Sunday, 26 April 2015
Saturday, 25 April 2015
Mrs Atha's Cafe | Foodie Review
In the backstreets of the high end shopping district of Leeds, close to the city market, lies a quaint, small coffee shop called Mrs Atha's. I had read a lot about this coffee shop before deciding to go along with my parents. Expecting to find a small, independent coffee shop that did some yummy homemade cakes was my expectation, but what I was greeted with was an amazing smell of fresh coffee and walnuts, with enough variety of cake to please every individual, including vegan and vegetarian options.
image from leeds-list.com
My parents and I went in for breakfast on a Sunday morning, and were outside the cafe a little early, just before 10am. We wandered to the bus stops around the corner where my Dad wanted to photograph a large piece of graffiti before heading back, and were surprised to find that after just five minutes of us being there, by 10:04am, the place was full of people bustling around ordering coffee. Mrs Atha's has such a unique feel to it, with large hand written menu boards, plates full of amazing looking homemade cakes and walls covered in old photographs and art works, combined with the large, thick wooden tables and old-style chairs and benches, making it feel both cosy and vintage at the same time.
We started with a pot of tea, which I was pleasantly surprised to find was loose leaf tea, rather than tea bags, and came with a timer so we could time our tea perfectly - just one of the little touches that makes Mrs Atha's special and different. The tea was really tasty and delivered in such a beautiful fashion, complete with a miniature milk bottle and proper vintage cups and saucers. The mis-match nature of the cups and saucers, even down to the spoons, which were all crested, gave it a really special vibe, and made you feel like you were sitting in someone living room, having afternoon tea, giving it a really relaxed environment.
image from www.tripadvisor.com
For breakfast, I had scrambled eggs on toast with bacon and black pudding, similar to my Dad, whilst my Mum tried the pancakes with summer berries. The first thing I noticed about my breakfast was the decadent plate that it was delivered on, different once agin from my parents, but all unique and intricate patterns. The food was incredible, and very reasonably priced, with each element being yummy in its own way. I'm not a massive fan of scrambled eggs, but I had heard good things, so dived in! The eggs were incredible - I'm not sure how they cooked them, but they weren't dry like I have experienced scrambled eggs to be in the past, but were fluffy and buttery - something I have never experienced before, but something I would definitely recommend to everyone to try! The bacon was organic, as was the black pudding, and you would taste the incredible freshness of all the food. The toast was also a highlight, buttery and crispy granary bread, with options for gluten free bread also!
I was slightly jealous of my Mum's pancakes, which were thick and fluffy and covered in delicious honey, summer fruits and sprinkles with icing sugar, giving them a vintage American feel, even better than the pancakes I experienced in a real New York Cafe!
My Dad also tried some of the cake, sharing some of his coffee cake between the three of us. The cake was so delicious - impressive as I usually find cake quite dry and tend to avoid it - although the coffee taste in the cake was so yummy, not like other coffee cakes I have tried where all the flavour comes through the icing. The icing was thick and creamy and I'm definitely going back to try some more of their incredible looking cakes. I had my eye on the brownies which looked gooey and to die for!
The staff were also really lovely and attentive. They all seemed to be young, possibly students, but their personalities seemed to fit the unique vintage style of the cafe - if that makes sense. Initially when we walked in, we thought there were quite a lot of staff members for such a small place, although we soon realised that it was an incredibly well oiled machine, with each staff member in charge of a different station, making the service run very smoothly and efficiently, including one staff member showing people to their seats, something which is unusual for a cafe, but something that gave it an extra special feeling.
Mrs Atha's is an amazingly special place, with unique vintage crockery and even more unique cakes and coffees (including teas and coffees from around the world - thought I would strongly recommend Indian tea). If you are ever in Leeds, I would definitely not recommend missing out.
Friday, 24 April 2015
Low Fat Summer Spaghetti Bolognese | Recipe
So, Summer isn't generally associated with food such as Spaghetti Bolognese in the UK, but I can't help when I think of warm weather and perfect food combinations, of my parents talking of their holiday to Italy where pasta was eaten all the time, and vegetables were in abundance - certainly sounds good to me! I thought, therefore, that I would share my Summer version of my Spaghetti Bolognese with you, which used vegetables such as leeks rather than celery and mustard seeds as a spice to give it a kick. By using fresh vegetables, extra lean mince, and making my own sauce rather than using a packet or jar sauce, this Spaghetti Bolognese isn't just yummy, is a much healthier version also.
Ingredients (for two people)
200g dried spaghetti (use wholewheat spaghetti for an even healthier option)
1 medium white onion
200g extra lean mince meat
4 large mushrooms
1 leek
3 medium carrots
2 cloves of garlic
1 carton of passata (mine included peppers)
1tsp mustard seeds
1tsp black peppercorns
1tsp oregano
1tsp mixed herbs
1tsp coriander leaf
2tsp rapeseed oil
1/2tsp salt
1 | Chop up all the vegetables into chunky pieces, and finely dice the garlic cloves. Put 1tsp rapeseed oil in a large saucepan on a medium heat. Once hot enough, add the garlic and the onions and fry until the onions are soft.
2 | In another saucepan, add warm water and leave until it starts to boil on a medium-high heat. Once bubbles start to appear, add 1tsp of rapeseed oil and 1/2tsp of salt and turn down to a medium heat. This will allow for the spaghetti to cook better in the salt water and the rapeseed oil, as well as being a healthier alternative to other oils, will allow for the spaghetti to cook without sticking together.
3 | Add the mince and stir well until the meat starts to brown. Add the carrots and leeks to the onions and garlic and let cook until the leeks are softened (the carrots will continue to soften throughout cooking). Make sure to stir often.
4 | Add the spaghetti to the boiling water and allow to cook for approximately 15 minutes on a medium heat.
5 | Crush together, in a pestle and mortar, the mustard seeds, oregano, black peppercorns, mixed herbs and coriander leaf, until a fine powder. Add to the bolognese mixture and stir in thoroughly.
6 | Make sure to stir the spaghetti after half the cooking time.
7 | Once the mince is almost cooked, add the mushrooms and the passata and stir well. Turn the heat up to a medium-high heat and leave to simmer for ten minutes.
8 | Boil some water in a kettle before draining the spaghetti. Whilst the spaghetti is in the drainer, wash off the salt excess salt from the spaghetti with the boiling water. This will get rid of all the excess salt and stop the spaghetti from sticking together as it cools.
9 | The bolognese will now be cooked. Give it a good stir before serving. Finish off with a sprinkle of Italian Herbs or oregano for an added extra.
I hope you get to try, and enjoy my take on a Spaghetti Bolognese. Let me know what you think in the comments below, and let me know what your favourite food is to eat over the summer!
Thursday, 23 April 2015
5 April Favourites | Bloggers
As part of my procrastination whilst writing my dissertation, I read a lot more blog posts that I usually have time for in the day. I've visited my favourite go to blogs and discovered some new ones along the way, so, follow me on a journey through my favourite five blogs of the now for April.
Hopefully these bloggers won't mind me mentioning their blogs and URLs! If you do, let me know and I'll take you off the list! ❤️️
Hopefully these bloggers won't mind me mentioning their blogs and URLs! If you do, let me know and I'll take you off the list! ❤️️
Reading blogs has been a staple part of my days for the past few years, but finally getting the confidence to start my own blog has meant that I have discovered so many more people through social media apps like Twitter and Bloglovin' and been introduced to so many more amazing blogs and wonderful bloggers! Whilst I'm no literary genius and probably couldn't tell you the difference between a Shakespeare play and a Lord Byron poem, I like to think that I have some skills in recognising humour and skill in other people writing (#ifoundauseformyGCSEs).
The reasons why I love each of these blogs fall under similar categories from fantastic photography to unique posts to variety and gripping writing styles! I would strongly suggest checking out all of these blogs, even if you don't end up reading any of them, they are fantastic examples of blogs which tick all of the boxes (for me, as a reader, anyway!)
My Top 5 Blogs of April
Petals of Perfection | Sophie Edwards
@PetalsofPerfect // http://www.petalsofperfection.blogspot.co.uk
Kirsty Ralph
@KirstyRalph11 // www.kirstyralph.co.uk
Conk's Canister | Constance Cleveland
@conkscanister // www.conkscasister.blogspot.com
Rock. Paper. Glam | Ellese Launer
@elleselauner // www.rockpaperglam.com
She Might Be Loved | Georgina Grogan
@GeorginaGrogan_ // www.shemightbeloved.com
Some of these you may have heard of, some of them you may have not - but that's the beauty of the blogging community, there are so many people out there with so many fantastic and unique ideas and opinions! Hopefully with this post I have shared the things that have made me happy, especially in my dissertation writing frenzy week, and have helped you either find something new to love or rekindled a love you lost! Let me know your favourite bloggers in the comments below ❤️️
The reasons why I love each of these blogs fall under similar categories from fantastic photography to unique posts to variety and gripping writing styles! I would strongly suggest checking out all of these blogs, even if you don't end up reading any of them, they are fantastic examples of blogs which tick all of the boxes (for me, as a reader, anyway!)
My Top 5 Blogs of April
Petals of Perfection | Sophie Edwards
@PetalsofPerfect // http://www.petalsofperfection.blogspot.co.uk
Kirsty Ralph
@KirstyRalph11 // www.kirstyralph.co.uk
Conk's Canister | Constance Cleveland
@conkscanister // www.conkscasister.blogspot.com
Rock. Paper. Glam | Ellese Launer
@elleselauner // www.rockpaperglam.com
She Might Be Loved | Georgina Grogan
@GeorginaGrogan_ // www.shemightbeloved.com
Some of these you may have heard of, some of them you may have not - but that's the beauty of the blogging community, there are so many people out there with so many fantastic and unique ideas and opinions! Hopefully with this post I have shared the things that have made me happy, especially in my dissertation writing frenzy week, and have helped you either find something new to love or rekindled a love you lost! Let me know your favourite bloggers in the comments below ❤️️
Wednesday, 22 April 2015
#PlusSizeDebate
I have seen recently on Twitter the #PlusSizeDebate. In light of this debate, I wanted to share my experience being a plus size woman throughout most of my life, from childhood, through teens and now in adulthood. Plus Size is something which, until recently was pretty much considered Taboo, however, it is now something which can be seen all over the world - and it's not necessarily something to be embraced. Yes I look at my legs and feel like they are horribly elephant like and yes I look at my chin and wish I had a heart shaped face but I'm healthy and I have just built up the confidence to show that I love me for me and my size, as long as I'm not hurting myself, is irrelevant to who I am as a perso - and surely that's what should count. Ask yourselves if you talked to someone on the web without seeing a picture of them and you really liked them and had lots in common and great conversations would that make them any less of a person if you later found out they were overweight? Sadly although a lot of people won't admit it, they would think less of them. And that's society gone mad!
I have always strongly believed that people should be happy with who they are, and that I am happy being a Plus Size woman. However, being overweight has caused me many problems, both physically and mentally over the years. So, whilst I can promote self-confidence and plus size beauty all I want, I must recognise the health risks and implications physically and mentally as well.
Childhood | When I was younger, I never considered weight to be a thing that would ever be something I was judged for. In primary school I was incredibly happy and had plenty of friends and the relationships I had with my peers were no different from those any child experienced. I was healthy, happy and full of life. I was only slightly overweight when I was in my childhood years, and it didn't affect my health or how I felt about myself.
Teenage Years | As soon as I reached my teenage years, things related to my weight started to matter. My peers started to think that my weight defined me as a person, and I was severely bullied to the point of becoming depressed and withdrawn from my friends and my studies. I didn't have any health problems, and I found doing gym class no more difficult than any of my friends - I was even a member of my schools tennis and javelin team for a short time. It wasn't until I got to my late teens that I started to notice myself more in a sense of becoming more interested in make up and fashion, and started writing about things I loved and making scrap books of outfits and beauty looks I liked and wanted to try. The only problem I had was my image - I couldn't fit into a lot of the clothes I wanted to try, and those I could fit in I never felt comfortable in or thought I looked good in as I was too large for them. I would see my friends wearing skinny jeans and strapped tops and looking beautiful, and all I could focus on when I wore such clothes was how much of my love handles would be noticeable and how much my arm fat would be judged when I went outside. I felt, looking at the world and the media that I wasn't good enough for the world and if I wasn't a size eight, I wouldn't be accepted.
Adulthood | Despite all the information that was received about the health issues of being overweight and the unacceptability in media, plus size seemed to be becoming a much more acceptable to a larger population. Whilst I have been fortunate to not have any health issues from my weight, apart from some mild issues at one point where my weight ballooned to a size 22 after some personal issues, I am aware that there is incredible evidence that weight influences and causes a lot of health issues. I'm in no way condoning gaining weight as healthy, but for some people it's not about being skinny or healthy - some people in the world (not me) are happy and want to be overweight as they feel it makes them more attractive. This, unfortunately is not the way I see it. I am in no way happy with the way I look, and I have some days that I stare in the mirror and hate the way I look and wish I was thinner and, in my opinion, prettier.
The Debate | The modelling and fashion world is one of the ones which is most centred in this debate or whether plus size should be shown. Some people believe that plus size women should be celebrated, and others think that anyone over a size eight shouldn't be shown as role model figures in magazines etc. Personally, I don't think, and this is coming from my plus sized mouth, that plus size models, at least those over a size fourteen, should be portrayed on the catwalk. Being a size sixteen to eighteen myself, I know I'm not perfect, and I know I need to loose weight. I'm not happy being overweight and unhappy, and I'm slowly doing something about it. But, I also don't believe that plus size should mean anyone over a size ten! People who are role models should be people who are happy and productive, despite the way they look, how they dress and how much they weigh. It's all about a middle ground, and whilst size fourteen or sixteen may not be thin, why should they not be allowed to feel good about themselves? Why should they be ridiculed because of this fact. One of the major assumptions of why people are overweight are so is because they are lazy, in some cases it isn't the case. I exercise as much as I can and I try and eat right, but no matter how much I try, I always feel, on every diet I have done that I get to a certain point and my weight loss stops, no matter what I do. Some people are just built bigger than others. It doesn't affect their personality and it doesn't affect who they are as a person.
Whilst I agree with the #PlusSizeDebate from the perspective that we shouldn't be promoting plus size above a healthy limit, for example, saying that being overweight to the point that it will in fact affect your health in a bad way, is right, I cannot accept promoting the ideal that being skinny and beautiful with perfect hair, makeup and clothes makes you better as a person. A person is not made from what they put on themselves, it's whats on the inside. Just because someone is a size eight and wears Prada, doesn't make them any happier, nicer, kinder, genuine and generous as someone who is size sixteen and wears Primark.
Let me know in the comments below what your opinions are on the #PlusSizeDebate - controversy is something that happens in life, everyones opinion is welcome, but please don't judge anyone for their opinion. Everyone is entitled to their own and it's not something they should be judged badly on. Not everyone thinks the same, so any comments deliberately spreading hate or considered bullying will be reported and deleted. Stay kind, thank you! :)
Twisted Beauty | Rachael McKenzie. All rights reserved. BLOG DESIGN BY Labinastudio.