Eat, drink & act like a Buddhist monk in London

In Himachal, Dharamsala in India

Let's face it...everyone is on some sort of diet, superfood supplement or at least trying to curb their day-to-day snacking choices towards healthier alternatives. 

I'm happily on the bandwagon, too! If the nation wants to be healthy, then why judge them and make them feel uncomfortable about it?

Krispy Kreme launch a Nutella doughnut!

Wearing

Innika Choo smock top

All Saints jeans

Cara London boots

…because Krispy Kreme have just launched the Nutty Chocolatta NUTELLA-FILLED (*panic attack*) doughnut!! I pretty much squeeked in delight when I heard the big news. Being a Nutella addict, this is a pretty big deal!!

Krispy Kreme ChocoLATE

Hello there! I've been a little absent of late...if I'm honest, this thing called life got in the way! But I'm BACK and oh look here is ANOTHER food post...what can I say, I eat a lot! I promise there will be lots more dreamy shopping posts and beauty bits up very soon.

For now...let me take you on a special and pretty epic experience I had this week. It was pretty much the best Monday you could have wished for.

Krispy Kreme invited a few of us to the Ham Yard Hotel (if you haven't been there you must go!) for an intimate sit down four course dinner...but with a twist! Yes, as you may have guessed, every course was made up of one of their new limited edition chocomania doughnuts, plus a paired cocktail.

Food: Healthy spiralized cinnamon carrot dessert

As mentioned in my last post with two delicious and simple recipes, Tabasco got in touch with me and asked if I would like to be part of their new campaign called #FunWithFlavour, which is all about celebrating Tabasco Pepper Sauce’s ability to transform almost any dish. 

The iconic and natural sauce is made from just three ingredients – chilli peppers, salt and vinegar – and has been enhancing dishes all over the world since 1868. All I had to do was create three dishes infused by Tabasco sauce, including a bit of a challenge which was the dessert! The first thing I thought to myself was 'how the hell do I make a dessert with Tabasco??' but a quick google search made me realise people like spicy desserts more than I thought! You can pretty much spice up any pudding which is pretty clever, sort of like Heston Blumenthal style!

I got a really neat spiralizer from Tabasco so wanted to keep this theme going throughout my entire menu. The spiralizer I used was a little tough to spin at first, but after a few tries it became easier. It spiralizes carrots, cucumber and any other soft fruit or veg quite easily, but potatoes may be a challenge. I'm sure you could do the same thing with a peeler, but this is way more fun and makes food a little bit more interesting. It's really easy to clean, too.

This recipe is free of refined sugar (honey used as sweetener), gluten free and dairy free. You can choose to add Tabasco, or just have it without!

I hope you like this little carrot dessert, as originally made by Twirly Bites. It really surprised me and it was yummy!

SPIRALIZED CINNAMON CARROT DESSERT

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

1 large peeled carrot

2 tablespoons +1/4 teaspoon coconut oil

1 tablespoons honey

2 teaspoons + 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• Tabasco Original Red Sauce

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Spiralize your carrot/s and get them ready. Place them in a pan with 1/4 teaspoon coconut oil and sauté for 5 minutes.

2. While the carrots are cooking, put the remaining coconut oil, honey and 2 teaspoons cinnamon in another pot. Place on a low heat and stir constantly until ingredients melt and the sauce has formed (max 5 minutes). Avoid burning, overcooking or boiling the sauce or honey by keeping the heat low and stirring continuously. This is really important as the honey will get a different texture and flavour if it starts ti boil.

3. Remove the ready sauce and add it to the carrots. Keep stirring on medium heat for around 15 minutes, and make sure you serve it warm as the coconut oil will go solid if you leave it out. 

4. Add as much Tabasco as you wish, or sprinkle some chia seeds on top, or raisins, bananas, whatever tickles your fancy! This is a very sweet dessert so a small amount of it was sufficient to satisfy a sweet tooth!

Check out more recipe ideas and tips on Tabasco's Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/TabascoUK

Food: Healthy spiralized recipes + Tabasco

Tabasco got in touch with me and asked if I would like to be part of their new campaign called #FunWithFlavour, which is all about celebrating Tabasco Pepper Sauce’s ability to transform almost any dish. 

The iconic and natural sauce is made from just three ingredients – chilli peppers, salt and vinegar – and has been enhancing dishes all over the world since 1868. All I had to do was create three dishes infused by Tabasco sauce, so I chose to create a light and super healthy starter, main and pudding with a spiralizer. 

I had lots of fun doing it as I made my recipes really easy and quick, and the main made for a good lunch dish the next day, too! I hope you like them Dessert coming tomorrow!

For the starter, I wanted to keep it light but delicious, and a dish that felt almost like comfort food but without the guilt. I made some really simple sweet potato fries with guacamole dipping sauce.

SKINNY SWEET POTATO FRIES & EASY GUACAMOLE DIP

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 large sweet potato (or however much you want!)
• Olive oil to line the tray
• Salt
• 1 avocado (peeled, stone removed, chopped)
• 1/2 small red onion (finely chopped)
• 1/2 clove of garlic (minced)
• 1/2 ripe tomato (chopped)
• 1/2 lime (juiced)
• Tabasco Original Red Sauce

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Heat the oven to 200C, and spiralize your sweet potato. I used the Lurch product provided by Tabasco and it did the job, but I struggled a little with the sweet potato as it was so hard. The spiralizer was unable to grip the top of it so I just used my hand to get the noodle textures for the skinny fries. There are loads of different spiralizers on Amazon that you can choose from, but Lurch and Hemsley & Hemsley are usually the most recommended.

2. Line a small tray with some olive oil or place a baking sheet on top. Place all the spiralled sweet potato fried on the tray and add salt on top.

3. Leave in the oven for around 15 minutes or until extra crispy. Don't worry about it looking too burnt as the fries taste the best when they are really dry and crispy, rather than wet or unbaked.

4. While the fries are in the oven, finely chop all your guacamole ingredients, add a few drops of Tabasco Original and stir them together, or blend in a blender. Season with salt to taste and serve with the fries when ready.

For the main dish, I wanted to make sure it was healthy and full of vegetables, but also filling and with a type of meat. I chose salmon as it's one of my favourite ingredients to use in any dish, and it never makes me feel bloated. It's super healthy and full of Omega 3, plus it doesn't taste like other fish so it is much more yummy!

VEGGIE NOODLE SALMON SALAD
Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

• 1 large carrot
• 1 cucumber
• 1 courgette
• 1 avocado
• 2 salmon fillets
• Olive oil spray
• 2 limes
• 1/2 block of feta cheese
• 1 Tbs of chia seeds
• Salt and pepper for the salmon
• Tabasco Original Red Sauce

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Heat the oven to 170C to make the salmon while you prepare the salad. Line your tray with olive oil and place both salmon fillets on the oiled greaseproof paper. Season with salt and pepper and bake for around 20 minutes. Some people put more sauces on their salmon but I prefer it plain.

2. While your salmon is baking, spiralize the peeled carrot, cucumber and courgette and separate on two plates. I found the cucumber to be a little watery, but it didn't ruin the taste of the salad. If you prefer it to be more dry just remove the cucumber and use more of the other two ingredients.

3. Chop up half an avocado for each plate, then squeeze one lime over the entire salad. Crumble your feta cheese on top and then mix everything up.

4. Take your salmon out of the oven and place it on top of the salad. Sprinkle the chia seeds and Tabasco Original sauce all over, and dig in! There are lots of other Tabasco flavours to choose from, such as Smokey BBQ and Jalapeño...something for everyone.

I found that this dish tasted a lot better when it was fresh and with hot salmon. I had it for lunch the next day and it wasn't quite the same cold!

Have you ever used Tabasco sauce in your day to day dishes, and have you ever mixed it up and made any adventurous meals?

Check out more recipe ideas and tips on Tabasco's Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/TabascoUK

Food: Krispy Kreme x Reese's (yes it's real!)

OK so I’m a Nutella addict…but my other foodie love and weakness has to be peanut butter. Peanut butter on toast, peanut butter with banana, peanut butter with pretzels, peanut butter in a shake or cocktail…and now a Reese’s peanut butter IN A KRISPY KREME DOUGHNUT!! 

Yes this is real people…and you can now buy it in the UK.

The new limited edition melt-in-the-mouth doughnut has been carefully crafted to ensure it delivers the perfect taste sensation (like ALL Krispy Kreme doughnuts!). 

Filled with an indulgent Reese’s peanut butter and hand-dipped in icing, each doughnut is topped with hazelnuts and Reese’s peanut butter drops.

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Krispy Kreme #YOLO

A photo posted by Cissy Wears (@cissywears) on Feb 22, 2015 at 1:52pm PST

Made fresh daily and expertly handcrafted, the Krispy Kreme Peanut Butter Doughnut is available until 29^th March in all Krispy Kreme stores, priced at £1.90 each.

Now can we please petition for Krispy Kreme to bring the below flavours to the UK, too?

Food: New Echo Falls Sparkling Infusion

Now I'm not one to deprive myself of anything, especially food and drink, so I did not do dry January...but I have the perfect thing for those who did...or continue to do so.

Echo Falls have just launched a delicious alcohol - free sparkling infusion. Made from a delicate combination of fermented grape juice and premium green tea infusion, the bubbly is perfect for parties or an afternoon treat. Each 100ml only has only 26 calories, and is an ideal choice for those who are driving, unable to drink or prefer not to drink but don't want to be hassled! You can sip it from a champagne glass and nobody is going to ask anything :)

We tried the bubbly infusion with some yummy afternoon tea at the trendy Ham Yard hotel in London's Soho, and it complimented it perfectly. The drink was lovely as it tasted just like a sparkling wine, just that little bit sweeter. I loved it!

Wearing

Topshop coat (similar here and here)

Zara scarf

Zara shirt

Alexander Mcqueen skull leopard scarf

Balenciaga part time bag (similar here)

Christmas 2014 adventures

I really hope that everyone has had a lovely Christmas, and managed to spend some quality time with their families eating lots of delicious food, sharing presents, and making time to do things together.

My favourite part of Christmas, apart from the food, is buying and wrapping presents. I like to think I'm pretty good at buying gifts, and I really enjoy it even though it sometimes takes me hours, days even, to find that perfect match for my friends or family. I start shopping two months in advance, too, to make sure I get enough time to look...a little over the top I know!

I'll take you through my little but magical Christmas this year (2014) in a few photos below...

I got these vintage-style letter stamps from my friend, and used them to make name tags for every gift.

You can buy them at Asos (£8), Amazon (£9.99) or Hobbycraft (£10) and they are so cheap, but well worth it, especially if you like DIY!

December isn't a bad one at work either - some of my colleagues and I went to Izakaya Flesh & Buns in Covent Garden and I can honestly say it was one of the most amazing meals I've ever had in London. For just £30 we had the taster menu, and ate a variety of Japanese, Chinese and British mini dishes...only to top that with this incredible American-style passion fruit s'more with chocolate biscuits. Heaven!

How could you resist??

I enjoyed taking this little Patricia Field bag out to dinners with me - I thought it was a cute little retro festive accessory to a smart outfit...my replacement for a Christmas jumper this year!

On Christmas Eve, I went to my boyfriend's family and took this snap of his stylish sister in her Fenwick jumper and Bobbl beanie, playing with LEGO!

I then went on to my cousin Maja's house to spend Christmas with my family, starting with a lovely night cap in these vintage glasses!

We woke up to this pile of gifts!

The obligatory Christmas selfie... Kitty hat is an old one from Zara but you can also get them on eBay for just £2.88.

Some of my lovely gifts from family and my boyfriend...I felt very spoilt!

My cousin Maja is an amazing host and always makes food look fun (I don't know how she always does it so quickly!) These were mulled apple drinks with pear cut out stars inside.

We took a day trip to a nearby town called Marlborough, where we walked around the cute little shops and had scones and tea at the Polly Tearooms.

My little 13 year old cousin Sasha made these delicious dough balls from scratch, and we baked a camembert to dip into...you'd probably have guessed that this was all gone within 10 minutes.

For New Year's Eve, I traveled up to Somerset to my friend's beautiful Georgian home, to celebrate 2015 with her little family and another two friends....it was really the perfect New Year's celebration, with the people I love the most.

I got these adorable necklaces for Christmas...The Cherish necklace is from Orelia, the eternity necklaces are from Etsy, and the name necklace is custom made at a Jewellers in Crouch End.

We took a New Year's Day walk to a pretty cool tunnel where they used to test Concords...

Enchanted! I love the English countryside.

I have also been trying out different types of exercise before and after Christmas, including aerial and hot yoga, and will be reporting back in another post soon!