Always Look on the Bright Side of Life....

De dum, de dum, de dum de dum de duuuum! Are you humming along, I do hope so! I think it's safe to say that that 2016 has not started as Dale and I expected. However, in the words of the great Ronan Keating "Life is a roller coaster, just gotta ride it"! After attending a well timed training day about "mental wellbeing", my thoughts were drawn to how we should take great pleasure from the simple things in life! So, here are a few of my little pleasures that have got me through January so far!

Waking up this morning to see snow on the ground called for one thing only. It was time to crack open my box of gluten free, oat free porridge! Made from 100% buckwheat it made a change from the usual rice heavy alternatives I often buy.

Big Oz (www.bigoz.co.uk) combined with Clarks agave syrup (www.clarksit.co.uk), a handful of raisins and a couple of tablespoons of chia seeds (www.sevenhillswholefoods.com) thrown in for good measure made a warming and filling start to the day. The buckwheat has a mildly nutty taste and I was glad I added a little sweetness to it. Nevertheless, a successful porridge experience and one which I will be repeating very soon!

You only have to read the name Perkier to feel a little brighter! Perkier (www.perkier.co.uk) have been producing great GF breakfast cereals/ porridge for some time now. Therefore,I was excited to see their fairly new cereal bars in my local Sainsburys. Unfortunately, once I took out the varieties containing nuts I was left with just one bar to try.

It's great! I'm a big quinoa fan so it definitely gets a thumbs up from me. Perfect for my after school snack. I would LOVE Perkier to expand their nut free/ oat free ranges. I'm sure there are many others out there that would like to see a bigger nut free/ oat free variety! Until then....I'm happy munching my quinoa bar!

Dale and I had a little trip to Broadway Market (@Broadway_Mkt) last weekend. It's no secret that this market is one of our favourite haunts, although with it being the first market of the new year some of our fave stalls weren't there. However, it did force me to try somewhere different for lunch and boy I'm glad I did! Zardosht, Persian food was amazing! Apparently they can be found at a cafe in Dalston as well as Broadway Market but the flavours were delicious!

Watching my lunch being pieced together was fascinating, a real art form. A pinch of this, a dash of that but it worked together brilliantly....I think I have a new fave place for lunch!

I was so stuffed, pudding had to wait! Thankfully Eat 'N' Mess (www.eatnmesscakes.co.uk) provide sturdy take away boxes! 

As much as I enjoyed my red velvet slice, I still wish I went for the GF s'mores bar! Hmmm, there's always next time! (Eyes too big for belly!)

Well, I will leave you dreaming of s'mores.....have a great fortnight everyone and remember "Always look on the bright siiiiiidee of liiiifeeee de dum, de dum, de dum, de dum, de dum!" Xx (@lizprice79)

Irresolution

"Irresolution (noun) indecision, hesitation, lack of resolution"......boom! There we have it....I am in no way undecided or hesitant BUT I have a definite lack of resolution! I am the girl that sold my Nutribullet and bought Ugg boots with the money! Yep, blitzed up cold vege don't keep your toes warm! As 2016 spreads before me, I will not feel let down by unachieveable resolutions which were set in a pit of Christmas over indulgence! No! I will eat a little (ok, sometimes a lot) of what I fancy, I will exercise when I feel I am able, won't lose sleep over missed targets and most importantly of all I will do it with my new cosy Ugg boots firmly attached to my feet! Have that 2016!

Ok, well, on that note I hope you all had an amazing Christmas and I wish you every success with your New Years resolutions! Here are a few of the little delights that have kept me going over the hols!

A great little GF Christmas pressie from a friend, combining two of my great loves-sweets and Eton mess! Delicious! (www.candykittens.co.uk)

Sales shopping requires a well planned survival kit.....milkshake should always be in that kit-sugar rush for that boost, cools you down after wresting over the bargains in hot shops and fills you up in case you can't find any GF snacks! What more could you want?!

This was a good little find in Waitrose (www.shakenudder.com). Great to have in your bag, creamy, cold and sweet- everything I ask for! Rumour has it there could be a salted caramel flavour coming out soon! Whoop whoop!

Dale dragged me into Shake Shack on New Years Day (www.shakeshack.com).

Obviously, he had a burger but I opted for a milkshake instead! I must confess I didn't pay much attention to what I could eat in there but the website does have a comprehensive allergy guide. Hugely overpriced (I nearly fell off my seat when I saw what Dale paid for his burger), however, my "Black & White" milkshake was fab! Vanilla with fudge sauce mmmmmmmm!!!

On New Years Eve Dale cooked up a South American feast! The chicharrones were all Dale's handiwork but the Black Beans were from a cool little kit from the Cool Chile Company! (www.coolchile.co.uk) and were very tasty. We had enough beans to feed the whole street (mental note beans swell!!)

We are huge fans of The Cool Chile Company, they have a whole range of great GF stuff which you can buy online, at Borough Market and I'm pretty sure I've seen them in Whole Foods and other independent stores as well. If you haven't checked them out, they are definitely worth a look (and a taste!!)

Oh and Mexican chocolate flan (with salted caramel!!) for pudding!

Well, we all know I am a frustrated baker. If output was measured by enthusiasm I would definitely be in the Bake Off next year. Sadly, life doesn't work like that. I wasn't about to put myself through the "Gingerbread House" trauma of last year again and I lost my Christmas Tree star cutters....the odds were not in my favour! Thank goodness for the Intolerant Gourmet (www.theintolerantgourmet.com) who came and saved me from anymore Christmas kitchen disasters! Like a real Christmas Fairy Godmother! I love this blog/ website. Recipes galore which are super easy to search through and even easier to follow! Everything I have made from this site has been pretty successful! Hurrah! Here is my most recent banana bread (I just replaced the walnuts with dates!)

It worked!!

Well, as we return to post Christams life I hope you all have a great fortnight! Take care xx (@lizprice79)