Monday 28 April 2014

Found

An original concept store.


Well at least that's how the website describes it. I stumbled across Found when I was wandering around Bath a couple of weeks ago, drawn in by the leather bags on display in the big shop front, and the sign saying that the store had been given the accolade of best boutique by numerous high end magazines.

White wash floors and interesting display cases. Old furniture holding high end pieces. Leather, enamel wear, jewellery and clothing was laid out sympathetically throughout the space. The staff were bubbly without being pushy, wanting to share the brands story and tell us all about the wears of the unique designers that they stocked.

The handbags were the thing that struck me the most. Sleek and elegant and of exceptional quality. Effortlessly high end. Each bag is hand made in New Zealand, inspired by the opulence of 1920s America. The black leather juxtaposed with gold handle was definitely my favourite.




Unusual accessories and homewares fill the shelves and we spent our time browsing everything in sight. 









A gorgeous colourful leather pouch, as well as a Deadly Ponies bag are most definitely on my wish list.

Now make sure you check them out online here.


Tuesday 22 April 2014

Kedgeree

Recipe's seem to be taking over on the blog the last few days. Being home with full cupboards and a fabulously filled fridge just makes me want to cook, as does the luxury of having everything here already - you sort of forget about the need to actually shop!! Kedgeree is a traditional Indian dish, with a rice base that is often eaten for breakfast in the Southern states, Kerala in particular. This one has been adapted over the years and I think is a pretty good version! Rice, spices, smoked haddock, tomatoes and boiled eggs - what's not to like? Its also super easy and really filling to eat, and could easily be made with a brown rice alternative.


Ingredients
(serves 2/3)

1 White onion
2 cloves of garlic
Olive oil
2/3 free range eggs
Cherry or plum tomatoes
1 tsp Ground cumin
1 tsp Ground coriander
2 fillets of smoked haddock
Juice of a lemon
Basmati rice
Fresh coriander to serve.

Optional extras: fresh chilli, fennel seeds, cardamon seeds

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Prehat the oven to 200 degrees and place your smoked haddock on a baking tray with a little bit of oil , salt and pepper. Cook for approximately 15 minutes, or until cooked through.

Wash and drain the rice (approximately 1 cup per person) before cooking in boiling water for 10 minutes.

Put another pan on the heat with some boiling water in - we have an egg pan as boiling eggs destroys the coating on most saucepans - and once bubbling carefully pop your eggs in, for about 10 minutes if they're medium sized. You want them to be hardboiled.


Begin by finely chopping your onion, and popping it into a frying pan with a glug of oil. Stir contastly on a medium head until softened and then add the spices to the pan, continuing to stir so they don't burn. Cook the spices for a couple of minutes to allow the flavours to release. Add in chopped garlic and mix with the onion and spices. Cook for 2 or 3 minutes, add in the tomatoes and leave on the heat until softened.






By this time the rice will be cooked so drain it off, add it to the frying pan with the juice of the lemon and mix together with a fork to avoid the rice sticking - there is nothing worse than sticky rice!! Season as desired!

Grab the fish from the oven, remove the skin and flake into the pan. Run the eggs under cold water for a couple of minutes until you can hold them, peel off the shells and quarter. Pop them into the pan and serve with a sprinkling of coriander, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a squeeze more lemon juice if required. Once you've made it once having three pans on the go will be a doddle and this is another fab recipe that can be thrown together at the last minute and where the flavours speak for themselves!


Monday 21 April 2014

Spring vegetable stew

I'm continuing with the stew theme this week, this time with a delicious green vegetable number, filled with spinach, fresh mint and spring freshness. This one sort of just happened. I was raiding the fridge when babysitting for my niece in an attempt to cook her something yummy for supper and the abundance of Spring veggies just couldn't be outdone. This is the perfect kitchen supper on a spring evening, quick to put together, full of flavour and perfect with some fresh crunchy bread, torn apart and warmed up in the oven or on the aga.

Ingredients:
(serves 4)

Olive oil or coconut oil
1 leek
1 white onion
2 cloves garlic
1 courgette
1 sweet potato, peeled
1 aubergine
A bag of spinach
Frozen peas
A handful of fresh mint
Salt and pepper
A litre or so of veggie stock
A good loaf of bread for serving


Begin by chopping your onion and leek finale and popping it into a large heavy based pan with some oil of choice. Cook for five until softened, then add in the garlic and courgette. Cook for another five on a medium heat, stirring often.




Next, add the stock to the pan, pop in your cubed and peeled sweet potato and cook off for a further five or so minutes until the potato begins to soften. At this point add chopped aubergine and season well with salt and pepper. Pop the bread into the oven to warm through.



You're nearly there! When all the veggies have softened (this will only be 15-20 minutes after you start cooking, told you it was a simple one!) add in the spinach and allow to wilt down, along with the fresh mint and frozen peas. Grab the bread, tear onto a big wooden board. Choose some bowls, get the spoons, turn of the heat and devour. 


Healthy, wholesome and most importantly delicious!

Sunday 20 April 2014

10 things that have made me happy this week, in pictures


The Bath blossom reminding us that Spring is finally here!
A little bit of Zara shopping cheered up dissertation days; another day, another desk seems to be my life motto at the moment!
Reading this, agreeing whole-heartedly...
And then booking a holiday to here next week! Oh hiiiii Greece and your beaut infinity pool! I'm dreaming of the heat already… bring me s u n s h i n e! 

Obviously this required bikini shopping… 

And I ventured home to have a bit of a change of scene for the diss writing. Its incredible to be able to sit outside and write. I <3 home. 
Seeing this little beauty has definitely been a highlight as well! 
As have delicious suppers at Milsoms, long overdue catch ups and big glasses of wine! 

And incredible sunsets over the water outside the house. 
Completely gigantic Easter eggs have also made it onto the list!

Happy Easter everyone! 

Saturday 19 April 2014

Harri's fish stew (courtesy of Jamie)



(Jamie's version!)






This little wonder is a bowl of garlic deliciousness. Filled with succulent fish, fresh herbs and served with crunchy lemon thyme bread its the perfect sharing supper, and one that has been firmly added to my repertoire! Harri made this for us when we visited Bath last week and I've already recreated it at home for the family - it was that good. The recipe is adapted from one in Jamie's 15 minute meals. I would say that you can whip it up from start to finish in half an hour and the best possible accompaniment is a glass of wine, or three, lots of finger bowls and some good company!

FOR THE GARLIC BEAD

1 ciabatta loaf
3-4 cloves of garlic
a few springs of lemon thyme
extra virgin olive oil

FOR THE FISH STEW

1 bulb fennel
tin of anchovy fillets
4 spring onions
half a red chilli
olive oil
2 cloves garlic
125ml white wine
700 grams passata
400g of white fish (pollock, cod etc)
400g mussels
4 langoustines 

FOR THE SAUCE

3 tbsp natural yoghurt
1/2 cloves garlic
a pinch of saffron
juice of half a lemon

So, begin with the bread. Cut deep crosses in the ciabatta. Squash the garlic through a garlic crusher over the bread, add the thyme sprigs and a pinch of salt and pepper, then drizzle over the extra virgin olive oil.  Rub into the cracks of the bread, then put into the oven until golden.

Next, halve the fennel (reserving any leafy tops) and put into the food processor with the anchovies, the trimmed spring onions and chilli, then blitz until finely chopped. Pop into a large heavy based saucepan with a good glug of olive oil and turn the heat up to high, stirring regularly. Squash in the garlic through a garlic crusher, then pour the wine into the pan and let it cook away. Pour in the passata and half a jar of boiling water (350ml), tear in most of the basil leaves and season with salt and pepper.


Cut the fish into chunks (I think its fine to just stick to one type of white fish in this dish, its so full of flavour anyway!), then add all the seafood to the pan (throw away any open mussels that don’t close when tapped), cover with the lid and boil.

For the sauce, peel the garlic and bash with a pinch of salt and the saffron in a pestle and mortar, then muddle in the yoghurt and a squeeze of lemon juice. We didn't have saffron in the cupboard the first time we made this and it was absolutely fine without and the yoghurt is the perfect accompaniment to the heat of the chilli. 

 When the mussels and clams have opened (throw away any that remain closed), the fish will be cooked through (roughly 4 minutes). Season to taste, then serve scattered with the remaining basil leaves and fennel tops, the saffron sauce and garlic bread.  Enjoy! 











Friday 18 April 2014

Bath - part two

We woke up bright and early on Friday morning to more gorgeous sunshine and after a bit of a potter, some breakfast and lots more chatting headed out into the world of Bath. We were staying right in the centre of town, close to the beautiful Crescent so headed there first for a look round and it truly is gorgeous. This was my first time in Bath (I'll definitely be back soon!) and I couldn't believe how lovely the whole town was… the buildings are stunning and it has one of the nicest atmosphere's of anywhere I've visited  in England. 


We headed down to the town centre, into the sunshine. Sunglasses on and ready for the day!




But then the little hangovers from the night before reared their heads and we decided that they had to be quelled so we headed to Bills to utilise my staff discount for mezze and burgers, along with a lot of water to make sure the afternoon got off on the right foot!


Then it was back to wandering the city, popping into boutiques and charity shops before grabbing gelato to eat in the sunshine and head to the station to collect the rest of the girls who had jumped on trains down from London for Friday and Saturday nights.













As soon as they jumped off the train we headed to buy bikinis (the spa was the plan for the following day) before walking back to The Crescent, champagne in hand, to catch up and enjoy the sunshine. 






Next, it was back to the house for supper. The most incredible fish stew (recipe to follow as I've already had to recreate the little beauty back at home). The wine was opened and the ridiculous-ness continued. It had been at least two months since we had last all been together!







Then the party started. The flat upstairs managed to squeeze 70 people into a bedroom, we managed to host pre-drinks until 2am and Holly managed to be ready for bed by 10 (but she pushed through and carried on, don't worry!).


Others didn't do quite so well… We crawled into bed (on the floor!?) at half 6, with the party still in full swing upstairs.


The next day there was no other option but to head to the spa and detox. Set over the city and based on the traditional thermae spa that is now a heritage site, what could be better for a hangover than a hot pool of water, in the sunshine, over looking a gorgeous city? Not much! We stayed for a couple of hours, using the mint steam room to truly revive ourselves and I would definitely recommend a trip! 


We came out starving and headed to Hall and Woodhouse for fish finger sandwiches and the hangovers were gone! Sadly, I had to catch a train back ready for work on the Sunday morning so I left the girls deciding on supper for that night and set off for my four hour train journey back to Brighton.

It really was the perfect weekend and a much needed break from the dissertation writing - I can't wait to go back already!