Tuesday, 17 March 2015

New Season Picks


This Friday is the Spring Equinox, which means we can finally ditch the tights and thick knits without shame and prance around in the fields like those two cuties! Apparently we're going to have a heatwave over Easter, so with this in mind, it's important to prepare our wardrobes for a change in the weather. Here are my picks of the new season's fashion!

Let's all channel Keira Knightley (who is somehow still managing to look chic and not at all whale-like despite being very pregnant) and dress in pastels, romantic fabrics and floral prints.

photo from vogue.com

TOPSHOP
Crochet Tunic Dress


Crochet Tunic Dress
Crochet is back in! Edgier than lace, more fun than plain fabric, white crochet has been a summer essential for years, and for good reason. This cute dress from Topshop will take you from shopping to garden party to cocktails in the pub with ease. 

KROME Metallic Fringe Loafers
I am a big fan of the loafer. They're comfy, and they can be dressed up or down with no effort at all. Plus they're much comfier than heels. You literally cannot lose with loafers. These ones are metallic which makes them even more exciting.
Strappy Cami by Wal G
It's pink and silky and strappy. Need I say more?

ASOS

Image 1 of ASOS Lisbon Skinny Mid Rise Jeans in Washed Black with Two Displaced Ripped Knees

Lisbon Skinny Mid-Rise Jeans
Now that it's a bit warmer you can actually wear those trendy ripped jeans you bought a few months ago but had to avoid because your knees got chilly. Crack out the fake tan (now the sun's out you can claim it's real, right?) and expose those knees!

Image 1 of Esprit Checked Cape

Esprit Checked Cape
For those slightly chillier days, there's nothing like wrapping yourself in a cape which is essentially a blanket. Although Madonna has taught us a serious lesson about cape-wearing, this one doesn't tie at the neck so it's hazard free.

Image 3 of Jeepers Peepers Cat Eye Sunglasses

Jeepers Peepers Cat Eye Sunglasses
I have been obsessed with the cat eye shape ever since I discovered that they actually suit me better than any other style of sunglasses. Big oversized cat eye sunglasses make you look like an instant Hollywood glamazon even if you're feeling really rough. Channel your inner Audrey Hepburn.

JACK WILLS
RITSON SUEDE BAG

The Ritson Suede Bag
I dream of this bag. Potentially the best shade of pink around. It's in the sale at the moment so get it while you can! I would suggest spraying it with a waterproofing spray for suede though, just in case you get caught in a shower.

BILBROOK BRACELET

The Bilbrook Bracelet
This would be a perfect gift for friends with Spring birthdays, or you can just treat yourself! I love this shade of bluey-grey.


Happy shopping!

Easy Macaroni Cheese




Spring is finally here! Stay tuned for my pick of all the new season goodies out there, but right now I have a recipe I absolutely have to share with you. 
I've been working on my mac 'n' cheese recipe all term. It's something I'd never made before uni and had somehow got to third year without making (other than ready meal versions - one of my absolute favourites is from Amy's Kitchen). When I got round to trying it, it wasn't quite as easy as I'd imagined, and no recipe seemed to help me! So I've been practising and I've finally devised my own really simple, student-friendly version. Let me know if it works for you!

Serves 1

Ingredients
macaroni pasta (your usual quantity for one, I don't have scales!)
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp plain flour
semi-skimmed or full fat milk
1 handful mature cheddar cheese, grated
about 20g grated parmesan (the type you get pre-grated to sprinkle on things)
salt & pepper to season

you will need a whisk!

  1. Throw your pasta into a pan of boiling, salted water. Let this cook while you're making the sauce, for as long as it says on the packet (usually about 10-15 mins).
  2. In a milk pan, heat up the oil for a minute, then sprinkle in the flour. Make sure the quantities of oil and flour are roughly equal. Stir or whisk them together until the mixture looks golden. (This forms a roux - you can use a chunk of butter instead of oil but I never have it in the fridge and oil works equally well). 
  3. Add milk to the pan and whisk on a low heat - I'm not sure exactly how much milk it is, but it's probably about 1.5 large mugs...basically enough to make sauce for one. Use your instincts - you can do it!
  4. Once the sauce is bubbling it will start to reduce. When you think it's thickening, add your cheeses! You can experiment with various types of cheese but I've found that cheddar on its own doesn't really work. Stir in until the cheese is melted in, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Drain the pasta and pour the sauce over it, then swirl around and make sure the pasta is fully covered in cheesy goodness. 
  6. If you have any willpower to not devour it right now, you can put the pasta in an oven-proof dish and bake it in the oven to make the top go all crispy (sprinkle with extra cheese first) but otherwise, dig in!

Saturday, 7 March 2015

Shakshouka Dipping Eggs




I've seen so many recipes lately for exotic breakfast and brunch dishes and have struggled to make the leap away from the classic Full English, crispy warm pastries or American-style fluffy pancakes, but this morning called for something a little more exciting. So I whipped up my own version of a recipe I read a few months ago on The Londoner, adjusted for student living by adding extra laziness and taking away some ingredients! It took me about half an hour in total to prep and cook and it went down very well with a grateful housemate - who I'd persuaded to join me on a very messy Friday night out with the promise of breakfast!

Serves 2

Ingredients:
1 red pepper
1 tbsp olive oil (or any oil suitable for frying)
1 carton/tin chopped tomatoes
2 or 3 large eggs - depending on how hungry you are!
Oregano and/or basil
Mild chilli powder
Worcestershire Sauce
Salt & Pepper
4 or more slices of bread for toasting, and butter!


1. Heat up the oil in a small-medium sized frying pan or skillet. Chop your pepper into small-ish chunks, remembering not to include the seeds! 
2. Soften the chopped peppers by frying them gently for a few minutes. I use the colour of the oil as a clue to whether they're soft enough - it goes orange from the juice when they're cooking.
3. Add the chopped tomatoes and stir. To make sure you don't leave any in the carton or tin, put a little water in it and swirl around before pouring into the pan. 
4. Add a splash of Worcestershire Sauce, about a teaspoon of mild chilli powder (or more if you want it extra spicy), and herbs to taste. My tomatoes had basil in them already but you could add your own to plain tomatoes, and oregano always works amazingly. Salt and tomatoes are best friends! Be generous with the salt at this point but add it gradually and taste as you go along to make sure it's not too much.  Let the mixture bubble for about 5 mins to cook off any excess water.
5. Crack in your eggs! This is the exciting part. My pan fits about 3 large eggs but it was a generous helping for two - 2 eggs would be fine. Try not to break the yolk so that you can dip in later.
6. Let it bubble away on a medium heat until the eggs are cooked - you will be able to tell because the egg white will no longer be transparent, just like poaching eggs in water. 
7. Season with black pepper and extra salt if needed, then serve in the pan (on a chopping board so you don't scorch the table!) with a pile of buttery toast to dip with. Serious comfort food.


Let me know if you try it by commenting below! 

Tuesday, 6 January 2015

DIY Personal Pizza



January is upon us and many of you will be attempting to start a super healthy diet. I'm proud of you, keep at it! But, unfortunately, my love of good food is a little too strong for me to eat nothing but kale and quinoa for the foreseeable future. My car decided to play up today and after a scout round the kitchen I realised that we had very little in the way of food for lunch. So, rather than risking a trip out to the shop, I devised a super-fast and simple pizza recipe for one which you should be able to whip up with whatever you have in the fridge. You can make it as healthy or as unhealthy as you like, but it's definitely better than ordering in because you know exactly what's in it!

Ingredients
for the dough
70g self-raising flour
pinch of salt
15g butter (if you don't have block butter, spreadable stuff eg. lurpack works fine!)
40ml milk
olive oil 

for the topping
tomato puree/ passata
cheese (of your choice)
oregano (dried)
salt and pepper, to taste
any toppings you want!

You can make the pizza for more people by multiplying the quantities!

  • Preheat the oven to 160 degrees C (fan assisted).
  • Pizza dough can be quite tricky, and lots of recipes use yeast. It took me a while to get it to the right consistency, so be patient! 
  • First, sieve the flour into a mixing bowl and add a little salt. Drop the butter into the bowl and rub into the flour with your fingers until it is the consistency of breadcrumbs. Put flour on your hands so the dough doesn't stick to your fingers, then pour in your milk slowly and knead into a dough. If it's really sticky, keep adding extra flour bit by bit until it's a soft, stretchy dough. Equally, if it's too dry and not sticking together, add more milk. 
  • Grease a baking tray with oil and stretch the dough out into the shape you want - if you're feeling unconventional maybe make a rectangular pizza! Or a heart shape if you want to impress your other half. (Side note - I was once presented with a heart-shaped pizza at a restaurant in Florence and it made my day. Definitely a great romantic gesture for food lovers.) It should be about 1cm thick but really, the thinner the better. Just make sure there aren't any holes!
  • Now the fun begins. Spread a few teaspoons of tomato puree (Or a dessert spoon of passata if you're using it) all over the base, leaving about 1cm of crust round the edge. I usually add chopped garlic because I think it goes amazingly with tomato. I then added 4 quartered cherry tomatoes, but if you're using fresh tomatoes be careful not to use too many because the juice will make the dough go soggy.
  • Then sprinkle on your cheese of choice - be careful if you're using mozzarella (the fresh white type, not the grated yellow stuff), because it is very wet and will also make the dough go soggy if you use too much. I used flakes of cheddar, but you could also use goats cheese (yum) or whatever you fancy.
  • Add any other toppings you like. You can use anything that's already cooked, so that means the scraps of leftover roast chicken in the fridge, salami, cooked ham, tuna, sweetcorn, whatever. Do NOT use any raw meat or fish. Just don't overload the dough because it won't rise and you don't want an uncooked pizza - use a little of each ingredient and distribute it evenly across the whole base.
  • Sprinkle a generous pinch of oregano over the top and add salt and pepper to taste. Fresh basil leaves also work really well if you have them. Drizzle with a little olive oil (preferably extra virgin) and bung in the oven for about 20 mins, or until the dough is golden round the edges. Even if the toppings looked cooked, the dough is more important!
Serve with your condiments of choice, or a generous heap of coleslaw like I did, and enjoy!




A photo posted by Liv Soutter (@livsoutter) on


Friday, 17 October 2014

What's In My Makeup Bag?




I normally don't encourage snooping into girls' beauty secrets, but some things need to be shared. I've bought a lot of new beauty products in the last few months and have discovered some real gems that I just had to post about! 


Face

Nivea Soft moisturising cream. I've sworn by this stuff since it saved me from some pretty horrendous sunburn when I was younger. It's very mild and has a clean, simple scent so you can use it on your face, body or hands. It comes in the classic Nivea tubs as well but this tube is really handy.

No7 Stay Perfect Foundation. I only converted to this recently after using Revlon foundation for ages, but it is reaaalllly good and stays on even on a 10 hour shift. I have a huge amount of No7 products (as you will see!) because they're such good value for the quality, plus they have the match-made service where they use a clever digital thingy to work out your exact skin tone, and they match your foundation and lipstick to it! Genius! I personally find I usually don't even need moisturiser underneath this if I'm in a hurry, it's exactly the right texture and weight for a liquid foundation.

No7 Stay Perfect Primer. I never used to use primer, but I recently tried a sample of this and had to buy a whole tube. It is velvety soft and makes your makeup stay on for such a long time. It definitely evens out any flaws in your complexion as well. SO worth spending a bit of money on this.

Soap & Glory Hocus Focus Instant Visual Flaw-Softening Illuminator. I bought this on a bit of a whim because I liked the packaging, but it turned out to be a real gem! It brightens up your skin when it's looking dull or tired and you can use it on its own as a highlighter or under your foundation. I wouldn't say it covers up flaws completely but it does soften them a little - perhaps more of an illuminator than anything else!

Maybelline Matte Maker Mattifying Powder. It's taken me a while to find a powder that actually stays on and this is the one. Stops your skin from looking shiny and mattifies your foundation, sealing it in place. I often use it on its own instead of foundation because the coverage is so good. Make sure you get the right one for your skin tone though, especially if you're as pale as I am!

Bourjois Paris Blusher in 41 Bonne Mine. Bourjois was the first blusher I ever used, and after a long stint using Estee Lauder and then Chanel I just went back to them with this gorgeous peachy shade 'Bonne Mine' or 'Healthy Mix' in English. The smell of it brings back memories and I love the little pots with a mirror and brush inside! It's a lot more blendable than other blushers and they have a great range of shades to suit everyone. Definitely something to treat yourself to.

Side note - I use Chanel brushes for everything except foundation, but I can't remember where my foundation brush is from. 

Malin + Goetz Vitamin E Face Moisturiser. I really like this moisturiser for the face - it does the job without being heavy and it doesn't have a particular scent. A bit more suited to everyday use than Nivea Soft which is better for more intensive moisturising. 

Eyes

Soap & Glory You Won't Believe Your Eyes - Tired Eye Brightening Moisture Serum. Over the Summer I was working a lot in the heat and my eyes were suffering, getting really puffy and itchy when I woke up in the morning and I was also getting huge bags under my eyes from the early starts. This serum really helped to make me look human again and the metal roll-on balls are about as soothing as you can get. Great for hangovers and 9am lectures.

Maybelline Cover Stick. I've been using this since I was a teenager to cover up spots but nowadays it's more useful for those pesky dark circles from late nights. They've changed the packaging and the texture since I first started using it and both are really improved; it's creamier and less goopy than before so it doesn't feel like you're clogging up your pores as much. Nevertheless a timeless classic!

L'Oreal Paris Color Appeal in 151 Pure Gold. I only ever wear brown, green, grey or gold eyeshadow on a regular basis because I have green eyes and nothing else really matches! This gold eyeshadow from L'Oreal is SO GOLD and looks like Christmas, but you can wear it all year round for a glamorous party look. It actually stays on as well.

No7 Stay Perfect Metallic Eyes Pencil in Purple. Purple eyeliner makes green eyes look greener don'tcha know. I got this for free in a No7 gift bag and it is probably the best eyeliner pencil I have ever used. It's really soft and creamy and there's a sponge thing on the other end to blend with, plus it stays on for hours. I think I might have to get it in black as well!

No7 Stay Precise Liquid Liner in Black. I usually prefer felt tip-style liquid eyeliners but this is pretty good as far as the brush ones go. It's easy to apply (as easy as liquid eyeliner gets, anyway) and stays on well, although if you rub your eyes it does come off. I do really like how black it is though, particularly for a 60s look.

No7 Extreme Length Waterproof Mascara in Black. I wasn't lying when I said I have a lot of No7 makeup! I've tried so many different mascaras over the years and I think this is the best I've ever used. I don't have massively long eyelashes so the lengthening ability is really important, and this stuff really does its job. It volumises as well, and is really pigmented so you get a proper black. It's not waterproof to the extent that it completely stays on in the shower but it doesn't run when I cry at Paul O'Grady's For the Love of Dogs. 

Lips

No7 Moisture Drench Lipstick in Rose Blush. I've never been a big lipstick wearer because it comes off so easily and I hate worrying about whether I need to run off and put more on when I'm out. Sometimes, though, a girl just needs to put on some lipstick for a confidence boost and this is the best I've ever used. It's a darkish rose pink colour, and it doesn't come off much at all, even on wine glasses. It's called Moisture Drench for a reason - it feels really nourishing, even edging towards the texture of a lipbalm. I'd definitely recommend No7 lipsticks if you haven't already tried them! And no, they're not paying me!

No7 BB Lips Beauty Balm in Berry Rose and Blink Pink. These are great because they're halfway between a lipgloss and a lipstick with all the moisturising and SPF properties of a balm. I actually think these stay on better than lipstick does and they're not as intense so you can blend them in to the level of colour you want. Basically a matte lipgloss without the stickiness.

Chanel Lipgloss in Shade A12. I've used this so much that all the writing on the bottle is worn off so I can't give you the full details but let me tell you, this is the ONLY lipgloss I've ever used that isn't painfully sticky and gross. The colour lasts for longer than you'd think and it's really moisturising as well - exactly what you'd expect from Chanel! Even though this shade is bright orange in the bottle, when it's on it comes out as more of a coral. 

Carmex Cherry Lip Balm. So, I have literally been using this tiny pot of lip balm since I was about 15. It's amazing. It will solve all your chapped, dry lipped problems in life. It has some magic ingredient in it, which I think is probably menthol, that makes your lips tingle amazingly when you use it, and it smells soooo goooood. Get it, thank me later.

Malin + Goetz Lip Moisturiser. This stuff is a much more recent find and it's also really good. It's a citrusy-smelling transparent goop that leaves your lips looking plump and shiny while moisturising them, and has a really cool silky texture. Doesn't tingle like Carmex but then again, you probably don't always want tingly lips. Because it's clear, rather than a more vaseline-like yellowy colour, you can wear it instead of a lipgloss. 

Hands

Crabtree & Evelyn Avocado, Olive and Basil Ultra-Moisturising Hand Therapy. This will rescue your hands from that awful Winter dryness and it smells amazing. I don't even like avocado that much but this just smells so good. And it really does leave your hands feeling super soft. 


I hope you enjoyed this insight into my makeup bag! Leave me a comment if you try any of the products mentioned or if you use them too!

Tuesday, 14 October 2014

Tuesday Bluesday

I do not own this photo!

Tuesday is my least favourite day of the week. Mostly because it's the end of my five day weekend - side note, I fully expected to spend those five free days relaxing, watching movies, exercising and having a social life but instead find myself stuck in reading ENDLESS articles and books for my degree, got to love third year - but also because it's just a rubbish day, especially at the moment when it just won't stop raining!
Everyone needs to be cheered up sometimes, so here are some of my best mood-boosters.


  • Disney movies
Whenever I'm feeling really crappy, one of the only things that can cheer me up is a Disney movie.
Here are my top 10:
1. Aristocats - timelessly jazzy and obviously amazing because it's about cats.
2. Mary Poppins - Julie Andrews is the bomb. Plus Dick Van Dyke's "accent".
3. Lady and the Tramp - another old school animal romance with a phenomenal soundtrack.
4. Pocahontas - John Smith. Yes.
5. Beauty and the Beast - because Angela Lansbury as a teapot.
6. Tangled - for the lanterns scene and Pascal.
7. Brave - for Scotland.
8. Hercules - genuinely hilarious and actually quite educational.
9. Lion King 2 - bear with me on this one: the second installment doesn't have the trauma of Mufasa's death and the music is joyful.
10. High School Musical - Embrace it. You know you want to.


  • Pancakes
A dark cloud was hanging over me today after realising I'm going to be phone-less for two weeks, but instead of getting down I decided to make pancakes. After I'd wolfed three down everything seemed right with the world.
I always use Jamie Oliver's recipe, which is absolutely foolproof. Top with whatever you fancy and thank me later.

1 egg
1 cup self-raising flour
1 cup milk
pinch of salt


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When life gives you lemons, there are two options: tequila or pancakes. Or both. 🍋 #secrettohappiness


  • Cats 
If you're not a cat person, sorry, but nothing cheers me up like a cute kitty. At uni we can't have pets so I have to substitute the real thing with photos and videos. My current favourite cat on instagram is dragonthomas, but I'm also loving the twitter feed of Why My Cat Is Sad for a good giggle.


  • Baths
Nothing is better for the soul than a good soak in a bubble bath. Here's my pick of the best soapy goodies to make you feel 100% better. (Click on the images to shop!)
Radox Relax Bath Soak with Lavender & WaterlilyBuy Tisserand Lavender Walk Bath Oil, 100ml Online at johnlewis.comBuy TOM FORD Jasmin Rouge Soap Bar, 150g Online at johnlewis.com

  • Chocolate and Icecream
They go hand in hand. I usually go for the classic Cadbury's or Ben & Jerry's  (who doesn't?!) but if you're feeling like a change, here are some alternatives:
Green and Black's Milk ChocolateMagnum white chocolate ice cream barSainsbury's Raspberry Sorbet Image for Cadbury Fingers 114g from Sainsbury'sSainsbury's Swiss Milk Chocolate, Taste the Difference Haagen Dazs Cookies and Cream Icecream

I hope this made your Tuesday a little brighter.
Say hello in the comments section to put a smile on my face!

Saturday, 11 October 2014

Lemon, Garlic and Ginger Prawn Spaghetti

bellaitaliaproducts.com wholewheat spaghetti



OJSoutter Prawn Spaghetti

Feeling a little the worse for wear after a Friday night out usually leads to a greasy fry up or a takeaway the next day. Today I was feeling far too guilty to order in, so I decided to knock up a quick and simple spaghetti dish. Prawns are my absolute favourite and this is definitely a healthy option compared to takeaways but with all the taste! My friend asked me to give her the recipe so here it is.

Ingredients (to serve 1)
1 pack of pre-prepared prawns (about 200g)
1/2 cup frozen peas
2 cloves of garlic
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger (adjust to taste)
3 teaspoons soy sauce
a splash of oil
juice of 1/2 lemon
1 portion spaghetti (about 60-75g depending on how hungry you are)

Put a pan of water on to boil (I usually fill a medium pan about half way).
While it's heating up, peel and finely chop the garlic cloves. When the water is bubbling throw in the spaghetti. I use wholewheat spaghetti which takes 12-14 minutes to cook. 
Once the spaghetti has been simmering for about 10 minutes, heat up the oil in a separate pan. Once it's hot, add the garlic and brown on a medium heat. Throw in the prawns (if they're already cooked you're just heating them through, if they're uncooked wait for them to turn pink) and then add the ginger and soy sauce and give them a good stir to mix all the ingredients together. 
Drain your spaghetti once it's fully cooked and add to the prawn pan. Add your frozen peas and the lemon juice. I use the juice of half a lemon but some people might prefer less, so add it bit by bit to taste. You can also add black pepper or chilli powder if you want to spice it up a bit. 
Stir for a few minutes until the peas have defrosted and everything is heated through, then serve and enjoy!

OJSoutter Prawn Spaghetti

Leave me a comment if you try the recipe and let me know what you think!
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