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.