Typecast

I'm very much a ''throw it all in and hope for the best" type of cook. I sort of follow recipes but always experiment and attempt to try out adaptations.  I recently had a whole load of vegetables that were about to become past their best and needed to use them up so I had a glance at a recipe online, took note of what I had, threw it all in a pot and kept my fingers crossed.  It was one of the best things I've ever made and has become much-requested in this house. If you have ever followed any of my other recipes , you'll know that I don't do much measuring so everything is adaptable.  This recipe makes six to eight large portions and is ideal for lunch with a crusty loaf or as a starter for a main meal.  Video : How To Make Vegetable Soup in 18 seconds Ingredients 4-6 carrots 2 sweet potatoes 2 peppers (any colour) 2 sticks of celery 1 large leek 6 smallish potatoes 2 small onions (I used red onion) ¼ celeriac 1 litre of ...

Keeping up a monthly series is Hard Work .  With all the good intentions of doing this monthly round-up (which I love pulling together) I didn't bother in November or December so you didn't get the promised learning experiences including: My disappointment when my doppleganger didn't contact me (see October's 'Things I Learnt In...' ) but she was probably too freaked out at the message she received via Facebook. The full rundown (no pun intended) of the two 10k races and a 5k Santa Dash I participated in. A mention for ' Girls Against ' - a group of young women who are campaigning against groping at gigs. The time I learnt that your quiz book won't fend for itself on Amazon. That you can make a London Undergroup map from Quality Street chocolates . Grandchildren will say the best part of Christmas dinner is sitting at the big table and not a separate 'children's table' Getting Danny Boyle and Quentin Tarintino  in an interview t...

As I sit and type this, I can hear the rain battering the lounge window. All day at work I have been facing the window, watching the heavens open and deliver yet more water onto an already sodden ground. I don't remember a winter like this in recent years; it's just so... wet! In some respects we are very lucky where we live - at the top of a road that leads downhill. We aren't really at risk of flooding however, two streets in each direction were on red warnings over the Christmas period for flooding because of the way the rivers flow through the town. I'm so used to watching news reports of flood victims further down the country that to have severe warnings so close to home made us rethink a number of things such as our contingency plan for living arrangements, what we would have to move upstairs in order to save precious items and what our insurance would cover! It's not just us that have been thinking about the long-term effects though. Simpson Millar...

When you start any new hobby it's important to have the right tools for the job. Last year I filmed a little video which showed you what I wear when I go running (you can watch it at the end of this blog post) and whilst the basic tools and rules are the same, I'm a little bit more serious about the whole running thing now, having upped my distance and having set a few long term goals. I have winter and summer variations but the basics are the same, so here are my top tips for clothing and accessories for when you are running or jogging. 1.  High Visibility Outerwear There is a reason that a lot of running clothes are available in garish neon colours - it's so you can be easily seen day and night by other road and footpath users. I really recommend wearing something with reflective strips too if running in the dark (or early morning/late night). My jacket is bright yellow and is from  Ron Hill (via SportsShoes.com) . 2.  A Hat I favour a lightwei...

I have always been a fan of having scents wafting gently around the house to get rid of all the boy smells . My husband likes to burn incense/joss sticks and I've always been a fan of scented candles, wax melts and diluted essential oils.  First a little background. What is Aromatherapy? Aromatherapy, also referred to as Essential Oil Therapy, can be defined as the art and science of utilizing naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, harmonise and promote the health of the mind, body and soul. It seeks to unify physiological, psychological and spiritual processes to enhance your innate healing process. Prior to Christmas I was trying out some new essential oils that had been sent to me by Becky at  Essence of Arcadia  along with a 'recipe book' which explained what each oil was to be used for and how to mix different oils to create different moods. First of all, Essence of Arcadia is a British company - and you know how I feel abou...

Pippa is one of the old crew... one of the 2009 squad of bloggers that I'm privileged to call my friends. I love that I know I can tune into her blog and be treated to positive reading material that will encourage me to eat healthily, give me great ideas for fun with the grandchildren and inspirational updates to make me re-engage with life with a more positive outlook.  I adore every single one of the songs that she chose for her Soundtrack To My Life (and even the ones she didn't choose - you'll see what I mean when you reach her final choice) and the memories she shares.  I know you'll enjoy them too...  ¨¨°º©©º°¨¨ Always a A Woman - Billy Joel I love this song. I first heard it when I was working in a Children's Boutique when I was about 17. I sold suits to babies. Anyway. There were maybe four CD's that the owner allowed to be played and a Billy Joel album was one of them. I knew a few of his songs, but it was this song, Always a Woman , th...

I am in a really fortunate position to be able to come home from work and have a freshly cooked meal waiting on the table most evenings, as my husband is at home. We have recently been trying out a recipe box from Riverford  which has been a convenient and enjoyable experience. Using a subscription service, Riverford deliver a box to your door each week which contains three meals for two people and includes all (yes, ALL) the ingredients and three easy-to-follow recipe cards to create these meals. The only store cupboard additions you'll have to supply are salt and pepper for seasoning and oil for cooking.  These boxes are great for a few reasons. All the products are fresh, organic and locally produced or sourced and they come with full unpacking and storage instructions (i.e. a bag of products for the fridge, measured ingredients for the store cupboard, fresh produce either insulated or wrapped in a cool pack). But what impressed me the most was the way in w...