The Veggie BBQ: Burger Recipe

I'm roughly six months into my new meat-free lifestyle and have only recently made my first black bean burger! I've experimented with kidney beans (too wet), chickpeas (too stodgy) and others beans which just didn't have the texture or flavour I was aiming for. I then saw Lauren from HotforFood's video 'the best damn vegan burger' which had me nearly dribbling on my keyboard. Lauren combined black beans with a meat free mince to keep a chewy texture, and packed in lots of other spices and tasty things which I couldn't wait to try!

We caramelised onions and blitzed them with the beans before mixing the paste in a large bowl with the mince, Lauren suggests using paprika and cumin to season but I also added some garlic powder because I am obsessed. Once you've shaped the patties, it's as simple as frying them in a little oil for 3 or so minutes on each side, basting with sticky barbecue sauce if you wish. These were honestly one of the best veggie burgers I've ever made from scratch and were a success with my meat loving boyfriend, so thumbs up all round. Apologies for not having a picture of the finished product, we were so hungry we scoffed them immediately...

If you are hosting a BBQ or party and want to have a veggie option that everyone will love, I'd definitely suggest giving these a try as once made, they can be kept in the fridge in advance to make life a little easier! I hope you check out HotforFood's other recipes as they all look delicious and not too complicated.

Aquafaba: Cutting Food Waste With Baking

I first heard of Aquafaba whilst watching foodie YouTube videos (avoiding work as per usual) and I’ve been hooked ever since! Essentially it is the name given to the liquid in cans of chickpeas and beans, which can be used in replacement of eggs when cooking. The stinky brine contains lots of protein and can be used in tons of recipes, so I experimented for a good few days!

Whisked for ten minutes with sugar and vanilla, Aquafaba worked perfectly in chocolate mousse, creating a bubbly mountain of creamy cocoa. When whipped into a tangy mayonnaise, it was perfect for crunchy potato wedges.But my favourite recipe has to be my lemon meringue pie (pictured  below). Far from traditional, but equally delicious!

 Normally I use loads of eggs in baking, which can become pricey, so I’m glad there is now a solution that uses up leftovers. Whether it’s for breadcrumbing veggies, binding burgers or making yorkshire puds, the options seem endless. I hope you give it a try, don't be put off by the smell! 

Spring Favourites

Sorry for not posting in a long time but I've been busy finishing my University work which is now officially over! The first year has flown by and I am enjoying relaxing in the warm weather before the job hunting begins... I've been trying out a few summery products and generally being outside a lot more so I thought I would share what I've been enjoying.

Apologies for the bad quality picture, it was the only spot in my room not covered in moving boxes and clutter!

My favourite book at the moment is called 'The Opposite of Loneliness' which is a collection of essays and stories by Marina Keegan, a very talented writer who tragically was in an accident and died shortly after graduating from Yale. Being aware that she is no longer with us made reading the non fiction sections quite difficult as I found it really upsetting hearing her dreams for the future. The short stories were enchanting and there are so many hopeful and inspiring quotes that I've actually written down to keep. I've since begged everyone I know to read it as she really captured the potential of our generation and the struggle when dealing with uncertainty, something we can all relate to.

BIG by Lush is a shampoo I talk about this here and I am still just as obsessed. With seaweed, coconut oil and sea salt this shampoo adds a lot of shine and volume and the fresh scent stays in my hair for the entire day. If you wash your hair everyday, this isn't suitable as it can be drying. I only use this once or twice a week and it cleanses my scalp and really helps with scrunching hair while it dries to make it extra curly. I've only got a tiny bit left of this and I will be repurchasing for sure as it's lasted a really long time!

Another Lush product I've tried recently is the Rub Rub Rub shower scrub which came in a gift box given to me by my lovely friends Lizzie and Laura! The blue scrub has a light floral scent and the salt gives it a sea-air vibe. I used it on dry skin, like my feet and elbows for a rough scrub and on wet skin on my legs so that it would be a little less harsh. Both worked really well and made me feel a little more confident about wearing shorts to the beach as my skin looked less dull and actually glowed. I'm yet to try this in my hair but if it's as good at adding volume as Big then I'll be chuffed!

I bought The Body Shop's Banana shampoo for my boyfriend and have fallen in love with it myself! it is creamy with a lovely strong banana scent which reminds me of holidays. This leaves my hair really noticeably shiny,which might be thanks to the honey in the shampoo. Cheap and gentle, it's one I'll definitely buy again.

Normally I find that a majority of toners are mainly water and don't really see the point, but I received a sample of the balancing toner by Grown Alchemist and thought I'd give it a try. A quick swipe in the afternoon, when my face is feeling too hot or gross after travelling and it feels really refreshed. This has Rose Absolute, Ginseng and Chamomile which gives it both skin calming properties and a fresh scent. If you suffer with redness or general oiliness throughout the day, this is a really nice option as it feels cleansing without drying the skin out.

Another skincare favourite is the Cucumber gel mask by Peter Thomas Roth, which feels amazing on tired, burnt or post-waxed skin. With papaya, pineapple and aloe on the ingredients list, this has a really tropical, plant-like scent which I love and the gloopy texture melts onto your face leaving it moisturised and refreshed. Using this when cold from the fridge also feels incredible, especially if you have puffy eyes.

Now the weather might be sunny, but my skin is definitely still dry from the winter and needs intense hydration. I've been using Soap and Glory's Sugar Crush body buttercream on my legs for a few months now and it's great. The scent is one of my favourites, it's filled with lime oils and smells like a sugary fruit pastille! If you are after a budget friendly, summer scented moisturiser then I would definitely recommend trying out the Soap and Glory range.

Cheap Student Decor- The New House!

My friends and I recently organised our housing arrangements for second year and I am already so excited. I've always loved change and back home I was forever rearranging furniture in my bedroom. I can't wait to have a living room again, as the halls of residence I'm in at the moment don't have a social area.For this post I thought I'd share some items I've got my eye on for decorating our new house in September. I'll also recommend some highstreet stores for cheaper options so that if any of you are looking to make student accommodation a little more homely, it won't break the bank.

There is an Ikea in Southampton which isn't too far from us so we'll be making a trip later in the year. The first thing I'll be picking up is a few of their potted plants  which are currently £4.50 for three. Cacti are supposedly very easy to keep alive and healthy, so they are perfect for us students who often forget to do the simplest tasks... I think they will look great on the kitchen windowsill or in the bathroom to add some green to the house!

Another must-buy from Ikea is this set of two scented candles with brightly coloured pots. I have always loved Ikea's range of candles so I'm looking forward to trying these mandarin and sea salt scented ones. Since it'll be heading into winter when we move in, it'll be nice to have vibrant and cheerful items to warm us up- and there's nothing more calming than candlelight. These are £3.50 for 2!

H&M home is great for homeware as they have such a big range of more affordable options, alongside some very stylish, more expensive pieces. I can't resist this set of two body towels because, well, I just love bananas! I don't think I've ever seen such an interesting print and it'll be nice to have enough bath things when guests come to stay. These are £6.99 and I've seen that there is a matching shower curtain, so I'll have to persuade my housemates on that one!

The last item I've found is from Ohh Deer, a site which has lots of quirky items. This Jungle print oven glove  is something I must get as I love cooking and have had too many flimsy tea towel related burns to not buy a proper glove. I much prefer this print over the floral, feminine Cath Kidson alternatives and this is only £7.95!

If you are looking to find cushions, blankets or other larger items, I'd recommend visiting TKMaxx and Zara home as their products are great quality and if you hunt around, you'll definitely find some bargains. I'll be updating you later in the year with all the decorating news!

Does First Year Matter?

https://www.ccsf.edu/en/student-services/admissions-and-registration/records/evaluation-and-graduation.html

There is something so frustrating about working really hard at University, only to be told ‘it’s only first year, it doesn’t even matter’.  If anything I'd say this only reinforces the lazy student stereotype, and adds another layer of pressure. Sure, we’ve got bills to pay, relationships to form and a pile of reading that never seems to shift, but now we have to prove that the work we do is worthy? It just baffles me.

I wanted to write this post to reassure those who are going to start university in September or are hearing similar comments from family and friends. First year assessments are worth the effort and those who dismiss your dedication are not who you should be taking advice from.  Learning to manage all the different tasks in your first year- or even your first term- can feel daunting to say the least, so don’t let anyone put you down.

The way I find I can deal with these comments is to find motivation from knowing that the work I do in first year is preparing me for the next, and by treating it with as much seriousness as a final dissertation, it will be not only to a good standard, but something I can be proud of. This is absolutely key, remembering that university is not just to get a degree and make your parents happy, but to discover what you love, to experiment with different things and create an experience in which you grow as a person.

It’s quite rare for me to do such serious posts but I wanted to get this out there. To compare one workload to another and judge how hard they have to work is unnecessary. If you are someone who is convincing yourself that you can just slob about for the first year, it’s inevitable that second year is going to be even more overwhelming. ‘Preparation is key’ is what they always used to say at school and sixth form, and I completely agree. As much as spontaneous adventures are wonderful, when it comes to managing work, it helps to keep on top of things.

Just one last thing, if someone (like me) does a creative degree which has no exams, that doesn’t mean they don’t have a huge amount of work to do. If anything, there are multiple different things that need our attention which vary from academic essays to writing poetry, both of which are more difficult depending on each person. Focus on your own situation and only give positive guidance to others if you feel that they are struggling. 

Empty Products

I finished up some face products this month, annoyingly all at the same time! I plan on making a trip to boots soon so would love some recommendations! 

First up is Origins Ginzing moisturiser, perfect for oily skin as its a non-clogging jelly formula. It was super hydrating and cooling with a delicious orange scent. It has done wonders to my sleep deprived student skin, giving a wide awake glow! I think it was around £24 and lasted a long time. 

I also finished this face wash from Nivea, which I didn't like much as it was a gloopy gel that was far to sticky. It's also very stripping which is not ideal for dry winter skin. There are other budget face washes out there that are much better than this one.

I finished the First Aid Beauty facial radiance pads which are great for those who are new to using acids for exfoliating as they are very gentle. You swipe these across your face after cleansing before popping some moisturiser on. These helped reduce redness and size of any breakouts I had, stopped it from being dry and flaky. You can get these for £20 from Feel Unique.

For hair, I finished up this conditioner from a set I'd been gifted before starting Uni. The L'occitane repairing range is made up of essential oils including sweet orange and geranium. With sweet almond oil to smooth and soften hair fibres, I had high expectations but it didn't actually moisturise my hair that much. This really smoothed my thick hair, but weighed it down a bit too much for regular use. I loved the smell but the full size is £27 and since I didn't love it, I won't be repurchasing for such a high price tag!

Another conditioner I finished up was the American Dream from Lush. This was quite a runny formula, which smelt of vanilla and strawberries. The sweet scent stayed in my hair for a really long time but it didn't do much for hydrating my hair which is a shame. Since better alternatives are available for a lot cheaper, I'm not planning on repurchasing.

The final two products are samples that came with other purchases or gift boxes at Christmas! 

Nuxe's 'huile' is a multi purpose dry oil which I tried this on my legs and as a hair mask. It smelt really nice, very nutty from the plant oils including Macadamia and Almond to repair and soften skin. My favourite thing about it was it was dry and quick to absorb without feeling greasy. The shine this gave my hair was gorgeous. I think this comes in a spray bottle at around £28 so if you want a pre-birthday splurge or to spoil your mum - this is a winner.

The final product is a sample of L'occitane's Shea butter foot cream.Taking the time to pamper and soothe cracked skin has been a nice addition to my winter night time routine. With 15% shea butter and antisceptic lavender oil, the cream was really nourishing and it's scent made me drift off to sleep a lot better.

Spiced Sweet Potato Soup: The Recipe

This is one of my favourite comforting dishes to make in this cold time of year, a sweet potato soup with warming spices. I usually chuck everything in by eye, but I've given some rough measurements below if anyone wants to give it a go! It takes half an hour tops to make, including prepping time- so a perfect option for after an evening lecture when all you want is fast food and sleep.

    

YOU WILL NEED:

• 1 tablespoon garam marsala 
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds/ground 
• 1 teaspoon coriander seeds/ground
• 1 white onion
• As much red chilli as you like
• 2-3 garlic cloves 
• Chopped tomatoes (fresh or canned)
• 1-2 sweet potatoes- depending on size
• 1 vegetable stock cube dissolved in 1 litre hot water

Heat a splash of olive oil in a large saucepan before chucking in the chopped onion and garlic. After five minutes add all the spices (including the chilli). Allow this to dry fry for a few minutes then add your tomatoes, sweet potato chunks and the stock. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat, pop a lid on and leave to cook for 15-20 minutes. Either blend the soup with a handheld blender or a food processor, until smooth and creamy. Pop it back onto the heat for a few minutes and it's ready to serve!