Paleo quick lunch.

Rice cakes with butternut squash & rep pepper pâté...

Bunga Bunga

Bunga Bunga is a nice pizzeria with lively music, fantastic staff and great cocktails! 

Ottolenghi

Ottolenghi  is one of my favourite lunch places. It serves delicious beef, chicken or fish with your choice of salads. The salads are absolutely out of this world. The seasoning and flavours are well considered. And they have a big counter of deserts too. I could eat there everyday. 

Halloween

Trick or treat! 

Pumpkin pie recipe

The easiest recipe ever.

Pumpkin pie...

Halloween is coming and last weekend my hubby made traditional pumpkin pie. I've never had this type of pie before - so I was super exciting about it. The result didn't disappoint - maybe I just needed a tiny bit more sugar. Recipe to follow in the next picture. 

Halloween cupcakes

Booooo cupcakes...

Christmas tasty treats

To cut a long story short - Basically I had way too much short crust pastry left - so my sister came up with this simple solution. Roll out the pastry to about 5mm thickness. Add sugar & cinnamon, and then fold over once. Cut in different shape & sizes, brush some egg on top and bake for 15 min in 180 degrees. It looks cute even to give as a present. Super pleased. 

Butternut squash & cumin soup.

Butternut squash is in season so here is a recipe to keep you warm.

Ingredients: An onion, A leek, A butternut squash, garlic, cumin and pumpkin seeds and a veg stockpot by Knorr.

Chop the onion, leek and garlic and cook off for a few minutes. Add the chopped butternut squash and sweat for 10 mins.

Add a Knorr stockpot and fill with enough water to cover the butternut squash.

Then cook through for a further 10 mins.

Blend to a smooth consistency and serve with a nob of creme fraiche and toasted pumpkin seeds. Tabasco is optional.. But recommended.E

Sunday evenings

Don't you just love Sunday evening when outside it's raining and you sit by the fire having Sunday roast. Pure bliss. 

Duck and Waffle restaurant...

Duck & Waffle is located on the 40th floor of Heron Tower. It's the highest restaurant in the UK. The lift that takes you up is all glass so you can enjoy panoramic views of the city. The food and the service were fantastic. I had the famous 'Confit duck with duck egg and maple mustard syrup' - It tasted absolutely amazing. I know it's unusual to have duck for breakfast but... Its not everyday I go to places like this...

"33 acts of kindness" Day 2

Today my act was anonymous, but no random!
I left a thank you note and a box of biscuits for the mail room boys at work!...they don't do social media, so I am keeping it anonymous even posting it in here :-)

Parsnip soup with haddock.

So today I decided to make this perfect autumn soup. First you cook an onion, garlic and 800g of parsnips in butter. In the mean time poach your haddock in water or stock. Add more water to your soup base and cook until the parsnips are soft. Blend the parsnips and add flaked haddock. For decoration - chop some parsley, spring onion and boiled egg. 

Balthazar

So finally I managed to get down to restaurant Balthazar (London). I must say the atmosphere, the food and drinks were amazing. I opted for Scallop Risotto   as a starter. For main I had a half Lobster with dauphinois potatoes and for dessert - I chose petit four. I must say the portion sizes were generous. That's good for me. 

Last rays of summer in a jar

...and here it is!

My crab apple jam and jelly ready for the slice of toast!

Just like the last rays of summer in a jar.

Crab apple jam and jelly

I just love this time of the year!

I have this "need" to start preparing for the Winter...and nothing better then some homemade jam and jelly.

For the first time a had a go with crab apples and the result was yummy!

1) Wash and cut away stem and blossom ends
2) Bring the apples to the boil with just enough water to cover them for about 30 minutes
3) Drain the apples throw a muslin cloth or jelly bag WITHOUT squeezing the bag or the jelly will go cloudy.
4) Drain the apple flesh (the one that was left over inside of the muslin cloth/jelly bag) through a colander, just to remove pits and skin.
5)  Bring the apple "juice" to boil with sugar ratio of 10:7 (for 10 parts of juice, like 1000 gr add 7 parts of sugar, 700 gr) and juice of 1 lemon and in other pan the apple flesh with sugar ratio of 10:7, cinnamon sticks and juice of 1 orange

Healthy snack

Soak chickpeas in water over night. The following day place in boiling water for 40 mins until soft. Then place them on a clean foiled tray and cover with olive oil, garlic, cumin and sweet paprika. Roast for a further 30min at 220 degrees. Enjoy. E

Brixton market.

Love this umbrellas...

Brixton market

I love Brixton market. Brixton market is situated in south London and recently it was rebranded as 'Brixton Village'. The market sells a wide range of food and goods. My favourite hang outs are - 'Honest burger', ' Franco Manca', 'Mama Lan' and 'Lab G'. Go and explore it on Saturday - you will love it. 

Soup

Finished result.