Thai Coconut Bake | New Meal a Month

Back in January I listed my goals for 2013.  As we are nearly half way through the year I thought it was time to catch up and see how well I'm doing.

One aim was to try a new recipe each month, and my very first attempt was this Thai Coconut Bake, inspired by BBC Good Food.

Thai Coconut and Chicken Tray Bake (with Red Curry)

Cubed Squash

Mixing up breadcrumbs and dessicated coconut

Ready for the oven

Tah-dah! Dinner is served.

Ingredients:

• 1 cubed butternut squash
• 1 large aubergine cubed
• 3 tbsp desiccated coconut
• 4 tbsp fresh breadcrumbs
• 4 skinless chicken breasts
• 1 egg , beaten
• 2 tbsp Thai red curry paste
• handful coriander leaves, roughly chopped
• lime wedges, to serve

Optional: other veggies.  I like to add sweet potato and spinach, and you can leave out any of the veg that you don't have or don't like. I have used turkey instead of chicken, I guess you could use any meat really.  Yum!

Method 

1. Preheat the oven to about 180 C

2. Make your bread crumbs by whizzing up a loaf crust in a blender or with a hand blender.  Combine the bread crumbs with the dessicated coconut in a bowl.

3. Whisk the egg.

4. Dip your chicken breasts in the whisked egg, then in to the bread crumb and coconut mixture.

5. Put the cubed veg and thai red curry paste in to a roasting tin and give it a good shake to make sure everything is covered.

6.  Add the breadcrumbed chicken on top.

7. Pop in the oven for about half an hour.  I like to give mine a stir half way through.

8. Plate up and serve with a sprinkle of coriander and good squeeze of lime juice.  

9.  Enjoy!

Super lazy method

1. Preheat the oven.

2. Put cubed veg and chicken in a roasting tin and cover with thai red curry paste and coconut.

3. Place said roasting tin in oven until everything is cooked.

4. Eat.

To be honest with you, both ways are super tasty and very easy.  This has become one of my favourite meals now, and it is a great way to use up veg.

What's your favourite meal?

Weekly Finds / 8.6.2013 / Microwave Banana Cake, Cute Doggies, Perfect Dress and Free Compliments

This week I have been enjoying: 

This cute little doggy....

Sunday's Dilbert, which reminded me why I love being self-employed....

I found my perfect dress-shame it is over £500.  I should probably get saving :|  It even shares my name, how could I resist?

Miss Thrifty made me smile with these free compliments.

I hate microwave cooking but I am very tempted to try this chocolate and banana cake from Snack Girl.

In other news, I've had a relatively busy working week with a couple of small projects on the go, we finally found a new flat (hello E17!) so we can go ahead and start planning our house move in earnest and we're looking forward to celebrating our 7th anniversary on Monday.  June is always my favourite month, and looks like this one will be no exception.

What have been your favourite reads this week?

Candy Collar Clips & Double Denim

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to attend the Ladybird Likes and Creighton's Chocolate press day in Covent Garden.  On top of being a great event, I received a generously filled goody bag which included these lilac collar clips.

Collar clips really seem to be the blogger's accessory of choice at the moment.  Seriously, I see them all over the place, and although they are quite sweet I'm getting a bit sick of seeing them on every floral dress and vintage cardigan.  So, I am making a stand against mediocre blogging outfits!  

This is how I plan to wear mine - teamed with double denim and easy nude flats.  For a hot day, just wear the denim shirt open over a neutral vest top.  

Candy Collar Clips & Double Denim by ghostontoast featuring flat shoes

Denim jacket
$30 - clothingattesco.com

Proenza schouler jeans
$260 - shopmrsh.com

Oasis flat shoes
$45 - oasis-stores.com

Lilac Heart Wooden Collar Clips
$15 - etsy.com




How would you wear these collar clips?

Weekly Finds / 1.6.13 / Minty Pencils, Colour Changing Scarf, Sloth Vest

Minty Pencils may seem like a huge extravagance, but when they help you concentrate for longer and are made of recycled newspaper I think they are totally justified. (via PSFK)

This bonkers chameleon scarf contains LEDs which allow it to change colour to match every outfit.  Would you wear it?  I'm not convinced, but I do like the idea of buying the kit to assemble.  That's got to be more fun than an airfix model. (via PSFK)

These four sisters have been photographed once a year for the past 30 years.  What a lovely idea!  I feel almost inspired enough to start doing this with my 3 brothers.

This dress is just gorgeous! I'll take the blue one please. (via Dainty Squid)

This sloth vest is somewhere between spooky and amazing!

What have been your favourite web finds this week? 

Lilac Heart Wooden Collar Clips by ladybirdlikes on Etsy

Lilac Heart Wooden Collar Clips by ladybirdlikes on Etsy (clipped to polyvore.com)

Ladybird Likes and Creightons Chocolate Press Day | Collar Clips, Bacon Chocolate and Elderflower Cordial

Last week I was lucky enough to attend the Ladybird Likes and Creighton's Chocolate press day with my friend Daisy of Make, Thrift London fame.

Lucy from Creighton's Chocolate and Zoe from Ladybird Likes.
Photo taken from Daisy's instagram

What a fantastic event!  I have to admit that I was unaware of the fabulousness that is Creighton's Chocolate until the event.  I think everyone needs to be made aware of their quirky, tasty treats - seriously, who could turn down brain shaped chocolate?

Their latest range is a retro inspired recreation of your favourite childhood sweeties, but my favourites were the bleeding teeth and brain.

Chocolate of every flavour - including rose and bacon (both of which were delicious)

   

A table stacked with chocolatey treats

Spooky bleeding teeth - one of my favourites!

More treats.

Zoe's range of quirky jewellery is such a beautiful collection that I'm not sure I could even choose a favourite.  Luckily for me, she included a pair of collar clips in my goody bag, which will be the focus of an outfit post very soon!

Here are some of my other favourites:

I love the colours on this little butterfly necklace

I love vibrant reds and oranges, so this brooch is right up my street.

This adorable little guy is just super cute, without being too girly. 

I am VERY tempted to get myself an 'S' necklace.

This 50s lady is just so elegant.  She makes me want to buy lots and lots of dresses.

Our goody bags also included some elderflower cordial, which I will definitely be using to make an elderflower collins.  Thanks for a great event girls!

10 Golden Rules for Making the Perfect Cup of Tea

 This charming video from 1941 shares tips for the perfect cup of tea.  Openculture.com have helpfully summarised them in to 10 golden rules:

1) In general, store tea leaves in an airtight container, preferably away from cheese, soap, spices and other items with strong aromas.

2) Also keep the tea off of the ground and away from walls.

3) Always use a good quality tea. You’ll spend a little more money, but you’ll actually get more bang for your pound.

4) Use fresh water. Stale water makes stale tea, which no one needs, especially in wartime.

5) Make sure you warm your teapot before adding hot water and tea leaves.

6) Use the right ratio of tea leaves to water.

7) Steep the tea in water that’s neither under-boiled nor over-boiled.

8) Let the tea infuse for the right amount of time. 3-5 minutes should cover most kinds of tea. Other kinds will need more time.

9) Use tea pots made of china, earthenware, and stainless steel. Avoid ones made of enamel or tin.

10)  Don’t add milk to the tea too soon. Wait for the last possible minute.

While I can't really disagree with any of the above, I can't help but think they over complicate the matter a little.  Keep it simple and spend more time enjoying the tea - that's my motto!

Here's how I would do it:

1. Boil the (preferably limescale free) kettle and select your favourite mug.

2. Place a quality tea bag in your mug - my vote is for PG tips or Yorkshire tea.  Yum!

3. As soon as the kettle boils, pour boiling water over your tea bag.  If you are feeling patient leave to steep for a minute or two - but don't forget and let it go cold!

4. Take out the tea bag, and give it a good squeeze against the side of the mug.  Let's not waste any of the delicious tea flavour!

5.  Add a drop of milk to taste.

6. Open a pack of dark chocolate digestives, sit down, and enjoy your lovely cuppa.

WARNING - Never add milk before the hot water.  That is just wrong.  If you require sugar, add at the same time as the tea bag to ensure it fully dissolves in the hot water.

The only possible way this method can be improved is if you can convince a suitably trained person to prepare the tea for you and deliver it to your greedy little hands.  Take care to choose a trusted person for this role; there is really nothing worse than a poorly made tea.

Goals for 2013 / Aims for the coming year

I had been pretty ambivalent about the start of 2013 until last night, when somewhere within my sleepy/inebriated haze I started to think about all the cool things I could try to make happen this year!  I didn't do too badly with last year's goals (I didn't blog about them...you'll have to take my word for it.) but there are some areas that are always a problem for me (I'm looking at you, accounts and career moves) and there are plenty of things that I want to do but haven't got round to yet.

• Read 2 books a month

Last year I challenged myself to read a book a month, and frankly, it was too easy.  I don't really think a book a fortnight should be too hard so long as I keep on top of it.  Let's hope West Hampstead library has a lot of fantasy novels in stock.....

I will be keeping track of my reading on Good Reads so feel free to follow me there.

• Walk to work at least twice a week

This should be super easy - I just need to get out of bed on time!  It is about 4 miles from my front door to the office, and at one point I was walking there and back 3 days a week.   I have been very lazy about it recently but I find the walk very soothing and it adds up to a lot of exercise.

• Eat my 5 a day EVERY day

Considering my degree and career choice, this one should also be super easy but it is also easy to be lazy!  I can get my 5 a day no problem when I plan my meals.  The challenge is making it happen everyday.  

• Try one new recipe a month

I quite enjoy cooking and I very much enjoy eating.  This year I want to expand my repertoire of dishes and I feel that one new recipe a month is an achievable target.

• Average 1 gig a month

This is left over from last year, where I failed pretty miserably. One gig per calendar month is probably not very achievable but 12 a year should be no problem at all.  

• Take a holiday at least once a quarter

This worked really well for me in 2012.  Just taking a couple of days of work seems to be very rejuvenating, and I like it even more when I use the opportunity to go away somewhere cool.  This goal also includes seeing more of the world; my current short list includes Berlin, Budapest, Krakow, Rome, Marrakesh and Istanbul.  I also really need to go and visit my grandparents in Cornwall again, and I'd love to return to Ibiza.

• Make a budget each month and stick to it

This one is really difficult for me.  There's always so much I want to buy!  Unfortunately my bank balance is not usually that large and my flat is full of crap as it is.  My plans to make some changes to my working life make it more important than ever to live within my means.  This also includes keeping my accounts and banking up to date each month.

• Make one or two new friends

I feel blessed to have a great circle of friends at the moment.  I've realised that it is just not worth spending time or energy on negative, draining people and am making an effort to nurture more enjoyable relationships. One of my besties moved to Canada in September so I have a vacancy for a new gig and gin buddy or two.

• Make a meaningful effort to move my career in the right direction

It is no secret that I want to increase my income, and ideally I want that to come from working in Osteopathy.  My long term goal is to be running a clinic of my own and my office job is no longer helping me move in that direction.  And as much as I love my current clinic and have no plans to move on, the truth is that I am not learning much either about business or clinical skills there.  It is time for a new challenge - I just need to find the guts to put myself out there for new opportunities and leave my current safe but frustrating set up behind.

• Honourable mentions:

I am also considering running a 10k, getting my Girl Guiding overnight licence so I can take the Guides away somewhere cool and getting to grips with my sewing machine and making some wearable clothes.

Recent Buys / Shoes, Dresses and Bags

I love snooping around other people's shopping posts - all the excitement of shopping without the clutter or the price tag!  I thought I'd return the favour and share some of my favourite recent buys.

These beauties were down to £6 in Primark - how could I resist?  They are a bit narrow so they pinch my toes a bit.  I've been trying to wear them in a bit by wearing them in doors.  They certainly make an interesting outfit paired with my PJs!  

Matt took me on a belated birthday shopping trip this weekend and this was my first purchase.   It looks much nicer in real life than in this hastily taken photo - really cute and nautical.  It was £35 from Dorothy Perkins.

I didn't buy it on the day but have since ordered this lovely floral dress from Joy.  The sizes are absolutely titchy.  I tried a size 8 and couldn't do the zip up past my waist!  This dress was £55 in the shop and on the Joy website but is only £36 on Amazon - bargain.

This beautiful mustard satchel is also from Joy.  It holds a surprising amount and is such a cheerful colour!

I didn't buy this lovely polka dot top from Dorothy Perkins as it has a weird shirt tail back that made me look a bit peculiar from the side, and I thought it was a bit pricey at £26.  On reflection I do really like it though, so I'm going to wait for it to go on sale ;)

Daily Outfits / 25.6.12 - 01.07.12 / Mustard, Teal and Black

 Here's this week's outfit round up.  I seem to have favoured black this week!  Perhaps next week will be more colourful....

Black Top -  New Look

Grey Snake Print Skinny Jeans - Primark

Hi-tops - Converse

Black Vest - Primark

Green Vest - H&M

Black Harem Trousers - Primark

Zebra Flats - Primark

Black Top - Primark

Teal Skirt - Forever 21

Leopard Print Flats - Primark

Today's outfit was one of my favourites of the week, probably because it features two new pieces!

Polka Dot Top - Monki

Black Skinny Jeans - Uniqlo

Black Wedges - T.K.Maxx

Mustard Satchel - Joy