Category Archives: New Year
18 Jan, 2012
Happy New Year Everyone! January has a lot going for it, I feel. When better to shake off a few dusty routines and habits than after a few weeks of glorious indulgence. I have always liked a fresh start – bring on the resolutions. Never mind if they fizzle or fade, a positive intention is still a wonderful thing. So much as I delight in the fairy lights and tinsel, I always feel happy to pack them away, dust off the cobwebs of the old year and move forward. And a delicious healthy regime is a great way to start – here are some of my favourite vitamin rich foods to celebrate the New Year.
I like to add a few sprigs of mint to my green tea. And a beautiful mug makes it even nicer – this one is a hand made Christmas gift by our talented (eldest) girl! And to go with the tea, how about a few nuts and seeds, dried berries and some squares of inky dark chocolate?
Hmm, what else? A dish of simply steamed Scottish salmon, with a little lemon and pepper. But surely this is still indulgence isn’t it? Especially with a drizzle of this magnificent, jewel green pistachio oil. I bought this bottle in France a few weeks ago. Such a rich, deep roasted nutty flavour.
A few slices of beetroot – more colour, more vibrancy, more flavour…
So that’s the view from my kitchen worktop this week.
As for other new plans and projects this year, well I have been busy and have made a good start. My new studio in the garden – a lovely Scandinavian log cabin – is all built and ready. I’m still working on the finishing touches, a bit of painting and organising all my props and stuff. Of those there are lots – it’s quite a task! I’ll make some photos of the studio in a week or so and post them soon.
What plans do you have for the New year? Drop me a comment if you like – I’d love to hear!
Pascale
Oh – I forgot the avocado! x
in Beetroot, Chocolate, Fish, Green tea, Lemons, New Year, Nuts, Salmon, balance, health, nutrition, resolutions, winter | Comments (7)
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12 Jan, 2011
It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Those of you who kindly stop by here regularly will have noticed I’ve been a bit quiet for a time. It’s been an eventful and difficult couple of months, I’ll say more in a moment. But first – a bit belatedly – heartfelt wishes for a glorious and peaceful 2011 to all. The new year brings a fresh start for us, and this year I feel that especially. So here we are, I’ve taken stock, and I’m so looking forward to this coming year - and feeling very thankful too. I’m starting my new year by sending out a lot of thank you messages. And what better way is there to say thank you than with some delicious homemade shortbread biscuits.
So where have I been? Well I’ll just say, in a nutshell, that I had a bit of a sudden health issue and as a result I had to have major surgery just before Christmas. All went well and all is well now, and that’s one (big) reason I’m truly thankful.
But it’s extraordinary how much that’s wonderful and positive can emerge from challenging events. I’ve been delighted and honoured by the kindness and friendship of people around me. When I came home from hospital, friends and neighbours in our village showered us with help and good wishes. Our cottage was absolutely brimming with cards and flowers (those pink ones above came from the two gorgeous old ladies who live next door). We were brought hot dinners and given lots of help with childcare. I felt so touched by all these kindnesses. We moved to this village from Barbados about five years ago and at first it wasn’t easy to settle. Over time we naturally made friends – however the experiences of the past several weeks made me really see how lovely this place is, this little village full of kind and caring people. Now I’m well on the mend, it’s time for me to send out some thanks for all those favours. It’s time to start baking.
I found this cute little biscuit stamper in my Christmas stocking and this is an excellent opportunity to try it out. I love it, and so does our little boy. We haven’t quite mastered perfectly stamped biscuits yet, but that’s what homemade is all about isn’t it?
While the biscuits cool down, we have the chance to take a walk in the crisp winter sunshine. It has been a lovely winter so far, lots of snow and frost. I’m a warm weather girl really, but even so I love the beauty of winter. The shapes of the bare trees, the muted colours and far reaching views. Then back home, into the warmth, and it’s time for a cup of tea and to start on those thank you cards.
As I haven’t been able to cook much for the past few weeks, my husband has had to get cooking. (Another thing to be thankful for?!) As the head cook of the house, I’ve been teaching him a bit as he goes along. It’s been quite good fun actually, so we’re going to keep up the cookery lessons! More about that next time.
In the meantime, drop me a comment if you like. I would love to hear from you. And if you would like to connect on Twitter, I always tweet on there with blog updates and other things in between. Thanks for visiting!
Pascale x
in Baking, Biscuits, New Year, Photography, Shortbread, seasons, winter | Comments (35)
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06 Jan, 2010
Happy New Year! It always seems that the New Year is a bit a like a wonderful present – left quietly behind under the tree after the festivities are all over – waiting to cheer and surprise with what might be in store. I love the New Year and the possibilities of fresh starts and change that it heralds. It is a wonderful balance to the comfort of familiarity and tradition that is so much a part of the holiday season. Stability and change – both are great, in moderation!
At this time of year, it is common, and feels natural, to think about things we can improve particularly after the holiday overindulgence with regards to diet and exercise – and there are books and videos galore to guide us in this.
I have been reading two wonderful and inspiring books that have just come from Quadrille Publishing out on this subject. They are very different in style and approach, but share a common view that the path to a healthy body and weight lies not in quick fixes or the indulgence/abstinence rollercoaster that many diets involve and perpetrate. Rather it is about achieving balance in our everyday habits, understanding and choosing the foods that suit us and equally importantly, enjoying eating.
Ian Marber – the Food Doctor – has just published a book entitled How Not To Get Fat. It gives a truly fascinating and unusually clear explanation of how our bodies work in the process of digestion, and the emotional and psychological factors that cause us to gain weight. When I first flicked through this book, I didn’t expect to find it as intriguing as it is – there aren’t any glossy photos of gorgeous salads and glowing people! – and you have to give it the time and respect that it deserves. I thought I had a fairly good knowledge about nutrition and healthy eating but I was amazed at how much I don’t know. Just learning about the biochemistry of digestion was a revelation and made me think about the way that I eat and how a few basic changes can make a big difference.
Ian Marber’s approach to the subject of managing weight is so sensitively and respectfully written. It is absolutely packed with interesting points and I am really enjoying reading it.
Eat right for your body type is the new book by Anjum Anand. (The super healthy diet inspired by Ayurveda.)
Anjum’s book is another sensitive guide to managing weight. She speaks with an understanding as someone who has battled with her weight in the past. In turning to the Ayurvedic principles, she found a way to eat that is in harmony with her body type. There are three body types and you need to establish which type you are, and how to eat and live to maintain balance and harmony for your type. Good health follows from sticking to the basic principles of finding this balance. I found the subject of Ayurveda and the body really interesting, particularly the spiritual elements of this approach.
This book is packed with beautifully photgraphed dishes of yummy, healthy foods that really inspire you to try them out. The recipes are lovely and all provide variations to suit the different types.
Thank you Quadrille for the opportunity to review these two marvellous books.
So now it’s time to start cooking – and eating.
Here’s to a happy and harmonious 2010!
in New Year, balance, diet, harmony, health, nutrition, resolutions | Comments (0)
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