My entry to Lindemans Capture the sunshine challenge

This is my entry for the Lindemans Capture the Sunshine challenge! If you wish to take part head to Foodies 100

Aubergine and tomato summer starter

Ingredients 
Serves: 8 

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 450g ripe tomatoes - skinned, deseeded and chopped
• 450g aubergines, thickly sliced
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• Prep: 10min  ›  Cook:40min  ›  Extra time:30min  ›  Ready in:1hr20min 

  1. Place the sliced aubergines in a colander and sprinkle with the salt. Set over a bowl or in the sink and leave covered for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, rinse the aubergine and pat dry.
  2. In a frying pan, heat the oil and add the onion. Cook and stir for 5 minutes until the onion becomes soft. Add the aubergine, tomatoes, garlic, spices and lemon juice. Stir, cover and simmer for 35 minutes. Season to taste.
  3. Serve warm or cold with chopped fresh parsley to garnish.
  
  
  
  Exquisite Pasta Delight

• Ingredients 
  Serves: 6 

  • 6 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried red chilli flakes
  • 2 tablespoons minced onion
  • 2 tablespoons minced green pepper
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 200g passata
  • 1/2 teaspoon concentrated chicken stock
  • 1 tablespoon caster sugar
  • 250g cheese tortellini
  • 175ml double cream
  • 125ml Bin 85 Pinot Grigio
  • 

    Method
    Prep:20min  ›  Cook:10min  ›  Ready in:30min 

    1. In a large frying pan, heat olive oil over medium-low heat and add basil, thyme, oregano, parsley and dried red chilli flakes; stir together.
    2. Add onion, pepper and garlic and cook until onions are transparent; add passata and bring to the boil, stirring well. Add chicken stock concentrate and sugar; stir.
    3. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to the boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
    4. Reduce heat, add cream and wine; bring close to the boil, stirring constantly. Add pasta and serve
    
    Pavlova Heaven

  • Ingredients 
    Serves: 8 

    • 4 egg whites
    • 250g caster sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
    • 2 teaspoons cornflour
    • 475ml whipping cream, whipped
    • 6 kiwi fruits, peeled and sliced

    • Method
      Prep:30min  ›  Cook:1hr  ›  Ready in:1hr30min 

      1. Pre-heat oven to 150 C / Gas mark 2. Line a baking tray with baking parchment. Draw a 23cm (9 in) circle on the parchment.
      2. In a large bowl, beat egg whites until stiff but not dry. Gradually add in the sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat until thick and glossy. Overbeaten egg whites lose volume and deflate when folded into other ingredients. Be absolutely sure not a particle of grease or egg yolk gets into the whites. Gently fold in vanilla extract, lemon juice and cornflour.
      3. Spoon mixture inside the circle drawn on the parchment. Working from the centre, spread mixture towards the outside edge, building edge slightly. This should leave a slight depression in the centre.
      4. Bake for 1 hour. Cool on a wire rack.
      5. Remove the parchment, and place meringue on a flat serving plate. Fill the centre of the meringue with whipped cream, sweetened if desired. Top whipped cream with kiwi fruit slices.

    
    

    
    
  • 
    

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Webuyanycar.com Ticketmaster competition

Here's my entry to the Webuyanycar.com Ticketmaster competition.

Parking was getting a little tough so Rob had to improvise

Think you can do better head over to Webuyanycar to enter

Ocean calm

This lovely picture shows the beauty of the ocean whilst sitting down to a candlelit dinner.

Roasted Asaparagus Orzo Salad

If you're fed up of soup, this Asparagus salad will have you combining seasonal vegetables with a lighter feel. Perfect for the upcoming Spring months.

Ingredients

Serves: 4 

• 1 courgette, sliced
• 1 yellow summer squash, sliced
• 1 red onion, cut into chunks
• 450g asparagus, cut into 2.5cm pieces
• 450g portabello mushrooms, thickly sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 pinch caster sugar
• salt and black pepper to taste
• 4 cubes chicken stock
• 4 tablespoons dry white wine
• 450g orzo pasta
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese 

 Method

Prep:25min  - Cook:20min  - Ready in:45min 

1. Preheat oven to 230 C / Gas 8.
2. Place the courgette, yellow summer squash, onion, asparagus and mushrooms in a large bowl; add in garlic, olive oil and sugar and stir gently to coat vegetables. Spread vegetables in a single layer on a baking tray and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
3. Roast vegetables until tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to the boil. Add stock cubes, wine and orzo and cook until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain. Stir in roasted vegetables and Parmesan cheese and serve warm.

Yummy Leek and Onion Quiche: Perfect for Winter

Are you feeling hungry?
This yummy Leek and onion Quiche has seasonal vegetables that will make you fell all warm inside.

Ingredients

Makes: 8 

• 1 (375g) sheet ready-made shortcrust pastry
• 3 leeks, washed and sliced
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 eggs
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 pinch grated nutmeg

Method

Prep:10min - Cook:30min  - Ready in:40min 

1. Preheat the oven to 180 C / Gas 4.
2. Heat the olive oil and cook the leeks and onion for 10 or 15 minutes, or until softened. Set aside.
3. Roll out the pastry on a floured surface and line a quich or pie tin with the dough.
4. Mix the 2 eggs, grated nutmeg and leek -onion mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon or pour the filling onto the pastry case. Bake for 30 minutes.

Fake Bake lip glosses in Prissy Pink and Beach Babe: Show off your tan

Famous for their fabulous tanning products Fake Bake have launched a range of lip glosses designed to enhance a tanned complexion.



Fake Bake lipgloss in Prissy Pink is a pale pink shade. The lip gloss has a gorgeous bubble gum smell which makes a welcome change from the off orange you often get. It glides on really easily and doesn't feel sticky at all. I normally don't like lip gloss as it tends to not last long but it's a pleasant product that looks great over lipstick. The colour is quite faint but for a off duty casual look its perfect.









Fake Bake lipgloss in Beach Babe is a massive contrast to Prissy Pink with a deep caramel tone. Typically I wouldn't choose such a shade as I wouldn't know if I would like the final result. I was pleasantly surprised by the golden glow Beach Babe gave me. With a tan and a slick of Beach Babe you wouldn't look out of place sipping a cocktail.












I give Fake Bake lip glosses 4/5

Advantages
•Lip glosses designed to compliment a tan
•The shade Beach Babe would look amazing with a tan
•Comfortable to wear and not too sticky

Disadvantages
•Prissy Pink is quite pale which might not appeal to everyone


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Soap and Glory in Apricot Jam: blush yourself happy

It's funky and stands out on the shelf with its vintage packaging.



Soap and Glory Peach Party is a blusher block with a range of colours varying from pale white to a dark plum.





The block has real shimmer in each colour section and when applied as a whole really make your cheeks glow.



Each sector is too small to really be applied alone but you can mix and match on which colours you want in your blush.

I didn't apply any highlighter after using this blusher and felt my cheeks were really shimmery. The only thing I would say let's it down is that the colour didn't really blend in very well.

Overall a reasonable blush with great shimmer and fun packaging.

I give it 3/5



Advantages
•Large range of colours mean you can create a lot of different blush looks
•Has a intense shimmer which means you can leave your highlighter in the drawer
•Unique packaging will make your makeup bag look fabulous!

Disadvantages
•The colour didn't seem to blend in very well, this was made worse by the intense shimmer which makes it stand out so much


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone