Veggie Desserts and Cakes by Kate Hackworthy

At The Amazing Blog, we are always looking for inventive ways to introduce more veg into our diets. We never thought we would be able to do this while satisfying our sweet teeth. This is the outcome with food writer Kate Hackworthy’s new cookbook “Veggie Desserts and Cakes: Carrot Cakes and Beyond.” The book is a collection of unusual but delicious desserts that will help you increase your daily dose of vegetables. 

The writer of the award-winning blog Veggie Desserts, Kate has combined her passion for veg with her love of baking, and we couldn’t thank her enough. With 60 original recipes, the book isn’t about sneaking vegetables into your diet, as perhaps you would expect, but it instead celebrates them as hero ingredients. Our top three desserts from the book were the Courgette and Poppy Seed Loaf with Lavender Glaze, the Chocolate Mashed Potato Cupcakes with Espresso Icing and the Parsnip and Apple Tarte Tatin. Each recipe explains a little about why she chose the vegetables in it and what they add. For example, although mashed potato sounds like an odd thing to add to a cupcake, potatoes have actually been used in cake for decades. The ingredient adds bulk and moisture and helps the cakes keep for longer without drying out.  Veggies tend to bring moisture, natural sweetness and extra nutrients to baking. What’s more is that less refined sugar and fat is required making that you have some unbelievably tasty treats that are a lot less naughty. 
 

The book has really helped open our eyes and appreciate vegetables far more than we already do. If you feel inspired to try something new then you can purchase the book here from £13.78 Trust us, it will be the best decision you make all day. 
 

Friday Favourites-Skincare Feature

Today at The Amazing Blog, is our final post of 2017. With this in mind, we thought that we'd cover great skincare products for healthy skin to take you into the New Year. Regular readers will know, we're firm believers that a good skincare routine is the key for a glowing complexion. As such, we love to indulge our skin with the most efficient and hydrating skincare that we can find; and here are just a few of our favourite 'go-to' products:

The Hayo’u Treat-Rite de-stress Beauty Oil is one them. Hayo’u is a skincare brand that prides themselves on making fantastic skincare products inspired by ancient Chinese rituals. This face oil is a concentrated treatment that intensely nourishes skin while tackling signs of anti-ageing. The product is packed with essential oils including almond oil, Karanja oil, rice oil, camelia oil, white lotus oil, frankincense oil, lavender oil, ylang-ylang oil, jasmine oil and cedarwood oil. Together these most hydrating and relaxing ingredients work for a younger looking and rejuvenated skin. Purchase the Hayo’u beauty oil here for £33.

For those of you that like that luxurious packaging with a unique touch then Elizabeth Grant is the brand for you. Her glamorous Supreme Face Cream duo are a big hit at The Amazing Blog. Formulated with gold extracts, these creams promote a healthier, stronger and younger-looking complexion. The Day Cream is packed with botanical ingredients including blue-green algae, gold, yeast, lupin, olive oil, avocado oil, shea butter and vitamin E to name but a few! Gold extracts are well-known for their rich anti-oxidant properties as well as illuminating and revitalising the skin; while the avocado oil, shea butter and olive oil provide intense nourishment. 

The Night Cream also formulated with these gold extracts repairs and improves skin structure during the night. The moringa seeds, peptides, shea butter, olive oil, avocado oil, marula oil, vitamin E, ceramide and aloe vera included in the formula; makes the cream a highly hydrating product that protects, repairs and prevent skin from ageing. What make this product really stand out is the blue-green algae infusion; these algae help reduce the appearance of lines, wrinkles and skin pigmentation thus making it a must-have anti-ageing product. You can purchase the day and night duo here for £19.99.

What could be better than a multi-use product that cleanses, tones and hydrates the skin? Nothing immediately come to mind. Here the Botanicals Nourish Hydrating Mist seems to do it all. Formulated to suit all skin types, this mist helps promote a clearer and more balanced skin tone. Enriched with essential extracts and anti-oxidant such as rose oil, lavender oil, camellia oil, palmarosa oil and white tea; the mist gently cleanse skin while nourishing it. Perfect for keeping on our desk gently spritzing on our face against the dehydrating office central heating. The Nourish Hydrating Mist can be used on its own or to prepare skin for other treatments.You can purchase the Botanicals mist here for £20.

For those looking for that extra-hydration Kudu’s Squalane natural hydrating treatment oil is one of the best solutions. Made with pure Squalane derived from Mediterranean olives this oil nourishes, replenishes skin and works for a firmer and more even skin tone. Its lightweight formula is good for all skin types and it is easily applied and quickly absorbed. In the longer term, Squalane oil helps reduce lines and wrinkles and improves skin texture. This product is good multi-purpose oil and can be used on both the skin and hair.

Another favourite from the brand is the Bio-Active Hydration serum, specially crafted to provide extra-nourishment to the deepest layers of the skin, this serum pampers and repairs dry skin and sensitive skin. The blend of organic oils infused in the formula are bursting full of nutrients: Squalane, Gotu kola, jojoba, coconut, rosehip, grape, and marula oils. Not only do these ingredients moisturise skin, but also boost collagen production for a more supple skin. This effective mix promotes a more radiant, hydrated and replenished skin. Purchase the squalane here for £20.88 the bio-active serum here for £19.52

That's it from us. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year!

Christmas Candle Feature

As winter envelops us here in the UK, we all at The Amazing Blog, are looking to create that cosy warm hygge atmosphere. There is always something very special about lighting a heady and atmospheric candle. Not only the flickering light casting shadows but the gorgeous evocative aromas that help to create the right ambience. And we can't wait to share with you some of our  favourites candles to get you in the mood .

Breathing the scent of flowers when arriving home is the ideal way to start the evening. Sloane Home Topiary Garden with its fresh and floral notes help you create the peaceful atmosphere we are all craving for during those cold nights. The Sloane Home candles are all handmade, cooled, labelled and packaged. The Topiary Garden candle is made with mineral wax and beeswax, the top notes include apple and bergamot, the heart notes are juniper berries, patchouli, rose and jasmine and the base notes are vanilla, moss and ambergris. These ingredients make a modern, classic yet wonderfully scented candle. Purchase the Topiary Garden Candle  here for £32.00

When looking for a more luxurious and relaxing ambiance The Wakefulness candle by Aurelia Probiotic Skincare is our favourite. Specially crafted to energise and uplift your spirits this candle instantly install a sense of well-being in your home. The candle is made with a unique blend of oils including rose geranium oil, palmarosa, neroli and ylang-ylang oils. To complement the floral notes, the brand added grapefruit and mandarin to bring a fruity and fresher scent to the candle. The combination of these most relaxing and revitalising oils instantly put you in a peaceful and relaxing mindset. The candle is made from natural wax and is contained in an elegant ceramic vessel that perfectly complements your room décor.

Purchase the Wakefulness candle here for £55.

Strawberry Thief scented candle is a rich, earthy grounding candle made by Morris & Co’s. The candle is a rich and luxurious blend of scents including amber, sandalwood, patchouli, incense and vanilla, the heart notes include rose and violet, and the base notes are red berries, mandarin and bergamot. More than the delightful scent, what make us love this candle is the wintery and festive packaging it sports. The candle is contained in a colourful and printed glass with Morris & Co signature design and it  burns for up to 50 hours. Purchase the Strawberry and Thief candle here for £25.

In our opinion, Skandinavisk makes some of the most beautifully scented candles you can buy. We sampled their SKOG  candle which instantly transported us to a Scandinavian forest – in fact, Skog is Norwegian for forest.The Boreal forests cover half of Scandinavia. Unbroken, the forests stretch right from the far south to the arctic circle. The rich and natural scent of the pine candle is complemented by notes of subtle leather and lily of the valley. SKOG candle is hand-poured and made with 100% cotton wick. This candle is the perfect way to add a sophisticated festive and scandi feel to your home. Welcoming and warm, the mini candle will instantly transport you to somewhere a little more beautiful and peaceful. Purchase the Skandinavisk SKOG candles from Cotswold Trading here £15 for the mini candle (16 hours burning time) or here £29.99 for the regular candle (50 hours burning time) there is also a SPECIAL DISCOUNT of 10% at the time of publishing this feature - enter code CANDLE10 at checkout. 

Is there anything better than having a nice beauty sleep and a peaceful night after a long working day? Scentered candle after a year of research and creation created a therapeutic and most relaxing candle that they named Sleep Well. The name says it all; the candle is specially crafted to help you relax, calm your mind and uplift your spirit, thus helping you to have a good night sleep. Formulated with 100% natural ingredients including lavender, chamomile, palmarosa, Ho Wood, Geranium and Ylang Ylang this sophisticated candle combines all the soothing and therapeutic benefits of its components. Fragrance your room with these calming scent, relax and have a good night.You can purchase the Sleep Well candle here for £32.95.

Last but not least, and probably the most glamorous candle of all is the delicious new ‘Bacca’ scented candle from Ancienne Ambiance . This is a must-have when it comes to Christmas candles. ‘Bacca’ which is Latin for small ‘small round fruit’ perfectly describes the vibrant and fruity scent of redcurrants, blackcurrants and an array of freshly picked bursting berries in the candle. This candle is truly 'berrylicious' and has an excellent burning time or 60-65 hours, which from our experience has a scent lasts throughout. The beautiful and sophisticated scents of bursting berries were loved by the Romans, Etruscans and Greeks as they were thought to have medicinal properties. We just love the added bonus of this feel-good factor.

The candle comes beautifully packaged in hand-crafted luxurious gift boxes made in the UK, making them a perfect gift or a gorgeous mantelpiece. Each candle is hand poured in the UK using a unique slow burning natural wax blend and a lead free wick. We want one of these candles burning on our Christmas Day! Purchase the Ancienne Ambience ‘Bacca’ Candle here for £40.

Whether you are looking for just a gently scented relaxing candle, or a rich and luxurious fragrance to set the party scene; we certainly think you'll that find one of these here. 

Sun Screen Velvet Body/ Face lotion SPF 50+ by Frezyderm

It’s December; it’s snowy and freezing outside and we at The Amazing Blog just like you love the Christmas holidays with all the festive spirit.  However, we also can’t help thinking about jumping on a plane and getting away from it all. Whether you're off skiing on ice-capped mountains or sunbathing in warmer climes, those of you who are lucky enough are no doubt going to be upping your tan game.  Today is one of our #amazingfinds which we think you're really going to thank us for. See the below, with two of our must-have SPF skincare products from Frezyderm.

If you're going to a beach this Christmas, then Frezyderm’s Sun Screen Velvet Body Lotion SPF 50+ is the one for you, allowing you to tan without damage. This sun screen is an innovative product that provides very high protection, this is formulated with a new velvet technology that dries matte and leaves skin velvety soft and non-oily. Enriched with botanical ingredients, including rosemary leaf extract and sunflower oil, the sunscreen protects skin from UV damage and prevents skin from photo ageing. They claim that their sunscreen is protective enough for even the most sun-sensitive of skins. Application should be 20-30 mins before sun exposure and then reapplied again every 2 hours, or immediately after swimming. 

The brand has also developed a specific sun protection for the face, Sun Screen Velvet Face SPF 50+ with the innovative second skin technology giving the skin a comfortable matte texture with protection for up to 6 hours. Not only does this sun screen act as a sun protection product, but it also absorbs sebum and smoothes the appearance of lines and wrinkles. We think it's pretty amazing, as it glides on smoothly, is invisible and water resistant; making it in our view perfect for a beach day or a pool party. Best of all is that it works as a brilliant primer under tinted foundation or make up. We are not the only ones loving this product. It was awarded the Best Beauty Breakthrough Award by Amazing PR's client The Beauty Shortlist Awards in 2017. Both products are parabens free and you can purchase the body sun screen here for £20.50 and the face sunscreen here for £18.99.

Christmas Stockings Fillers

For the last post of our Special Christmas Week, we are going to talk about stocking fillers. No matter our age, we're always so excited to find out what Father Christmas put in our beautiful stockings. While we love those little, fun and cute gifts, it can sometimes be difficult to find great stockings ideas for less than £15. We at The Amazing Blog have racked our brains and looked for the best stockings fillers at a reasonable price.

Let’s start with Heathcote and Ivory Gardeners Tree Tidings; this little gift set contains two hand creams and a Relax bath tablet. The shea butter hand cream as its name suggests made with shea butter(obviously) but also with other essential oils including lemon, orange and peppermint. This beautiful mix makes a highly nourishing hand cream. While the shea butter cream has a zesty and fresh scent, the Hedgerow hand cream has more of a fruity smell thanks to the blend of rhubarb, blackberry and elderflower extracts included in the formula. Together these ingredients intensely hydrate hands leaving them softer and smoother. Enriched with chamomile, lavender, eucalyptus and rosemary the bath tablets is the ideal product to help you relax while bathing. All made without Parabens and Sulphates. You can purchase the Gardeners Tree Tidings here for £6.00.

The festive period is the opportunity for us all to look at our best. With Christmas dinners and New Year events, we all like to shine bright and to have our party looks on point. And what better way to complement a look than a beautiful nail polish. A lovely and shiny nail polish is the little detail that instantly completes a look. Le Mini Macaron’s Mini Petit Bouquets nail polish set with their pretty pastel shades might just be the perfect trio for nail polishes lovers. The set contains three nail polishes including lavender; a pale purple, Rose pale; a pastel pink and wildflower a grey nail lacquer with blue hues. These nude and pastel shades will bring a modern and elegant touch to your look. Le Mini Bouquets nail polish set is available here for £24.99.

Christmas is the time to be merry, eat great food and drink delicious tipples. However, as years pass by, we start getting bored of the usual tastes and flavours. For those who like us want to add a little twist to their tipples, Popaball has created the Popaball Bursting Juice bubbles for Gin, Prosecco and Vodka. The Blueberry and Lemon Bursting Juice Bubbles for Gin, with its sweet and zesty taste instantly add a burst of sweetness and juiciness to your drink. The Apple & Cherry Bubbles for Vodka, (our favourite) taste delightfully good; the sensation of the Popaballs bursting in the mouth is just incredible; it brings drinking Vodka to a whole new level. The Shimmer Blueberry Bubbles for Prosecco is ideal to add a little touch of glam in your prosecco. Just add the blueberry bubbles and the shimmering liquid, watch the sparkle forms and enjoy the fruity taste.  The bubbles are suitable for vegetarians. You can purchase all the Popaballs from Cotswold Trading. See here for the bubbles for Gin £3.79, the bubbles for Vodka here for £3.79 and the shimmer bubbles for prosecco here for £4.49. Guaranteed to add a bit of an extra 'fizz' to your Christmas tipple!

We at The Amazing Blog appreciate a warm and relaxing bath once in a while. And when we do so, we love using the most calming and beautifully scented bath products. Sloane Home excel in the art of making stunning bath salts. Our preferred ones remain the Lady Grey, bath salts with a zesty and fresh perfume, the Topiary Garden, is a more floral and classic scent and the Rose Garden has a sensual and luxurious fragrance. All bath salts are made with Dead Sea salts well known for its therapeutic properties. The bath salts help you relax by easing muscles and uplifting the spirit. There are nothing more agreeable than soaking in a warm and welcoming bath after a long day and these fantastic bath salts from Sloane home are just what you need. Purchase the bath salts here for £16.50 each.

Hang on a minute you really thought that we would give you some stockings fillers tips without including one treat? Come on you should know better, we here at The Amazing Blog can’t resist the temptation of delicious and savoury candies. Our addiction of this season is The Fudge Kitchen award-winning sliders; the brand specialised in making gourmet handmade fudges, its sliders include six fudges with three different flavours. The Gin Selection pack include two Bitter Orange and Cubeb Gin, two Juniper and Kaffir Lime Dry Gin and two Sloe Gin fudge. This box with its popping and rich flavours will ravish your delicate palate. The Salted Selection include Isle of Sky Salted caramel fudges, Cornish Smoked salted Maple fudges, and Maldon Sea Salted Chocolate fudges. These fudges are at the same time creamy, sweet and smooth. The sea salts included in the recipes add a little touch of zest and crunch that balances perfectly well with the sweetness of the other ingredients. You can purchase Fudge Kitchen's Salted fudges and Gin fudges here for £8.00 each.