Vegan
Grenada Chocolate Festival
North East Wales Year of the Sea Food Challenge
 Hungry in Hamburg: 5 of the Best Places to Eat
 A Guide to Eating Out in Lagos, Algarve

Dealing With Allergies – Three Years On

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It has been quite a while since I have written about the girls on here. The blog has taken more of a food and travel swing and as they get older I am more and more aware of what I write about them for obvious reasons.

I did however want to write an update about Chloe. I wrote about her allergies and the problems resulting from it a few years ago and I thought it would be good and perhaps helpful for other parents of children with allergies to see a little light at the end of the tunnel.

Chloe was born a healthy baby after a number of health scares during pregnancy and it was an immense relief that she was alright. She was a wonderfully happy and loving baby and slept well for long stretches in the night. I was almost a little smug.

However it didn’t last and when she hit 7 months old she began to change. Her sleep became erratic and frequently disturbed and not like you expect from all babies but 20-30 wake ups every single night. Then the sickness began and for ten long months she was sick most days. And it hits you. You are walking around in a sleep deprived state, angry and on the edge of tears. You feel helpless for not being able to comfort and soothe your child. We began cutting out food groups, dairy was the first to go, quickly followed by soya, banana and eggs. A small improvement showed but the sickness continued, the night pain, the many nights when she would lay curled in a ball to ease her discomfort and being unable to keep her hands and feet still unless they were held. Looking back it looks like a really long nightmare. Finally we began to see bigger improvements after we eliminated all gluten and her consultant ran another batch of tests before deciding some scopes were necessary, now this simple procedure can be tricky on a baby/toddler and because of that it required general anaesthesia. It is hard to explain how frightening it is to watch your little one be put to sleep in front of you.

All went smoothly but the tests showed that Chloe had an extreme amount of damage to her stomach, oesophagus and bowel. Damage which is in line with a coeliac. However as we had cut out gluten for over 6 weeks before the operation they couldn’t be 100% sure. Due to the damage we were told Chloe would need at least five years off gluten even if other food groups were eventually reintroduced.

You would think that with the results we needed and the food groups eliminated that life would become easier. But it was still a battle, we had a daughter who was incredibly clingy and dependent on us, who still barely slept. Who still had a weakened immune system and damaged belly, who was pale and thin and who only had to have a small cold to instantly lose all of the weight she had begun to gain. It was difficult to see when it would improve. Meal times were a battle to find foods which would nourish, fatten and yet also avoid dairy, gluten, soya and eggs ( and banana ). Eating out was out of the question, no restaurants or food outlets locally catered to all of those needs. Taking her to birthday parties or family meals involved almost military precision planning. It was exhausting.

And I know that there are bigger problems. Children with more serious illnesses. Of course I know that. But this was our problem and it felt huge.

As the months went on and Chloe became a little stronger and a little more rosy cheeked we were told to try introducing some of the food groups. Dairy and Soya were a big no no with instant sickness, but we managed to reintroduce egg ( slowly ) and that meant we could buy her a normal sliced loaf of bread. Such a small thing it may seem but baking loaves of bread each week took time and effort, and I was struggling myself at this time.

It has been a very slow process with Chloe and improving her health. It is always hard making others understand, understand when you choose to take your own food with you because the thought of her food being contaminated is scary. It has been a pain reading and re reading ingredient panels every single day. Hard to make her big sister Izzy understand that sometimes we can’t just grab a treat from the shops because there isn’t anything suitable for her sister.

But you know what? She is a wonderful and happy child. Fiery and full of life. Always happy to accept that she can’t have the birthday cake that her friends bring into school. To understand that sometimes there isn’t anything in the shop for her but that we will always have a replacement for her, wherever she is. She has taught us to educate ourselves and our own families on the importance of cross contamination with gluten especially. She is an utter joy to be around, just like her sister. Her big sister who tells people that Chloe can’t have certain foods and checks if she can have something if she’s not sure. Who has hidden around doorways eating party bag treats that her sister can’t enjoy so as not to upset her.

Two years on and we have managed to introduce bananas, dairy and soya and although dairy is only a recent change it is absolutely incredible to see her enjoying butter and hot chocolates and CHEESE. Gluten may be years off ( based on an awful reaction she had after eating something she shouldn’t recently ) or it may not ever be an option but that is manageable. She is living at a time when gluten free menus are extensive and the ranges in shops whilst expensive are varied. We are lucky and others less so with more extreme allergies. But even just with one allergen to avoid it can be so time consuming and at times mind boggling as the simplest of products contain wheat and barley for no apparent reason, when manufacturers change ingredients or factory processes just as it becomes a favourite product. It can be hard but it is a minor hassle in the grand scheme of things.

She looks like a healthy four year old again. She is independent and happy, she understands her allergies and deals with it in a way which makes everyone proud of her. even her sleep has slowly improved, it can still be a bit of a battle but it is one hundred times better than it was.

I wish I had read stories like this 3 years ago, to see that it can get better and it really does get easier. That shopping bills will forever be more expensive but you just learn to look around more, explore the naturally gluten free products and cook more from scratch. Things do improve, even if just in the sense that you just get used to doing things differently.

 

5 Reasons To Attend BelFeast 2018

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There is a new food and drink festival coming to town..well to Belfast to be more specific. From March 23rd to March 25th 2018 BelFeast is taking place and I just happen to be going along to see what it’s all about. You can expect lots of social media updates and a full review on here after the event but here is a little teaser of what to expect if you fancy making the trip:

As well as showcasing local restaurants, cafes and bars, BelFeast will bring the Cathedral Quarter to life with special events including an artisan food market, a street food hub, tours, talks, workshops and fun food-themed activities for all the family.

    1. The Food Theatre at The MAC:

Meet the stars of the local restaurant scene and watch as they create beautiful dishes and talk about seasonal eating, veganism and local traditions amongst other topics.

    2. The Artisan Food Market:

Local produce will be on offer as well as some of the very best street food. I am already planning who I want to visit. Salt and Chilli chicken? Yes please. Hoping to go home with oodles of fudge and cheese.

   3. Foodie Films at The Beanbag Cinema:

Now this sounds right up my street! I love films that are food related, in fact Julie and Julia is one of my favourite films ever.

   4. All the tours and workshops:

From food and drink tours to honey tasting and a chowder workshop. There is something to suit all tastes and ages.

belfeast

   5. Drinks:

There are gin tasting and beer and cheese pairings as well as coffee masterclasses. I think I need to try all of these things. For research.

For more info click here.

  • I will be attending the festival as part of a press trip organised by Tourism Ireland.

Movies, Meals & Muddling Through Life – February 2018

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I’ve been a bit rubbish on here lately. I haven’t written much at all. I haven’t been creating or cooking up a storm in my kitchen and the days just seem to be blurring into one a little. The last 6 weeks since Christmas seem to have passed by in a single breath, it seems like we were just sat around the tree drinking mulled wine and suddenly the very first glimmers of Spring seem to be upon us. Life has been busy for me lately, with family, friends and work and I guess my mind can’t fully focus on everything at once. Too many times I have tried to balance all of the balls at once and failed miserably. These days I put less pressure on myself because I have to, to be kind to myself and live well.

But the blog has always been my respite, my happy place even when I have been piled so high with deadlines that it has made me panic. I need to get back into the swing of things and what better way than to ramble on at you all about the random bits that make up my life?

Here is a rather overdue update on what I have been watching, eating, reading and listening to:

Movies:

The last month was quite full of cinema visits for me, mostly Disney/Pixar but hey. I’ve watched My Little Pony which I don’t recommened unless you are heavily into the pink and fluffy ponies or want to keep your little ones happy! We also watched Ferdinand together which was slightly more watchable but not really my cup of tea. We have watched Coco twice too, now this I highly recommend. It is a fabulous film which myself and the girls thoroughly enjoyed – I may have shed a tear or two but it is actually a very uplifting film.

Over on the grown ups side I have watched The Greatest Showman twice with my friend and sister and WOW I am in love with this film. I have downloaded the soundtrack to my phone ( Thank you Amazon Prime ) and it is blasting away in my ears most days. This is such a terrific film, it is a must see.

At home I have watched When We First Met, a Netflix film which was cheesy and sweet and quite fun. I have also watched Julie & Julia ( for the millionth time ), Baywatch which had me in hysterics and Bright, another Netflix original starring Will Smith – again quite an interesting, fun watch. I also fell asleep a few nights ago watching Thor Ragnarok.. I know… I cannot believe I fell asleep during a Chris Hemsworth film! I need to rewatch.

TV:

I haven’t watched an awful lot of TV since Christmas but I have mindlessly watched Friends while cooking, cleaning and working. I’ve also finished The Good Place which is excellent and ventured a little into Black Mirror which is fairly heavy so I only watch when I am in the mood to think. Any good new series recommendations?

Books:

I said I was going to read more and I’ve stuck with it. I read How To Stop Time by Matt Haig which is an outstanding book that everyone should read. Amongst others I have read almost all of the first three Harry Potter’s and I am enjoying them so much more the second time around. I am hoping to finish the series by next month.

Food:

I haven’t cooked a lot the last few months, well I have every day of course but I haven’t created anything new or exciting. And that’s ok sometimes. I have remade my brownie recipe a few times trying to perfect it..such a chore :-). I have also made lots of lazy pasta dishes and oh yes I have made the Peanut Butter & Coconut Curry Sauce from Cate In The Kitchen blog three times now …it is fantastic. One of the best curry sauces I’ve tried and mega easy to make. Go check it out. I haven’t dined out an awful lot but who does in January/February but hopefully that will change as spring kicks in and I feel the urge to go out of my cosy home more. I have had cinema nachos twice…does that count?

Music:

The music I’ve been listening to this month has been mainly The Greatest Showman soundtrack with a sprinkling of 80’s cheese… ok a heavy sprinkling. I am rediscovering 80’s romantic pop or actually just discovering some of them as I wasn’t born for a couple of the ones I am loving. My favourite song of the past two months has been: Waiting For A Star To Fall by Boy Meets Girl. You cannot listen to it without smiling.. seriously try it.

Everything else:

I wish I could tell you that there has been lots of everything else but really life has just been busy without anything actually going on. Does that make sense? Some days the balance of parenting, working, sorting out finances and household stuff etc it all just gets to be a lot. I need to get back into a regular exercise routine after my local fitness class got cancelled at the beginning of the year and I’ll be starting it off with a lot of walking over the next week. I am tired all the time and I think I am just not getting the fresh air and vitamin D that I need and only I can change that. More Pokemon walks in my near future.

Mostly I am looking forward to lighter evenings and warmer weather. Hope you are all doing well.

Filed Under: Life ·

Valentines Gift Guide 2018 & Lumie Lamp Giveaway

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It’s that time of year when the shops start to turn various shades of pink and red and fluffy cushions and bears are in abundance. Whether you are buying for someone you have loved for many years and know inside out or if you are just in the throes of a new relationship there are lots of gift ideas in this post for you.

Lumie

I have worked with a lot of brands in the five years that I’ve been blogging but Lumie are definitely up there as one of my faves and their products have made a big difference to my every day life, from their desk daylight lamp which I use daily to the various versions of their sunrise/sunset alarm clocks that I have tried. I am really happy to be able to give away one of their Vitamin L Lamps and I highly recommend ordering one if you are not the lucky winner! Check out the competition at the end of this post.

Fancy giving someone a real treat? How about this stunning Rose Gold watch from Charles Conrad?

Il Gusto have a gorgeous selection of heart shaped bottles filled with the alcohol of your choice, I liked this one filled with pink gin.

Home Bargains have a lovely range of Valentine’s gift, especially suitable for those on a tight budget or for teenagers who want to gift something cute to their sweethearts. From heart shaped candles and chocolate roses to my favourite, this pair of avocado halves. So cute!

Guylian are always a good call for chocolate which is indulgent yet doesn’t cost the earth, every single time I get samples of this they are immediately claimed by my mother as she adores them but this time I have managed to save a few praline filled hearts for myself.

Do you have someone in your life who appreciates a useful gift more than something frivolous? Gillette may be a good bet then with a new razor.

Lingerie is one of the more traditional Valentine’s gifts and this Dream bralette from Magic Bodyfashion is so pretty.

Is there a wine lover in your life? If so the Ullo wine purifier may be the perfect gift:

Hempz Beauty have some high quality beauty and bath products, my current fave being this vanilla plum body scrub. It smells almost like a fruity cupcake!

Staying on the beauty theme, there is wide range of lip creams from Superdrug starting at just £4.99:

Also available at Superdrug are these Moosehead styling products:

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

* Some items in this guide were gifted for the purpose of this post.

Rosemary & Cheddar Soda Bread Recipe – Cully & Sully Soup Review

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I eat a lot of soup. It is handy and quick as well as being fairly nutritious. I make a lot of my own using scraps of vegs leftover in the fridge,sometimes adding a little cream for some indulgence. I do also love trying out brands that I find in the supermarket. I will normally have a tin or tub of soup at home all the time, on hand for those lunch emergencies, I also take them to work a lot of the time as it is easy. I ALWAYS ALWAYS have bread with my soup, it seems to make it more of a meal adding some carbs spread thickly with butter. I love to make my own bread, making soda bread at least weekly and experimenting with other types of breads probably once a month.

When Cully & Sully got in touch asking if I would like to try their soups and create a bread recipe to accompany it I was immediately on board. I must admit that Cully & Sully are a new brand to me so I was very excited to try their products and learn more about the brand and I have not been disappointed. My favourite soup out of the selection I was sent was either the Tomato and Basil or the Pea and Minty as both were so fresh and full of flavour.

Tomato & Basil

Pea & Mint

 

Cully & Sully love food. Growing up in Ireland’s foodie capital, Cork, they ate a lot of good food, Cully (the cook) knows that for good food you need great ingredients.

They also love business (well Sully does!!). The business of making good, honest and tasty food is what Cully & Sully do best!

As well as soups, they sell a range of pies, broths and hot pots. I want to try them all!

The bread I made to accompany my soup is a variation on the soda bread I make each week. I thought it would be good to share a basic recipe that can be both prepared and served within an hour. Along with a delicious  Cully & Sully soup which is heated in a few minutes but as filling and nutritious as a home cooked meal. Perfect for the busy, on the go life style that we all seem to be living.

Soda bread is such an adaptable recipe as well as being incredibly budget friendly. You can add anything you like to it in terms of dry ingredients such as herbs and spices, the options are endless. I have even made sweet versions with chocolate chips and fruit. I always have the basic ingredients for soda bread in my cupboard ( I imagine most of you do too ) and you can easily make your own buttermilk by adding 2 teaspoons of lemon juice to whole or semi skimmed milk and leaving to stand for 10 minutes.

Today’s loaf was livened up with fresh rosemary and finished with a generous sprinkling of mature cheddar in the last 10 minutes of cooking. It was absolutely delicious served with the tomato soup and reminded me of cheese toasties dipped in tomato soup during my childhood.

I cook my soda bread in a cocotte/cast iron dish with a lid for half the cooking time and the lid removed for the final part. You can however cook soda bread in any type of loaf tin or small baking dish that you have without a lid, the shape really doesn’t matter.

Rosemary & Cheddar Soda Bread

You will need:

400g Self Raising Flour

275g Buttermilk ( make as per my tip above )

1.5tsp Bicarbonate Of Soda

1.5 tbsp of fresh, finely diced rosemary

50g of finely grated cheddar

Preheat your oven to 180c. Prepare your baking dish, it is a sticky dough so I recommend lining with parchment/baking paper.

Mix your flour, bicarb and herbs in a bowl until thoroughly combined. Make a well in the centre of your mixture and add your buttermilk, don’t add it all at once go slowly and mix until you form a slightly sticky dough – you may not need the whole 275ml of liquid.

 

Tip dough onto a floured surface and knead very lightly until you get a rounded dough. Place carefully onto your parchment and score a cross into the dough, go quite deep when scoring but don’t cut all the way through.

Sprinkle with flour and bake for 25 minutes before sprinkling over the cheddar and cooking a further 10-15 minutes. It is cooked when it looks golden brown and the bottom sounds hollow when tapped.

 

Serve with proper butter and a delicious soup to dunk into. Soda bread is best eaten on the day it’s made but it makes excellent toast the day after.

  • This post is in collaboration with Cully & Sully and I have been compensated for this recipe creation.

 

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