It's official.  The christmas season is upon us... & with that comes the cold weather... (here in London)

Check out this coat further on the ZARA website.

This jacket is currently Out of Stock on the UK site-- but might have few sizes left at your local store! 

No morning is complete without a good cup of java. I for one love a good coffee - it just soothes me and prepares me for the day ahead. I love the smell of it, I love the taste, I love everything about it. I can't function before I've had my daily dose.

Only the best will do, my favourite is Lavazza Qualita Rossa because it reminds me of home and my grandparents with whom I've shared many cups after a good and tasty lunch. I start by putting ground coffee into my pot maker, add some water, put on the fire and take in the freshly roasted smell. It's the best scent to wake up to. It's effortless to make and way cheaper than store bought - - don't get me wrong, I love my on-the-go Starbucks or Costa Coffee but there is nothing I crave more than my homemade (or Tom-made) cappuccino.

Ingredients:

x2tsp of Ground coffee of your choice 

(My personal fave is Lavazza Rossa) 

x75ml of water 

(for the coffee)

x100ml milk of your choice 

(I usually use Rude Health Almond Milk) 

x1tsp of chocolate powder or cinnamon

(I use Green & Blacks dark organic chocolate powder)

+ 

a Pot Coffee Maker - mine is quite a mini one it holds about x2 espresso cups

Once the coffee has risen, I froth my milk with my mini electric whisk which I bought from the tiger store for a mere £2. Once it's frothed to the right consistency,  I add it to my espresso, and finish off with either cinnamon or chocolate powder sprinkles or if I'm feeling adventurous, I add a little of both.  At this point, it's ready to kick back and enjoy every sip as it comes. 

Contrary to many beliefs coffee is surprisingly healthy in moderation & comes with various nutrient value. Here are a few reasons to enjoy a cup a day (or perhaps even two).

-Increase Energy Levels

Despite being the most common one of all, most of us drink coffee for a pick me up other than the taste this is mainly due to the fact that coffee contains a stimulant called caffeine which gives us energy.  

- Antioxidants 

For one, it is considered have the biggest source of antioxidant more than fruit and vegetables which is important to help fight free radicals. Coffee can also help fight depression and manage mood and stress levels.

- Boost Metabolism and weightloss

Of course, without adding sugary syrups, a cup of coffee can actually aid in weight loss and help to fight obesity by burning fat besides also, cleaning out your system. It also helps with cravings and in result, eat less. 

- Improvement in Physical Performance 

It is suggested to have a strong coffee half an hour before a workout as it can help to give a boost by increasing adrenaline levels in the blood whilst also burning a few extra calories!

- Mental Health

Although Alzheimers and Dementia have no known cures to date, studies have shown that just having x2 cups a day  it can also decrease the possibility of contracting the disease later in life. 

One of the toughest things about living away from home is having to say bye to this cheeky monkey each time! I cannot wait to see him in two weeks time once I go down to Malta for a couple of days & I will no doubt find him right on his 'throne' ie: armchair where I last left him.. that is the life!

I cannot get enough of his cuteness. Can you spot his tooth in the last photo? he cracks me up!

Today is my day off & I decided to have my coffee & breakfast in bed. Not often do I get to do this but when I do it's pure and utter bliss. I plan to have a chill day && NOT get out of my jammies untill mid-morning once I change to my yoga clothes for a workout sess! 

What are your plans for today?

M x

I haven't had meat in ages! It would have been a shame to go for a traditional english roast without the stuffing & meat. Sometimes you just need to enjoy whats on your plate and the moment and not worry too much about restrictions. I have to admit that the whole dish was delicious but nothing beats the yorkshire puddings. I could eat about five of those -- they are just too good! 

After lunch, we were so eager to get home. First thing I did when I got home was make myself a hot cuppa'. 

& this is where I currently am right now , drinking my coffee whilst talking to you guys! Plan for the rest of the afternoon? Figure out more blog stuff whilst...

.....having a Walking Dead marathon & taking it easy. it's awesome! We started it two days ago and already on Season 2 , heads up though starting this show before bed time might not be a great idea - we locked our door for the first two nights haha!

Hello lovelies, 

This is a super tasty recipe that I want to share with you guys that can count as comfort food gone right, i usually cook this dish ahead of time to just heat up and have it ready after a long day of work! As much as possible I love to experiment and cook vegan food It's delicious and it makes me feel so good afterwards, i usually pair this curry with white rice however, i have recently been on the cauliflower rice bandwagon and added some kale into the mix. both are equally satisfying!

Ingredients:

x1can drained and washed chickpeas

x1 can of chopped tomatoes 

x1tbsp coconut milk 

x1 big sweet potato 

(or x2 small sweet potatoes)

x1tbsp of olive oil

x2 cloves of crushed garlic

x1tsp of red curry paste

x1tsp of garam masala

x1/2tsp of chilli powder

x1/2tsp of ginger powder 

salt & pepper to taste 

coriander (preferably fresh)

How to: 

 Before starting the curry lets get cooking the potatoes as this will take as long as the curry will take to cook, remove the skin of the potato and steam for 10/15 min or until they are softened. 

 crush the garlic and add it to a pan with the olive oil, once the oil is heated up put down the fire & add your curry paste, along with the different spices (ginger powder, Garam masala, chilli powder, salt) so that they all infuse nicely together. Make sure to not let the spices burn - add the chickpeas and let it cook for a minute before adding the chopped tomatoes & let simmer for the sauce to thicken. 

At this time, the potatoes should be ready to add in with the curry so just add it in followed by the coconut milk & coriander. 

You can either serve straight away with some rice & sautéed kale however, this dish is suitable for storing in a fridge or freezer for meal prepping ahead of time!

Bon Appetit! 

 M X

I am ending this post by finishing the day with a yogi tea! whilst being all warm and cuddly in bed! 

I hope you all enjoyed this post as much as I enjoyed making it.

What did you guys eat today?

Untill next time, 

M X 

Hi Lovelies, 

Start by sautéing the mushrooms in a little olive oil & sea salt, then add a splash of white wine & rosemary which will really compliment the shrooms! Tom & I have been on a mushroom craze lately...  you might start to pick this up with the recipes that I post. hehe 

Once the mushrooms have cooked nicely I added the Kale and let it wilt slightly and to absorb the aromas of the mushrooms. 

Not long after, I added the Cauliflower rice and just mix the whole thing together. let the cauliflower rice cook a few minutes just so it softens slightly. 

Once the whole dish is done crumble some feta & chop up some spring onion and just add to garnish along with salt & pepper! 

& voila .... 

If you had more time on your hands you could however add this on a sweet jacket potatoe like we did for lunch.. the whole combination was delicious and was worth the wait! 

I just smothered some olive oil on them with black pepper and just popped them in untill I could put a fork through them.

These bad boys took forever to cook in total it took a good 1hr & 30min. I think it's because they were a little large to the normal sized potatoes we usually buy! 

We could barely finish the potato which just makes amazing left overs for the the chickpea curry recipe (which you can find here) I'm going to make tomorrow! so it's a win win situation. 

Hope you enjoy this dish and let me know your thoughts! 

Bon appetit.

M X