Halloumi Bites with Harissa Houmous

I found this picture of something I made a while back and thought I would share it with you because it just looks so yummy!!  

I would love to share the recipe with you, but that would be naughty as it is not mine to share, but you can find it in Lorraine Pascale's latest cookbook, Fast, Fresh and Easy Food -Link

I have all three of her books and all her recipes are amazing, the instructions are really easy to follow and I have never had a bad result when using them!!  I even messed these up a little and forgot to egg wash them before dipping them in flour ..OOPS, but they still turned out great!!

These are a scrumptious snack warm and fresh out of the pan or cold!!  I look forward to making them again!!  The recipe for the houmous is even in there too, thats right, I made the houmous in the picture!!  It isn't pre-brought!!

Anyone who like their cookbooks and doesn't own any of Lorraine Pascale's, I suggest you get out there and buy them, NOW!!

Disclaimer: All words are my own honest opinion and I was not sent anything for the purpose of this post

Graze box #2

So this is just going to be a quick run down of what I received in Graze box number two, what I liked and what I didn't like so much.

I decided to give up taking pictures of each individual item as this stops me from snacking on these on the go.

So I received:

1. Green Olives with Harrisa- I loved these ...ermmmm Olives hello, though I actually preferred the basil and garlic ones I received in last weeks box, don't get me wrong I would order these again but I definitely have preference!
2. Tomato Dippinetti- Slow cooked cherry tomato relish with rosemary grissinetti, again I liked these but there are other dipping snacks on the list that I am more excited to try, I am hoping I will get one in my next box, I didn't get any dippers in the box I got on Friday.
3. Herby Bread Basket- Mini garlic croutons, mini basil breadsticks and oregano rice crackers.  I liked these though they were quite dry, I am glad I had a drink to hand afterwards as they left a bit of a funny taste in my mouth.  I thought the mini basil breadsticks were the best!
4. Finally, Pina Colada- pineapple, coconut flakes and mango, these were odd, as they are dried they were a bit cardboard/ chewy if that is even possible, and didn't taste of anything for a little while but then they become quite juicy, I didn't like nor dislike this product!

So as you can see I most definitely preferred box one over box two.  Stay tuned for box three as I haven't  fully munched my way through it yet.  Also there is an item in there I was excited the eventually receive and I am hoping it isn't going to disappoint! 

Glossybox May 2013

GOOD MORNING BEAUTY LOVERS!!!  I was awoken to to sound of my doorbell at 9.30am this morning, knowing it was my FIRST EVER Glossybox I was out of bed like a shot ....It took me a good few minute to open the door though as we have Fort Knox'ed it, I was worried she would leave, but she didn't, yay!!

For anywho who subscribes to this fab box, I know I am a bit late to the party with this, as the usual subscribers got theirs ages ago, though I only signed up for May's box after everyone had received theirs, so I have had plenty of time to snoop around and see what everyone got in theirs this time, but I'm not doing that again, its going to be a secret from now on!!

With this being my first box, I was going to photograph as I open it but I was just too excited, so I've peeked and then took pics, sorry!

So on to the box, I think I joined at a good time, to get in on their 2nd birthday, there has been quite a bit of negativity surrounding this box within the beauty world I have noticed, but I am quite happy with what I received....

1. Caudalie Divine Oil
2. L'Occitane En Provence Angelica Hydration Cream
3. Beautiful Movements Cosmetics Prime & Create Mixing Medium
4. Jelly Pong Pong Fairy Lashes Mascara
5. Headline Colours Poolside Party Nail Polish in Twisted Silk
6. Glossybox Nail Files

Maybe I just havent been around long enough yet to understand the issues here?  I am super happy with the Caudalie oil, a brand I have been wanting to try for a long time, but never seen it on the shelves.  I have read and heard so so much hype about this brand so I am excited to try this oil all rounder for hair, face and body.

L'Occitane, I have used some of their products before, which I have loved, this sample is not one of them so I am happy with this and looking forward to trying that.  Beautiful Movements Prime and Create Mixing Medium, looks an interesting one, created my PussyCat Doll Kimberly Wyatt, you can use this as a primer, or mix it with blush and eye shadow etc, a lot you can do with that!

Jelly Pong Pong, another brand I would have tried before, should I have actually seen it around, I haven't, so a nice full-size mascara for me to use here and a fullsize nail polish by Headline Colours, I love the shade, really spring/ summery whilst being subtle too.

And of course, in honour of Glossybox's 2nd birthday, a matchbook of 20 nail fails, awesome for my handbag!!

Overall I am really happy with this box and I hope things can only get better as I await June!!

P.S. I just LOVEEE this pink ribbon/ party paper combo.  SUPER CUTE!!

Today...

I thought I would drop you a quick line on what im doing today, which isnt a lot, I feel like ive spent most the day washing up the dishes every two minutes!!  Not to mention the washing machine been on constantly today!

I am using my new slow cooker for the first time!  Making chicken curry with it and I a hoping it is going to be a success, this form of cooking can be a god send to most and I am hoping it will be for me too, I have been wanting one for long enough!!

I have also made some white chocolate chip cookies, nothing fancy, just Betty Crocker (the most amazing cheat!)  only took 30 minutes in total and of course I messed one up taking it off the tray, so obviously I had to eat it, and very nice it was too!!

The Chicken curry will be eaten after a trip to Ikea, one of my fave places haha, for a new table to use as a dressing table.  I have a dressing room in the new house in the form of the front box room, which I will show you when it is complete!  It currently has clothes and shoes all over the place!  (Still mid-house move!)

See you soon :) xxx

Graze Box #1 Thoughts....

So I told you I would share the contents of each box I receive, and here is number one:

 

First of all, Mumbai Masala, this was a savoury assortment of baked curry bites, spicy chic peas and masala cashews.  Honestly, this is still sat in my cupboard half finished, it was ok, though I haven't been brave enough to actually try the Cashews as I'm not a fan of nuts, you might wonder, why choose it then? Well I thought I was gonna be brave and try them ....but I haven't!  the curry bites are fine and the chick peas taste nice, although a bit hard.  I'm quite funny with my teeth, especially when attempting to crunch things that are quite hard, it makes me nervous.  I would recommend any one who likes nuts to try this though as I am sure it is lovely, but I wont be rushing to put it in my box again.

Now on to the Olives with Basil and Garlic, these I can not complain about, they are gorgeous and I will be keeping them as 'LOVE' on the ratings and maybe even back on the 'Send Soon'.  These were nice and zesty, not to garlicky, I know we all have that pang when we see garlic on the ingredients, what am I doing tomorrow??  But forget about it!  These are fine.  Anyone who really knows me would have never thought I would be LOVING olives a year ago, it was one of those foods 'I didn't like' without actually trying it, much to my Mum's delight (More for her), but now they are definitely one of my favourite snacks (sorry Mum!!) and a great source of fibre!!

My Thai, baked soy bites and a sweet chilli dipping sauce, these are another that will be staying as 'Love' something I always worry about with things like this is, will there be enough sauce for the amount of dippers?  In this case, yes there was, more than enough and they were fantastic!!  The sauce was amazing, and quite spicy, which I was pleasantly surprised about, I love spice and have quite a high tolerance for it, meaning often when something/ someone says an item is spicy, it actually isn't, though this was very pleasing.  Equally pleasing, this is a light nibble at only 85 calories.

Finally, honeycomb flapjack, there were three mini flapjacks inside this punnet which were all very yummy indeed!  I would like to receive these again, although they are 239kcal per punnet, they are full of oats of course, another great fibre source!!

I would struggle to name my favourite between the My Thai and Basil and garlic Olives, so I will say both.

My next couple reviews on boxes two and three will follow pretty soon, this box arrived quite late, I thought was not coming.  The lovely people at Graze granted me another free box which I ordered as a one off to arrive the following Friday, which it did, and my next box is due this Friday.  though after that they will be fortnightly as originally planned!!

Glossybox

I have been wishing to subscribe to Glossybox -Link for a long time now, but I have been needing some spare cash (which I still don't really have, but bought anyway).  It is very similar to a Graze box but for beauty products, you can pay monthly or buy one off boxes, three months at a time, six or 12 months at a time.

I have bought three months to begin with, see how it goes, if I like it, which I know I will, I will continue with it.  By doing this, it have also saved me £3 compared to buying each month.  What girl wouldn't love a box of five mini beauty treats every month???

The boxes are £10 a month plus P+P, so if you aren't impressed with the products you are receiving, it is a little pricy, though when you sign up you complete a 22 question beauty profile in order to tailor your box for your needs, though I am having a little issue at the moment with this as I can only get as far as question 7, which is not giving me any options to click and I cant even just bypass the question until I've answered it so the powers that be have been contacted, we shall have to see what happens!

So stay tuned, I will let you know what I get in my box and if I ever get to fill in my profile, or will I get a box full of random stuff??

xxx

Graze Box

So my first ever Graze box finally arrived, if not a little late and looking worse for ware, though it was worth the wait.

The letter box sized package contains four little snacks, all totally natural and healthy!

How does it work??
Well its simple actually!!  Simply sign up at the Graze website -Link Choose whether you wish to receive your boxes, weekly or bi-weekly and away you go ...on to rating 100 snacks choosing between, 'Bin' (if you know you don't like it, you will never receive this!) 'Try', 'Like' and 'Love', you will receive the ones you Love more often and some 'Try' every so often.  On certain products you can choose to 'Send Soon' meaning you receive the product in your next box!  It is a great idea as there are many items I do not like!!

Disaster Averted 
Unfortunately my box did not arrive on the date stated for delivery (3rd May) which was a shame as my Mum and I were looking forward to diving in this bank holiday weekend.  Fearing it would not arrive I contacted the kind people at Graze who credited me with another Free box (I got this box free too from a promotional code) which I ordered this morning thinking this one was not going to arrive, though an hour later, Hey Presto!!

Whats Inside?
Inside was a little welcome booklet, telling me all about Graze, the four snacks, a booklet with the nutritional information and expiry dates and a napkin,
My four nibbles included:

1. My Thai - "Sweet chilli sauce with baked soy bites"
2. Honeycomb Flapjack - "Rustic rolled oat flapjack with honeycomb and milk chocolate"
3. Mumbai Masala - "Baked curry bites, spicy chick peas and masala cashews"
4. Green Olives with Basil and Garlic

I have decided to to create a separate post once I have delved in to all this yummy goodness, with a new post for every box I continue to receive.

Just one last thing.....

Here is a PROMOTIONAL CODE FOR YOU, YOUR FIRST BOX FREE: 36Z7Q2WC