Tag: autumn

Bea’s Mulled CIDER

Posted on by Bea

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Why is everyone so anxious about turning 30?Honestly!I’ve watched my friends getting panic attacks before the BIG ”three-o” birthday, totally dreading that moment when they stop being 20-something…like the fun of life ends after you reach the third decade.
I think the whole world go a little(ok,a lot!) overboard with the cult of youth and I can’t understand why being younger is perceived to be somehow better that being older.(???)
So,for the past year I’ve been experiencing a very strange phenomenon.No one had ever reacted unusually about how old I was,whether I was 10,17 or 28.But I suddenly noticed the difference when I would say to people that I’m 30 this November…..”ohh 3o!!!” That’s how everyone reacts.What is more,I can see ‘I’m so sorry to hear that’ look on people’s faces followed by comments like “Still,no babies!?”, “Join the old gang”, ”It’s not so much fun any more”,or my favourite “Time to invest in a good anti-wrinkle cream”.

And here is what I have to say:I really can’t wait to be 30!I truly mean it!

I feel, that until now, my life was like Spring,that I was slowly waking up,absorbing things around me,sprawling my wings and NOW I’m finally ready to fly!Ready to enjoy the Summer and live my life to the fullest!

Sure, getting older is weird…..that feeling when you discover that your parents were right….99% of the times…that’s weird.And when suddenly your favourite way to celebrate Friday evenings is to have a long bath,get into pyjamas and sip warm tea…that’s even weirder.Or when you spend more money on good quality ”cotton-rich” lounge pants than on high heels!Who would’ve imagined?Not to mention that it takes a week to regenerate after a hangover!!!

But getting older is also a wonderful experience,and so liberating,like when you realize that you don’t need to fit in and be the person everyone expect you to be.You can just be yourself.(woo-hoo!)You start to accept your imperfections and fall in love with the freckles, that you used to hate so much.You discover the powers you have inside of yourself and realize you can do absolutely everything if you only believe you can.(So simple!And I’m sure my dad mentioned it to me before!)The possibilities are endless and everyday brings a new lesson.A new adventure.
What is there not to be excited about?I’m so excited about everything!

So,I’m raising my glass to those born in 1985 and to all of you!Let’s celebrate life!!!<3

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Have you ever tried mulled cider?I can’t believe I only discovered it recently!(oh,all this new things you discover while you get older ;)) It tastes like Autumn and is full of my favourite flavours!Apples,cinnamon,cloves,orange,honey and some % of course too 😉 A perfect drink to celebrate with during those colder days,whether it’s a Birthday,Bonfire Night,or just a quite and cosy evening 🙂 Enjoy!

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RECIPE:

for 2 drinks

INGREDIENTS:

500ml dry cider(I like medium)
1 small apple,cut into 8 parts
2 cinnamon sticks
2 pinches of cinnamon
10 cloves
1 tablespoon of honey or unrefined cane sugar
parted or grated zest of half an orange

METHOD:

Mix the ingredients in a medium saucepan(you can even do this up to 12 hour before,for the flavours to mix),stir over a low heat for around 5-10.Don’t boil.Serve warm.

TIP:For kids and drivers you can swap cider for a fresh apple juice,and without adding honey or sugar 😉

Spicy red pepper & bean SOUP

Posted on by Bea

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Hi folks!!!How are you coping with the weather this time of the year?Have you had any snow yet?There is no sign of snow in Tamworth but is soooooo COLD!5C is like super, terribly cold,right?When I go out,all wrapped up,armed with a wool scarf,thick pair of gloves and furry earmuffs,it makes me think how I survived living in Poland for 20 years.Some winters temperature dropped even to -30C.-30!!!!!It didn’t matter how cold it was I would still have to march to school even if it meant walking through enormous snow drifts!It was fun!The snow was such a natural feature every winter, that I never heard people moaning about it.It was winter,it snowed and everyone thought it was normal.All the kids from the neighbourhood would be sliding from the hills on wooden sledges for hours.I mean like all day,every day.School,sliding,sleep…..repeat.We would get soaked,dash home,get change and slide again.Try to force me to poke my nose through the door now when is 5C….you have to be very convincing! 🙂

How not to love soups in this weather?It’s like a hug in a bowl.Last year this amazing soup was my favourite and I will always go back to that recipe.This year I made it’s devil sister-spicy,flavoursome and super nutritious red pepper & bean soup.It soooo damn good!I’ll be making it until Spring shows it’s face 🙂

 

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RECIPE:

serves 8

INGREDIENTS:

2-3 tablespoons rapeseed oil
2 onions,peeled and cut into wedges
4 garlic cloves,peeled and sliced
1 chilli pepper(medium hot),chopped
3 carrots(2 if you use carrot from home made stock),sliced
2 red peppers,chopped
5 celery sticks(3 if you use celery stick from home made stock),chopped
6 cups (1.5 litre)vegetable stock
1 3/4 cups (300g) raw kidney beans,soaked overnight and cooked – it gives 4 3/4-5 cups (700g) cooked beans
7/8 cups (200g) tomato puree
sea salt and black pepper

STOCK:

6 cups (1.5 litre) water
1/3 (200g) celeriac root (medium sized)
2 celery sticks
1 big carrot
1 big parsnip
1 big onion

METHOD:

1.Wash the vegetables for the stock,place all the ingredients(except onion) in a medium pan and cover with water.Cut the onion in half and brown it lightly over the open fire over the hob.Place it in the pan.Bring it all to boil and let it simmer for around 30-40 minutes until all vegetables are soft.Sieve it, putting the veg aside.(You can use carrot and celery stick in this recipe-if you wish you can use all vegetables from this stock really).

2.In the meantime,heat oil in a large saucepan,add onion,garlic and chilli pepper and fry for few minutes until soft.

3.Add raw carrots and celery and fry for 5 minutes.Now add peppers and cook for couple of minutes.

4.Stir in vegetable stock and tomato puree.Season with salt and pepper.Bring to boil and cook for 20 minutes

5.Add beans(and chopped celery and carrot from home made stock)and cook for further 5-10 minutes until the vegetables are soft.

6.Serve with fresh parsley.

Enjoy xxx
Bea