Easy Curry Omelette Recipe for Students

Image from: http://oscarslunch.blogspot.co.uk

Serves: 1

Cooking level: Easy

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Energy: Around 300 calories

Ingredients:

1/2 teaspoon chilli powder

2 eggs

1/2 onion, finely chopped

1 clove garlic

1/2 red pepper, finely chopped

1/3 large bag of spinach

Method:

1) Finely chop the onion and red pepper, crush the clove of garlic and tear the spinach leaves

2) Cook the onion, red pepper and garlic lightly in a pan

3) Add the spinach and cook until it has reduced in size

4) Add the eggs and chilli powder, season with salt and pepper to taste

5) Leave to cook for a couple of minutes

Carpe Diem xx

Foodie Friday: Summer Ham Hock and Mushroom Pasta Bake Recipe

Ingredients:

75-100g pasta per person/portion

Ham hock pieces

Handful of cumin seeds

Cheddar cheese

Pine nuts

Bread crumbs
Flour
Milk
Broccoli

Method:

1) Put water onto boil and put your choice of pasta into cook when boiling

2) Make Bechamel/cheese sauce

3) Fry mushrooms separately in a saucepan and boil the broccoli (or other veg if you wish)

4) Mix the sauce into the pasta and place in an ovenproof dish

5) Mix in the mushrooms and ham hock

6) Top with breadcrumbs, cumin seeds, pine nuts and grated cheddar

7) Brown in the oven for 10-15 minutes

Carpe Diem xx

Small Room Organisation: Tips and Tricks

1) Make use of shelving that reaches the full height of your rooms, saving you floor space and making use of available storage

2) In small rooms every inch counts, so whether its doors hangers or hanging wall storage make the most of behind the door storage

3) Freestanding storage and organisation, bookshelves, dressers, etc. can be the best way of adding a load of extra storage space in one, keeping unwanted or unsightly things in storage and out of the way

4) A lot of people use under bed storage but often not effectively. Try clear linen and extra free storage boxes to keep your things off the floor and safe

5) Microorganisation, or organising within drawers and boxes with smaller boxes and containers, is the most effective and underused organisation trick out there. A place for everything and everything in its place!

Carpe Diem xx

Weekend Bake: Celebration English Cupcakes Recipe and Tips

Whether it's a birthday, an unbirthday, a summer barbeque or the Wimbledon final, it's always great to get baking and try an English version of sweet American cupcakes. With more flour and less sugar, these cupcakes are more Victoria sponge and work perfectly for tea parties.

Ingredients:

3 eggs

6oz self-raising flour

6oz caster sugar

6oz butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

Method:

1) Cream together butter and sugar

2) Fold in flour into the mixture in stages

3) Break in the eggs

4) Spoon into cake cases

5) Bake in a Gas Mark 4/350F/180C

Chef's Tips:

1) Sift flour and icing sugar fully before combining

2) Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract to the mixture for extra taste sensation

3) Combine all the ingredients until smooth

4) Leave to cook until bouncy and golden

5) Decorate with chocolate and other flavoured icing, when cooled, by adding cocoa powder to icing sugar and water

Carpe Diem xx

Foodie Friday: Easy Essential Pitta Pizza Recipe in 20 minutes or less

For the first time in a couple of weeks I have to apologise for the lack of blogging for the whole of yesterday, but today I'm going to give you two posts to make up for it :). 

Ingredients:

2 wholemeal pitta breads

4 tsps sun-dried tomato puree paste

2 large ripe tomatoes

Few basil leaves

100g mozzarella

(Quantities are flexible depending on your personal taste)

Prep Time: 5-10 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes

Method:

1) Head oven to 200C/180C/Gas Mark 6

2) Spread each pitta with 2 teaspoons of tomato puree paste

3) Top with chopped tomatoes, sliced mozzrella and basil leaves if wanted

4) Bake on a baking sheet on the top shelf of the oven for 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/518639/pitta-pizzas

Carpe Diem xx

Simple Organisation Solutions for Offices and Home

Compartmentalizing things you might not use often into clear plastic box (e.g. Tupperware, Lock'n'Lock) can be a great space saving solution to storage. Not only practical but also makes finding things quicker as you can immediately see the contents of each box.

Keep a folder of stickers and labels for labelling storage containers and boxes or creating a 'reward system' sticker chart for daily chores or activities. It works for children, so why not use it to motivate you to stay organised and keep you on track?

Keep a labelled folder containing all you important documents (driving licence, passport, birth certificate, etc.) so that you always have it at hand and know exactly where they are when you need them. I use my favourite butterfly folder from John Lewis. Never miss a holiday, deadline or bill due to disorganisation again!

Carpe Diem xx

Alternative Makeup Collection Organisation and Storage Tips

Reuse and recycle vintage tins and containers, or new pots and jars with pretty designs on them, as holders for organising makeup brushes and tools. Aesthetic, practical and free! 

What more could you want?

Keep a collection of travel size makeup and beauty products and tools in a safe place. Build up a collection from freebies or products you just haven't gotten around to trying yet so that you have them ready to go. Use a clear plastic cosmetic bag or zip-lock sandwich bag so that you can put it in you suitcase when you're ready to pack for that special holiday.

As we all know, airlines are sticklers for liquid allowances now. So be prepared and keep clear plastic 100ml bottles and jars ready to decant shampoos, conditioners, shower gel and moisturisers into. I got mine, with the cosmetic bag, from Boots.

Vintage and retro tea cups and saucers can be a great solution to compartmentalizing your makeup and beauty storage on the cheap. Not only saving you the trouble of going out and buying a load of clear plastic containers, but also adding a touch of glamour to your collection.

Have fun and get creative!

Carpe Diem xx

Handmade Cards and Crochet: An Alternative Fathers Day Gift Guide

Instead of shelling out a fortune this Father's Day, why not get creative and try a handmade card. You could get the children to try their hand at drawing basic cards. For a more indulgent card why not recycle old materials, such as ribbons or cut-off patterns from old cards or gift wrapping paper. To create a multi-media collage effect, incorporate unwanted or duplicate family photos for a more personal touch.

Craft gifts such as mug cosies made by crochet can be a perfect present for those teapot dads out there. A perfect way of looking after dad and keeping the tea from getting cold! Alternatively, create an ornamental gift that will add years of sentimental value on father's days to come.

Crocheted and knitted gifts can be extended to technology such as cameras and personalised in dads favourite colour. For the tech-savvy or the clumsy, this simultaneously sentimental and practical gift will keep technology safe for years and will be more cost effective than most mass-produced presents.

For the dad with more technology than he can handle, why not personalised crafty cases and covers with patterns or stripes? The possibilities really are endless and can be fun for the crafty son or daughter too. It might be a little too late to crochet a blanket or knit a jumper now though!

Carpe Diem xx

Olympic Gold: Top High Street In The Nude Lipsticks

Proper 'nude' lipsticks are notoriously difficult to find, particularly for pale skin. And so, all in the name of cosmetics I have tried out a few and come up with my top 3 drugstore/high street 'nudes'. Enjoy!

3rd - Rimmel Lasting Finish (206 Nude Pink): A shimmery nude pink, but can look cracked if you apply too many layers, not really a 'nude' on my lips

2nd - Topshop Lips (Nevada): A nice nude to blank out your lips for smoky eye looks, but can look cracked if your lips aren't moisturised enough

1st - L'Oreal Color Riche (235 Nude): Perfect nude/my-lips-but-better

Do you have any recommendations for nude lipsticks that you love?

Carpe diem xx

Student Meal Of The Day: Healthy Eating Inspiration

Carpe diem xx

Student Meal Of The Day: Healthy Eating Inspiration

Carpe diem xx

Student Meal Of The Day: Healthy Eating Inspiration

Carpe diem xx