Cooking with Becky- Autumnal Recipes

As my Picnic Recipes  post was so popular I thought I would create another post were I would share some of my favourite autumnal recipes. I have lined up 4 recipes that are really yummy and easy to make. Some of the recipes are not my own recipes, so I will link them, but as always I have made the recipe myself and tried them out.

Starting of with my Breakfast Recipe

Pear, Almond and Caramel Porridge/Oatmeal

Serves 2

1Pear diced  

75g Almond flakes 

1 cup Porridge Oats 

1/2 Cup Water

1/2 Cup Almond Milk 

1 Banana cut up

Caramel Sauce (bought or made)

Mix the water and almond milk in a pan (the best pans are non stick pans). Let it heat up for a few minutes and then add in your porridge oats and let it cook according to the instructions on the package. When the porridge is nearly ready add your banana and pear. Let the porridge finish cooking and add 65g of your almond flake to the porridge. To serve, pop your porridge on a plate/bowl, drizzle some caramel sauce and sprinkle some almond flacks on the top and Voila.

Next up we have a recipe that can be served for lunch, dinner or as a starter. 

Roasted Vegetable Minestrone.

This is a recipe I found on The Pioneer Woman and it is so good and warming, you must give it a go. 

Here is the link to the recipe. 

The next recipe I want to share with you is perfect for dinner.
Warning- This recipe does take longer to make. It took me about 1h30, so make sure you are not in a rush.

Pan Sealed Scallops with Pumpkin Risotto. 

Again I found this recipe online. Really tasty and great if you are having friends round. Here is the link to the recipe.



Last but not least we have a sweet treat.

Apple Strudel

This is so good it has become a staple autumn desert for me and it's really easy to make as well. 

For the filling you will need:

110g Sugar

1/2tbs Cinnamon

35g Butter

50g Raisins

2tbs Almond flacks

juice and zest of half a lemon

7g corn flour

5 apple of your choice

For the pastry you will need:

4 Sheets of filo pastry 

80g Breadcrumbs

70g Sugar

1tbp Cinnamon

100g melted butter 

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C /400 degrees F.

For filling

Place a pan on a medium high heat and add the butter. Once the butter has melted add your diced apples and let it cook for 7 to 10 minutes. Then stir in the sugar. After a minute add the raisins, almonds and cinnamon to the pan and mix. In a bowl add the lemon juice and zest and mix with corn flour. Once mixed add to the apple mixture and let it thicken. Leave on a low heat while you prepare the pastry.

For pastry

In a bowl combine the breadcrumbs, sugar and cinnamon and set aside. Then brush your filo melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon mixture. Lay another sheet over the top and repeat the same process. Once you have reached the forth sheet brush it with butter, but don't sprinkle any more of the cinnamon mixture. Flip all the sheets over, so that the first sheet is on top and brush it with butter. Place your filling alone the edge of the pastry leaving a 2 cm gap from the edge. Then carefully roll the pastry into a log. Press the ends to close. Place it on greaseproof paper and place it in the oven for 20 minutes.

Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

There you have it all 4 of my autumn recipes. I hope you give them a try.

Becky xoxo

Review- Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser

I like trying new products, so today I am sharing my thoughts on a cleanser I have been using over the last few months. This is the Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser.

This is a thick white cleanser with little blue beads in it. It has a very subtle fragrance which I don't really mind. This cleaner is targeted specific for oily and combination skin and after having used it for a while I understand why. It strips your skin off all the oil and leaves your skin feeling very tight. I personally don't like very much as I find it quite uncomfortable, however if you have very oily skin you may enjoy it. One think you need to be warned of, is that if this gets in your eyes it stings really badly, so avoid your eye area. Now the question is whether I would repurchase it and the answer is no. It's nothing special and I personally think it's quite expensive for what it is. I have used much better products that are cheaper, such as Body shop face washes and Soap and Glory. They are also great products at a fraction of the price of this face wash which retails for £19 . This may be for you if you have very oily skin, but otherwise I would skip this one.

My rating 3/5

I hope this was helpful. I will see you all next week with another post. Same place same time, Wednesday 5pm (GMT)

Becky xoxo

Handbag Staples- What Every Girl Needs In Her Handbag

This is something a little different. I thought I would put together a kind of what's in your bag, but instead of just showing you what's in ones bag, I thought  I would put together a standard what's in my bag. Now most of this things fit in a tote bag or in a small cross body bag.

1. Sunglasses

I take sunglasses with me everywhere. I am one of those people that even if it's not really sunny I will be wearing my sunglasses. I normally switch up my sunglasses depending on the outfits I wear, but my most worn sunglasses are my Ray Ban Erika. I think they go with most things.

2. Mini wallet

I have switched from a larger wallet to this one, because it is a lot more practical. It can fit in all my handbags and I have everything I need in it. My one is from Marc Jacobs

3. Headphones

I like to take these small headphones for day to day use as they are small and practical. They are just the standard free Apple headphones. I wrap my headphones around a Bobino which makes sure my headphones don't get tangled.

4. Hand Gel

Hand Antiseptic is a must no matter where you live. My favourites are the Soap and Glory  and the Bath and Body Works ones.

5. Chewing Gum

I aways carry gum, I love a brand which I found in Turkey and Italy called Vivdent.

6. Blister Protection

I carry two products Compeed Blister Plasters and their anti Blister stick, which protect me from getting blisters. I would highly recommend the cream as it actually works.

7. Lip Products

I carry 3 lip products with me: a lip balm, I like the Burts Bees one, then a neutral colour lip gloss and the lip stick I am wearing that day. In the colder months I go for darker colours.

8. Keys

I carry my house keys with me everywhere.

9. Umbrella

In the colder months I also carry an umbrella if I have a bigger handbag, as you never know when it's going to rain.

So, I hope the blog gave you some ideas to what you could have in your handbag.

See you next week with a new post Wednesday 5pm (GMT)
Becky xoxo

Review- Dior Eye Reviver Backstage Pros

Today I am back with another review, this time for the Dior Eye Reviver Backstage Pros Palette. I have had this palette for a few months and have started using it more recently, so I thought I would share my thoughts on it with you guys.

The palette comes with 5 eyeshadows with a hint of shimmer in them and a black gel eyeliner which I, personally don't really like. However these eyeshadows are amazing they are really easy to apply, perfect to wear everyday. This palette reminds me of the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette however the shimmer edition. For any neural eyeshadow lover I would definitely recommend this palette it's great to travel with or just to pop in your make up bag.

My Rating 4.5/5 - because of the eyeliner.

I hope this was helpful for you guys. See you all next week Wednesday 5pm (GMT)

Becky xoxo

Things to do in London.

If it's your first time in London then you will probably want to see all the tourist sites. I have a blog post all about that which you can check out here . But if you have already done all touristy things or if you live in London, and you want something to do I have a few suggestion.

1. The Park 

London is full of green spaces for you to hang out in. One thing I would recommend doing is rent a Santander Cycle. They are really affordable costing £2 for 24 hours, but make sure you dock them every 30 minutes if you don't want to pay extra. Then you can go and eat at one of the places mentioned in last weeks post. This is a super fun day out to do any time of the year as long as it's not too cold or raining.

2. Exhibitions 

This may sound very boring but there can be some very good exhibitions. One of my favourite places is the V&A where you can always find good exhibitions, but be warned if you don't book in advance you may be stuck in a very long line to buy tickets. Also National Portrait Gallery is currently having an exhibition on Audrey Hepburn until October. So, look around and you can find some really good things to go to.

3. Shows 

London is famous for it's musicals, so they are a must see even if you live in London. Also there are some beautiful ballets at the Royal Opera House, you could see. They can be great fun.

4. Shopping

There are some great places to shop in London and few of my favourite are Oxford Street, Regent Street, Bond Street, Covent Garden, Kings Road and Westfield. If you go to all or just one of these places you can definitely find what you are looking for.

5. Winter Wonderland 

If you are in London from November to January then Winter Wonderland is a must see attraction, a winter only theme park with a lovely Christmas market. So, even if you aren't a fan of rides then there is still something for you to do, it's an amazing day out.

So, here you have it 5 things to do in London. Even just walking around is great fun as you can always discover new places.

I hope that I gave you some ideas of what you could do in London. Hope you are all having a great week. See you all next week, same place, same time Wednesday 5pm (GMT)

Becky xoxo

Favourite Summer Things 2015

I was browsing through my Bloglovin feed and came across this post on Amelia Liana's blog. I thought it would be fun to share some of my favourite things that I have been loving throughout the last few months. So, let's get started.

The first thing I wanted to mention was my Mac eyeshadow in Nylon. I have been wearing this daily, along with some other product which I will mention later in this post. This is a white frosty eyeshadow it makes a look very simple and elegant. You can also use it in the inner corner of your eyes or all over your lid.

Next I would like to talk about one of my favourite eyeshadow primers I have tried. I tried most of the Urban Decay primer potions, which I had samples off and so far my favourite is the shade Sin.  I can really see a difference when I use this primer. It has a bit of shimmer, so you can get away with wearing it alone. I like to wear it under the Mac eyeshadow for an every day make up look.

I am a massive eyeliner fan, I think eyeliner can make or break an eyeshadow look. Recently I have been loving the Chanel liquid eyeliner. You can easily change the thickness of the line depending how you hold it. It also lasts all day even though it's not waterproof.

I recently ran out of my concealer so I thought I would try the Nars radiance creamy concealer. I now understand why everyone loves it. It blends really easily, it does not cake on your face and it's really a great multi use concealer. Highly recommend.

Now I have been wearing this lipstick all summer. It's the Dior Tye Dye Lipstick from their summer collection, but a very similar one from their permanent collection is the Dior addict lipstick in the shade 578 Dior Xx. It's a great everyday pink as it's not too bright but just adds a bit of colour to your lips.

One of my favourite perfumes for the spring and summer has been  Miss Dior blooming bouquet. It's very floral, but gentle at the same time.  Great perfume, if you like floral, sweet fragrances.

One of my fashion favourites has been my Ray Ban Erika sunglasses,which I have seen everybody wearing.  I love them because they go with basically everything, they also make your outfit just a bit more casual. Furthermore they suit nearly all face shapes, which is also great.

Now an app I have been using daily, just before I go to sleep. The app is called Calm and it's a meditating and mindfulness app, I find it really relaxing. What I love about is that they have guided sessions where they tell you what to do, which I find really useful as I am no expert in meditation.

I hope you guys are having a great week and I will see you next week same place same time Wednesday 5pm (GMT)

Becky xoxo

Places to Eat in London

Today I am really exited to announce that this post is actually a guest post from one of my best friends Tika. Who will be sharing her top places to eat in London. Enjoy.

Joe and the juice: this is one of my favourite juice bars in London. There’s a really chilled out atmosphere, the guys that work there are really friendly and always keen to make a recommendation. Before ordering the drinks remember that the entire passion fruit including the seeds are blitzed into the drink.

Brgr & co: A relatively new restaurant on the King’s road. They’re burgers are very enjoyable. I was sceptical to try them at first considering that they come served in brioche buns, however they come highly recommended. The falafel burger is very greasy and just about edible, as are the onion rings, which are quite tough. Having said this they have a very nice home made lemonade and quite nice milkshakes. The best thing served here are the parmesan and truffle French fries. They are rather filling though.

Roka: this restaurant is simply amazing. There is a really relaxed atmosphere and the staff are really friendly and always there to help. Upon arrival we were whisked to the bar for some drinks before being shown to our table.The cocktail menu was delicious. The Bakana Banana is the perfect cocktail for those that love tropical flavours, however it is quite strong. The margarita on the other hand was a little watery and not lemony enough. The tasting menu was rather expensive, however really worth every penny. The tai miso yaki with sweet potato was nice but not as spectacular as the rest of the meal. The desserts at Roka are delicious. The crème brûlée was delicious, however the whiskey ice cream that came with it was a little too strong. Overall it was a really fun place to have dinner. For a lively atmosphere I would recommend booking at 8pm.

Asia de Cuba: This chic restaurant is located on St Martin’s lane; a stones throw from the Colleseum. I have had the pleasure of having afternoon tea and dinner here. The afternoon tea is unusual however I really enjoyed it. There are empanadas, spring rolls and so much more for savoury, as well as a palette cleanser with strawberry mango and basil. The different types of teas are amazing. For the desserts the donuts were my personal favourite, however the chocolate chilli mouse was also interesting. I really enjoyed the background heat. Finally for afternoon tea you could have cold lemongrass tea or a small shot of cold coffee with sugar. I went for the coffee, but I can assure that both are delicious.
For dinner I had the £80 set menu. It was so delicious and some of the new food combinations I tried, I honestly loved. For example banana and cashew salad. I really would only recommend this to adventurous eaters, otherwise its  a complete waste of money. Fore dessert we were also served donuts again, with chocolate and caramel sauces, cheesecake and ice cream. The cocktail menu here is delicious, the mojitos are good but mostly ice. I went for the Mambo King, which was a light, fruity champagne cocktail. The décor of the restaurant was really quirky, and the amazing experience was enhanced by how wonderfully helpful and attentive the staff were. One more tip though, take a friend with you to the bathroom, as the loos are rather hard to find.

Sketch: I’ve only had afternoon tea here. When we walked in it was quite a shock to the senses. The chairs were pink and there was dim lighting. The food was classic afternoon tea however I felt that there was too much effort going in to make it fancy. The savouries were not to my liking, however the cakes and patisserie were stunning. My particular favourite was the bubble-gum marshmallow and cassis meringues. Another problem I had with sketch was how ditsy and forgetful the waitresses were. They only bought afternoon tea for three, when there were four of us, and by the time the tea arrived, it was cold, moreover when we asked for more tea it took twenty minutes for it to arrive. The art was a little strange, there was a sketch of a man snorting cocaine, and other odd pieces of art. However I loved the outfits of the waiters/waitresses. Overall this is a fairly average afternoon tea location, however fun for the experience of going to the loos.

Wasabi: This is a lovely high street chain that does nice sushi. Its nothing spectacular, however you can chose the sushi and make your own box. There is also a variety of hot dishes, but I never have those because I love sushi too much. The downside to this place is that its always packed and really hard to find anywhere to sit.

Buddha Bar: This is a really cool place in Knightsbridge. Upon arrival we were shown to our table and the menus brought to us very swiftly. We weren’t given long to decide and within five minutes of having ordered all of the food arrived and once. Another thing was that there were waiters all over the restaurant, and some had fixed stares, and it felt as though you were being watched as you ate. This made me feel very uncomfortable and all of us had finished our meal within 20 minutes. The food here wasn’t great either and it was overpriced for what it was. I would not recommend this place, instead I would recommend dinner at Nobu, and it’s a much safer bet.

Harrods ice cream parlous: My inner child escapes every time I come here. I love the decoration, which is very nostalgic of the 1950s. I love the atmosphere and the staff are so friendly. My personal favourite is the Harrods special sundae, however they are all amazing. The milkshakes are also delicious. Everyone always says that you have to share the sundaes because they’re so big, but I like having my own, because when something is that good, it is NOT worth sharing. Another really great thing is that there is a pizzeria across from the ice cream parlour with a singing chef. This is perfect place to relax after a long day of shopping, or as an after school treat and most definitely ideal for a first date.

Al Dar: This Lebanese restaurant, which is located on the King’s Road is one of our family favourites. Although we don’t go as often now, I remember going almost every weekend when I was growing up. I love the menu, however my favourite is the shwarma wrap. The baklava is also delicious. I’m not really a fan of the drinks, however a diet coke is enough to satisfy me.

My Old Dutch: This is a really nice pancake place, which does butterscotch pancakes, as well as crepes. There is a list of pancakes on the menu but you can also chose your own, which is great considering that different people prefer different things. Warning: do not order one sweet one savoury. You will be so full. I would just recommend going for one or the other, or else you may have to take a little nap after your meal.

Hutong: Located at The Shard, this is an amazing place to have dinner. The food is really nice and great for sharing. I personally loved the egg fried rice and the noodles, which were side dishes, but also I really loved the deep fried spicy crab, which was served in a rather large basket of chillies. The spring rolls and duck are also recommended.

The Wolseley: This place may seem fancy, however the price tag is not so hefty. The steak tartare was a little too mustardy for my liking and by the end of the meal it was almost a chore to eat. However the rest was all delicious, and very filling. You Definately get your money's worth.

Shake shack: this is a very American burger/ hot dog chain. It is very popular in the U.S. However in the UK there is only one in Covent Garden. Despite the name this chain originally started by selling hot dogs. The burgers are exactly what you would want in comfort food: greasy, full of carbs and easy to eat. I love the French fries and of course the shakes. If you're still not full from this meal well there is also "concretes" which is essentially ice cream with toppings blitzed into it. Definately a go to.

Macaron war: this is a long standing debate of which is better lladuree or Pierre herme? Laduree have gorgeous fruity and floral flavours, it is very traditional and always a safe bet. Whereas Pierre herme have bold flavours and some you may not like as much as others, but the passion fruit and chocolate macaron is the king of them all! Truly fabulous. Each person has a different opinion, and it's up to you to decide on yours.

Maître choux: a new patisserie shop, which has opened by South Kensington run by Joakim Prat. The pastries are rather pricy but great for a treat or if you have a sweet tooth. Each are bold and distinct in flavour as well as incredibly delicate. Highly recommended place for any occasion.

Duck and waffle: located in the oxo tower just above sushi samba is the duck and waffle. It is a very trendy restaurant/ bar which is located on the 40th floor. The decoration is not to my taste however the food and the cocktail menu are both innovate and modern. Of course it is all to an acquired taste and you may not enjoy all of the food, however it's a very cool experience. There are espresso martinis, coco pops cocktails and a marmite one too! I would recommend that you book this place in advance as there is a very long queue to get in otherwise.

Well I hope you guys enjoyed this and it way useful. 

Tika xoxo 

See same time same place Wednesday 5pm (GMT) I hope you enjoyed this new and different thing on my blog. 

Becky xoxo