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!

Friday Favourites: Men's Grooming Products

Now the festive season has been and gone it’s time to get stuck into those New Years resolutions, and as a man I never thought I’d say this, but maintaining a good grooming routine has definitely become one of them. I must admit I don’t take the best care of my skin, but being the only man in an office full of women means I don’t get to test out all these wonderful beauty products that are always being talked about… That’s a good enough excuse for neglecting my skin right? However! This has now all changed. All ready for tackling a new year, I have been sent a host of products I’ve been testing and trialling and I’m finally ready to introduce you to a group of products that will change how you look at men’s grooming. These include Original Sprout Natural Hair Gel, Razorpit Razor Blade Sharpener, The Real Shaving Company Shaving Cream and Super Balm, a Green People Shaving Kit and Emu Balm.

First up is the Original Sprout Natural Hair Gel. This hair product is completely organic, which amazingly means its family friendly and even suitable for babies! Of course, this means it’s brilliantly natural and doesn’t contain any nasty chemicals that will harm your hair. Unlike some gels that make your hair feel hard or greasy, this gel leaves hair feeling clean while also softening and detangling it, without that horrible sticky or flaky residue you might expect from hair products. Of course, it also holds hair in place all day and smoothes down those pesky flyaway’s! Because it’s suitable for all ages, the ingredients in this product mean it can actually prevent your children from catching head lice, while also helping to preserve hair colour for the older generation! I’m not usually a hair product type of guy, but the benefits this gel can bring to the hair has definitely caught my attention and converted me, I suppose the nice natural fruity smell helps a bit too! This hair gel is £10.50 for 118ml, and you can buy it from here.Now I must admit razor sharpeners are a completely new concept to me, I didn’t really know they existed, until now that is. This Razorpit sharpener has completely enhanced my shaving routine. I’m no longer dragging a blunt razor across my skin, but now benefit from a sharp and precise cut every time, making shaving a much more comfortable and appealing task! After studying how razor blades go blunt so quickly, Razorpit discovered that a coating forms, causing the blade to become thick and dull. To solve this, a thermo-plastic elastomer surface was created; a sort of silicon that has a high level of friction while also being very soft. This friction means you are able to push the razor along the surface, and are left with a sharp, fresh blade every time! The price varies slightly depending on where you buy them, but you can buy the classic black one from Next for £18, or the white version on QVC for £15, and seeing as they will save you a lot of money from repurchasing razors, they are definitely worth the money! Now that I’ve got a perfectly sharpened razor, I, of course, needed to find the perfect shaving cream to accompany it; enter the Traditional Shave Cream by The Real Shaving Company. This cream is double concentrated, meaning a little goes a long way. The ingredients in this product, including organic cocoa butter and willowbark, mean the skin stays moisturised, which additionally prevents the razor from dragging across the skin. Not only does this make shaving a much more enjoyable experience, it also means that shaving nicks, bumps and razor burns are reduced.

After shaving, I want to make sure my skin remains hydrated and for this I use The Real Shaving Company’s Multi-Task Super 8 Balm. In my opinion this the perfect post-shave product, it is designed for everyday use and promises to have long-term benefits for your skin. In addition to soothing skin after shaving, this balm hydrates, moisturises and smoothes the skin, energises and revives tired, dull skin, combats blemishes, refines pores with a mattifying effect and minimises the appearance of wrinkles, all while providing anti-oxidant protection! It really is a hard working super balm! Like the shaving cream, this product boasts cocoa as one of its ingredients, as well as shea and seed butter. The balm feels soft and cool when applying, and instantly soothes my skin making it feel refreshed and protected for the rest of the day. You can buy both the 100ml shaving cream for only £3.99 and the 100ml super balm for £4.99 nationwide from a number of stores, including Boots and John Lewis.

For those of you who like to be compact, the Green People Organic Shaving Kit is for you. This little kit contains a 125ml Wash and Shave, a 125 ml Cool Down Moisturiser, a razor and a shaving brush. This kit fits perfectly in the bathroom while also looking modern and expensive, and is small and compact enough to carry around for the odd night or weekend trip away. It has everything you’d need for a freshen up, especially considering the Wash and Shave is not only great as a shaving foam, but can also be doubled up as a daily face wash. The ingredients, including aloe vera, amaranth protein, Irish moss, grapefruit and orange combine together to make a wash that is effective in preventing acne, eczema and psoriasis. When using this I find my face feels extremely clean without the dried out and ‘tight’ feeling other face washes can cause. It also has a great smell- zingy but not overpowering.

A product that fits hand in hand with this is the Cool Down Moisturiser, this instantly soothed my skin after my shave, and left it feeling moisturised but not greasy, a definite plus in my book. Like the Wash and Shave, this moisturiser contains organic aloe vera, shea butter, green tea, mint and calendula, and with ingredients like that, you can imagine the amazing cool, refreshed feeling you will experience when using this duo. Not only that, but calendula is known to be a great ingredient to help soothe and prevent acne. Because this product is a gel and not a cream, it also means it feels more soothing and is not sticky or too heavy, so it doesn’t feel like my pores are being blocked by using it.

Of course, this duo works wonderfully after a nice clean shave, and I must say the razor included is one of the best I’ve tried. This triple bladed razor includes a skin protecting strip, meaning the chance of pulling or cutting your skin is greatly reduced. The three blades also mean you can get an extremely close shave. To begin my shaving process, I apply some Wash and Shave and use the shaving brush to lather this up on my skin. I find using the brush means I get a much thicker, creamier lather, rather than what I would get by just using my fingers. The bristles are ultra-soft and 100% vegan, so not made with animal hair, meaning I feel much more comfortable rubbing it on my face! Before I received this kit I was never one to use a shaving brush, but since trying this one from Green People I am a total convert, it is completely fuss free despite my preconceived ideas, and results in a much smoother, closer shave!

Since using this kit my skin has vastly improved, it’s much clearer and smoother, and I no longer get that dreaded shaving rash! I would definitely recommend this kit and I also love the way it looks; so sleek and it almost reminds me of something out of a James Bond movie! This would make a great gift, or if you want to treat yourself, you can buy the kit from here for £45.

Lastly I want to talk about a type of miracle balm. Emu balm from Lorem advertises itself as a product to help with muscle and joint pain, but it is so much more than that! This amazing balm is 100% natural and full of essential oils, helping it penetrate into the deep layers of your skin, meaning any aches and pains are quickly eliminated. The list of benefits this balm can bring to your body is endless, from arthritis to acne, and sports injuries to migraines, just rub a little of this balm on and you will see and feel rapid results.  I used to suffer from annoying dry patches on my skin but thanks to this little balm, they are no more! This balm contains a host of natural ingredients that, quite clearly, do wonders for your skin. Some of these include vitamin A, known for its antioxidant and skin repairing properties, vitamin E, which helps the healing process and protects against sun damage, and omega 3, 6 and 9, which all help decrease cholesterol levels and encourage the production of cells. Combined, these ingredients help to protect and repair the skin against dryness, psoriasis, acne, scars and even wrinkling on aging skin. I also find that this balm does wonders when you have the flu, I seem to be constantly unwell in these winter months and this balm has been a saviour. I just rub a little on my head and muscles before bed and when I wake it’s like the symptoms were never there. You can get a 500ml tub for £20 from here, and considering this stuff is bacterio-static, meaning bacteria will not grow in it, ensures it will last for absolutely ages! This is a definite hero product that everyone should have in their bathroom cabinets.

Carrot Banana Peach

This Friday, The Amazing Blog has something a little more unusual to share with you, our lovely readers. Ever heard of food in clothing before? No, not food on your clothing, but actually in it. We think that this might be the start of a new textile trend for 2014. Carrot Banana Peach adds an interesting combination of milk and soybean fibres into the contents of their clothing collection. For this Vegetable Cashmere to be produced, the drained oils are converted to a fibre through a detailed and careful process, which keeps the inherent proteins and nutrients intact. Keeping all the essential nutrients in the fabric means that it is gentle and soft on the skin and there isn’t the chance of irritation like some people may find in other materials. This process creates a wonderfully smooth and breathable piece of clothing, which is lighter and even better than cotton and cashmere and a has the added bonus of being completely machine washable. The actual clothing is stylish and comfortable and makes a perfect yoga or Pilates wear. Carrot Banana Peach offers a unique MILKDAL fabric which incorporates Cleopatra’s bathing ritual's main ingredient, milk. Its restorative properties and the inclusion of modal to the mixture, makes MILKDAL a perfect match for those sensitive to synthetic fabrics.

The fashionable collection ranges across yoga, fitness, rhythmic and dance gear. These garments are made from banana, aloe vera, bamboo, milk and soybean. These plant fibres are all specifically chosen for their properties that create comfortable, natural and soft clothing which has flexibility,  thus ideal for stretching movements. We really like the style of the clothes and would happily use them for casual wear as well as for their sporty purpose. We like the idea of slipping these on and head straight to the sofa for some ultimate relaxation time.  Plus these natural foodie clothes offer the possibility of encouraging us to do exercise because they are so comfy and flexible! You can visit the website here to have a look at their range and everything they have to offer. Search for colours and sizes that suit you and then get your yoga cap on. Prices from £28.50.

Friday Favourites - Raw Foods

We love our food and so far we haven't succumb to any silly New Years' diet fads. However, we have had a lot of 'snack cravings' sweeping The Amazing Blog office but  these have been intentionally directed at Raw Food (thanks to the generosity of the companies below). Raw food in simple terms means raw healthy food with no added bad stuff. Thus enabling one to have guilt-free snacking with delicious food that is actually good for you and we really like that! Which is why we thought we'd introduce you to some of our favourite discoveries with their brands and products, namely: Love Raw, The Living Food Kitchen, Rawr Chocolate and inSpiral.

We have been enjoying some tasty and organic bars by Love Raw in the office this week. If you’re looking for a snack to give you a little boost then look no further... Their unprocessed and organic bars are full of ingredients designed to give maximum nutritional value. It’s the best way to get all the vitamins and minerals that you need into your daily routine . They are great for energy and focus too, making these new snacks a big plus if you get a bit peckish during your working day. We really enjoyed the Cocoa and Maca Superfood bar. Apparently our bodies require 80% alkaline and 20% acidic food balance to keep the energy levels up and reverse disease (oh and to also keep us looking younger). Just add one of these yummy bars into your daily food intake and you will definitely start feeling the health benefits. We have for sure. You can buy them on their website here for £29.88 per box of 12. 

We have also been lucky enough to sample the WHOLE of the Living Food Kitchen range, including the Beetroot Hummus, Hemp Seed Pesto, Hummus, Mousse, Cheesecakes, Banoffee Pie, Pumpkin Pie, AND lots of their yummy Shakes and Smoothies. There are quite a few of us in the office, so it didn’t take long for everything to disappear! The Pesto tasted like real homemade pesto, not that processed rubbish you find in a jar. Our Exec Editor, Edwina, used it recently in a Risotto which went down very well at her dinner party. We have all munched on the Beetroot Hummus  using oatcakes to scoop it out of the pot, highly recommended! The Beetroot flavour is very unique and quite addictive, we became very fond of both the hummus pots. It’s always good to know you are eating something that is entirely good for you as well as healthy. Aside from that, there were the slightly naughtier snacks. All still made with raw ingredients and we might add much better for you than most regular puds. It was observed, that there was a wistful silence throughout in the whole office during the consumption of these… Raw food means that it isn’t heated above 46 degrees and all the good nutrients aren’t destroyed, thus making The Living Food collection of different treats most beneficial for your total well-being. The range is available in all Planet Organic and Wholefood stores across London and we couldn’t recommend everything highly enough!

If there is one weakness most of us have, especially we girls in the office, it’s chocolate. However, there is always that guilt which lingers for hours after just that one bite of chocolate.  Guilt free…chocolate is there such a thing? Oh yes, welcome Rawr Chocolate. Several years ago, an idea was born in a Cambridgeshire kitchen to make the most delicious 'raw' dairy-free chocolate in the world. Research and testing went ahead and they searched out the best raw ingredients to help create some amazing flavours. However, all without added refined cane or beet sugar, artificial this or the other, hydrogenated or chemical preservative nonsense, emulsifiers or colourings. Wow, we think you'll agree that's quite a list! We tried out the Passion (Goja Berries and Vanilla) , After Dinner (Mint), and the Zest  (Orange). One of our particular favourites was the Zest - deliciously fresh and citrusy. We would describe their texture as slightly more powdery than regular chocolate, but don't let that put you off. This Rawr Chocolate range just melts in the mouth and we think goes it perfectly with a lovely cup of coffee for elevenses. Because of their organic and natural ingredients what we like is the fact that these chocolates are actually good for you. They are very tasty and a great way to be able to sit back and have a guild-free indulgence! The bars are £2.45 and found on their website here.

Now to something a little less sweet than chocolate.  We have also been trying the inSpiral Super Food Bites. These really are super, full of flavour and just the right consistency between 'chew and crunch'. These soon became another office elevenses (or is that two-ses, three-ses, four-ses...!) The Granola Bite flavours we tried were Loveberry, Chocolatey, and Banana. Each once suits a different time of the day, we liked the banana ones in the morning, and then chocolate for something a bit sweeter in the afternoon. They are an  organic fitness food, complete with seven vegan protein sources. The perfect, guilt-free ‘on-the-go snack’, straight out of the compostable bag… These truly do fill you up so you won’t need to pick at those naughty office biscuits in the afternoon.  inSpiral as a brand, dates back to the beginning of the English festival and music culture, with a trademark for its chill out environment for the mind and body. They have a broad selection of offerings at inSpiral with their cult 'raw food' cafe in Camden with lots of other goodies including their Kale chips (which we wrote about here). Their success has allowed them to grow and grow and now they have an extensive range of products to offer. The super food bites are delectable, easy to have in the office or transport in your bag like a bag of crisps when you get a bit peckish during the day. They are also high in omega EFA seeds with flax and chia, along with alkalising slow-release carbohydrates like millet and quinoa for that satisfying crunch and essential fuel. Each flavour has its unique superfood content and the whole mix is dehydrated at low temperatures (110 degrees F) to maintain enzymes and nutrients. The bags are £1.39 and found here.

Healthy snacking is a habit everybody should take up and at The Amazing Blog we are all going to try and make this our mantra for 2014. What about you?

Friday Favourites- New Years Eve Make Up

It’s not long until we will welcome in the New Year with either a wonderful party or celebrations with friends. We only have a few days between now and then to prepare, so we thought that we'd offer a few suggestions for you to have a splurge with your Christmas spending money. At The Amazing Blog we've picked a few of our very favourite make-up finds to help you create that perfect eye catching look to see in 2014! The Rouge Bunny Rouge make-up collection is just the place to head with that Christmas spending money. One of my personal favourite products is the Loose Glitter Pigment in all its girly, baby pink glory. It’s just what you need to add a little sparkle to your outfit and jazz things up a bit on this special evening. The pigment contains pearl, making it extraordinarily luminescent on the skin. It also has added Sodium PCA which is a natural moisturiser, this means that the pigment is not drying on your skin so it is extremely soft and creamy and can be applied to the skin with ease. The bottle contains a built in applicator wand to prevent any of the pigment from being spilled and the wand is tipped with a soft sponge for easy application of the pigment. It applies to the skin lightly and evenly giving a soft and delicate look with a gorgeous shimmer. This pigment is perfect to wear either alone or blended with other eye shadows. The Loose Glitter Pigments are available in six other colours and you can get your hands on your own from the Rouge Bunny Rouge Website for £19.34.

           

Cozmetic Lab has a great selection of loose powders for the face. They have created an 'Intro Pack' which comprises of a foundation, eye shadow, bronzer and blush so you can create your complete look. This Australian mineral make-up for women who want to be noticed. The powdered foundation is light weight and sets well, making it useful for concealing, coverage and setting. It’s also oil free which makes it much better for keeping your skin in tip top condition. I was surprised at how well the powder covered imperfections as usually I need to use a liquid foundation for more coverage. I particularly liked the fact that it has an SPF 25, no talc and has a fabulous illuminating effect on the skin - unlike may other mineral brands which have left my complexion rather dull and flat. This product was a big hit with The Amazing Blog team. The bronzer also blends seamlessly in, giving you a natural glowing tan. It has a subtle effect which means you look tanned, rather than looking like you’re wearing make-up. If you prefer to go with the rosy finish then the blush is just the thing for this. It sits well on the cheeks and has a slight shimmer but nothing too unnatural. When you’re out in the cold this New Years you’re bound to get some pink skin, so you may as well make it a more flattering cheek colour with this blush. The eye shadow creates an attention grabbing smoky eye to give you a seductive and mysterious edge for these celebrations. All the powders stay on the skin really well, there’s no slipping and sliding with this make-up. The ingredients also mean shine won’t be a problem so you can stay looking glam and fabulous all evening. The Intro Pack is £42 and can be found here.

If you are a loyal reader of our blog then you will already know how much we love Eye of Horus because of our post here.They popped into our heads as soon as we started thinking about getting striking eyes for New Year. Two colours that we suggest for this occasion are the Teal Malachite Goddess Pencil and the Smokey Eye Goddess Pencil, either alone or blended together. The Smokey Eye Goddess Pencil is a classic black with extreme definition. The exotic pencil glides effortlessly with no smudge because of the ingredients and creamy formula. They are waterproof too which is ideal because the weather is very unpredictable. If smouldering is the look you intend to create then smouldering you will get with these pencils.  The teal is a little more creative and adventurous, we love this bright colour which can be applied either as a subtle line around the eye or smudged to create more of an eyeshadow effect. It will certainly enhance and illuminate your eyes with its hypnotic shimmer. The smudger tip gives you a lot of leeway when deciding on the style you want to create. They are only £13 and will last all night long and more. These currently can be found on their UK website Eye of Horus , in store at John Bell & Croyden or online at cocktail cosmetics

For a more simple make-up looks this New Year, try the pressed  Miners Fresh Faced Powder. You can read our post on the Miners liquid foundation here, but this powder is something a little lighter and understated with a matting effect. These form a brand new collection of powder shades designed to even out skin tone and conceal imperfections, to create that all important flawless finish. The powder comes in Translucent Ivory, Soft Sand, and Warm Honey. They are only £3.99 and found on the Miners website here.

As well as making yourself look glam, it’s always important to smell the part too. Lush have just released a new collection of limited edition scents. Our favourite is the Rose Jam; a fruity but strong scent guaranteed to get you noticed. The scent is made from real Turkish rose oil and rose absolute, blended with a hint of zingy lemon and a dash of geranium oil. This mixture helps to create this gorgeous sweet and floral scent. Unlike other rose scented perfumes, that may remind you a bit of your granny, this one from Lush is rich, powerful and modern, and a spray or two will last you all night. They are at a very affordable £30 for 30ml, and only available online from here, and are also in limited quantities, so get them while you can!