Blueberry, Thyme and Feta Salad

Dear readers,

I am truly sorry for disappearing again. My final few weeks of university (ever!) occupied a great deal of my time. I have now completed my four-year degree and it's time for me to enter the real world!

I have lots of blog ideas in the pipeline and waiting to be used once I have the free time. This dish is very simple, but I thought that it would be better to post a simple recipe rather than none at all.

I love shopping in the supermarkets in the evening - I always manage to grab so many bargains. One of the recent bargains that I picked up was a large box of fresh blueberries for 50p! I had some feta cheese in the fridge and I also decided to buy some fresh thyme. I simply threw these three ingredients together to create a beautiful, simple and tasty salad that is perfect for these glorious sunshine-filled days that we have here in England.

Blueberry, Thyme and Feta Salad
40g diced feta cheese
50g blueberries
20 sprigs fresh thyme
Drizzle of balsamic vinegar

Mix all the ingredients together and serve as a starter, side or snack.

I hope to be back soon now that my studies are complete. Thank you for being so patient, my lovely readers. Please stay tuned!

Carrot and Ginger Soup

As a student, I am always looking for recipes that are delicious, cheap and healthy, all at the same time. I recently came across this recipe for Carrot and Ginger Soup from Sainsbury's and it has become my latest addiction.

When I first made this I was overwhelmed by the fact that such a simple dish could be so delicious. The warmth of the ginger is perfect for this bitter November chill, here in Northern England.

I simply sautéed some onions, then added half a kilo of chopped carrots and 2 tablespoons of finely chopped ginger with some stock. After boiling for about 30 minutes, I added some butter, honey and seasoning and then, blended.

Despite the ultimate deliciousness of this dish, I love to make food look a little bit more interesting. I have decided to dress the soup with a drizzle of cream, a sprinkle of paprika and a few sprigs of fresh thyme. I always try to avoid using dried herbs to dress a dish, they really cannot compete with the fresh!


P.S. Again, thank you for your patience. This final year of university is eating up much of my time. Please stay tuned to this blog as I shall be jetting of (again!) to somewhere far away and I am hoping to share many of my photos and food experiences with you all!

Thyme, Orange, Almond and Chocolate Biscotti

In attempt to fully indulge myself in American culture this year, I have acquired the habit of drinking coffee everyday. I always like to accompany my daily brew with something sweet on which to nibble. Back in England, I would always have a stash of chocolate digestives, chocolate bunnies (around Easter time) and other chocolate treats to consume with my daily cup of Earl Grey. I believe that it is only fair that my coffee has a sweet companion too!

I decided to stay away from the giant cakes and muffins (as I would like to return back to England a similar size to that which I was when I left), and found out that Americans enjoy a nice chunk of biscotti with their coffee. That sounded like the perfectly-sized treat for my coffee!

Needless to say, a student life isn't the most affluent of lifestyles. I decided that by making my own biscotti, I am not only saving money, but have the ability to choose the exact flavours I like!

I decided to try out the combination of thyme, orange and dark chocolate. I was toying with the idea of dipping the biscotti in chocolate instead of adding chocolate chips but actually decided to keep the chips in the mixture. I love it when chocolate chips melt in my mouth with hot coffee... bliss!

As for the flavours, I think that they all go very well together. The thyme and orange add a refreshing aroma to the biscotti, the almonds add the perfect crunch and I have already mentioned the chocolate, above.

The beauty of biscotti is that you can add practically anything to it! Cranberries, figs, cinnamon, anise, rosemary, walnuts, lemon, pistachios, pumpkin, pecans, coffee, brazil nuts, ginger, macadamia nuts, honey, poppy seeds, coconut, raisins and the list goes on and on!

The only issue with these delighful chunks of biscuit is the unfortunate fact that they leave crumbs absolutely everywhere! I guess that'll teach me to use a plate for once...