Biting cold

It's biting cold outside.

Inside:

warm, calm, nice.

We are warm, we are safe. We are lucky.

In the evening like this i wish everyone was safe, warm and happy!

Coconut oil

Did you know about benefits of coconut oil?

When fat is good for you?

Some call it a superfood! 

I researched all over the Internet 

and decided to give it a go! 

After migraine

Had the most terrible migraine.

But today I am feeling better, thanks God!

Today we woke up under snow blanket.

Cold snap they say.

I guess i have to find my mittens and a hat;)))

Have a nice weekend

whatever the weather! 

20% off at M&S

Today only! 

20% off at M&S

End midnight, online only!

Got myself a new shirt and a cardigan)

Nice discount!

Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup

Carrot & Sweet Potato soup

2 sweet potatoes, chopped

4-5 carrots, chopped

1 onion, chopped

2 celery sticks, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 cm ginger, grated

1 tsp garam masala (or curry powder)

1/2 tsp turmeric

1 Tbsp honey

Cook the onions in olive oil for 3 min until translucent, then add garlic, ginger, spices. Add vegetables.

Pour enough water to cove the vegetables. Cook for 20-25 minutes until all the ingredients become soft.

Puree with a blender. 

Cottage cheese dumplings

Cottage cheese dumplings

250g cottage cheese

1 egg

4-5 Tbsp self-raising flour (possibly more)

Press the cottage cheese through a sieve into a bowl. Mix in the egg and the flour.

Add enough flour as necessary to hold dough together. No salt required at this stage as the cottage cheese is salty enough.

Cut dough into 4 pieces. Roll each piece into a sausage, about 1 inch thick, then cut into thumb-nail long lengths.

To cook, carefully drop finished dumplings in a pan with salted boiling water. Once they float to the top cook for 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon.

I like to serve them with butter. You can add any jam of your choice if you like)  

Avocado & kiwi smoothie

1 avocado

2 kiwi, peeled

1 lime juice

1 cup unsweetened almond milk

honey to taste

Blend up until creamy and smooth.

Alternatively, you can add

spinach and/or apple.

Poached chicken

1 whole chicken

3 celery sticks, roughly chopped

2 carrots, roughly chopped

1 onion, chopped

1 leek, chopped

3 cloves garlic

3 bay leaf

1 tsp peppercorns

1 star anise

1 tsp salt

Put the chicken in a pan.

Pour in enough cold water just to cover the chicken. Add leeks, carrots and celery, then pop in the bay leaf, peppercorns, star anise, salt.

Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and cook for 1.5 - 2 hours.

Serve the chicken and accompanying vegetables with brown rice, adding a ladle or two of liquid over each shallow bowl.

Sitting hunched up here on the sofa)

Feeling a bit better today!

Shall we have a cup of coffee,

you and I?)))

Flu shot

I tried this cold& flu shot today and am very pleased with the effect!

Feel less congested immediately!

Yes, i am down with the flu.

What do you do if you get sick?

The continuation...

Gloomy and rainy start of the day.

Only one bright spot!

Isn't it magical? 

First Narcissus

Amazing and beautiful world!

Every flower fascinates me today))

Every petal seems unique))

When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other. - Chinese Proverb

Surrealism

Little S is learning about Surrealism at school.

So I was given this painting as a present))

While I was ill again

and was somewhere in between dreams and reality

this picture was so right for the moment)

Banana pancakes

I absolutely love this recipe! Can you believe it!? 2-ingredient pancakes! 

And taste really good too!

1 large banana, mash it with a fork very well.

2 eggs, mix it in.

pinch of cinnamon or a few drop of vanilla.

Then you’ll just cook them on a hot pan just like you would a normal pancake.

Found the recipe here

Pasta bake

200 g any pasta shapes

150g mushrooms, sliced

3 slices bacon, cut into strips

1 orange pepper (any colour), chopped

250g Mozzarella

1 pot (350g) ready pasta sauce ( i've used tomato&basil) 

Heat a Tbsp of olive oil. Add your bacon, onion, garlic and fry for about 10 minutes. Add peppers and mushrooms. After 5 minutes add tomato sauce and a little water. Cook for 5-10 minutes.

Cook pasta according to the packet instructions, then drain and toss with the tomato sauce.

Layer one half of the pasta in the baking dish, followed by 1/2 sliced-up mozzarella, then repeat these layers, ending with a good layer of cheese on top. Pop it into the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until golden, crisp and bubbling.

Yummy cinnamon scone cake for breakfast

Yummy cinnamon cake today for breakfast!

So easy to make and the ingredients are simple.

Recipe here

Tulips

Have a nice Saturday!

Full skirts

What do you think...?

Already Friday!?

This week has gone super fast!

Now a lovely weekend is ahead of us))

Yesterday I went to Kingswood.

What a nice place to live!

Grand houses, fields, golf...

I saw horses in the fields - so peaceful!

Unfortunately two canceled trains weren't ideal yesterday)

New Year resolution: eating healthier!

Each year we make New Year's resolutions 

in an attempt to start afresh.

Here's my good intention...)))

What resolutions did you make?

Just Tuesday

These flowers are so beautiful!

The delicacy of white tulips attracted me)

Interior trends 2015

Pastel colours

Gray

Nature inspired prints

Blue

More blue))

and blue again!

Equally beautiful

White tulips 

and a dry twig.

Equally beautiful!