Friday Favourites - Chinese New Year

Kung Hei Fat Choi (Happy New Year) from all of us here at The Amazing Blog! This celebration marks the commencement of the year of the Wooden Horse.  The wooden horse can be seen as good or bad depending on our beliefs. Wood is seen as additional fuel for the already energetic horse, meaning it can inspire those to follow through with goals but can also spark conflicts. Whether you celebrate the date or just want to partake in the festivities, here at The Amazing Blog, we have found all you need to get your New Year’s celebration underway.

First off let’s address the superstitions surrounding the entry of a new year to the Chinese and what one should and should not do. Starting with the home, families clean the home as a way of saying out with the old and in with the new, as well as eliminating bad energy. Also remember to avoid any unpleasant situations or crying on this day since the first day of the year is said to be a precursor of the year to come. For you fashion conscious folks, be mindful not to wear black since the colour relates to death and instead opt for red as it represents luck and fortune. Also if you want to have some fun with ghosts and spirits, pop some firecrackers to scare the bad ones off. Your neighbour may not appreciate it but it’s a sure way of starting the year off with a bang!

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Regardless of your plans, let us suggest a themed recipe because clearly we here at the blog love anything in regards to food! We have found a Chinese New Year Cake Recipe Kit by Sous Chef.  Sous Chef is an online store dedicated to supplying hard-to-find ingredients and equipment to ‘adventurous cooks’ interested in exotic cuisines.  The cake mix kit includes the ingredients needed to make traditional New Year ‘sticky cakes’ known as Nian Gao, which consist of Chinese brown sugar, glutinous rice flour, coconut milk and the recipe card with instructions. These cakes have the consistency of Japanese mochi balls but can also be pan-fried and transform into tasty, eggy ‘bread’. The kit is available online here for only £5.00. Thanks to our friends at Sous Chef who have given us the recipe to share with you!

Ingredients:

225g Chinese brown sugar in pieces (half packet)

200ml water

200ml coconut milk (half can)

225g glutinous rice flour (half a bag)

Optional gold leaf, to garnish

This recipe makes 3x10 cm cakes, to serve 6 people.

Recipe:

1. Break down the brown sugar into small pieces, and place in pan with the water. Heat, stirring until dissolved and simmer for 5-10 minutes.
2. Remove the pan from the heat, and whisk in the coconut milk.
3. Measure out the glutinous rice flour into a large mixing bowl, and pour over the coconut milk and sugar mixture. Whisk well, until there are no lumps. The texture should be similar to a runny pancake batter.
4. With a little cooking oil, grease 3-5 small ramekins, remembering that 4 is an unlucky number! Pour in the batter, dividing equally between dishes.
5. Sit the ramekins in a large saucepan with a lid, and add water until it comes to half way up the sides of the dishes. Cover with lid, and simmer for 30 minutes on a low heat.
6. Remove from pan and leave to cool (they are also tasty at this stage!). Refrigerate. They will keep well wrapped in the fridge.

7. Optional: If you’re giving the cakes as presents, run a knife around the side of the cake, and lever it out. Place upside down on a circle of grease-proof paper, tie with string, and top with a little gold leaf.

Next we have the Wing Yip Five Beer Gift Pack, because what is a celebration without a little alcohol!  Perfect for any occasion and festivity, the pack contains beers from all over Asia in areas like Kirin Ichiban, Tiger, Sapporo, Tsing Tao and Singha. The supplier of the beer pack, Wing Yip, is the UK’s leading retailer of Oriental products with four locations in Birmingham, Manchester, Cricklewood and Croydon. The beer gift pack however, is only available online here for £7.98.

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Food and drink are a must but not always enough to entertain your guests; we want your celebration to be everything but boring.  Amuse your guests and bring good fortune by flying a traditional Chinese dragon kite.  Airdynamics,  a UK based company specializing in hand-made kites imported from China, suggests that under Chinese tradition flying a kite during the celebration brings growth and good fortune in the upcoming year.  If kite flying isn’t your speciality, no worries!  These carefully crafted kites dual as entertainment and home decorations in the form of dragons, snakes and other animals.  Prices very based on size and selection, but orders can be placed here.

Finally we have a gift from us to you; well, it’s actually a gifting idea. Traditionally in Chinese New Year culture, a charm is given to family members and friends to optimize good fortune in the upcoming seasons.  Seeking good fortune themselves, the Pandora bracelet company has designed the Chinese Zodiac Horse Pendant Charm.  Yes, it is unique to 2014 but we find the Zodiac Horse doubles as an everyday “good luck” charm.  Even better, the horse charm will fill another space on the bracelets of your family and friends!  Find the charm at a local Pandora store or on Pandora for £35.00.

If you’re not hosting or attending a Chinese New Year party, pop by Chinatown to experience ‘the largest Chinese New Year party outside of China.’  Chinatown entertainment will include dancers, musicians, food and more!  Go here for more details.

We hope this has given you some inspiration for your Chinese New Year festivities!

Friday Favourites - Cookbooks

If there’s one thing that we can all agree on here at The Amazing Blog, it’s our love of food. Whether it’s making it, eating it, buying it or just discussing it, we can’t get enough. That’s why we get very excited (probably too much so) when we are introduced to a new cookbook. This week we’ve been trialling recipes from three different books, and the results have been so wonderful we thought it only fair to share the food love with everyone…

First up is Le Pain Quotidien Cookbook by Alain Coumont and Jean-Pierre Gabriel. The book has recipes shared by the authors that are also used at the successful restaurants also called Le Pain Quotidien, which translates to The Daily Bread. The authors encourage the use of organic ingredients not only for health reasons but also to get the best flavours out of every meal. What is wonderful about the book is that it first gives tips on how to properly make bread starting from what flour to buy to how to heat the oven properly; to even how soon it should be eaten.

This book has more than 100 recipes for breads, breakfast, soups, salads, tartines and desserts; even though some dishes are traditionally French they include ingredients from around the world which appealed to our diverse group here at The Amazing Blog.  The recipes we will definitely be trying soon are the Chia Seed and Banana Muffins which are a healthy, on-the-go breakfast idea that are also fast to make. With other ingredients like agave syrup, soy yogurt and vanilla, they are sure to be packed with lots of flavour.  Another is the Monday Detox Salad (made with cabbage, carrots, flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, extra virgin cold-pressed canola (rapseed) oil and many more) is said to ‘help you recover from the weekend’s excesses’ which is something we will definitely be trying soon here at the office.

Coumont has over 200 restaurants in 14 countries worldwide and hopes to share his recipes from his kitchen to ours.  Published by Mitchell Beazley, an imprint of Octopus Publishing Group Ltd., it retails at £20.

Next up is top chef Marcus Verberne’s cookbook Roast. This book prides itself on being deliciously British, and is the first cookbook released by successful restaurant, you guessed it, Roast. In this new cookbook, you are given the chance to discover the secrets of the triumphant restaurant, and learn more about its first-rate suppliers and producers from all over the UK. Like the restaurant, the book’s aim is to encourage the use of seasonal and sustainable produce from the country's best farmers and fishermen and celebrate Britain's heritage and ingredients. The collection of recipes showcase delightful British cuisine and also reveal the restaurants secrets on how to create its famous dishes, from breakfast crumpets to special varieties of Britain’s favourite; the roast.

Not only does this book provide step by step guides and photographic instructions, but there are also QR codes, allowing you to access exclusive online video tutorials with head chef Marcus Verberne. The techniques are thoroughly explained which is extremely helpful, especially if trying to tackle one of the more complex techniques, such as opening live scallops or butchering a rabbit. The book is truly brought to life and will be one you reach for often, and don’t worry if you don’t consider yourself a chef, there is also a ‘basics’ section full of simple recipes, allowing anyone to learn the basics and get beautiful results.

With over 100 recipes, there’s sure to be something in this book to suit everyone’s taste, whether it’s meat, seafood or veg. Published by Absolute Press and retailing at £25, this book is available in store and online, and can be found here.

Lastly we have 101 Sandwiches by Helen Graves. If the title didn’t give it away, this original book brings together a collection of the weird and wonderful sandwich combinations from all over the world, all 101 of them. One may wonder what there is possibly to say about the simple sandwich, if you thought it was just a case of putting a filling in between two slices of bread, you’d be wrong. This enjoyable book on sandwich making is sure to open your eyes, from the classic peanut butter to the more fancy ‘Gatsby’, (a French fry, vinegar and meat extravaganza), you’re guaranteed to find a recipe to suit everyone’s taste buds. This is a perfect book for those of you who want to make something quick, yet exciting for lunch or maybe for those who simply fancy a speedy dinner. Any of the recipes in this book will be enough to fill you up and you’ll definitely be spoilt for choice, meaning there will always be something new to try. There’s even a few in there for those with a sweet tooth, or maybe just those who are feeling crazy and fancy a sandwich for dessert (cue the ice cream-cookie sandwich!) This is a perfect book for food lovers everywhere and would also make a great gift. It’s £12.99 and can be bought online here and here.

Now that you have gotten a feel for all three books, all you have to do now is pick your book and get to cooking!

Metcalfe's Skinny Topcorn

Everyone knows today is 'Blue Monday' and that January is renowned as not being one of the happiest of months, as everyone seems to be doing penance by kicking off the New Year with some form of abstinence or other. However, what if I told you there’s a way to remain healthy and cut down on calories, but still indulging yourself.  Here at The Amazing Blog, that’s exactly what we’ve been doing, all thanks to Metcalfe and their delicious Skinny Topcorn.

Founder of the brand, Julian Metcalfe, was also co-founder of restaurants Pret and Itsu. So you just know the Metcalfe Topcorn range is going to be yummy! What’s brilliant about this range is that it really hits the spot if you’re craving a naughty food, while still being relatively healthy. They made from quality ingredients and is a much healthier alternative to the usual crisps or chocolate you may crave.

The Topcorn itself is extremely light, and comes in a variety of unique flavours meaning everyone’s taste buds can be satisfied. My favourite is definitely the  chocolate flavoured crackle, heaven! Also, because they are not coated, this means each bag only contains 230 calories, making it the perfect lunch, pre-dinner, or post-gym snack! A few other of our favourites here at the Amazing HQ include Sweet Cinnamon Spice, Wasabi Glaze, and Heat ‘n Sweet, to name a few… Although after making our way through each and every one of the flavours on offer, I have to say they're all crowd pleasers!

Each bag details the calorie count in large font on the front of the packet, making it really handy if you’re trying to be a bit healthier this year. The calories range from 108 in the Sea Salt Topcorn, to 230 in the more indulgent, Chocolate Crackle Topcorn. Because the Topcorn comes in snack size potions, it also prevents you from over-indulging, and experiencing that ‘just one more’ guilt.

Metcalfe’s Skinny Topcorn has grown to be one of the most loved popcorn brands in the UK, and it is stocked in retailers nationwide. Even better, when buying from the website here, you can buy crates of 12 regular sized bags, or 8 sharing bags. Prices range from £9 to £9.36 for a crate of 12, and £13 to £13.50 for 8 sharing bags. The Topcorn is also available in stockists such as Caffe Nero, River Island and Tesco, where prices may vary.

Macadamia Natural Oil - Volumising Dry Shampoo

Finding the perfect dry shampoo has become a true mission for me. I have tried almost every single one that the high-street has to offer and they have all delivered extra dry locks, a powdery finish and the terrible white cast that only a proper detoxifying shampoo can get rid of.

Having tried and reviewed Macadamia Natural Oil’s products before on The Amazing Blog, my hopes on their offering were high… and they certainly didn’t disappoint. The brand’s Volumising Dry Shampoo is a nice hybrid between a regular dry shampoo and a hairspray; you get the best of both worlds: the cleansing and the setting. This particular ‘2 in 1’ side of the product made me fall in love with it.

Although my hair is quite voluminous and has texture, I am still a sucker for texturising products. I was incredibly pleased to find that this product works as a superb ‘undressing’ spray that adds that bedhead look that I escort every day… without leaving the dreaded white powdery finish.

If you’re looking for an effective and fool proof dry shampoo that adds that extra ‘omph’ to your hair look no further and check Macadamia Natural Oil’s offering. You can find their wide selection of products to purchase on their website and BeautyBay. Macadamia Natural Oil’s Volumising Dry Shampoo retails at £19.50.

Je Joue and Whistle & Hum

This Wednesday we have something rather special for our female readers to enjoy.  It’s something a little different to our usual beauty based posts but just as exciting… It's the small,  sensual but surprisingly powerful MiMi by Je Joue (French for 'I play') and... well we're all a bit coy here, so I'll just call it an external massager for now. It is perfect to enjoy with a partner or solo. Admittedly The Amazing Blog girls have for now, only been using it in the office on our arms and hands; particularly when our muscles get a bit tense from too much typing. But there again, this just means it has multiple purposes - which is more power to this clever little MiMi! We must mention that we got sent this by the rather nice company called Whistle & Hum  together with a selection of their aromatherapy massage and body oils  a brilliant accompaniment. Whistle & Hum promise to offer women a fun and informative experience when logging on in search of a vibrator - oh there I said it! What we like is the way that they say: "Think of us as your favourite everyday cookbook.....We only use the very best ingredients and don’t assume you have done an advanced cookery course." Nice analogy guys.

So let's tell you some more. The first thing we noticed about this vibrator is how soft it is. Je Joue really take the pebble concept to the next level pairing the pebble/egg shape with the smoothest silicone coating. There are a choice of four colours to chose from, some more feminine than others. You can find pink, purple, black and a lilac shade. Obviously purple is our corporate colour, but we think the black one would also make a perfect present for a male partner. The MiMi has its obviously use with lots of positive reviews from women about how effective the MiMi is but we think that it has the added benefit of making a great massager for all parts of your body. It’s small but surprisingly powerful… It feels great on the face, and for those of you who worry about double chins, then shoot this up to top speed and pulse and feel it exercise that extra flesh! However, where this device really exceeds expectations is when it's put to use for 'intimate stimulation'. It has 5 power levels with 6 different pulse settings to choose from, so plenty of variety depending on your mood. Because of its size it’s also perfect for both storing by your bed at home and for taking when you travel, without the risk of that awkward ‘what’s this?’ moment when someone’s borrowing something from your suitcase.

Valentines Day is a month away, so why not treat yourself and your partner to the MiMi and try something new and exciting in the bedroom! Don’t be coy, you know you want to. I’m sure your partner won’t be disappointed either. It’s easy to charge so once it’s out of use, just connect the magnetic strips on the device with those on the charger and plug it into the wall. 2 hours of charge will give you two hours of pleasure. Another benefit of the MiMi vibrator is that it's bath friendly, so if the bedroom isn’t exciting enough for you then this is fine to use in water. You can purchase this from their website here for £70.  

We also want to tell you more about the aromatherapy massage and body oils by Whistle & Hum we like them all and can't pick a favourite. There are three oils Shine, Love and Desire; each blended with different intentions of arousing different responses. The Desire oil contains ylang ylang which is a rich perfume oil from the flowers of the Cananga tree. Ylang Ylang is a popular addition to products like these as its calming properties has proved effective over the years. Oh, and did we mention Ylang Ylang is an aphrodisiac? How fitting for this post…. The Shine oil contains juniper which is a cleansing and detoxifying plant, and also contains rosemary which acts as a stimulant and tonic. This oil should be your choice if you are looking for something invigorating and revitalising. Finally, we are also really enjoying Love and the beautiful fragrance it releases. This particular oil is an emotion enhancer, with rose absolute and melissa which are traditionally used to help in times of grief or loss. It’s a comforting oil to warm your body and mind and put you into a relaxed state. You can purchase a 30ml bottle for £9 or a 100ml bottle for £16 from Whistle & Hum.