Asian-inspired Prawn Soup

Sometimes, the best meals arise from the ones that are quickly thrown together. Earlier this week, I was rummaging through the fridge and cabinets, trying to find something edible that wasn't a condiment or past its expiration date. With our grocery delivery not due to arrive until later that evening, my thrifty (or cheap-ass, depending on whom you ask) self was determined not to go out and unnecessarily buy a load of food. Deep in the chilled crevasses of the freezer and the webbed corners of my cabinets I managed to find some forgotten but consumable ingredients, and, in the infamous words of Carl Weathers, I got myself a stew going.

Lo and behold, the outcome of my experimentation was surprisingly delightful. In fact, I would even go so far as to say that I created a new favourite dish of mine. Admittedly, it might not be the most visually attractive, but since it is fast, healthy, and so simple even the most rudimentary of cooks could make this, I think I might have found a go-to meal for those grocery delivery days. Naturally, I had to share it with you.

Ceviche-inspired Chicken

Whenever I eat this recipe it reminds me of the person who introduced me to it, my auntie Ana. A tiny Peruvian lady, she is always bursting with energy no matter the time of day, and can chat to you endlessly over glasses of wine or bowlfuls of coffee. Every time I visited her house when I was growing up, she would cook this meal especially. Even now, the punchy sour and fruity lime flavours mixed with the heat from the aji paste takes me back to her kitchen, and all the conversations and loud laughter that bounced around the room. I guess in that respect everyone has a childhood recipe that takes them back.

Anyway, I didn't post today to reminisce about my childhood, I wanted to tell you about this recipe. Spicy, sour, and with a slightly fruity twist, this meal punches you right in the taste buds. Usually ceviche is made with fish, but I've used chicken instead and my inclusion of tomatoes in the recipe will probably make most people say this isn't authentic ceviche. Fair enough, but it still tastes delicious and is a good alternative for someone that doesn't like seafood. This takes a cinch to rustle up and whilst its boiling away you can go do more important things.

Gaptastic Cowl by Jen Geigley

I'm one of those people that prefer to make and receive handmade gifts. To me, presents represent the time, thought, and love that person put into choosing something they thought you would like, and who doesn't cherish something a loved one has obviously put so much effort into? 

Romantic notions aside however, most of us will attest that although we might love and care deeply for our friends and family, we don't always have the time to spend days working on presents to prove it to them. That it where this pattern is an absolute godsend.

Healthy and Delicious Broccoli, Pesto, and Chilli Soup

 I know I'm probably stating the obvious when I say this, (actually I know I'm stating the obvious) but England gets a lot of rain. Whether it's the icy sheets that come with winter winds making you run for a blanket and mug of hot tea, or the pattering showers warmed from the soft sunshine, we're pretty well known for our turbulent weather. And whilst it's usually easy to shrug off the unpredictable downpours with a quick dive into a shop (something else we're pretty well known for) or pull of a hood, the persistence of the rain can sometimes leave you yearning for a bit of sunshine. 

Now this is where this recipe comes in handy. Refreshing, healthy, and the chilli giving it that little bit of ommf!, this recipe will have you dreaming of summer days in the countryside. Given this past week, when London was predicted a month's worth of rain in a couple of days, I could appreciate a little bit of sunshine in a bowl.

Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Sugar Free Chocolate Cookies

This recipe was born from an idea for my friend Helen. For years she has suffered from a severe dairy allergy that has left her unable to eat any desserts except for toffee apples. For me, this is unbelievable. As anyone who knows me can tell you, I have the biggest sweet tooth going. I crave sweet food all the time and the only thing that has stopped me before now from becoming a toothless, obese lard zipping around on an electric wheelchair is finding healthy alternatives to my favourite sweet treats. So when Helen told me how long it had been since she last ate dessert, I paused a minute to pick my jaw up off the floor, and headed straight to the kitchen.

DIY Tee Shirt Yarn

I have a confession to make- I am a massive hoarder. Clothing specifically, and I'm sure others have some other aspect of their lives like books or gadgets (basically something much more constructive) that they can't help but keep every item, despite the protests of sagging bookshelves or limited storage space. In my case it's the umpteen suitcases it takes to transport my closet on moving day, the hours of organising it all into colour-coordinated, razor-sharp folding piles that would put designer stores to shame.  I don't buy clothes unless I desperately want/need it and is good quality, so for me each item of clothing represents the hours of researching it took to find the right piece, the cost, and more importantly, the memories associated with each one. As you can guess, there are clothes in my closet that have been in there for six years or more, and even though they're frayed, have holes, stains, or have lost their shape, I can't bear to part with them and they remain in my wardrobe on the flimsiest of excuses....

Now, you can imagine that the combination of my love of DIY with my hoards of clothes, my tiny London flat can start to resemble a Primark Boxing Day Sale. For all those hoarders like me out there, I dedicate this DIY project to you. Transforming your raggedy tees and dresses into fabric for scarves, rugs, or anything else that takes your fancy is a handy way of keeping your treasured clothes whilst simultaneously freeing up more space in your closet and creating something new. Not to mention, it is ridiculously simple to do!

Nothing Good Gets Away

I love this website, and in particular, this letter on love by John Steinbeck
http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/01/nothing-good-gets-away.html