Cookbooks Special

Here at The Amazing Blog, we don’t just enjoy eating great food, we love feeding our culinary skills in the hope of creating some delicious dishes ourselves. In the run up to Christmas there are a plethora of cookbooks out there to buy, but we've picked a few of our favourites to share with you. Some are inspired by a range of cultures, others inspiring you to spice up your favourite meat. The countless mouth-watering recipes will have you running to the kitchen to try them out for yourself.

The Nomadic Kitchen Spices & Spandex is a charming cookbook following Tom Perkins and Matt Chennells on a cycling adventure with a difference.

Part travelogue and part recipe book, the book features 65 recipes inspired from the 26 counties which the boys travelled to in 501 days. Starting their journey in England and ending in South Africa, the book thoughtfully documents the entire journey and the food inspiration found along the way. This is no ordinary cookbook, we felt fully engaged in the narrative and loved the diverse global recipes, cultural observations and stunning photography. Enjoy recreating dishes from Egyptian Falafel Pittas to Zimbabwean Oxtail & Okra Stew, and begin your own culinary journey by purchasing Spices & Spandex here for £25.

Our next cookbook will transport you on a culinary journey through the different China Towns found around the world. Chef Jean-Francois Mallet travelled to different Chinese communities in an effort to understand the reason behind the diversity in East Asian cuisine within the western world. China Towns explores his journey and gives us 100 delicious recipes to try out for ourselves.

We loved the vivid and vibrant photography that really brought the book to life. There are dishes influenced from different Asian cuisines, some Vietnamese, and even hints of Thai. Open your mind to a world of stunning East Asian cuisine from all over the world and get your own copy here for £20.40.

For something a little closer to home, Louise Searle and Hayley Spurway have brought us the Saltwater Kitchen Cookbook.

The book brings the taste of Cornwall, a beautiful gastronomic hotspot on the English Coast, into your very own kitchen. Saltwater Kitchen flaunts a simplistic, back to nature method of cooking, heavily influenced by fresh foraged and saltwater ingredients. We loved the real food for real people aspect of the cookbook, and not only do they include fresh and simple recipes, but also recommendations for the best places to eat and drink. Expect recipes for many exciting foodie festivities like beach barbecues and fine dining feasts that will have you wanting to book a stay in Cornwall right away. If you want to learn recipes using fresh and sustainably grown ingredients, then this is the book for you, get yours here for £17.99.

Last but certainly not least, we have found a particularly useful cookbook to bring excitement back into poultry. Paul Gayler has brought us Chicken & Other Birds, which contains a bounty of delicious poultry recipes that employ a whole range of cooking techniques.

Gayler doesn’t simply stick to chicken; he introduces us to a variety of birds including Turkey, Goose, Duck, Guinea Fowl and even Pigeon. We were astounded by the wide array of mouth-watering recipes, ensuring us that meal times never have to be dull again. Whether it is curry, casseroles or roasts you're looking for, this cookbook will have a recipe for you, with a choice of 100 classic and contemporary dishes. Pick up your own beautifully illustrated copy here for £19.99.

Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair

Something special is happening this weekend at The Old Finsbury Town Hall. An event that The Amazing Blog and every fashionista won’t miss no matter what. Whether you’re a vintage lover or simply curious we will be expecting you at the new edition of the Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair, this Sunday 25th October.

This unmissable carousel of colours and style has been nominated for a London Vintage Award for a reason. It offers 50 stalls displaying womenswear, accessories, textiles and menswear, where you can indulge your inner fashion addict! Step inside and forget about 2015 while browsing among unique and exclusive stylish creations from the Victorian Age to 1980s.

With only 2 months until Christmas, this is the perfect place to pick up an original and totally unique gift, and if you're worried about sizes/little flaws, head on down to the Yellow Room for all your altering needs.

If you’re thinking that it’s all about dresses and jewels, you’ll be surprised. Juggling between a pair of shoes and a bag that you absolutely have to have, you can rest your tired shopaholic-feet having your nails done at the Vintage Salon. Alternatively enjoy a traditional English Afternoon-Tea in the Tea Room des Artists accompanied by vintage-flavoured bands like The Polka Dots Dolls and The Marjory Belles.  

Jump in an old-fashion painting for one day and renew your closet with something that you only will own and nobody else. The event will start at 11am and will go on until 5pm; the price at the entrance is £4, students can enter for only £2.

Laundry Special – Dryerballs, Senses, Fairliving

Here at The Amazing Blog we love finding totally natural, organic and environmentally-friendly beauty products, whether that’s skincare, makeup or body care. We’re now taking this level of care to our wardrobe, clothes are worn every day and spend hours in contact with our skin, we have picked our favourite laundry products that cater to different needs.

As winter comes closer, the outdoor washing line is swapped for the tumble dryer. Dryerballs can rid you of the additional task of ironing and give you back an evening of relaxation.

These products are all natural softeners made only from wool. The Dryerballs negate the use of chemical softeners, reduce drying time, reduce creasing and reduce static. We found them so easy to use, simply put both balls in the tumble dryer along with your clothes and start the machine on the usual settings. What’s more, if you want to add a natural fragrance to your laundry, simply add a few drops of essential oils to the Dryerballs and run for a further 10 minutes on no heat. They are reusable and will undoubtedly save you both time and money by reducing drying time. Get yours here for £8.25.

For those of you who would rather stick to a classic softener, we have found one that can be used even by those with the most sensitive skin. Senses have created a new hypoallergenic and dermatologically tested fabric conditioner that rivals brand leaders on performance and price.

The fabric softener uses microcapsule fragrance technology; it’s available in three scents, Blue Breeze, Orange Zest and Tropical Burst, each scent is rich, fresh and long lasting. The ingredients are all naturally sourced, allowing the product to be hypoallergenic as well as intensely fragrant. We found the conditioner of excellent quality and highly effective, our clothed felt soft but our pockets didn’t feel empty. Get yours here for only £1.00.

Lastly we have found a stain remover for today’s conscious consumer. Fairliving has created a Planet Pure Organic Stain Remover Spray with the power to eliminate stubborn stains cause by red wine, fruit, jam and even grease.

We were lucky enough to try this and loved the zesty orange fragrance. It came to the rescue of a white dress from an attack of red wine, while also giving it a fresh, crisp scent. The spray is versatile and extremely useful as it can be used on any type of fabric and surface. This is a product that everybody needs in their laundry kit and thankfully won’t break the budget. Make sure you get your hands on one here for £2.99.
And if a spray remover is not enough and your laundry definitely needs something stronger, which can go deep in the stains, Fairliving also offers a wide range of Laundry Liquids and Softners. 

All the scents are very pleasant and natural, with Lavender, Orange, Chamomile and Rose and there is a product specific for every fabric.
The entire range is available here starting from £1.99.

Friday Favourites - Face Masks

Facials are a great way to relax at the end of a long week; here at The Amazing Blog, we are firm believers in taking the time out to pamper ourselves. Stress and fatigue have a profound effect on the condition of our skin, so we have found the perfect range of masks for every purpose and skin type.

Firstly we have Earth Kiss Face Masks that come in both Mud Mask and Bamboo Sheet form, each catering to a different skin problem. This is perfect for those who want to try out ‘multi-masking’, a new beauty craze that is taking over beauty blogs and vlogs.

The mud masks are ideal for those with oily/acne prone skin, while the sheets are designed for those with dull/dry skin. We mix and match our masks depending on what our skin is craving. Earth Kiss products are 100% natural and energised with Himalayan Shalijit, a rare form of powerful mineralised organic matter that contains 85 different plant micronutrients - plently for keeping your skin in tip top condition. If you want to release your inner beauty naturally, then purchase your own mask here for only £1.99 each.

It isn’t often you can find a mask with anti-ageing technology, but Timeless Truth have created BEE Bio Cellulose Bee Venom and Royal Jelly Miracle Mask.

The combination of the Bee Venom and “elixir of youth” Royal Jelly is nature’s alternative to Botox. These active ingredients work by stimulating collagen production to tighten the skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. If that isn’t enough, the bee venom contains Melittin, a compound with anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, which gives the mask all of the great qualities of an anti-ageing serum. If you want great results in the most relaxing way possible, get your BEE mask here for £7.90 each or £38.50 for 5.

If you are looking for a mask that smells and looks good enough to eat, Christopher Courtney’s Anti-Oxidant Chocolate Facial Therapy mask is a must have.

The mask is packed with anti-oxidant rich Cocoa, Peptides, Vitamins, Plant Cell Extracts, Bio-Botanicals and Pure Essentials. But it has the added indulgence of real chocolate truffles for all the chocolate lovers out there. The treatment is designed to stimulate cell renewal, smooth the skin and boost moisture levels for healthy and radiant skin. It is suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin, as the product avoids harsh chemicals, synthetic colours/flavours, and mineral oils. We love this mask as it not only feels luxurious but has the most incredible scent of rich melted chocolate. Get your own decadent chocolate mask here for £43.95.

Last, but certainly not least, Beaut Boutique have brought us a Black Clay and Licorice Mask.

Too many clay masks leave our skin feeling dry and sensitive, whereas this one blends natural organic Australian Clay with Licorice Root Extract. These ingredients first detox, then brighten and tone the skin leaving it feeling clean and looking radiant. We loved the rich and creamy consistency of the mask, it glides effortlessly onto the skin like a thick moisturiser. After an evening relaxing with this soothing mask on you feel revitalised and your skin looks radiant, if you want to try it out yourself order it here for £18.

Festival of Heat

Here at The Amazing Blog, we have come across an event to spice up your weekend. The Festival of Heat is London’s leading Chilli Festival for the past 3 years, the work of Mercadito Productions. Heat-seekers everywhere join to celebrate various cultural uses for chilli, including the different eating, growing and cooking methods.

The Festival is attracting both aspiring and established talent; there will be producers, market traders and chefs from all over the UK. A few names you may recognise are hot pepper sauce brand Encona, Mushemi Fire, Zambian Chilli Products and Grim Reaper Foods Ltd. Encona will be this year’s sole sponsor of The Festival Kitchen, a fun and educational area with cooking demonstrations, food workshops and tasting activities for the whole family to enjoy. Whether its sweet and mild you’re after, or hot and fiery, Encona will have the sauce for you. They will also offer a range of delicious marinades to put life back into dull meal times; these are available in Korean BBQ, Jamaican Jerk BBQ and Moroccan Harissa. The exotic names are enough to make the mouth water.

Flavour Gurus from The World of Zing and Made in Hackney share their tips in master classes, workshops and demonstrations in the Festival Kitchen. In which you can learn ‘How to make a good curry’ and ‘Cooking with chilli to achieve the perfect heat’. For budding spice sellers, you can even pick up top tips on marketing your own hot sauce.

The Festival Kitchen Debate will hold several special guests, whom are to be announced. This is a hub of discussion around issues that affect us as consumers. You can have your own say on why we should buy from local producers and ask where it is our food comes from. If you want a break from all of this information, there will be DJs and bands providing music from across the world. There will surely be something to suit everyone as the music follows the multi-cultural theme, expect anything from live folk music to Bangladeshi dancing. In an ever growing multi-ethnic community it’s important to learn about different cultures, food and music are the social centres for most, making it the perfect place to start.

If you want a fun-filled and informative day out, make sure you attend the Festival of Heat  for just £7.50 per person, children under 16 go free if accompanied by an adult. The festival takes place on the 27th September 2015 in Red Market, London.​