Half term is here

Hooray! I love the autumn half term holiday, and I especially love this year's as I'm only working one day! We have had a ball already and we are only 2 days in, got to love that. Thursday evening saw a houseful of girls, pizza making and midnight feasts, followed by long dog walk with my lovely friend Kate and our kids on Friday morning, then pub lunch, pumpkin carving, shower hose replacement (!)  and movie afternoon for me and my two. Today we have been down to Brighton to spend a glorious, if bracing, day beside the sea with Claire, Alya and Tio which was wonderful in every way. So, after strictly and X factor we are all in bed and ready for our extra hour.... Or rather I'd love o be but the pesky ponies don't know that the clocks are going back, do they? Groan!!

New jeans for Autumn

 

I have realised that bar a(nother) scarf, a plain black L/S tee and some cheap lounge pants - I haven't actually bought any clothes since before my holiday SHOCK HORROR!  Naturally I have procrastinated about loads of things, including the gorgeous All Saints Biker that I really really want (but have the car's MOT and tax to pay, amongst other dull demands on my ££) but I have resisted and am feeling very virtuous.  Today, however, I have caved and bought these gorgeous jeans, and I really don't need jeans - I need fine knitwear, but can't afford Markus Lupfer and quite honestly nothing else compares at the moment so I am holding out - but they are lovely looking jeans and a bargain at £19.99, a great A/W option, I loved my bright jeans in the summer so this should be an easy win.  They come in a 34" leg too so will actually be a decent length, I just hope they aren't too low.

 

Thought I would add the ML jumpers that I am loving, but not buying..  

 

 

 

And this one which is a My Wardrobe exclusive (and I know not to everyone's taste!)

 

 

 And my favourite <3 p="p">

 

Nigella's Green Pasta with Blue Cheese

I do love Autumn and the excuse that it gives for lots of lovely new hot and tasty food options to try out!  You can't beat a roaring fire, beautifully comfy lounge wear, a big plate of something that can be eaten with just a fork and a decent glass of wine to wash it down with.  Perfection.

I actually made this dish for my Mum and I when she came over a couple of weeks ago, and I have been meaning to blog about it ever since.

Nigella's Green Pasta with Blue Cheese

Serves: 2 hungry people

• 250g trottole verde (or radiatori or fusilli, I used fusilli)
• Salt
• 125g gorgonzola piccante, crumbled or chopped
• 100g baby spinach leaves
• Freshly ground pepper
• 3 tbsps chopped pistachio nuts

Method

step 1: Heat water in a pan for the pasta, salting it when it comes to the boil, then add the pasta and cook according to instructions, but check three minutes early. It needs to be really al dente because it will carry on cooking as you make the sauce.
step 2: Before draining the pasta, remove a cupful of the liquid, then tip the drained pasta back in the hot pan with 2 tbsps of the liquid, the cheese and the baby spinach. Add a good grinding of coarse black pepper.
step 3: Put the lid on the pan – off the heat, though back on the stove – and leave to stand for two minutes.
step 4: Remove the lid, turn the heat back on low, and stir the pasta, cheese and spinach with as much of the cooking liquid as you need – about 100ml – until the cheese is melted and the spinach wilted.
step 5: Take off the heat, toss with two-thirds of the chopped pistachios and divide between two warmed bowls. Sprinkle each bowl with the remaining nuts. Serve immediately.

I omitted the pistachios, and used plain old fusilli rather than green stuff - but it was still amazing!  Really simple and delicious.

Testing my iPad app

Just found this app for iPhone so thought I'd try it on the pad, should make the updating even easier, providing I can get the pics updated.. I'm absolutely shattered from doing 520 miles in 2 days and working long days/staying in a nightmare hotel - but will update that lot later! For now here's a test picture; Roxy, our new hamster.. RIP Hermione, we loved you so very much, you brought a lot of joy in to my little girl's life and you had many fans..