My Creative Everyday

Instinctively we want to hibernate in winter, and our activities change - with more reading, writing, cooking, television, music and cosy nights in.  We're fending off endless coughs and colds by consuming smoothies and soups.  A few tasty treats I've been making are: Chicken & sweet corn soup, Spring rolls, Bread & banana pudding, Peanut butter & banana pudding, Adzuki red beans, Duck pate, Portugese duck rice, Garlic and chive crusts, Fig with salt n pepper squid, Slow cooked duck, and  Banana and nutella spring rolls.  GIlmour Girls is my happy place and I'm mixing it up with American Horror Story and Mad Men . My fascination with Gilmour Girls, which I'm not rewatching has even resulted in a long blog post about it.  I've just finishing reading Crazy Rich Asians which has made me think more about identity, memories and history. I've also dipped into some of Hilary Mantel's short stories and am half way through Butter .  Accepting the wea...

Source:  @margotrobbieofficial on Instagram Pink mania is upon us with the release of the new Barbie movie, starring Margot Robbie.  The colour pink has a remarkable history. There's loads of fun facts, ranging from its origins to psychology, nature, science and consumerism. Take a peak at the colour pink.  Origins Of The Colour Pink Before the early 1600s, pink, was simply referred to as a shade of red. The colour pink came into existence in the English language when a specific rose tint was created for Madame de Pompadour by the renown Sèvres porcelain company. Madame de Pompadour was a mistress of Louis XV who famously loved pink clothes. She was one of the most powerful women in 18th-century France.    Originally, ‘to pink,’ which dates back to the fourteenth century, was used as a verb and means ‘to decorate with a perforated or punching pattern.’  A Pink Peony - Hay On Wye Flowers The colour pink was named after the flowers, pinks, which have frilled ...

Welcome to Wellness Wednesday, where this  foodie is trying to take care of her diet, and no, it doesn't involve sacrificing deliciousness for healthiness. As someone who loves food, I've always found it challenging to strike a balance between indulging in my favorite flavors and making sure I'm treating my body well. But over time, I've come up with some strategies that work for me. And by "work for me," I mean they make me feel like I'm living my best life while still fitting into my jeans. The Usual Healthy Eating Tips I've followed all the usual tips: 1. Embrace the power of herbs and spices.  2. Getting creative with veggies. 3. Treating myself, but doing it mindfully.  4. Making meal prep a fun activity, not a chore. 5. And finally ... I'm not taking it all too seriously. At the end of the day, food is meant to be enjoyed. Yes, it's important to take care of your body and make choices that support your health, but that doesn't mean yo...

Blinis, brownies and gammon - it's a funny mix but I'm feeling satisfied. Sometimes I binge cook. It's especially helpful since I've been so busy with work and need a timeout.  Blinis I've been having blinis the last couple of days. It turns out mackeral with egg is tasty. I drizzled some mignonette (a peppery vinagarette usually for oysters) on top. The creme fraiche brings it all together. I love how it's so easy.  The blinis were wonderful with some roast pork shoulder too.  Brownies   Of course since I'm having a light lunch, I can indulge in a brownie slice or two, maybe more. Today I made pecan and cherry brownies with a cream cheese frosting. Add grated milk Green & Black chocolate on top.  It's a bit of a cheat, but I use the Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie Mix plus crushed pecans, morello cherries and a tablespoon of Green & Black cocoa. An interesting tip on Instagram @sugarlogie101 which I discovered on making frosting is to mix the sugar...

It began a few weekends ago when I baked bread. I had this sense of accomplishment that I had learnt something new. The process of preparing the dough, resting it and letting it cool required patience. Most of all, it made me slow down, forget about my worries and I could look forward to eating fresh bread.   The great thing about bread is that there are so many delicious ways of enjoying it. I haven't had french toast in years and did a semi-healthy version topped with greek yoghurt, warm banana and  roasted pineapple. I confess that I did drizzle some maple syrup on top too.  These days can feel overwhelming because of all the uncertainty in the world. Monday to Friday can seem hectic, like the frenzy of seagulls when they are being fed. There is something about a Sunday which demands we be there for ourselves, to nourish, recharge and listen to what we really want. It is a day to indulge a little and enjoy the little things in life, like maple syrup.  Meditat...

Leftovers, cupboard raiding & what's in the freezer? It's a new week. To jump start my creativity, I'm in the kitchen with not much left in my fridge and a few frozen treats I've been saving.  Bread mix has been in my cupboard and it's just pass or coming up to the expiry date. I have escargot in the freezer and fresh bread goes well with it.  I don't have a bread maker but the mix that I buy is fine with a wooden spoon, mixing bowl and oven. It's a matter of patience and time. It's in the oven now and I can't wait.  Wright's bread mix is pretty easy and I've had a good experience with it. This time I have a grains bread mix, so hopefully it won't be too dry. To be on the safe side, I've added water to a tray at the bottom of the oven.  Bread is a treat and I'm looking forward to it. There's some cherry tomatoes in the fridge which will be great for bruschetta.  Rice is also a rare visitor to my kitchen, but I have leftove...

Last week it was Chinese New Year, aka another excuse to celebrate and take a break.  Chinese New Year is a special holiday for Asian families. It's like Christmas, but instead of gift giving, red envelopes containing money, are given to children. Also, you sleep with a red envelope of money under your pillow on New Year's eve. Most of it relates to prosperity.  The colour red, which represents luck, is prevalent. You wear red and / or new clothes.  New Year is celebrated for 15 days and as with all festivals, lots of eating is involved. Historically I would go to a restaurant with friends to treat ourselves to lobster noodles. Roast duck is also usually involved because the Cantonese style is the perfect mix of salty and sweet.  What is also fascinating is that there is a belief that certain foods bring good fortune. Also, food that are specially for new year - the equivalent to turkey and cranberry sauce, sort of ...  This article will give you an idea about i...

A day in pyjamas, sleeping, achieving little and letting my body recover may sound terribly dull. However, I discovered that  plain meals and rest actually nourishes the soul.  It's been a long time since I've been sick: properly unable to leave home and do anything. Yet in some ways, there is a freedom in not having to be around people or do anything.  After I passed the 'I'm dying phase' and allowed my rational side to insist my body is working properly to protect me, a strange calm came upon me.  I caught up on some much needed sleep. I was undergoing an imposed detox. My mind felt clearer. I was looking forward to the days ahead. Rather than rushing back to what I should be doing, I hit the pause button and escaped into what I wanted to be doing. I realised that I'm not running a race. I'm not fighting to survive.  Here I am, still in bed, not feeling too guilty, doing what I love - writing, reflecting, learning & living.   I've also started lo...

Autumn has been crazy busy. I tried to capture the magic of the colours of the leaves in  my short story which was included in the Thursday Connectors Webzine Write On !  I found it challenging trying to write about childhood memories. It feels easier to create a fictional character. As a writer, I'm constantly learning more about myself and what I need to work on. Also, exploring Malaysia through my writing was fun and made me think about the food. If you've never tried an ABC dessert, I highly recommend it on a super sizzling hot day.  Here in the UK, it will be awhile before we're back in shorts and t-shirts. There's forecasts of a white Christmas.  I'm beginning to feel like I can wind down.  As always, nature is my therapy. The squirrels make me laugh. I especially love watching them chase each other.  The foreshore of the River Thames have been mini-holidays. When I hear the tide coming in, it reminds me of the sound of waves and beautiful beach holid...