My Relationship With Food by Lisa Roukin

Here at The Amazing Blog we are always down to test out and discover new and delicious recipes, which is why we were ecstatic when Lisa Roukin invited us to her launch party for her newly released cookbook, My Relationship with Food.

On November 25, we sat at work watching the clock slowly tick away as we thought about the launch party (and the food) that evening.

We arrived at Opso Restaurant for the launch party, and as soon as we entered, Lisa was right there and ready to give us her cookbook and a goody bag for each of us.

This goody bag might just the best one I have ever received. It had products from The Groovy Food Company, Chi London, The Foods of Athenry and Revolution Tea. I use the gluten-free honey in my tea every evening and the coconut oil on my face at night. Definitely check out these companies and their products if you have the time!

We made our way to the food table with delicious crackers, spreads and salads. While we cleaned our plates, Lisa sat down with us to explain the process of her cookbook. She made this entire cookbook in 3 months, working about 17 hours a day. Can you imagine? She even had to hire a food stylist. Just sitting there and listening to Lisa talk about her book, I could sense her passion for food and her hope that people will buy her book and develop a healthy relationship with food like she has.

My Relationship with Food features 100 recipes, each mirrored by beautiful photography. All of the dishes featured in the cookbook are virtually gluten-free and see minimal use of dairy and refined sugars. Plus, the recipes are organized by season. It also features the personal story of Lisa and her own journey to developing a better relationship with food, discussing her bad food habits and the ways in which she overcame them.

With recipes like Chicken Satay Skewers with Spicy Peanut Sauce, Raw Blueberry Cheesecake and Sweet Potato Hummus, you can find something both you and your entire family will enjoy. I tried the Sweet Potato Hummus at the launch party and I couldn’t get enough of it! This would be the perfect thing to serve at a family or friend gathering.

After getting the chance to sit down with Lisa and hear her story, we wish her the very best as she officially becomes a cookbook author. She has so much passion and she knows how to make healthy food delicious. We can’t wait to try the recipes in the cookbook and we hope all of our lovely readers try it too.

In the words of Lisa, “Eat what nourishes your body, do what nourishes your soul, think what nourishes your mind.” Now go online and purchase the cookbook here for £22.00 and you can start your healthy relationship with food today!

The Great Gift Company - Smartphone Projector

Ever wish your life was like a movie? Well, we here at The Amazing Blog discovered a way to make this dream come true! Say hello to the Smartphone Projector from The Great Gift Company.

Nowadays, everyone takes pictures on their phones and they cannot wait to share them with family and friends through social media. But what if we told you there was a cooler way to share your memories? The Smartphone Projector is a light and easily portable box that allows you to project images onto a blank wall or background. With a magnification of 8x, you can now share your memories on-the-go or in the comfort of your own home. There are no wires or batteries to worry about. You simply invite your friends and family to gather around, indulge in some popcorn, and watch your life on the big screen.

The Smartphone Projector can be used with iOS and Android compatible smartphones. For the best results, the phone brightness needs to be turned up to 100% and you need to be in a dark room with a blank, white surface.

You can purchase this incredible gift here for £15.50. You will need to assemble the projector yourself, but don’t worry, full instructions will be included; however, you will need to purchase your own superglue. Get ready for your 15 minutes of fame on the big screen!

Vandotsch - Speculaas Spice Mix

Who doesn’t love biscuits, especially around Christmas time? Here at The Amazing Blog our Dutch colleague introduced us to The Speculaas Spice Company and its Vandotsch Speculaas Spice Mix, and we may never look at Christmas biscuits the same way again.

Steven Dotsch, director of The Speculaas Spice Company, was inspired to launch the company using his Dutch grandmother’s recipe of delicious, warm and sweet tasting speculaas, because he missed the flavour and scent after moving to the UK. And we're so glad that Britain can now get a taste of the delicious Dutch delicacy.

The company prides itself in supplying people with only the finest spices in their speculaas spice mix, which does not include any artificial flavours, colours or preservatives. The spices are either organic, Fairtrade sourced or both.

The Vandotsch Speculaas spice mix consists of a perfectly balanced mixture of nine spices, including real, high grade, cinnamon from Sri Lanka, cloves, ginger and six other spices that give the mix a unique kick. The spice mix can be used in most recipes where regular cinnamon is used as a main flavouring ingredient.

Traditionally, speculaas biscuits come in the shape of a windmill or male or female figurine, known as ‘lovers.’ However, these days they can take any shape. If you’re going to order the mix, you should definitely consider ordering the mould, because speculaas biscuits are supposed to be the mirror image of the carved wooden moulds they are baked in. Plus, we always find it more fun to bake in shapes.

You can discover a variety of recipes that use the mix here. Check out the website and order the Vandotsch Speculaas Spice Mix and a mould for £9.99. It’s the perfect time of the year to chow down on some delicious Christmas biscuits.

LighterLife - Fast 5:2

Eat low-fat foods. Exercise more. Skip meals. Don’t skip meals. Fast. We have all been given different suggestions for weight loss, but which ones actually work?

Here at The Amazing Blog we do not generally approve of dieting; however, LighterLife Fast 5:2 products provide a healthy way to lose or maintain weight through intermittent fasting.

Normally when we hear the word “fast,” we run for the hills because who wants to limit the amount of food they eat?

Intermittent fasting generally involves cutting calorie intake to around a quarter of what you would usually eat for just two days a week. The rest of the week you can eat how you always eat.

Why should you try this you might ask? Intermittent fasting is perfect for shedding a few pounds or keeping your weight in check. Plus, it’s easy and nutritious without the hassle of cooking, food shopping and calorie counting.

On each fasting day, you will be consuming 600 calories while still getting 100% of your recommended daily allowances of key minerals, vitamins, protein and fibre. With LighterLifeFastpacks, you have a choice between savoury meals such as Spaghetti Bolognese and Pasta Carbonara, Porridge, four shakes (vanilla, strawberry, banana and chocolate) and four meal bars (nut fudge, crispy peanut, cranberry & raspberry and toffee).

Our executive editor tried it for a week and was quite impressed that she didn’t feel hungry, even after consuming only 600 calories. She had a combination of all of the Fastpacks and her favourite was the bars. She felt they really stopped her snacking. She wasn’t so keen on the soups and shakes, but she did enjoy the porridge and pasta carbonara.

If you think this is a great way to maintain a sustainable lifestyle, you can purchase a box of four Fastpacks exclusively at Superdrug stores across the UK and Ireland for £7.99. A box of four is enough for one day of fasting. If you aren’t sure whether this product is for you, you can receive complementary media trials to sample the products first hand and then make your decision!

Etsy House - London Pop-Up Event

Still working on your Christmas shopping? There's no need to panic just yet! We here at The Amazing Blog have discovered the perfect event to find items from all over the world and finally get that Christmas shopping taken care of.

After a successful pop-up shop in Soho, New York last year, Etsy.com, the world’s most vibrant handmade and vintage online marketplace, has announced its first UK pop-up shop in Covent Garden this weekend.

Etsy House will be open for three days, selling a selection of the best handmade and vintage gifts from over 100 independent creative businesses across the UK. With handmade presents, home decorations, jewellery, stationery and more for sale, Etsy House will provide customers with a convenient online shopping experience mixed with the fun and surprise of discovering something new in person.

Visitors will be able to watch live crafting by Etsy artisans, take part in workshops led by Etsy designers and have gifts customised by makers in store. It's the perfect place to shop for those 'hard to buy for' friends and relatives, who seem to already have everything.

Etsy House will open in London from 5th -7th December at 5 Great Newport Street, London, WC2H 7HY (nearest tube Leicester Square) from 10am - 8pm on Friday and Saturday and from 12pm - 6pm on Sunday. So if you're looking for a little inspiration this Christmas, pop down to the pop-up event. You're bound to find a unique gift for your loved ones.