Recipe: Prawn pad thai

Borderfields got in touch and asked me to put together a recipe using one of their oils. I racked my brains and decided to make something from one of my favourite cuisines. The garlic infused oil was the perfect accompaniment to use in a pad Thai. The flavour really came out in the vegetables and added a tasty spice to the dish. It would be great to add a subtle twang to a curry too.

This recipe was adapted from Fay Makes It Easy. Such a good book and all the recipes are so simple!

Serves 2

Ingredients:
2 tbsp of Borderfields garlic infused oil*
1/2 pack of flat pad thai noodles
1/2 bag of beansprouts
1 pack of tenderstem broccoli
2 mini pak choi
Half a pack of spring onions
1 pack of king prawns
1 tbsp of soy sauce
1 tbsp fish sauce
A handful of coriander
A sprinkling of chopped salted peanuts (optional)

Method:
1. Chop the spring onions and broccoli into bite-sized pieces. Shred the park choi.

2. Heat up the garlic oil in a wok and then add all the vegetables including the bean sprouts too. Cook for around 2-3 minutes.

3. Add the prawns and cook through.

4. Cook the noodles according to the packet instruction.

5. Add the soy sauce and fish oil to the dish. Give it a good stir.

6. Once the noodles are cooked, drain them in cold water and then add to the wok. Mix everything together.

7. Divide between two bowls. Sprinkle on the chopped coriander and some chopped peanuts if you wish - then tuck in!

As always I'd love to know if you made this, please do tweet me!

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Exploring Europe: Day one in Cologne, Germany

Last October I stumbled across £20 flights on Ryanair to Cologne. This German city wasn't really on my radar but I was desperate to visit Germany again so I snapped them up. After all, the flights cost the same as my weekly bus ticket to work. How could I say no to that? I never realised that Ryanair offered £20 flights to so many different places. A whole new world has opened up to me and boy am I going to take advantage in the future. So what did I get up to in Cologne?

We arrived around midday and after checking in Hotel Lyskirchen, headed towards the towering cathedral. What a beauty it was. As someone who isn't religious at all, I have a fascination with places of worship. They're unbelievably stunning, peaceful and just have me in awe. Cologne Cathedral was no different. I couldn't get over the sheer size and the detailing in every corner of the building. A sucker for a view, we decided to climb the 509 steps to the very top. A quarter way up we were regretting it but I'm so glad we powered on as we were rewarded with the most beautiful view over the city. One that made us feel on top of the world.

After all that walking our tummies started to rumble and after a quick look in our guide book, we opted for a quick lunch in the Fruh Am Dom beer hall. This was by far my favourite beer we had the whole trip. Most beer halls use different breweries so you'll get to try a lot. I opted for a classic pork schnitzel with a mountain of chips for my first German meal. Just what I needed to start the holiday with a bang. Waiters keep piling you with beer as soon as your glass is empty. Simply place your beer mat on top of the glass once you've decided you've had enough.

After our meal we headed back to the hotel for a quick nap before heading out to a Lebanese restaurant called Beirut for dinner. This unassuming little restaurant tucked down a side street was the perfect dinner for our first night in the city. After stuffing ourselves silly on meze we retired to the room for an early night for yet more exploring the next day.

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OOTD: Palm print shirt

Outfit:

Black coat with a fur collar: Zara (similar)

Green palm print shirt: Topshop

Ankle grazer skinny jeans: F&F (Similar)

Burgundy leather ankle boots: Next (similar)

Poppy red Lily: Mulberry

Since getting back from Cologne last weekend it's all been a bit of a whirlwind. For some reason everything has seem to come at once and it's been manic. I feel like I haven't stopped. I think the earliest I got home last week was just before nine pm. But amongst the frantic running around, there was some amazing news thrown in there. From the 1st April I am no longer freelancing but a full time employee. I'll be a member of the Homes & Property team at the Evening Standard, somewhere I've been freelancing since November last year. It's made me week that it's finally official. I genuinely enjoy going into work every day and am so pleased that I can carry on! Obviously lots of celebrating was done with a cider, ramen and fried chicken. As all good things should be celebrated!

After being on a saving mission for February, come March payday I went a little crazy and treated myself to a few things. Two things being these skinny jeans and this palm print shirt. I just felt like I needed a complete refresh and more casual clothes in my wardrobe. You can never have too many pairs of jeans right? Of all places, Tesco do the jeans that fit me to a tee. They're high waisted, don't sag and don't cost the earth. Perfect right?

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