Avocado Slaw

I love this recipe for using up avocados that are almost on the point of turning. Perfect with everything, this recipe would be great for picnic or BBQ's. Combining flavours of guacamole and Asian influences, this take on coleslaw is fresh and utterly delicious. Serve this as a side or as a topping for burgers. Super quick and easy, this recipe is a no-brainer.

Ingredients:

1 bell pepper
1 large carrot
2 sticks celery
large handful mange tout beans
1 very ripe avocado
1tbsp sesame oil
1tbsp lemon juice
small handful of fresh basil
salt and pepper to taste

Method:

Finely chop the pepper, carrot, celery and beans; I like to chop mine into thin batons. Place in a large bowl and coat with the lemon juice and sesame oil. Mash the avocado and finely chop the basil. Add to the bowl and season generously with salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly ensuring everything is well coated in avocado. Enjoy!

Banana biscuits

Perfect for using up bananas that are a bit past their best, these biscuits are my take on my mums take on a recipe from a Winnie the Pooh cookbook. I like to make them pretty thick so they end up having a brownie-like texture while the blend of banana and dark brown sugar gives them a caramelised and oh-so yummy taste. Versions of this have been firm family favourites since I was a little kid. Plus they only take around half an hour to make from start to finish so are perfect to whip up for guests or when you just have to have a sweet treat. Using banana and whole meal flour make it healthy, right?!

Ingredients:

150g butter
300g wholemeal flour
300g dark brown sugar
200g bananas (peeled)

Method:

Preheat the oven 180c fan (200c non fan).  to In a large bowl, run together the butter and whole meal flour until it resembles bread crumbs. To do this, gently rub your thumb over your flat fingers sifting the butter and flour between, this should only take a couple of minutes when you get the technique down. Add the dark brown sugar stirring it in gently so as to leave some lumps as these will caramelise during the baking leaving pockets of sugary goodness.

I mash the bananas on a plate with a fork until they become almost liquid but this could also be done in a blender. Add the mashed bananas into the bowl and with a stiff spatula or spoon slowly bring everything together. At this point you will doubt that you have read the recipe correctly as it feels like the proportions are all wrong but I promise it will work. The ingredients will suddenly come together and you should have a thick cake batter.

Grease and line a large baking tin (approx 30cm by 15cm) making sure it has a good rim around the edge. Gently place the mix in and smooth out, don't worry if it's a little uneven, the thickness makes it hard to spread. Pop this in the oven for 15-20 minutes until dark golden and there is a slight crust on top.

Once the biscuits are partially cooled, if you can wait that long, remove them from the paper and cut into generous chunks. I usually get around 12 from this recipe. These are incredibly addictive so when you have scoffed the whole pile, don't say you weren't warned! Enjoy!

Sweet Potato and Cauliflower Curry

I love this curry, more mild and flavour-some than punchy and hot, this is perfect for days you want something cosy. This works best if you can leave it to mature overnight but it rarely lasts that long in my house. This serves 4 people and would work well for freezing.

Ingredients:
4 small red onions
3 medium sweet potatoes
1 medium cauliflower
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp caraway seeds
1 tsp cinnamon
3 tsp ginger
1 tsp paprika
3 large fresh tomatoes
1 tin of chopped tomatoes
2 large handfuls fresh spinach
Salt and pepper to taste

Method:
Slice the onions and chop the sweet potatoes and cauliflower into bite sized pieces. Dice the fresh tomatoes. In a large pan add the olive oil and all of the spices on a medium heat until the oil starts to sizzle. Add the onions and saute until soft. To this add the sweet potato and cauliflower, mixing well to ensure they are coated in the spice mix,

Pop in the fresh and tinned tomatoes. Use the tin from the tomatoes to add the same amount of water, rinsing the tin at the same time. Stir well and leave over a low heat with the lid on for around 20 minutes until the vegetables are cooked, Add the fresh spinach and salt and pepper to taste. Leave on the low heat until the liquid has reduced down to a thick sauce, about 30 minutes with the lid off. Make sure to stir regularly. Leave to mature and re-heat when needed.

I served this with couscous made to the instructions on the package but it would be equally yummy with rice or another grain. Enjoy!

New in Beauty

I have recently been shopping and received some beauty items from a beauty box I get and thought I would share my favourites...

The Human Kind Body Scrub 

This body scrub is the perfect gel texture with little beads of scrubbing goodness. Perfect in the shower as a quick fix before shaving or for those dry days. I dont find it has much of a smell so doesn't interfere with anything else I'm using, The brand creates vegan friendly and environmentally friendly products which are well worth a try. From The Vegan Kind Beauty Box, also available on The Vegan Kind website.

The Human Kind Conditioner

Oh wow does this smell good. Orange scented in all the best ways, this conditioner is designed for dry hair but works happily on my normal mop. Seriously creamy and, again, the smell, Yummy. Plus the squeezy tube makes it so much easier to use, no accidentally throwing the bottle across the shower trying to get the product out! From The Vegan Kind Beauty Box, also available on The Vegan Kind website.

Maggie Anne Nail Polish Remover

Fantastic for removal of everything, even glitter, this remover also smells nice, Like nice nice not just bearable for a polish remover. The light strawberry and grape scent lightly overpowers the noxious polish smell without being sickly. From The Vegan Kind Beauty Box, also available on The Vegan Kind website.

The Body Shop Drops of  Youth Youth Liquid Peel

While the name couldn't be any longer this product works so quickly its brilliant. I love anything that gives instant results and this is seriously satisfying. Massage into damp skin and watch all the gunk of the day peel off. It was a little weird the first time I used it, having clumps of gunk on your face isn't the sexiest of looks but the results after are oh-so worth it, my skin is so smooth.  Purchased in store from The Body Shop.

The Body Shop Mineral and Ginger Mask

I tried this a few years ago when I worked for the Body Shop and wasn't fussed by it at all. Fast forward a couple of years and its my new love in life. Tingly and warming, this mask is awesome for drawing out impurities and making the skin feel lovely and soft. Plus it smells great, always a win in my book. If something is supposed to last on my face for 15 minutes it better smell ok! Purchased in store from The Body Shop.

Faith in Nature Shower Gel and Foam Bath 

This Aloe Vera and Ylang Ylang shower gel smell like it should be good for you in the best possible way, Scented like an aromatherapy massage, this is perfect after a stressful day or for helping wake up in the morning. I haven't as yet used it as a foam bath as I'm not big on baths but I love a good smelling shower gel. From The Vegan Kind Beauty Box, also available on The Vegan Kind website.

Amie Exfoliating Polish

Again a wonderful smelling product, have you found a theme yet? Fruity and deep cleansing, this scrub I love for days when I really want to give my skin a heft blitz. The cream base has little beads in, ideal for lifting away dead skin and other skin garbage. I use this about once a week in conjunction with the Body Shop Mineral and Ginger mask for skin that's super smooth. From The Vegan Kind Beauty Box, also available on The Vegan Kind website.

I hope that this can give you some ideas and maye some new loves in your life. Enjoy!

Ruby Ruby Ruby Ruby Shoooooooooo

Taking inspiration and styling from vintage designs, Ruby Shoos are both gorgeous and oh so sophisticated. I fell in love with them a couple of years ago having seen other vintage lovers like myself wearing them but only purchased my first pair in January to celebrate landing a new job, happily in a shoe shop selling Ruby Shoos amongst other delights.

Ivy

I spotted these stunners when I went for my interview, one pair left and in my size, and I promised that myself I would treat myself if I got the job. And so started the obsession. I personally find that these run a little large though nothing a half insole cant fix. The red upper has brocade detailing with a plain red trim and the statement bow on the toes making them the perfect statement shoe, something I love. 

Hazel

The second pair of Ruby Shoos I purchased, my Hazels were a treat for passing my first month of probation at the new job. For me these fit true to size with no assistance. While not as dressy as the Ivy's, these are perfect office or smart shoes and are great for a semi casual event, I wore mine with cropped black chinos and a blouse for an event recently and was happy standing in them for long periods of time.  

Dee and Tanya 

These shoes barely even made it out of the delivery. I was enabled by my manager who allowed me to unpack the boxes with the new season Ruby Shoos in. Mistake! As soon as the delivery was unpacked, I had found my size and was trying them all on.

The Dee are super cute in the gingham and oh-so on trend this season as well. The fit of both these shoes for me is, again, perfect; perhaps I need the ankle straps as so far these seem to fit me better. I have worn the Dee all day at work with no issues at all, stairs and all. The lower heel makes them incredibly wearable. 

My Tanya's are another statement shoe, and matching bag (ooops!). A real case of love at first sight I knew these had to be mine, Red is my favourite colour and I love adding pops of it to my outfits. The blue and white zebra style print makes these great fun to wear. I went out for dinner recently and wore the shoes and bag with a red striped t-shirt and white circle skirt, smart casual and wonderfully comfortable.

My love of Ruby Shoos expands with every new collection they bring out, and I have a feeling my hoard of them will too. Shhhh, don't tell my better half!