after the overload

06th April 2011

To balance out this mornings sugar overload of a post, I thought it timely to pop up my review of some sugar-free goodies that the lovely folks at Sweet Junkie sent me to review…

Now you know, I’m a BIG sugar addict and have nothing against eating sugar filled goodness on a regular basis,
but sometimes I want something to munch on that isn’t going to give me a massive sugar rush, or I feel like being a bit kinder to my teeth, and at those times I reach for sugar free sweets.

I normally pick up whatever is available in my town (er, about two varieties then) or stock up on visits to places further away,
but now…Sweet Junkie has my heart (and soul) for their extensive range, awesome-ly designed website and fabulous service.
What I really love about Sweet Junkie is the care they put in to sourcing their sweets, I follow them on twitter and know they do extensive tasting before decided what to stock. This is very much appreciated, especially when it comes to sugar-free as some of the sweets can taste very artificial. These don’t! The orange and lemon slices (at the front) were my favourite…I did have to check a few times that I hadn’t picked up normal sweets instead!

For those who are sugar purists, Sweet Junkie also sell regular sweets including retro favourites
but if you can’t tolerate sugar, are health conscious or want a gift for someone who can’t eat sugar then you are well advised to check out their range (and slip in some more for me, please!)

xxx

P.S. you can follow them on twitter, here

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so close now

27th February 2011

FINALLY, we’ve had a couple of decently sunny-ish days and it feels like the end of Winter could be approaching,
don’t you just love those first signs of Spring? They fill me with hope!

Got some colour going on for Yesterday’s outfit in honour of the burning yellow ball in the sky.

Do I look tired and haggard?

Necklace says yes!

Fairly chilled out day, amongst the invasions of four 20 something males taking over the house. They are a nice, if somewhat…quirky bunch of guys and super talented.

Today is going to be all about chilling out, I think. I’ve a fairly busy week ahead, so I shall just potter about and go and see my Grandparents.

((the money spending continues..I bought *gasp* trousers!))

(((this is the best stuff EVER)))

trust me.

Anddddd, last but most certainly not least

WINNERS!

Thanks to everyone who took part in my giveaway, I love holding them so look out for more soon!

The winners are
*drumroll*

MARIA for the main UK prize

and Blue Eyed Night Owl will receive some edible goodies as my overseas winner.

Happy Sunday All xxx

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Sunday Randoms

20th February 2011

Here we go, my “I’m wearing nothing of interest so have some random photos” post! I hope everyone is having a great weekend,
those of you at LFW…I hope your not too exhausted! I’ll confess, I’ve barely looked at the collections online, fashion week seems to pass me by in a haze, it’s too soon to think about A/W when I barely know what I want to be wearing tomorrow, but Paul Costelloe has captured my heart!

Photo from The Telegraph

This is my latest recipe book purchase, I’ve seen it mentioned on several foodie blogs I follow and although I’m not vegan, or even vegetarian I have an interest in elements of the vegan lifestyle, especially baking and I can’t wait to give it a go! Next purchase will be the cupcake version.

Popped in to see my grandparents yesterday and was greeted with “We’re glad your here, we have a present for you” and they proceeded to present me with this cushion. Good taste for older folk don’t you think?

Snack of the week! I purchased this on Monday after meeting B and pursuing M&S for something for dinner. I bought a multipack but wish I had thought to get more. I’m going back…there were other flavours too. I LOVE popcorn. Randomly we found a popcorn maker in one of our kitchen cupboards, so I will experiments with creating my own combinations.

And finally, a couple of postsecrets that caught my eye this week. I might try the first one!

xxx

(and because I’m an idiot and forget things, my giveaway is actually open for another week! We won’t talk about the state of my memory!)

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Snack Attack

29th January 2011

Thank you for the well wishes for yesterday guys, sadly the meeting got cancelled at the last minute due to one of the team being ill, but I’ll be re-scheduling Monday and hopefully won’t have to wait too long!

Yesterday I reverted back to my comfort zone, and to one of my favourite dresses. I added a black jacket until I realised just how cold it was…it was hastily swapped for a chunky cardigan!

Jewellery (hideously out of focus)

Actually, all the photos are a bit out of focus…apologies!

This week I was challenged to branch out of my comfort zone (a.k.a. rut) with snacks and add in something I haven’t had before/for a while, I chose a fruit and nut mix because it is easily portable and perfect for keeping on my desk at work. I was quite un-inspired looking in the shops, everything was dull and samey (not to mention full of peanuts, which I don’t especially love).
Waitrose came up trumps with these babies…

I’d seen Nature Snacks appear on Twitter a few times but wasn’t consciously seeking them out as I didn’t know where to get them. Originally it was the special offer sign that drew me over to them as well as the eye catching packaging.
There are four varieties from the brand:

Fruit, nut and dark chocolate mix

Berries Mix

Fruit, nut and yoghurt mix

Fruit and nut mix

And none of them contain peanuts, score! Give me Almonds any day. More details + stockists here

As you can see from the photo above, I went for the fruit and nut mix, which contains pistachios, golden sultanas, almonds, Chilean raisins and dragon fruit. I’ve never had dried dragon fruit before, or knew it existed for that matter. OMG it is amazing. I’m on a hunt for a whole bag of the stuff!

No dragon fruit pictured here, I’d snagged the last couple of pieces!
This mix is SO good. Sweet, tropical and the nuts are super fresh. I’m going back to Waitrose today to stock up on some other varieties whilst it is still on offer!

Have you tried Nature Snacks before?

What are you favourite snacks? I need new ideas, especially for work…

Would you like to see more food adventure related posts?

Have a great weekend xxx

P.S. Tabio and Shopbop giveaways are now closed. You can still enter the Girls With Attitude one until tomorrow,
all winners will be announced tomorrow!

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Finally got my Bake on

15th January 2011

Thursday morning saw me at a loss,
and generally with me that means I want to BAKE. For once I had adequate ingredients in the house
and so bake I did!

First up came Flapjacks from my favourite recipe book (which is probably older than I am!)

Fast Flapjacks

225g (8oz) Butter
225g (8oz) Demerara Sugar (I used soft brown sugar)
75g (3oz) Golden Syrup
275g (10oz) Porridge Oats

I also added a liberal dose of cocoa powder and cinnamon.

Preheat oven to 160*c/140* for fan oven, or Gas Mark 3
Grease a 12 x 9 inch baking tin.

Melt the butter in a large pan along with the sugar and syrup, then stir in the oats (and whatever else you are adding!) Mix well and spread in to the prepared tin and press flat.

Bake for about 35 minutes until golden brown (mine were done after 30 and still over-done so check on them a lot!) Leave to cool for 10 minutes before marking in to 24 bars and leaving to finish cooling in the tin.

Like I mentioned above, mine came out really, really crispy and the majority stayed in the tin! But what I did salvage were delicious! You can experiment with pretty much any add ins you want…if using chocolate chips leave the mix to cool before adding those.

I was desperate to take something in to work for a much needed sugar boost but the flapjacks simply didn’t make enough…
I had just enough time to make, but not decorate a simple vanilla sponge, so I added about half a tub of sprinkles to the mix before baking!

I don’t need a recipe book to make a sponge, I just use the 2:2:2:1 method

2oz butter
2oz caster sugar
2oz flour
1 egg

(plus a dash of vanilla essence and sprinkles!)

To make a cake the size I did (8 inch tin) I simply doubled all the quantitys, mixed it all together, poured in to a greased/lined tin and baked at 180* for about 18 minutes
(you can tell it is done when the cake is golden brown and a knife/skewer poked inside comes out clean)

For a chocolate cake you’d replace 1oz flour with 1oz cocoa (give or take!)

What have you baked lately?

Care to link me to recipes?

xxx

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