Although I'm a crafter, most of my friends aren't! Some have never been to my craft night or have no interest in being creative. They don't understand what I'm talking about when I say I'm running a craft workshop or working at a craft event...so for once, rather than bringing crafts to strangers at the public workshops I run, I decided to introduce 'making' to my friends by holding a Crafternoon around mine. Here's what happened...
Food I couldn't entertain without laying on a spread. Cooking for others is a good excuse to try dishes that I can't normally make for myself (i.e. an entire cheesecake) so I took it as an opportunity to make food I wanted to eat! Although I'm vegetarian, I lean mainly to vegan food so I took the high risk decision to cook a vegan starters and main for friends who are all meat eaters. As I prefer my food to have a healthy edge I tend to cook with lots of herbs and spices...but no salt. I don't add salt to anything so I'm used to the taste but I'm fully aware that most people do, so I was slightly nervous about whether my guests would be able to eat what I gave them. Thankfully there was nothing to worry about. Although shocked to discover there was no salt, there were lots of comments about how good the flavour was...phew! I served individual Aloo Chaats for starters...
...followed by a Root Veg Kitchuri with roasted fennel and butternut squash with a beetroot and soya bean salad.
Dessert was a delicious Spiced Mandarin Cheesecake (a recipe of Dipna Anand).
This contained dairy - the Philadephia cream cheese filling was fused with ground cardamom and star anise which gave the cheesecake a lovely fragrant and warming flavour.
Fun My idea of fun anyway! I opted for an easy and effective makeover project, one I recently ran at The Damn Good Curry Supper Club to decorate candle holders...
Guests all took the task seriously, there was some proper concentration going on but it was also a good way to meet each other.
The making took place on arrival before starters arrived and was then finished off after the dessert - in between there was lots of girlie banter.
Friends Deciding on a guestlist was hard, I wrote down a huge list of people I hadn't seen in ages - should I focus on besties, should I invite boys and if so, which ones, but in the end I realised what I actually wanted to do was spend time with 'recent' friends I've made and get to know them better, so I only invited girls who I met over the last few months up to around two years.
After lunch I took them on a trip to my local area. Greenwich is one of the most beautiful places in London but it is a trek to get there so I didn't want them to leave without showing them why I love where I live so much. Despite the chilly weather I insisted they all wrap up warm and then we wondered through Greenwich park to see the river views before a quick tour of The Queen's Gallery and a hot chocolate stop to warm up again. It took me two days to do the washing up afterwards (I loathe washing up!) but it was worth it. Sunday Crafternoon was a success, one of my guests even blogged about it herself which you can check out here. I suspect it will be a few months (if not a year!) before I have a chance to do any more entertaining again so I was pleased to have some nice pics to remember the occasion. Thinking of hosting a crafternoon around yours? Here are my tips: This was my timing: 12pm-1pm Arrive & get crafting 1pm-3pm Lunch, chatter & finish crafting 3pm-5pm Sunday stroll and hot chocolate stop off
Keep the project simple (stay away from special techniques that not everyone will know)
Plan out a menu and do as much prep as you can the night before
Make it easy by sticking with a manageble number of guests
Don't be afraid to ask guests to bring a dish if you can't prepare everything yourself
Don't worry too much about how clean and tidy your home is, the truth is most guests won't notice as they will be too busy enjoying themselves
Prep as much of the food ahead of time so you're not hiding away in the kitchen, but can be there to help with the making
Don't stress - just enjoy it, even when things aren't going to plan it's fine, no one will notice! Just keep cool and craft!
Finally! An invitation to attend a Thanksgiving meal on Thanksgiving - as soon as my American friend Zak invited me, it was an immediate yes. Feasting with friends on a wet and windy school night is the perfect way to banish winter blues.
Here's the boy himself carving up the turkey. What I love about this image is not the soft focus nature though that does enhance the fact Zak is a total sweetheart....it's the backdrop. The living room window which looks out onto Canary Wharf could easily be his hometown Chicago.
Sadly we did not eat this! Seriously though...£30 for a giant lump of tofu!!!!! I spotted this in a health food shop last week and was shocked!
All guests took along a homemade dish - this one was the most unique. Cinnamon infused sweet potato topped with marshmallows, it's a Nigella recipe, and is a side, not a dessert!
I loved how the marshmallows melted to form little meringue style peaks.
In keeping with tradition we ate off plastic plates! Apparently this is very American!!
There were also three yummy desserts, this amazing apple pie, a pumpkin pie and a cheesecake.
I was assigned a Corn dish and after much deliberating settled for
Creamy Confetti Corn which I'm proud to say Zak confirmed was a perfect Thanksgiving choice.
I made it by frying up some frozen sweetcorn with an onion and red and green peppers. Pouring on a cup of half & half which I made from blending double cream and soya milk plus a few spoons of cream cheese. It was then seasoned with salt and pepper and baked for around 15 minutes. In the meantime I fried up and shredded vegetarian bacon which I added for garnish.
At Thanksgiving it's important to say what you're thankful for. We all agreed that we were thankful to have friends. Sometimes I neglect mine. I don't even have a Facebook account so I have know no idea what 1/2 of them get up to, but when I see them and hang out with them, life is always much less stressful.
I know, I know. Very little craft blogging from me at the mo - all gone a bit lifestyle. I'm so consumed by craft in my daily life at the minute that when it comes to blogging it's the last thing I want to write about! So um...more me, less crafting for the rest of the year, well until my next book is handed in which is making my life all a bit crazy, busy, mad at the minute!
Getting ready for a night out on the town is one of the simple pleasures in life. I say simple but I know it doesn't come easy to everyone. I've heard countless friends complain about the process and last Friday when I organised a party for a friend who's moving to Hong Kong, she was the last of the 20 guests to arrive as it took her 1.5 hrs longer to figure out what to wear! And so it became apparent that being an expert at getting glammed up I really ought to share some tips, learned through over a decade of partying. Starting with where to get ready. Sadly this is not my mirror though I dream for the day I can own a light up dressing table. I saw one in my local charity shop last week but they wouldn't sell it to me, insisting that as well as the mirror I had to have two chests of drawers and wardrobes too, which although I could fill, I just don't need! Everyone needs a place to get dressed whether it's the bathroom, living room or your bedroom, find a space that you adopt as 'the place' and have it as your private 'getting dolled up space.' You'll feel more comfortable, and because it's associated with looking stylish, you'll get better vibes and inspiration.
2. Think about your date
Whoever you're going out with is an important consideration. I have a sixth sense for this that I can't explain but 85% of the time I find myself co-ordinating with my date without even asking them what they are going to be wearing - see above where I'm out with my friends Bollywood Deewana and A Brand New Londoner we second guessed the blue theme. It's nice to compliment eachother with outfits. Give your dancefloor partners a call beforehand to check out what they intend to wear so you can be sure you'll look good together!
3. Consider the occasion
Ok, so it's more than likely you will not be getting ready for a night on the red carpet, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't dress appropriately. Always dress for the occasion and NEVER feel like you're over dressed. In my mind there is no such thing as over dressing. Infact the more flamboyant and out of the ordinary, the better. Nights out are about expressing the personality you can't unleash at work or home. It's also a chance to be someone else, an alter ego; there's no rules, just that you look amazing.
4. Choose accessories
Accessories complete an outfit and shouldn't just be thrown on at the last minute. Get to know your wardrobe and figure out what works together, this will save you time. Make a note that a certain necklace goes with a particular dress etc. Never under estimate the power of headwear either. So few people wear hats on a night out yet they are not just for weddings or going to the races. The added bonus is you don't need to worry about your hair and you'll stand out from the crowd. (A feather boa never hurts either.)
5. Get grooming
Every aspect of how you look matters from your eyebrows to your toe nails. For big nights out I can't resist a blow dry...the good news is they last a few days. In an ideal world I aspire to go for a blow dry every week (I have met women who do!!!) If your hair looks good, naturally the rest of you will too. Never test run new make-up or make-up ideas on the night out itself. Practice in advance, get feedback and learn to perfect it so that applying make-up becomes second nature. And don't forget your nails - fingers and peepers, ok so most people won't notice them but you will feel a million times more gorgeous knowing there's beauty in the finer details.
6. Statement handbag
This HamBag is the best Valentines present I've ever received (and ever will do, you simply cannot top a handbag that resembles a veggie burger!). Pick a bag that will get you attention...people will notice it, comment on it and are less likely to pinch it because everyone knows it's clearly yours. Keep your bag small and light and don't over fill it with too much, the most you'll need on the dancefloor is some cash and some chewing gum. Most loos are equipped with all the toiletries you'll need from hairspray to handcream and if you're planning on crashing around someone elses so want to take your toothbrush and other essentials, take an extra bag and leave it in the cloakroom.
7. Invite friends over (especially Sandra!)
In my first year at university in Brighton where there are more clubs per square metre than any where else in the UK (or some kind of crazy statistic like that) I went out on average three to four times a week, more then I showed up to study. The rest of the time was spent at the student radio station, attending dance classes, writing for the student paper and joining various clubs and societies. My friend Sandra lived on the floor below me and together we put a whole new spin on 'getting ready for a night out.' Our regime started at around 2pm, we'd try on eachother's clothes, generally mess around and gossip and then be ready to leave at 9pm. Sadly in the second year work suddenly mattered so nights out and time spent getting ready reduced but it resumed in the third year when I got a job as a door girl at my favourite nightclub giving me the excuse to put on my glad rags every Friday night.
Getting ready with friends is a great way to inject some fun into getting changed. You don't need to spend seven hours (though if you do have it spare, there are worse ways to while away time!). Invite them around a couple of hours before you need to leave and enjoy each other's company while the transformation takes place...once you're out you won't get to chat so freely and it's better to catch up this way than have to compete with loud speakers.
8. Enjoy some nibbles
Sometimes the excitement of going out stops you from eating but whether or not you're planning to drink you MUST EAT a proper meal. Otherwise you won't have the energy to last the night. If you're getting dolled up with friends then make sure you have some snacks to hand and encourage everyone to munch on them. No one wants to eat a huge plate of carbs (believe me I've had enough experiences of looking pregnant after a plate of pasta) but you should eat food that will give you an edge on the dancefloor. These bento snacks are perfect as are anything that involves bananas. And if you've got picky mates that refuse to eat bread, wait until they see these adorable bear buns....how can anyone say no???????
Yummy sushi snacks
Bananas always do the trick!
9. Perfect your pose
Whether you like it or not, at some point you will get your picture snapped either on someone's phone or by the paparazzi. After all your best efforts to look drop dead gorgeous don't let yourself down with a simple smile on camera - work it! Strike a pose, tuck in all wobbly bits and flash your teeth..no matter how goofy you think they are. You'll feel so much happier which will make you feel confident leading to a much more memorable night out.
10. Turn up the soundtrack
Everyone has favourite
tracks for getting ready which should be blasted out at full volume. It will lift your spirits,make you feel good about
yourself and if you have a full length mirror you can test out new dance
floor moves in the comfort of your own home before making them public.
My Life Story for me are the ultimate band to get ready to. They ooze
glamour and seduction and are extremely singalongable to. Generally I
listen to the style of music I'll be dancing to later whether that's
drum & bass, Britpop or Bollywood. But I also have a playlist of my
top 10 tracks to get ready to.
There's just something about them that
gets me in the mood : )
1. Carolina Carol Bela DJ Marky, Stamina MC featuring LK, XRS
2. Cosmic Girl by Jamiroquai
3. Jailbird by Primal Scream
4. Culture Move by Asian Dub Foundation
5. Dhan Te Nan from the soundtrack to Kaminey
6. I'm So Horny by Mousse T Vs Hot 'n' Juicy
7. The Weekend by Michael Gray
8. Babies by Pulp
9. Soul Limbo (The BBC cricket theme!)
10 Pacific State 808 State
So know you have the tips, it's time to gather some mates and get going, the night is young!
4pm is my favourite time of the day. Without fail I drop what I'm doing, make myself a cup of tea and take a few minutes out. The break normally involves something sweet and yummy too, often a biscuit (ok make that two biscuits), cake, flapjack, shortbread, chocolate...hmmm anything I can get my mitts on! It's not a habit I started because it's now trendy. The last few years has seen a huge resurgence in taking afternoon tea but I'm proud that I grew up with it. I've always been a four meals a day kind of girl, breakfast, lunch, teatime and dinner (and I admit, there's normally a treat at elevensees too...so maybe that's five meals a day?) After school my dad would always have something ready from Greggs for my sisters and I; an iced ring doughnut, apple turnover and sometimes a coconut cheesecake. These days the teatime ritual isn't as fun, I normally enjoy it on my own unless it's the weekend. And one such weekend passed a couple of weeks ago. Whilst researching places to take tea in London I heard about The Mad Hatter's Tea at the Sanderson Hotel. Promising a tea time experience like none you've witnessed before, the entire menu is inspired by Alice in Wonderland ...it sounded like the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon with my best friend as she celebrated her 30th birthday. We've known eachother since we were 16 and everything about the concept of this tea summed us up then and now; we both love daydreaming and fantasies and are suckers for fairytales.
Rainbow sarnies
So what was in this extraordinary tea? After the tea was ordered (I chose Freshmint and she opted for English Breakfast) which was served in gorgeous iron teapots, the type you often get in spas, we were presented with rainbow finger sandwiches made from yellow saffron and green spinach bread. There's not much you can say about a sandwich and infact one finger was too soggy to eat, it just makes you feel like you've at least had something savoury to balance out the forthcoming sugar rush.
Looks yummy....
And of course we had to start with this Queen of Hearts 'Heart'. Obviously in that appealing shade of pink it looked fabulous but when things look this pretty they don't always live up to expectation. Thankfully it exceeded every single fantasy....
Tastes like the best thing ever!
We both agreed it was one of the tastiest 'dessert' items we've ever eaten and it didn't even contain a sprinkling of chocolate. Inside was a smooth, creamy, fluffy, melt in the mouth strawberry mouse on a light sponge base. It was divine and memorable and without a doubt the best afternoon tea item I've ever eaten!
Excitement mounts....
And in true Alice style there was a concoction on the table baring a label with 'Drink Me' on it. Promising to taste like Apple Pie, Lemon Curd and English Toffee, you're supposed to experience each flavour as you sip through the straw. Nice concept but in truth it looked and tasted like Pepto Bismol but don't let that put you off...
Where's the rabbit, we have his watch!
The chocolate and coffee sponge watch was missing its chain but luckily it didn't need one. Like a gateaux it was rich, sweet and felt a bit naughty.
Lollies to lick
To let you reminisce about childhood memories there are also yummy lollies - the hazelnut praline pop which you have to put in your mouth in one go - do not attempt to bite it, and a blueberry lollipop.
One thing I'm abit confused about is that when I booked last month the price of the tea was £25 which I thought was an absolute bargain for such an amazing spread but when I checked today it had risen to £35....a very steep rise. Luckily I found this special offer so you can experience a Mad Hatter's Tea for £26.25 if you go before September 30th though sadly it is only valid Monday-Thursday.
So it's actually very much a luxury treat, best reserved for very especial occasions. Infact there's no reason why you can't make a whole daytrip out of your visit. Staying at the hotel is impossible unless you're a lottery winner (rooms start at over £500 for the night with the penthouse costing a staggering £3k per night.) But alas you can still live the highlife inside this incredible boutique hotel for free by enjoying its stunning reception area. On entering you are greeted by a Dali inspired lips sofa...it is my ultimate dream to own this sofa, it is pure design magnificence.
One day I will own this sofa...
But it is not the only piece of beautiful furniture...The Sanderson is chair heaven.
...and this chair!
This swing chair had a soft fluffy cushion as a seat and venturing inside it was like a mini adventure in itself.
Sci-fi seat
This
chair was the most unique, it's a kind of capsule which you can lie
back in and be closed up. It was solid and hard but even so, surprisingly comfortable.
Top model
I'm not going to share all the chairs (some should be kept a secret that you'll only discover if you visit the hotel) but this one above was inside a kind of games room. I love this photo. Rukia is sooooooo photogenic she looks amazing in all her photos but this one is just pure class.
What a wall!
Every aspect of the hotel is mind boggling...mainly because from the outside it's the most non-descript looking concreate block, but as soon as you step inside you're transformed to another world. From the loos to the bar chairs to the space themed lifts that make you go 'wow', it's such an exciting place to visit. Pop in next time if you are ever near Oxford Street, it's just a short walk and is worth every footstep getting there.
Mad Hatter's tea is now also available as a takeaway picnic (£30) from The Sanderson and it's sister hotel St Martin's Lane and comes with maps and bicycle hire so you can discover your own wonderland in Londinium.
I encountered hoppers when I was in Sri Lanka last year and from the first bite I was hooked. I could eat them every day and I could most definately eat one right now! Hoppers are like pancakes but rather than flat, they are bowl shaped because they're cooked in bowl shaped pans. They are much lighter than pancakes, more wafer thin and are made from fermented rice flour batter giving them a slight sourness. Because they are bowl shaped, you can opt to have a filling inside, a popular breakfast dish is 'egg hopper' where by the egg is cooked inside the hopper as it cooks. You can peel the sides off and dip them into the yolk just as you would toast soldiers. Just like this:
Yum!
Plain hoppers can also be eaten with curries instead of rice or bread, they taste sublime and are very healthy. Ever since I got back to the UK I've been craving them but they are a mission to find! There's a lot of Sri Lankan restaurants in London but not many that serve hoppers.
Raveen, a Sri Lankan friend of mine recently drove past Hopper Box in Gants Hills (in Essex but also on the Central Line of the London Underground so very easy to get to) and it didn't take much persuading to get to down there.
So on Friday night myself and three friends ventured East and sampled Hopper Box.
Trouble was the menu had soooo many yummy sounding dishes, I came there for hoppers but was drawn in to all the other specialities.
So aswell as two hoppers (priced very reasonably at £2.95 for the pair) I also had a pumpkin curry and pittu - a kind of steamed rice/coconut cake, again a substitute to rice and judging by the link, very complicated to make! My cohorts also had hoppers as well as chicken and devilled anchovies.
Pittu
It was a fine establishment, very clean, spacious and welcoming with a theatre style kitchen so you can watch over your hoppers being cooked. It's quite new still and they're not sure how to manage the numbers - it was packed so with just two members of staff there was alot of waiting involved. This just meant I had to order a second mango lassi which was no problem as the first was delicious.
Mango lassi is a combo of mango and yogurt
Food was good, hoppers wereworth the wait but not as 'tall and bowl formed' as they should have been.
In Sri Lanka, I loved eating hoppers for breakfast, here they are at the Galle Face Hotel where I spent my first night:
And here at a really sweet art cafe in the colonial coastal town of Galle where they had endless fillings, I even tried a sweet version with bananas and honey.....ahh the memories.
Next up Raveen plans to show us another eaterie that serves 'better' hoppers in Hendon, hope to go there next month and will report back.
Until then, here's a parting shot of the boys drinking Lion Brand beer, the official beer of Sri Lanka.
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