Chinese style Quinoa

All of you who know me know that I'm always trying to find ways to cut calories and carbs - in pursuit of a healthier lifestyle. Sometimes it's hard to find a balance between eating healthy and also indulging in my inner foodie. Quinoa has been my new go-to substitute to rice and cous-cous - it is a complete protein and is a good source of calcium, Vitamin E and dietary fibre - sounds great right?! All of the above means I'm constantly trying to find yummy quinoa recipes and I stumbled upon this one - Chinese Style Quinoa based on Domestic Geek recipe with a couple of additions I've made myself.

Ingredients

• 2-3 cups cooked quinoa
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• a pinch of paprika
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 clove garlic, finely chopped
• 2 carrots, peeled and diced
• ½ cup frozen peas
• ½ cup sweetcorn
• 1 handful of broccoli
• 2 eggs 
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp sriracha/ chilli paste(optional) - I recommend adding some chilli powder if you don't have either of these
• 2 spring onions, chopped

Method

1. In a large wok or fying pan, heat sesame oil over high heat.
2. Add onion and garlic and cooking, stirring frequently, until translucent.
3. Add carrots and peas and cook for 2 or 3 minutes until they begin to soften.
4. Push veggies over to one side of the pan and on the other side of the pan, scramble two eggs.
5. Add in boiled broccoli and sweetcorn
6. Combine the veggies and eggs and stir in cooked quinoa.
7. Add salt and pepper to taste and paprika
8. Add soy sauce and sriracha/chili paste
9. Finish with spring onions.
10. Enjoy!

~ N

                        

Travel : New York, New York

The city that never sleeps really is amazing- it's one of these places that you need to keep going back to, especially if you are a big foodie and shopaholic! My friends and I spent a week there- we covered all the touristy sights and sounds, wining and dining and draining our wallets with lots of shopping of course!

Looking for some recommendations..? Here are some of My most memorable experiences:

• Eats: Foragers (organic food and great wine) ,  Buddhakhan (Thai fusion) and Sarabeth's (ideal for Sunday brunch).
  
• Exploring: Flat Iron Room (amazing jazz bar out in the flat iron district), Brooklyn's park slope, walks around Central Park, strolling along the High Line and a visit to the WTC memorial site.
  
• Shopping: great shops out on times square, but I found that the best value for money deals was out in an outlet shopping centre called Woodbury Common (located 45-60 minutes from the city centre).

Here are some highlights from my eventful week! enjoy :)

-S



Needs no introduction...The Empire State!



Amazing tapas at this cozy little winery "Caselulla"



Spring displays at Macy's






Lobster and Shrimp rolls out on Park Slope-Brooklyn




The New WTC





Bright lights and late nights out at Times Square  




Lady Liberty needs no introduction either!



Chelsea Street Market- meat packing district




Awesome graffiti seen from the High Line



Bath & Body Works Haul

 

My candle obsession is real! Why don't we have a Bath & Body works store in london.. I just don't understand! So when I do visit a country that does have Bath & Body Works -this happens.... 

 

The scents I bought are - Georgia Peach (I think this is a new one and I much prefer the older packaging), Cherry Blossom Sangria, Pumpkin Cupcake, Frosted Cranberry, Sweet Cinammon Pumpkin and Cinnamon Sugared Doughnut. I tried the Cinammon Sugared one and it was incredible - my room smelt like a doughnut even the next day - and I can't resist giving the candle a sniff everytime I go past it! Can't wait to try out the others!

 

~ N

                                                               

Healthy eating : Foodilic

Foodilic is a new discovery of mine - tucked away on a busy road just a short walk away from Kings Cross station - provides healthy, mostly organic food including a wide range of organic and raw salads ideal for vegetarians and vegans. I am neither, and I still loved the food here, it was both filling and tasty. My choice of meal was a vegetarian quiche with feta cheese and spinach, lovely roasted sweet potatoes ( my fav!) beautifully seasoned and a cous cous and  broccoli salad with cherry tomatoes - I loved it.


This is the only branch in London - and I can't wait for more to open - if you're looking for some tasty  and healthy food, try Foodilic.



~ N

Baking blondies!

Here's our recipe for baking mouth watering blondies. Its super quick and easy to make, and tastes so light and fluffy!

What you need:

• 2 eggs
• 125 grams unsalted butter (room temperature)
• 200 grams of flour
• 1 big white chocolate bar
• 100 grams of pecan nuts/milk chocolate chips (whichever you like better)
• 150 grams of caster sugar
• 1.5 tablespoons of vanilla extract
• A pinch of salt

Step by step:

1. Switch oven to 170 °C (Gas mark 3)

2. Break up 2/3 of the chocolate bar into bite sized chunks and place into a bowl which contains butter. Put the bowl into a pan of boiled water. The heat will allow the chocolate and butter to melt rapidly

3. Add caster sugar into the melted mixture and mix together

4. Next add in the vanilla extract along with 2 eggs and stir vigorously

5. Add in a pinch of salt into the mixture and stir in the flour bit by bit

6. Lastly, add in the pecan nuts/ milk chocolate chips

7. Pour the stirred mixture into a baking tray and leave in the oven for 35 minutes. Once baked, leave blondies out to cool for 10 minutes. 

8. Dig in and enjoy this heavenly dessert!

Chelsea day out

We had such a lovely bank holiday weekend in Chelsea!

Our day began with a seriously good brunch at french brasserie Côte where we tucked into lots of fluffy eggs and mouth watering french toast...

We then headed toward King's road where we fell in love with all the amazing spring flowers. This time of year makes me so happy to see the bright colours everywhere!

And then course our retail therapy needs kicked in and we visited the AMAZING anthropologie store. 

They have such a great collection of products ranging from accessories to novelty pieces for the home. I ended up buying a pear and whipped cream candle, which smells so so good!

Chelsea is such a nice part of london, if you are looking for something to do this spring weekend, this is the place to go!

Travel : Berlin

Hallo!

The Museum Island - I love this picture and I think I want to get married here!

I recently visited Berlin and I thought I'd share some pictures. 

Visiting Berlin from London (where I live) was a breath of fresh air - I was very surprised at how calm and chilled out the city and all the people were - a contrast from the busy and fast-paced life that all us Londoners experience! 

The city was so full of culture and history - and being a bit of a history buff meant I loved it. From the remnants of the Berlin Wall to Hitler's bunker, Berlin has experienced some of the most significant historic moments of our time. Here's some pictures that I took.
-N

The famous Brandenburg Gate

Origins face mask: Dehydrated skin

Origins is a new favourite brand of mine - it uses organic plant-based high quality ingredients free from any harsh chemicals and parabens.

Drink-up Intensive - overnight mask to replenish skins thirst

I bought this because my skin is quite dehydrated and dull and I wanted something that would put moisture back in my skin. The first thing I loved about this product was the smell - fruity and fresh smelling. I apply a little product (it goes a long way) in the night and let it dry for a couple of seconds and it is absorbed completely and it leaves your skin feeling nice and refreshed. Come morning, my skin is definitely more 'bouncy' and hydrated.
-N

Lazy Sunday but can't forget the most important meal of the day...

We are major breakfast fans- smoothies, granola, cereal, oats- you name it!

Currently I am loving my Sunday brekkie special. It's super easy to make and all you need is: 

• 4 tablespoons of greek yoghurt
• A handful of granola
• 1 Chopped banana
• 1 tablespoon of lemon curd
• 1 table spoon of agave nectar

There you have it, super fast to make and ultra healthy!
-S

Healthy cooking weekend!

So Naz and I have been wanting to get down to some relaxing and healthy weekend cooking for the longest time. Last weekend we got some inspiration from foodie guru Jamie Oliver and the Minimalist Baker, channelling it towards cooking up a super nutritious lunch with lots of protein and wholesome goodness!

What was on the menu? 

-Mixed mexican quinoa salad
-Oven baked soft and sweet butternut squash
-Rosemary, oregano and lemon chicken, drizzled in olive oil

Ingredients required and steps to follow:

1.Mixed mexican quinoa salad

INGREDIENTS

• 1 packet of Mixed Greens 
• 1 cup cooked quinoa 
• 1/2 cup canned corn 
• 1 cup cooked chili black beans 
• 1/4 cup red onion, diced 
• 2 ripe avocados, chopped 

DRESSING

• lemon juice (approx 3 tablespoons) 
• 1-2 tsp sweetener of choice ( agave nectar/honey) 
• 0.5 tsp cumin powder 
• 0.5 tsp chili powder 
• Healthy pinch each sea salt and black pepper 
• 3-4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil 

INSTRUCTIONS

1.Rinse and boil quinoa for 15 minutes. once cooked, drain and leave it to cool.

2.Meanwhile, prepare salad ingredients by chopping up the avocado and onion. Don't forget to warm up the the black beans!

3.Toss all the salad ingredients together into a large salad bowl and leave in the fridge to chill for a few minutes.

4.Prepare dressing. No blender is required for the dressing- just measure out and add in the ingredients.Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.

5.Fold in and mix the dressing into your salad ingredients, leaving it to chill for 20-30 minutes.


2. Oven baked soft and sweet butternut squash

INGREDIENTS

• 1 large butternut squash 
• 3-4 tablespoons of single cream 
• to season: a drizzle of olive oil, a few sprigs of thyme, pinch of salt and pepper 

INSTRUCTIONS

1.Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/gas 6.
2. Roughly cut through the butternut squash, slicing it into chunky wedges
3.place into a baking tray which has already been seasoned with a drizzle of olive oil. Add in the thyme, salt and pepper, mixing it all in together by hand
4. layer single cream evenly on top of the seasoned butternut squash
5. Place into oven for 30-35 minutes.

6. Taste is better with a little extra cream on the side!


3. Rosemary, lemon and oregano chicken

INGREDIENTS

• 4 medium sized chicken thighs 
• a pinch of chili powder 
• juice of half a lemon 
• Drizzle of olive oil 
• A pinch of salt and pepper 
• A dash of rosemary and oregano 

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/gas 6.
2.Place chicken thighs in a large mixing bowl, and add all remaining ingredients above to it.
3.fold and mix the seasoning into the chicken.
4.Once seasoned, place the chicken thighs into a baking tray, leaving it to cook in the middle of the oven for 25 to 35 minutes


And there you have it, lunch is served! Simple ingredients, easy steps to follow and delicious results :)