Kindle cover

I made a kindle cover! And I love it. I followed this tutorial and it was super easy. The only thing I changed was that I added some ribbon along the spine before I sewed it all together. Cute no?

Greening the deserts

This guy is a dude. I'm not sure if it would actually make as a big a difference as he says but it would be awesome if it did! It's a really interesting video anyway and gives hope that the planet isn't entirely doomed...

Chocolate orange cookies

Cookies are awesome. Chocolate orange is awesome. Need I say more?

Ingredients:
- 170g butter
- 200g dark brown sugar
- 100g sugar
- 1 egg
- 1tsp vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 orange
- 250g plain flour
- 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- chocolate chips!

1) Beat together the butter and sugar.
2) Add the egg, vanilla and orange zest
3) Mix in the flour, bicarb and salt

4) Add the chocolate chips
5) Splodge onto a baking sheet and bake for 10-15 mins at gas 6 ish.
6) Try not to eat them all. But then do.

So this is what my brain looks like...

Who doesn't like making lists? There's such a sense of satisfaction when you make one (I find it doesn't matter too much if you follow it or not. In fact, if you don't get everything done then you just make a new one the next day!) Also, I have such a poopy memory that I'm always having to write things down. The problem is, scraps of paper are not that pretty and they're very easy to lose. I remedied this by keeping all my thoughts in one beautiful, super fun to make notebook. It really takes list making to the next level. I can now doodle down ideas I have for anything, practise my hand lettering and have something super pretty at the end of it. all you need is a black pen and an empty notebook. It's so. much. fun!

spring has sprung (finally!)

It's finally spring! After all the snow we've had this year, I was wondering if it was ever going to happen! It also gives me the perfect opportunity to talk about seasonal food....

Eating with the seasons is awesome for so many reasons. Firstly, and most importantly, it's sustainable. Food that's in season is local and doesn't have to be shipped in from half way across the world, and it hasn't been grown in hot houses- the process uses as little energy as possible. Secondly, it's what you want to eat! No one comes in after a day in the freezing cold and thinks, ooh you know what I fancy? Salad. No. Just no. Thirdly, it's so exciting to have a changing diet. There is always something new coming into season next month  and it's always worth waiting for (I'm thinking strawberries in summer, squashes in autumn etc.)

So here is a list of the best spring foods!

Cucmber, new potatoes, spinach, spring greens, spring onions (the name kinda gives it away huh?), watercress, ASPARAGUS! purple sprouting broccoli and cauliflower.

Gardener's pie

Ever wondered what the difference between shepherd's pie and cottage pie is?  Well, apparently shepherd's pie is made with lamb and cottage pie is made with beef! Who knew? (well lots of people probably...) Anyway, this is neither! It's just super yummy beans and veg so I called it gardener's pie!

Ingredients:
- 1kg potatoes
- 2 onions
- 1 pepper
- 1-2 carrots
- A few jarred peppers
- 1 can of kidney beans
- 1 can of lentils
- loads of Englishy herbs (rosemary, sage, thyme)
- Can of tomatoes
- Goats cheese
- Milk
- a tiny bit of hard cheese

1) Peel chop and boil the potatoes
2) Slice and fry your onions until soft. Chop and fry the peppers and carrot.
3) Add the lentils, beans and herbs. Season!
4) Plop in a baking dish
5) Layer the tomatoes over the top

6) When the potatoes are done, mash with some milk and the goats cheese until creamy and yummy. Season these bad boys too.
7) Spread over the tomatoes. Fluff up the top with a fork. Grate a little bit of hard cheese over the top.
8) Bake for half an hour or so at gas 6 ish.
9) Eat all the pie!

pencil case making

So, pencil cases are well easy to make and super satisfying because you use them all the time! All you need is some fabric of your choice and a zip. I used oil cloth for mine as it's sturdy and wipe-able (it always makes me sad when I get pen marks on the inside of my pencil case!). This is how I made it...

Supplies:
- 2 rectangles of fabric
- 4 x end pieces of fabric
- zip

1) Decide on what shape you want the end of your pencil case to be. Cut out 4 pieces this shape + 1.5cm on each edge seam allowance.
2) Measure the perimeter of the original shape. This is the length of your rectangles. The width is the length of your zip. Add 1.5cm seam allowance onto each side again.
3) Fold over the seam allowance (wrong sides together) on the short ends of your big rectangles and pin in place.
4) Take one of the big rectangles and pin the long side around the perimeter of the end piece (right sides together). Do the same with the other long side. Now sew! I found it easier to hand stitch these. Repeat with the other rectangle to make the lining. You may want to leave a slightly bigger seam allowance so that it doesn't crinkle when you put it in.
5) Trim off the seam excess and turn the bigger piece right side out. Place the lining into the outer layer.
6) Pin the zip into place so that each side of it is sandwiched between the inner and outer layers.
7) Sew! with a funky contrasting colour thread.

Easy peasy!

Pea and asparagus tart

It's springtime!!! Yay! I am enjoying the warmer weather and lighter evenings ever so much. I am also enjoying springtime food. I'm talking asparagus.

You have to be really careful with asparagus. It's only in season for a brief period of time in the UK. When it's not then it gets shipped in from all over the world (often from Peru I think) which isn't very good! So- make the most of it!

Ingredients:
- Puff pastry
- Green veg (spinach, peas, spring onions, asparagus, beans etc)
- 170ml double cream
- 90ml greek yoghurt
- 3 eggs
- Salt + pepper
- Chives
- Feta
- Hard cheese
- Salad (I had some leftover beetroot in mine)

1) Roll out the pastry and put it in your flan dish. Bake at gas 6 for 10 mins or so until it is just starting to go brown.
2) Take the case out of the oven, squish the puffed up base down and pour your veg in (the only thing you need to pre-cook is the spinach if you're using it.
3) Mix the cream, yoghurt, eggs, salt, pepper, chives and hard cheese together then pour it over your veg.
4) Artistically plop some more veg onto with some crumbled feta and maybe a bit more hard cheese.
5) Bake at gas mark 6 for 30 mins or so, or until it is golden on topand not wobbly in the middle.
6) Eat with a whole bunch of salad and think of summer!

Drawing is fun (still!)

I am a massive fan of doing anything that is supposed to be for kids: building forts, plastic sword fights, piggy back rides...it's just so much more fun that being a grown up. I'm also a big fan of doing anything non screen based and free (it's a super eco friendly hobby!)! Drawing is one of those things that kids do all the time, but unless you're an artist you probably don't do it as an adult, which is a bit poo because it's super fun! If you are pants at drawing then make 'modern art' and giggle at it and if you're awesome it gives you a chance to feel a little bit smug. I just like how you can spend hours entertained by only a pen and a piece of paper!

p.s. This is supposed to be the Sacre-Ceour in Paris (can you tell? :s)

Best fruit cake ever (if I do say so myself...)

This is quite simply the easiest and tastiest fruit cake ever. I make it ALL the time. It's my Christmas cake, my Easter cake, my dad's favourite cake etc. I have kept the recipe secret for many years but I'm feeling generous today so here it is....

Ingredients:
- 3oz butter
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup of milk
- 3/4 bag of mixed fruit
- 1 tub glacé cherries
- 1 1/2 cups self raising flour
- 1 free range egg
- 2 caps of vanilla extract

1)  Grase and line a 6" cake tin.
2) melt the butter, sugar and milk in a pan.
3) Add the fruit and stir.
4) Add the flour and stir (don't worry about it being a bit lumpy at first, just keep mixing!)
5) Add the rest and stir.
6) Plop in your cake tin and bake at gas mark 3 for aaaaaaaaages (probably about 1.5hrs). Check it after 30 mins. If it's brown on top already you might want to cover it with some tin foil so that it doesn't burn. After an hour in the oven, check it very 10 mins or so to see if it's done (stick a knife in it and if it comes out mostly clean then it's ready!)
7) Let it cool then ice with a layer of marzipan and a layer of fondant icing. Decorate as you please!
8) EAT IT!!!!

Beany Splats

Super tasty, beany falafel recipe adapted from Jamie's 15 minute meals

Ingredients

For the splats:

- Can of mixed beans (it's fine if they're in tomato sauce- I think it makes it yummier, drain it off first though)

- Can of chickpeas (drained)

- Lemon zest

- 1/2 a chili

- 2tsp allspice

- 1 tbsp plain flour

- Bunch of fresh corriander

For the fun bits:

- Some spring onions

- A pepper or two

- Some mushrooms

Extras:

- Salad

- Red pepper humous

- Wraps

- Cheese (grated/crumbled)

1) Blend the ingredients for the splats in a food processor (chop up the chilli first!)

2) Fry up the fun bits. Put them in a bowl.

3) Dollop 1tbsp size splats into the frying pan. Flip them when crispy.

4) Chop your salad

5) Build your super yummy wrap!

My Favourite Cook Books

One of my favourite things to do is cook (pretty obvious from the food blog huh?) so I thought I'd share some of my fave cook books with you. Being a vegetarian doesn't mean that I only buy veggie cook books. In fact, I hardly have any! They always seem to have the same stuff in them; vegetable lasagne, stuffed mushrooms, goats cheese tarts etc. Yummy foods of course but I know how to cook them already. I much prefer getting a cookbook by a great chef and adapting their meaty recipes (I'm going to write a post about how I do this soon!)

My absolute favouritest chef ever is Jamie Oliver. Not only does he cook fast, tasty food but he is on a mission to save the world! (Well at least to teach people how to eat better). All of his books are great but "Jamie's 15 minute meals" is the business. Easily the best cook book ever. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstal's "Veg Everyday" comes a close second. So many noms. He's great too because his food is much more seasonal than Jamie's - much better for the environment! Sophie Dahl does this too. Her meals are nice and light. the Cook Vegetarian magazines are also great for seasonal cooking and they keep me updated with what's available/trendy at the mo. Delia's vegetarian collection is basically a veggie bible and cheesetastic to boot. For those of you who love to bake, you need look no further than the Humming Bird Bakery.

Sushi- veggie style!

I love sushi! It is super yum and tastes so different to everything else I eat. What I don't love is how expensive it is and how much packaging it comes in. So now whenever I get a sushi craving I make my own! It's not that hard at all!

Ingredients:
2 cups sushi rice
1/3 cup rice vinegar
4 sheets of nori
2 eggs
1tsp sugar
1 carrot
2 spring onions
1/4 cucumber
soy sauce for dipping

1) First things first, cook the rice! Put 2 mugs of sushi rice in a pan and cover with 2.75 mugs of water. Allow the rice to soak for 30 mins then simmer for 25 mins (or until the rice is cooked and the water is absorbed). Don't let the rice burn! Add 1/3 cup of rice vinegar and stir. Allow the rice to cool.

2) Prep your filling. I finely sliced 2 spring onions, a carrot and some cucumber. I also cooked some tamago (sweet egg). Beat 2 eggs with a teaspoon of sugar. Pour a thin layer into a hot frying pan. When its mostly cooked, roll it up, squishing it down as you go! Move this roll back to the edge of the pan and pour another thin layer of egg in so that it joins up. Roll again and make sure the egg is cooked but not too brown. Remove from pan and allow to cool.

3) Lay a sheet of nori shiny side down on a sushi mat. Run your hands under cold water and grab a big old handful of rice and squish it on. The thickness of this layer will determine the size of your sushi roll! Leave a big gap at the top of the sheet.

4) Lay your filling of choice in the middle of the rice

5) Roll and slice. Easy but a little time consuming! Serve with a pot of soy sauce for dipping. Yum!

Photo Wall

One of my favourite things is having LOTS of small items displayed together.This wall in my living room is covered in lots of little photos cut out to look like Polaroids! I think it's super cute and people like to try and find themselves when they visit. It was fun to annotate them all too. It was inspired by this project from my favourite blog in all the world a beautiful mess. I'm not hip enough to use instagram, so I just resized some pictures, printed them out, chopped off the excess white space from the top, wrote on them with permanent marker and stuck them an my wall with masking tape. Easy!