Monday, 7 January 2013

January dinners: Burrito!



Although the Turkey is (thankfully) now a distant memory, I still have a few leftovers still to use up. Not only that, my bank balance is looking rather depleted. By depleted, read empty. Early nights and dark cold mornings mean that I want good, wholesome food. No money means I have a little more time than usual to spend preparing food. Enter the Bean Burrito!

Start by making the bean mix:

-          * Chop and peel onions and carrots, fry in a little oil until softened

-           * Add a teaspoon of: Dijon mustard, runny honey, garlic puree, molasses, coriander powder, soy sauce

-          *  Add a half teaspoon of: dried Thyme, Smoked Paprika, Chilli powder, Clove powder

-           * Fry for about half a minute

-           * Add cooked Kidney beans, Haricot beans, black beans, and sweetcorn (you can simply just open a few tins here, remember to drain liquid away first)

-          * Puree a tin of chopped tomatoes and add to the pan. Season to taste.

-          * Cook on a low heat for about an hour (either by sticking a lid on the pan, or my choice, putting in the slow cooker on high)

  Then make up the Burritos:
-          * Heat corn tortillas in a microwave until just warm (makes them easier to handle). I should add that Old El Paso corn tortillas are currently three for two at Sainsbury.

-         * Spoon bean mix into centre of tortilla and fold in corners to make a parcel.

-          * Put the parcels on a greased baking sheet and cover with a mixture of grated cheddar and crumbled feta cheese

-          * Bake in oven until cheese is melted and the tortillas are starting to brown


And finally the Salsa, which you add to the top once the burritos are cooked:

Chop half a clove of garlic, a chunk of red pepper, a chunk of orange pepper, and 2 – 3 fresh mint leaves into mini pieces. Remove seeds of a big chunky tomato and chop into squares. Mix in olive oil and cider vinegar to taste.
 And there you have it! Bean burritos, perfect for keeping you warm on those cold winter evenings, and more importantly, perfect for when you have a cupboard full of tin cans and very little fresh ingredients left.
Enjoy!


Saturday, 5 January 2013

Hello blogworld, it's been awhile



Well it’s been awhile. I could give you a long description of where I have been and what I have been doing all this time, but I thought it might be easier to show you instead:

Yes, at the very end of 2011 those tell tale double blue lines appeared on a magic pee stick. And in August 2012 my little man was born. He’s now a sturdy four months old so hopefully I will have a little more time for blogging now.

Friday, 21 October 2011

Studio Artist with Jonas Wramell


Being an Oriflame representative, I was able to get my hands on some samples of the Studio Artist lipsticks a few weeks ago and finally this week the lipsticks arrived.

These are designed as an every day simple look and have a soft satin texture with the soft moisturising creaminess that I have come to expect from Oriflame lipsticks. The ten shades are all distinctive and on trend and are muted so give a really nice gentle finish but can be built up for more drama.
My favourites have to be Morrocan Pink and True Coral, and I have been rocking the Morrocan pink since my Oriflame haul arrived at the beginning of this week. My skin is light cool toned (MAC NW20) for reference.

Friday, 30 September 2011

60s inspired smoky eye

Perfecting the smoky eye look has always been something that I've struggled with. Partly due to my hooded eyes, but also partly because I just never quite had good enough tools/ products to perfect it with. Although I am unlucky enough to be afflicted with deep set eyes; I am also luckly enough to be blessed with almond shaped eyes so I love to emphasis this with an over exaggerated wing. Perfect for the smoky look.
To start, I used a neutral powder eyeshadow across the lid and a slightly darker neutral powder in the socket. I used Avon's new six eyeshadow neutral palette, which I have been really impressed with. It took me awhile to pluck up the courage to try Avon make up, I will admit, but I am very pleased I have as this one has not left my bag since! I used a black liner to line the outer half of the upper lid, specifically, Oriflame's Kajal eyeliner stick, a really soft liner that is super easy to work with.

Next, I smudged the eyeliner and applied a charcoal shadow above it and across further into the eyelid, using the same colour in the socket. I used the same shadow again to line underneath the eye in the outer corner and blend a silver/ grey shadow across the lid.

Apply mascara. I used Avon's Supercurlacious mascara which is my current favourite.

I was inspired to give the smoky eye look a whirl due to a special offer Oriflame are currently running - a smoky eye shadow palette and a neutral plumping lipstick for £10. Yes please, I said!
I chose the smoky black shadow and the plumping pink out of a choice of three shadows and three neutral toned lipsticks.

Lipstick and smoky eye palette = £9.95
Kajal eyeliner stick = £5.95
Supercurlacious mascara = £8.50
Neutral eyes palette =currently on special offer in Avon brochure 16 at a mere £4.99

The finished result below includes Oriflame Matt Control Foundation, MAC Mighty Aphrodite Blush; and on my brows... the HD Brow set that came to me as a part of September's Glossybox ! Having been a BeneFit BrowZings worshipper for the best part of seven years, I am shocked that I've found anything I like more; especially as it doesn't include any wax. I have a new saviour now!