Kiss it better

I feel messy, dishevelled and utterly unprepared for life at the moment. It's funny how one moment you can feel so on top of things, so ready to attack everything the future has in store and then next minute your a crumbling heap of insecurities. 

I am currently fighting of some hideous virus that has knocked my body for six, and apparently taken my self confidence with it too. For the last week I have been holed up in bed sleeping, blowing my nose with aloe vera tissues that now feel like sandpaper and coughing up both lungs. I haven't exercised, the only thing my body wants is sugar, fat laden foods and to be honest I am feeling slightly sorry for myself. 

I think I hit an all time low this afternoon. I was home alone, my nose was driving me insane with its constant river of snot, my eyes were weeping constantly from the infection they too had contracted and I had recently developed and ear infection. *Insert pity hugs here*. I looked in my bedroom mirror and saw someone so unhappy with their current situation, a slob in fact who had let the last week get the better of them. I felt soft, overweight and downright ugly. 

It is weird how a few days of being out of routine and not living my normal happy, healthy lifestyle knocked me for six. I called my mother, aka my sanity, in a sobbing mess feeling truly miserable and sorry for myself. 

I still don't feel happy, something that I really dislike but I am going to have a night to myself, breathe, play guitar, weave and write. Do things for myself that do not involve my physical appearance or my health.  Things that make me happy. I will go to bed shortly and who knows I may wake up tomorrow still feeling shit and your know what, that is ok. I'm taking each day as it comes at the moment - shitty moments and all. 

xx

Winter Warmer - Pumpkin Soup

It may not be every ones cup of tea, but the good old faithful pumpkin soup is hard to pass on a cold, rainy day. I've recently been battling a temperature and a sore throat so I thought what better way to nourish my body then with a bowl full of pumpkin and sweet potato. My pumpkin soup recipe is so healthy and filling making it my go to, quick, easy and oh so delicious winter meal.  

INGREDIENTS 

1 1/2 Sweet potato

1/3 large butternut pumpkin 

3 cloves of garlic 

Coconut Oil 

Vegetable stock

Pinch of cinnamon 

Pinch of nutmeg

METHOD

Peel the sweet potato and pumpkin. Cut into small pieces. 

Scatter the sweet potato and pumpkin on a baking tray. 

Peel the garlic cloves and add to the baking tray. 

Drizzle with coconut oil and pop into the oven at about 180C

After approximately 40 minutes the sweet potato and pumpkin should be soft and fragrant.

Once soft, add the pieces to a large pot. Pour in vegetable stock and add cinnamon and nutmeg and place over heat. 

Bring to the boil and cook for approximately 15 minutes.

Once all flavours have combined and heated through, take the pot off heat. 

Leave to cool for a little bit.

Once the mixture has cooled, use a blender or thermomix to blend into a smooth mixture.

Serve with a sprinkle of spring onion, cheese and a dash of sour cream (if you aren't vegan).

Sooo DELICIOUS. 

This is the type of meal that I make up on the spot and don't measure. So if you are after more flavour add extra cinnamon and nutmeg, cook the sweet potato and pumpkin with onion or add more vegetables to the mix. If you want a thinner soup just add more stock or water to the mix and this will add more moisture to the soup. 

Food: Vegetable Chilli Pie

Now I can't take credit for this delicious creation we will have to thank Mr Jamie Oliver for that, but let me say that that this is one delectable pie. Over the last few months I have not been eating meat for some unknown reason so whilst my love for the veggie life continues why not take advantage and start making some flavour packed healthy vegetarian meals. This Vegetable Chilli Pie is seriously my go to meal when I am trying to use left over ingredients on a freezing winter night. Trust me when I say you won't be disappointed. 

Oh, and I should apologise for the photography skills. I was simultaneously dancing and babysitting a little munchkin whilst trying to make dinner. Needless to say more of the cottage pie topping ended up in his mouth than on top of the pie. 

Ingredients 

3 potatoes

1/2 sweet potato

1 tin of beans - whatever is in the cupboard

2 cloves of garlic

1 stick of celery

1/2 tbsp cumin seeds

1 small bunch of fresh coriander 

1 fresh chilli

1 red onion

100g harred roasted peppers (capsicums)

1 tbsp sour cream

cheddar cheese

Pinch of smoked paprika 

Method:

Peel potato and sweet potato and cut into small chunks. Place into a steamer saucepan and steam vegetables until soft.

Now that the potatoes are steamed through and softened. Place in a bowl and add sour cream. Mash the potato and sour cream until smooth. Roughly chop the coriander leaves  (not including the stalks) and fold them through the mash. Set to the side. 

Place a large saucepan on medium heat and add cumin seeds. Toast until fragrant then remove from pan. Place toasted cumin seeds into mortar and pestle. Pound until fine

Pick the coriander leaves and put aside, finely chop the stalks. Peel and finely chop the coriander stalks. Chop the garlic, chilli, onion and celery. 

Place in saucepan with a dash of olive oil and cook. Stir occasionally until softened. 

I did also add some chopped carrots and zucchini just to add some more vegetables so feel free to chuck and leftover veggies you have in the fridge into the mixture.

Add the drained beans and tinned tomatoes to the pan of softened vegetables. Stir occasionally and leave to cook for approximately 20 minutes or until thickened. 

Drain and roughly chop the peppers. Stir them into the vegetable mixture. Now tip the whole vegetable mixture into a large baking dish. 

Top with your mash and spread it out evenly, covering all of the vegetable mixture. Sprinkle a pinch of paprika onto the mash then add grated cheese.

Pop into the oven at 180C and cook pie for 30-40 minutes or until nice and golden onto. 

Soooooo we were so hungry I forgot to take a photo of the cooked pie. So instead here is my favourite little gremlin helping me out in the kitchen 

XOXO