A Hug From The Inside

As August becomes cooler, and all the Pumpkin Spice Latte posts start clogging up my Facebook feed I start thinking of breakfasts that are more than simply fruit and yogurt. 

I have become an adult lover of porridge. As a kid I just saw it as plain and boring and sometimes lumpy... and why would you ever eat that when you could have a big bowl of sugary cereal instead? But as an adult I adore it's ability to give your body a hug from the inside out. I love how comforting it is, how much it nourishes my body and heats me up. 

My favourite way is always unsweetened porridge made with half milk/half water, some chopped banana, some natural yogurt and a drizzle of honey. My mum has given me a glut of hazelnuts this week so I'm thinking of trying a baked hazelnut porridge. I also love the classic combination of apple and cinnamon too, but I've recently spotted a lemon and poppy seed porridge recipe that I'd love to try out. Or maybe just a spoonful of stewed rhubarb and a sprinkle of brown sugar on top. Mmmm m m m...

How about you? Do you like porridge? How do you dress yours up? 

Alive On The Inside

Even though Valentines day is long gone I can't stop thinking about this AMAZING heart cake.

You can find a great tutorial here... and if I was any good I'd attempt to recreate it but alas I am all talk and no action when it comes to such endeavors.

Can someone else make it and I'll just have a slice please.

Things I Love Thursday

Hugs - I feel that no explanation is needed here.

Juicy - Crisp rosy apples are keeping me happy right now. Braeburn, Pink Lady and Honey Crisp are especially fantastic tasting. Follow Galas advice and try apple slices with almond butter, or better yet... cashew butter. Yum.

Party Time - This Friday I'm finally going to cut the tags off that dress I bought from ASOS and wear it out on the town. We're having a birthday dinner for Laura followed by plenty of drinks and dancing. All girls have been warned that getting their legs out is mandatory for the night and the guys are not allowed to partake if they are scruffy looking.

Honourable Mentions - pretty, printed travel mugs, THIS list of things that money can't buy, the look on the faces of the boys working in the sweet shop when I asked for sweets that taste like a girl (I was looking for the 'sugar and spice and all things nice' kind of sweets, I really don't want to know what they were thinking), mini cream eggs, retro games tables in the pub 

Comfort Food

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What's your go-to food for when you're feeling under the weather?

Is it tea and toast? Toasted ham and cheese? Beef stew? Macaroni and cheese? Chicken soup?

I always look to rice pudding. Sweet, creamy, rich but still light. I've a cold that I just can't seem to get rid of no matter what I try and have started craving rice pudding. Rice pudding reminds me of winter evenings at home with my mum, waiting for the pudding to be done, spooning great big servings into bowl and adding a dollop of strawberry jam to the centre.

Do you have memories of a particular comfort food?

A Tuesday Ritual

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Tonight is a night for some Chinese takeaway, a fire in the hearth, good company from some wonderful women and McSteamy. I love our Tuesday ritual. And to make ourselves feel extra good we added a 2 hour slot in the gym to our Tuesdays, to make up for the takeaway.

Do you have any rituals in your week? What makes it into your routine?

Things I Love Thursday

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Torrential Rain - but only when I don't have to go out in it. I can just curl up inside the window with a mug of something hot and watch it for hours and hours.

Tropical Sugar-free MiWadi - It is the best tasting cordial in the world. I go through more than a bottle of it each week and it's the only thing that I've found to entice me to drink more water.

Thursday Shopping - For the last few weeks myself and Raymy, and sometimes Sonya, have been sneaking off to the local shopping center on a Thursday night and wander around with ice-cream or coffee, looking at everything but buying very little. It's great girlie time.

Going Home - I haven't been home in weeks and weeks but I'm really looking forward to heading home this weekend and saying hi to the folks and cuddling up with the dog and catching up with some friends.

What is putting a twinkle in your eye this week?

Time To Put Childish Things Away

Am I incredibly childish to be looking forward to the release of New Moon on the 20th? Twilight really didn't do it for me as a movie at all but I'm hoping that the second instalment in the series will be a step up in the movie stakes.

I also know how young all those boys in the movie are but they are mighty fine specimens indeed.

Are you looking forward to the movie? What did you think of Twilight? Are you a fan of the series?

Yum Yum In My Tum

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Oh what I wouldn't give for a beautiful cupcake right now!

Pecan with cream cheese icing, chocolate with peanut butter icing, vanilla with a strawberry icing.

I wonder if there is anywhere in Limerick city that does cupcakes.

Whats your favourite cupcake flavour?