Today I am bringing you some of my three favourite foods. Chocolate, almonds and cookies, chocolate almond butter cookies to be precise. These cookies aren’t just any cookies, these cookies are inspired and dedicated to a dear blogging friend, Isabella King AKA Coriander Queen, who tragically lost her battle with cancer last month. Izzie was part of a close group of bloggers who I am honoured to call my friends. We bonded over our love of Bath, coriander and cookies. We sadly never got to meet in person, but we chatted so much online, I felt like I had known her for a lifetime. Her death shocked us all, and I know I speak for all of us when I say it was an honour to be even a small part of her life.

This community has been my rock since starting the blog, always happy to answer any questions, help guide me through the murky world of coding, SEO and analytics, and just generally there to have each others back. Some of us have met, some of us have yet to meet, but I still count them all as friends. Without these lovely folk, my blog wouldn’t be half the thing it is today.
On hearing the news of Izzie’s passing, we decided we’d like to all recreate a recipe, inspired by one of her many delicious treats, and pay tribute to her in some small way. No recipe is going to bring this magical lady back, but I like to think Izzie is kicking back, up in the sky somewhere, with a stash of chocolate almond butter cookies in hand, having a read through all of these posts dedicated to her, with a smile on her face. So here’s to you, Miss Coriander Queen, I hope you’re cooking up a storm up there. We miss you.

This recipe comes together quickly, and takes roughly 10 minutes to bake. Whip up a batch, grab yourself a flask of tea and go on an adventure. Grab life by the cookies folks. X

Some of Izzie’s friends are running the Race for Life in Bath in July, if you’d like to make a donation to help fight cancer, you can do so here.

Below are all the memorial recipe links from our amazing blogging community. We miss you Izzie.

Easy 5 ingredient pesto tomato tart on Amuse Your Bouche (vegetarian)
Globe artichoke with balsamic dip on Natural Kitchen Adventures (vegan)
Cider, apple and sausage casserole on Farmersgirl Kitchen
Chocolate orange oat bars on Veggie Desserts (vegan)
Peanut butter chocolate chip cookies on Tin and Thyme (vegetarian)
Arancini (risotto balls) on Coffee & Vanilla (vegetarian)
Rich coffee cupcakes on BakingQueen74 (vegetarian)
Gingerbread cupcakes with orange buttercream on The Veg Space (vegan)
Marmalade and ginger loaf cake on The Crafty Larder (vegetarian)
Ginger and oat cookies on Kavey Eats (vegetarian)
Amatriciana pasta on Kitchen Sanctuary
Treacle tart on Patisserie Makes Perfect (vegetarian)
Crispy fried halloumi on Supper In The Suburbs (vegetarian)
Chocolate fridge cake on Jo’s Kitchen (vegetarian)
Eggless chocolate chip cookies on Simply Sensational Food (vegetarian)
Boozy decadent hot chocolate on Fab Food 4 All (vegetarian)
Easy no bake blackberry cheesecakes on Casa Costello (vegetarian)
Best coriander / cilantro recipes on Fuss Free Flavours (some vegetarian)
Easy gingerbread popcorn snack on Celery & Cupcakes (vegetarian)
Elderflower and vodka cocktail slush on The Hedgecombers (vegetarian)
Fruit flapjacks on The Petite Cook (vegan)
Roasted spiced pumpkin seeds on Hungry Healthy Happy (vegan)
Lemon drizzle loaf cake on Penne For Your Thoughts (vegetarian)
Chicken ramen on It’s Not Easy Being Greedy
Stuffed Nutella cookies on Munchies And Munchkins (vegetarian)
Easy Berry Compote on Eats Amazing (vegetarian)
Caipirinha on Lovely Appetite (vegetarian)
Garlic and Lime Coriander Prawns on Travels for Tatse (pesceaterian)

This post, and all the links featured above, are dedicated in loving memory to Isabella King. Who passed away in March 2017, aged just 29.

The post Chocolate Almond Butter Cookies – A Tribute To Izzie King appeared first on Rough Measures.

There is nothing better than reminiscing back to memories of fond childhood events. I was fortunate to have a happy, supportive upbringing. A childhood supported by parents who loved me no matter how many tantrums I threw, how many times I broke my curfew, and even the small event of sneaking my friend from another school into my maths class and telling my teacher he was my Swedish cousin over for an exchange! Yes, we have happy family memories.

Some favourites of mine are our French holiday memories. We would get to leave school a few days before the end of term, hop in our loaded up people carrier, and head out to the Vendee for 4 weeks of French escapades. We would camp in a large frame tent, cooking by candlelight and playing cards until late. When it rained we would collect frogs in buckets and see who could find the most. We would dig trenches around the tent to stop it flooding at night. On the campsite bin day, we would cycle around the place looking to see what people were throwing away and leaving behind, my best find was an ironing board, although, I have no idea what I planed to do with it considering we had no power or an iron!

We would take trips to the hypermarkets and fill our trolly with French treats, begging our parents to let us put one more sweet item into the full trolley. We would bring back the car load of food, and get set up for lunch. The table would be overflowing with produce, for us to tuck into. A staple for me and my sister was brioche rolls with emmental and lettuce. Not just any rolls, but Brioche Pasquier Pains Au Lait, now one of the UK’s biggest brioche brands. Soft and fluffy, these were perfect for our young, hungry bellies and kept us happy. I was reminded of this memory recently and felt the need to recreate one of those meals, only this time for a little living room picnic.

I sliced up some pains au lait, and toasted them lightly. Then I grabbed some pesto, sauerkraut and other toppings, and made some little toasted bites. Perfect for any picnic, whether it inside or outside.

Brioche Pasquier was founded in 1936 by Gabriel Pasquier in the French village of Les Cerqueux. In 1974 his sons turned it into the family business of Brioche Pasquier that we now today, and they now employ over 3000 people over the world.

They raise their own dough using their own traditional ‘levain’, a natural raising agent that adds to the unique flavour and consistency of their dough. All of their recipes are free from artificial colours, flavours and hydrogenated fats. Keep an eye out for their other items including pains au chocolat, croissants and sliced brioche loaf in Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, the Co-op, Budgens and Ocado.

Disclaimer – This is a paid advertorial post for Brioche Pasquier. All words and thoughts are my own. Thank you for supporting Rough Measures and it’s sponsors, which enable me to keep working with our beloved food and ingredients.

The post Brioche Pasquier – A Review appeared first on Rough Measures.

I generally see my self as a pretty healthy person. I drink water all day long, I exercise daily, I eat my greens and devour fruit. I don’t eat meat and I barely eat dairy. Smoothies are a daily routine. I don’t feel under the weather often. But every few months, when the seasons turn, my weak spot takes a hit. The hit comes out as a cold or cough, or both, and sometimes it can take me a while to shift it. This cold and flu busting citrus smoothie is a daily ritual when this lurgy comes knocking. I keep a batch in the fridge and guzzle some down every morning. 

Packed with anti-oxidant loaded citrus fruits and anti-inflammatory ginger, this cold and flu busting citrus smoothie is natures remedy for our bodies. The cayenne pepper might seem odd, but it helps break up any lingering mucus in our bodies. Cloves are known to help boost the immune system and contain antibacterial properties. Added to the oranges, lemons and ginger, we have a might medley of nature’s finest.

On another note, more recently this blog has been going down a different path. While at first it was purely recipes I wanted to write about, I now want to feature more articles about health, travel and the planet as a whole. Is there anything you’d like to see more of here? Please do let me know in the comments, or you can email me – hello@roughmeasures.com . This blog is an ever growing journey, and I thank you all for being part of it. Here’s to new ideas and visions for the future.

I used my trusty Optimum G2.1 high-speed power blender for this recipe, it literally takes less time than making a brew to whizz up this smoothie. Theres a whopping £230 OFF right now – just follow the link. The fab people at Froothie are offering you lovely readers FREE DELIVERY too (for a limited time)! Just use this code 3414 FREE AMBASSADOR DELIVERY in the comments box when making your purchase, the delivery charge will then be refunded.

Disclaimer: Expect to see lots more Froothie Optimum G2.1 posts as I am now an Ambassador for Froothie.  Any links to their site in this post or future posts are affiliate links. If you purchase through these links I will earn a small commission, it won’t cost you any extra though. I was not paid to write this post and all opinions are my own. Thank you for continuing to support Rough Measures! 

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It’s no secret now that I have quite a high interest in how food can improve our wellbeing. In the last 3 years I have been reading up and following blogs that practise eating to feed and nourish us to help us feel that we are the best version of ourselves. When I was asked if I’d like to join a Food for Wellbeing course run by Portland Centre for Integrative Medicine, I jumped at the chance. The course would take place one evening a week, for 6 weeks. The venue was the fantastic space at Bakesmiths, Bristol.

Integrative medicine focuses on the whole person. It combines conventional and holistic approaches together to improve health and wellbeing. It actively supports lifestyle change and self care.

The Food for Wellbeing course was to be led by a team of experts; Elizabeth Thompson is a holistic doctor and CEO of The Portland Centre, Helen Cooke is a nutritionist with 25 years of experience, Helen McCarthy is a psychologist who offers programmes for permanent weight loss, Francine Russel is a food educator with an interest in mindfulness. We were also joined by 2 more food educators; Bev Campbell and Jane Morrice.

The course brought together tips around cooking healthier food from scratch; psychological expertise; and nutrition and medical knowledge to help us understand why food is so important for our health and overall wellbeing. During the course, we also had the opportunity to find out more about the role of exercise in health and wellbeing.

Each session also contained a practical demonstration with the community food educators, a delicious shared meal, and a variety of input from experts interested in non-drug approaches to health and wellbeing. Some sessions contained group participation; we all got to make some lovely overnight oats. We were given a selection of recipes to try and make at home, like this hummus.

We looked at which foods to eat regularly (hello vegetables and wholegrains!) and which to eat sparingly (dark chocolate…sob). We focussed on mindful eating, which is something I need to practise much more. We also talked about foods which are anti-inflammatory, and pre-biotic and pro-biotic foods.

I found the course to be really informative, and I particularly enjoyed hearing Helen Cooke speak about nutrition. We also had a session on raw foods, and had a delicious raw dinner together after the session. Our cookery demos from the food educators cemented the fact that eating a healthier diet doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. For each demo, we covered 3 or 4 dishes that anyone can make, and were given the recipes to take home with us.

The next course will begin in Autumn 2017, and if you’d like to find out more,
you can email enquiries@portlandcentrehealthcare.co.uk
You can also follow them on Facebook

Our raw dinner.

Raw crackers with mango salsa

Disclaimer; I was given a complimentary place on this course. I was not paid to write a positive review. Anyone who encourages food for wellbeing and improving health is fab in my eyes. Thank you for supporting those who support this space.

The post Food For Wellbeing – Portland Centre for Integrative Medicine appeared first on Rough Measures.

I’m sitting here on the sofa, it’s late May, I can see the sun slowly setting and the sky changing colours. My belly is full with a hearty weeknight meal. The cats are twirling around my legs, purring softly. The birds are singing their evening melodies. I take some moments to be calm, and still, and breathe. In this world of terror and heartache, make time to take a step back, take a deep breath, and remind yourself that you are here. We’ve had some terrible news here in the UK today, and my thoughts are with those who have lost someone they love. Do not let this hate beat our love. Love will overcome, it has to. 

It’s been a while since I have posted a main dish on here. I don’t know why, but I was towards recipes of the breakfast, baked or drink variety. I make dinner every day, but for some reason I don’t feel they’re worthy of a space on this here blog. They’re delicious and filling, yet somehow I just don’t put them on this space. But main dishes are just as important as those breakfast stars. So I’ll try to start adding a few more hearty dishes to the blog; like these curried lentils with spinach. Hearty meals please the man in my life, and I hope they please you too.

The first is my Curried Lentils with Spinach. I’ve been trying to incorporate more pulses into my diet, to give me some added oomph and keep me fuller for longer. This dish comes together in 20 minutes, and is perfect for an easy post-work meal. I cooked this up in the Judge Radiant frying pan. A vibrant red colour, it’s looking rather special in our kitchen.

The pan comes with a 25 year (10 year non stick) guarantee, along with some more benefits;

• Teflon® Radiance Stainless steel reinforced non-stick to maximise efficiency and durability. PFOA free.
• Soft grip handles
• Dishwasher and Oven safe up to 150°C

Now, lets make these curried lentils with spinach shall we?

Disclaimer; The pan in this post was provided by Judge Radiant Cookwear. Thank you for supporting this space and those who keep my kitchen well stocked.

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A few weeks ago, a rather large parcel arrived on my doorstep. It was a package I had been eagerly awaiting for a while. It was my Rocket Gardens delivery. Rocket Gardens was started in 2005, by Mike Kitchen. What started as a few seeds in his garden has now developed into a vegetable and herb seedling delivery service, with all plants starting life on their organic nursery in South Cornwall. They offer selection boxes, from Window Box Garden up to Allotment Garden, and also plant packages (hello pumpkin and squash patch!) When I was offered a Rocket Gardens review opportunity for the blog, I jumped at the chance. Since moving into our cottage, I have found myself in the garden more often than I thought I would. Enjoying the peacefulness and tranquility that comes with gardening.

In my box (which is only packed with recyclable, reusable or compostable packaging) was their Family Favourites Veg Patch selection. The contents vary depending on the season, and in ours was a selection of plants; beetroot, carrots, Cavolo Nero, courgette, green beans, leeks, lettuce, potatoes, rainbow chard, rocket, runner beans, spinach, sweet peas and tomatoes. We set about unpacking all the plants and getting them settled into their new home – our garden! In total we received a whopping 120 plants. At £34.99 for this box, it is a bargain.

The plants from my Rocket Garden selection seem to be growing well, especially the runner beans and tomatoes. Unfortunately the cats decided they like to eat the sweet peas, and the slugs got to the lettuce within hours. I’m hoping we can still manage to grow a good selection of veg and enjoy them in some seasonal salads later in the year. Home grown vegetables just taste that much better in my opinion. UPDATE – slugs are little terrors and have savaged most of the plants, except the beetroot, runner beans and leeks. WE WILL HAVE VEGETABLES!

So if you’re feeling a bit green fingered, I’d highly recommend Rocket Gardens. There is something so satisfying about growing you own food.

Disclaimer – I was sent the Family Favourites Veg Patch box to review. All opinions are my own. Thanks for support Rough Measures and my green fingers.

The post Rocket Gardens Review appeared first on Rough Measures.

As this blog grows and evolves I want to take some time to create a series of posts dedicated to some talented, local companies. Let’s call it Local Creatives shall we? Focussing on creative and skilled people from the South West and surrounding areas. Supporting local businesses is so important to me, and I am lucky to live in an area full to the brim with some fantastic business owners and products. First up in my Local Creative series is Ladytree Designs.

Ladytree Designs is a Bristol based brand set up by Ela and Hannah Good in 2016. Their handcrafted jewellery is made from Sterling Silver, and the pieces are created in their home studios using traditional and modern techniques.

Their ethos focuses on creating thoughtfully designed and lovingly handmade pieces inspired by the natural world. Each design is crafted with comfort and durability in mind so you can cherish your jewellery for years to come. With an environmental focus, the majority of the silver they use is 100% recycled and traceable, and all of their pretty packaging is made from recycled and/or sustainable materials.

I chose the Alchemy Necklace, part of the ‘Earth, Air, Fire, Water’ collection. I am drawn to anything that is focussed around the elements. The necklace arrived beautifully packaged, and I was not disappointed when I opened the box. The pendant sits on a medium length chain, which is perfect for me as I don’t like jewellery too close around my neck.

I have had so many positive comments about the necklace, as it is quite unique in it’s style. I’ve got my eye on most of their stock at the moment. There is no such thing as too much jewellery, right?!

If you’d like to see more of Ladytree Designs collection – head to their website. You can also find them on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclaimer – I was sent this necklace to feature on Rough Measures. Thank you for continuing to support those that support this space. Shop local.

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I have been putting off posting my favourite vegan chilli recipe for a while. I made it on a slow, rainy afternoon a while back. A staple recipe that I have been making and tweaking for a few years, never thinking of it as a glorious, blog worthy recipe. Yet I make it often and enjoy it a little more every time, why wouldn’t I share it with you all? Then the heatwave hit the UK and the last thing we would want to be reading about let alone eating is a chilli, so it sat here in my drafts for a little while. I used to be quite against chilli growing up. As a child I ate meat but I would hate the texture of mince, and chilli was the worst culprit for the texture I so despised. When I moved into my vegetarian years, I thought I would give chilli another chance, but my version of chilli. I kept one ingredient that I always remember my mum adding – cocoa (well I use cacao now). Something about a little bit of chocolate really sets a great chilli apart from a mediocre chilli.

The sunshine and heat have settled down now, and I am looking out to grey clouds and moody skies, so let’s have some comfort food shall we? A big hearty bowl of my favourite vegan chilli.

Don’t forget you can keep up to date with my daily musings on Facebook, twitter and Instagram. Be sure to tag #roughmeasures if you make any of my recipes! Hugs to you.

The post My Favourite Vegan Chilli appeared first on Rough Measures.

Welcome to part two in my new series – Local Creatives. I hope you enjoyed the first in the series. This series is all about supporting local creatives from the South West of Britain. I am lucky enough to live in a fantastic area, full of hidden or up and coming talented folk. From independent Chai suppliers to local artists, it really is a wonderful place to discover and meet some fantastic people and companies. This weeks post is Local Creatives – JAF Studio. 

Josie Falconer is the person behind JAF Studio. A Bath born designer and print maker who now works independently from her studio in Bristol; Josie creates a variety of limited edition print works and bespoke designs. She offers a range of products from commissions, brand identity, book design to beautiful stationary and gift cards.
Celebrating the every day, with a keen eye for detail Josie is heavily influenced by the incredible landscapes and diversity across the world. Having travelled over many continents, including South and Central America, Josie finds inspiration in the natural world and landscapes around her.

Josie will be displaying some of her fantastic work at her up and coming exhibition – Horizon. Horizon will showcase her prints, alongside stunning handmade jewellery from Bath born Emma Aitchison, and beautiful ceramics from Phoebe Smith. The exhibition will be in Bristol’s Christmas Steps Gallery, running from 25th – 31st July 2017. If you are in the area, be sure to pop in and say hello.

Josie has kindly offered a limited edition ‘Gem’ print to one lucky reader. The print is one of a run of 12, printed on local 100% cotton Somerset paper. Just follow the instructions via the Rafflecopter and enter to be in with a chance of winning. Be sure to leave a comment on this post!

GEM by JAF Studio

a Rafflecopter giveaway

T+C’s
Only open to entrants from UK mainland over the age of 18.
There is one prize of one print ‘GEM’, listed above. There’s no cash alternative and the prize is not transferable. No part or parts of the prize may be substituted for other benefits, items or additions.
Instructions form part of the terms and conditions. Entries using any software or automated process to make bulk entries will obviously be disqualified. The winner will be picked at random using software and then contacted by email. If you win and then don’t respond to this email within 5 days then another winner will be picked. The prize will be delivered to the winner as soon as possible after you have e-mailed your delivery address.
I am running this giveaway on behalf of JAF Studio who will be responsible for sending the prize to you if you win.
Please don’t say you have done something eg followed me on Instagram if you haven’t, all entries are double checked.

Disclaimer: Many thanks to JAF Studio who is providing the prize, all opinions are my own and I was not paid for this post.

The post Local Creatives – JAF Studio and WIN a Limited Edition Print appeared first on Rough Measures.

This weeks post is slightly different to my normal style, I do hope you enjoy reading: Rosie Letts Nutrition and my health journey.

Early this year, I hit a slump. I was feeling sluggish, tired and lacking any get up and go.  I knew something was up, I was constantly bloated, hungry and was craving sugar like mad. I had constant brain fog, and it was so bad it was making me seriously anxious. My diet was pretty good, and I was exercising often, yet didn’t feel the benefits as much as I thought I should. A friend of mine had had sessions and a treatment plan from Rosie Letts, a nutritional therapist based in Bristol, and had recommended her highly. Rosie has a first class degree in nutritional therapy, has seen over 500 clients to date, and has seen them rid themselves of PCOS, Eczema and IBS. I set up a phone appointment to see if we could get to the root of my issues.

After a video chat via Ringwell, we discussed my current diet and also any health / energy issues that were bothering me. Rosie scheduled an appointment for me to come and meet her in her Bristol clinic a week later. She asked me to keep a food diary for 3-4 days, and send it to her before the appointment. This way she could assess the nutrients and vitamins I was getting, and see if I was possibly lacking in some key areas.

During the appointment, we went over my food diary, and a ‘week in the life of Sus’ – we discussed forming a ‘Health MOT’ for me. It was interesting to hear Rosie’s thoughts on my diet and how I could curb my hunger pangs (eat more often – this shouldn’t be a problem!) and also help my body recover after my regular gym sessions. I also stood on a special body scanner, which after a full body scan (Biometric Scale Analysis), showed my muscle to fat ratio, BMI, and other aspects. It was good to see I wasn’t under or over in any areas. Rosie gave really informative advice on how each food would help me and also my gut. We spoke about adding more protein into my diet, I thought I got a lot, but due to my high exercise levels, it was clear I wasn’t eating it at the right times, when my body needed it. We talked about getting more essential fatty acids, B12 and selenium into my diet. Rosie made sure I was comfortable with the suggestions, and that it wouldn’t be difficult to make the changes she was suggesting. I felt totally at ease talking to Rosie, and felt like I was chatting to someone I had known for years.

After some more questions from Rosie, we got onto the subject of parasites and candida. Both can be common in people who have travelled, but anyone can pick them up. The candida would explain the major sugar cravings and also past problems with a fungal rash on my leg. To really understand what was going on, I opted for a test via Genova Diagnostics, which would test my stools for any traces of parasites or yeast overgrowths.

At the end of the session, Rosie made sure I was comfortable with the things we had discussed, and asked if I would keep a 2 week food diary and send it to her, so she could track my progress. We agreed we would stay in touch over the phone once my stool test results came through.

A week or so later, I got my tests results back. I won’t go into too much detail but let’s just say there’s been a bit of a parasite party going on in my gut. Rosie talked me through my test results thoroughly, explaining everything in layman’s terms. She sent me an extremely thorough review of areas in my diet where I could improve and add vital vitamins or minerals, a general health MOT, and also a selection of recipes to adapt into my weekly routine. I was also sent an in depth Nutritics report, which showed where I was missing vitamin, and where I was getting enough. She then started to explain my treatment plan, giving detail into how each food group may affect what was going on in my gut, and how we could alleviate the symptoms. To have the best chance at eradicating my ‘gut guests’ I would need to change my diet for 2 – 3 months, to essentially starve off the parasites and yeast overgrowths. Rosie explained how starchy carbs would need to go, as would sugar, corn and all things gluten. Greens and garlic would be my friends, along with quinoa and millet.

I am still on the journey with my diet, having had a few slip ups. I felt a massive difference after 2 weeks, I had more energy, my bloating had died down, and my brain fog was improving. It hasn’t been easy, my office is a teasing zone for sugar laden treats, but I am determined to try and eradicate the things giving me issues.

Rosie has checked in with me along the way, recommended supplements and has been a huge source of encouragement throughout my journey. I am currently studying Nutritional Healing myself, and having this experience with Rosie has only cemented the fact that one day I want to be able to help people the way Rosie has helped me.

Rosie is currently offering a fantastic new service – Reinvent – (stay tuned for my personal full review) – Click HERE if you’d like to learn more about Reinvent.

Start your Reinvent journey today and you’ll receive:

• Over 200 tasty recipes, plus new menus every season so you will never get bored
• 12 weeks of sample meal plans full of delicious dishes to get you started
• Phone and email support from the team whenever you need it throughout the programme
• Goal tracking tools, a cravings journal, a gratitude diary and a bank of printable resources
• Access the Reinvent community- and your very own team of cheerleaders
• Access to the full programme and bonus content including all recipes and health lessons forever

Reinvent is a holistic and permanent lifestyle change that will transform your relationship with food. It will tune you in to what’s going on deep inside your body, helping you to celebrate your uniqueness and understand how best to nourish yourself.

Join Reinvent during July and August  2017 and receive a complimentary 1.5 hour consultation with Rosie Letts worth £160.

If you are looking to make improvements to your health, clear up skin issues, gain control of your weight, or just generally looking for a health mot, Rosie is your girl. I cannot recommend her highly enough. For more information, head to Rosie Letts Nutrition.

All photos – Rosie Letts Nutrition

Always seek professional advice before making any drastic dietary changes or self diagnosing yourself via Google! 

Disclaimer: I was offered a session with Rosie in return for a review. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links: purchasing through these links will not cost you any extra, but will earn me a small commission. Thank you for continuing to support Rough Measures and my sponsors.

The post Rosie Letts Nutrition and my Health Journey appeared first on Rough Measures.

We are blessed in Bath with many a good restaurant. New ones pop up each week and it’s always exciting to check out the new kid on the block. One recent newbie is Tapas Revolution. Tapas Revolution is the brain child of Spanish chef Omar Allibhoy, and the Bath branch is his seventh tapas bar opening. Tapas Revolution, Bath promises to offer dishes cooked with the finest ingredients sourced from small artisan producers in Spain, all freshly prepared.  Served alongside premium Gin Tonics, in the traditional Copa de Balón (balloon glass) and an extensive Spanish inspired cocktail list created in collaboration with the award winning Cocktail Trading Co. They have a great happy hour from 4 – 7pm every day!

We dined for dinner one warm evening, and were greeted with a huge smile from Sonia, one of the managers. She offered us a table close to the chef’s pass so we could see the food being prepared. As it was the first week of trading for Tapas Revolution, Bath branch, Omar was in the kitchen overseeing each dish before it got the OK to leave the kitchen. I always prefer being able to see chefs at work. The décor of the venue was classic, with lots of plants and foliage dotted around, including a rather large olive tree next to the bar.

The place was buzzing and we soon settled into the vibe. Sonia recommended some dishes, and advised us to order around 5-6 dishes, and explained they would arrive the traditional way – as and when they were ready. We chose a selection of items including Patatas Bravas (of course!), Berenjenas Fritas (crispy fried aubergine with thyme), Pan con tomate (toasted bread with tomato), marinated green olives and Charlie also had calamares. The food arrived quickly, and looked gorgeous. The highlights were the exquisite aubergine, and the classic patatas bravas. Both dishes were so full of flavour and I would order them again in a heartbeat. The pan de tomate was a little disappointing but still had flavour.

I opted for a sangria, which was nice and fruity. Charlie chose the Horchata (a classic Valencian drink made from tigernut root) which he really enjoyed.

We both commented how classic and well put together the menu sounded, and enjoyed the dishes we had during our visit. The food offering is good value, and there are a wide range of vegetarian options on the menu. Tapas Revolution has a few seats outside, and I’d like to go and enjoy some more food in the sunshine before the summer is over.

Disclaimer: We were offered a complimentary meal at Tapas Revolution in return for a review. All opinions are my own.

The post Tapas Revolution, Bath – A Review appeared first on Rough Measures.

Wahey, summer is officially here (or is it?). While I adore the heat, it’s important to stay hydrated and energised, as the heat can really wipe you out, that’s why I have put together this list of 30 Gorgeous Green Smoothies you need to try. One smoothie a day for a month, let’s give it a go shall we?

Smoothies are a great all round drink. Have them for breakfast, a snack or a lighter evening meal if you’re too hot too cook. I like to load mine up with greens to get my 5 a day in, or oats for a slow energy release. The combinations are endless. You don’t need a high powered blender to make a simple smoothie (although I do love my Optimum G2.1 if I am making a big batch of the good stuff). I asked my blogging friends to put forward some of their green smoothie creations and let me know why they love them. Here’s my list of 30 Gorgeous Green Smoothies You Need To Try!

1. Drink Your Greens Smoothie from me!
2. Winter Detox Green Smoothie from Black White Livid:  Katharina says ‘I love green smoothies in the morning to have a refreshing and energising start to the day’
3. Creamy Tropical Green Bean Smoothie from Plant Based Recipe: Jen says ‘we love smoothies not only because they utilise the whole fruit or vegetable with all that healthy fibre, but they help reduce food waste in our kitchen. We can easily substitute or add an ingredient in the fridge that needs to be used up soon.’
4. Kale Mango Smoothie from Savory Tooth: Julie loves that they ‘make my breakfasts so much easier. I prep a week’s worth of smoothies at a time and freeze them’.
5. Dandelion Detox Green Smoothie from Tasting Page.
6. Tropical Green Smoothie from Shockingly Delicious
7. Delicious Kale Smoothie from Happy Kitchen Rocks
8. Green Superfood Smoothie from Trinity’s Kitchen
9. Tropical Green Smoothie from Veggie Inspired
10. Ginger Spinach Green Smoothie from Phruitful Dish
11. Peanut Butter Green Smoothie from Veggies Save The Day
12. Apple Cinnamon Crunch Smoothie Bowl from Eat Spin Run Repeat
13. Super Amazing Green Smoothie from Cheftographer: Angel loves smoothies because they are quick, portable, and an easy and delicious way to get lots of fruits and veggies into your body, and into your kids!
14. Green Mango and Spinach Smoothie from Tinned Tomatoes
15. Pear and Kale Smoothie from me!
16. Mega Green Julius Smoothie from Kellie’s Food to Glow
17. Coconut Lime Detox Smoothie from The Petite Cook
18. Spinach Loquat Smoothie from Little Sunny Kitchen
19. Blood Orange Green Smoothie from Minimalist Baker
20. Green Mango Smoothie from Happy Hearted Kitchen: Jodi says ‘smoothies are a quick and easy way to add vegetables to your morning meal, and even though green smoothies may seem scary at first, you’ll see that they still taste like breakfast and not so much like a blended lunch.’
21. Sweet Pea Mango Smoothie Bowl from Will Frolic for Food
22. Wild Ginger Green Smoothie from The First Mess
23. A Green Smoothie for the Green-phobe from Kellie’s Food to Glow
24. Super Green Smoothie from Harriet Emily
25. Ginger Green Smoothie from Salwa Petersen
26. Green Smoothie from Green Gourmet Giraffe
27. Green Goddess Smoothie from Tin and Thyme
28. Peach Matcha Smoothie from Recipes from a Pantry
29. Green Smoothie Bowl from The Green Life
30. Pear, Kale and Avocado Smoothie from Anna Jones

Who’s ready to try all of these fantastic smoothies?

The fab people at Froothie are offering you lovely readers FREE DELIVERY too (for a limited time)! Just use this code 3414 FREE AMBASSADOR DELIVERY in the comments box when making your purchase, the delivery charge will then be refunded.

Disclaimer: Expect to see lots more Froothie Optimum G2.1 posts as I am now an Ambassador for Froothie.  Any links to their site in this post or future posts are affiliate links. If you purchase through these links I will earn a small commission, it won’t cost you any extra though. I was not paid to write this post and all opinions are my own. Thank you for continuing to support Rough Measures! 

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A few weeks ago, Coastal Cottages invited C and I to stay in one of their stunning rentals – 2 Penally Boathouse Mews. Having fallen in love with Pembrokeshire a few years ago on THIS trip, we had longed to go back and explore more of the beautiful coastline.

Coastal Cottages have over 500 properties in their portfolio. 2 Penally Boathouse Mews (formerly known as Saddlers Cottage) is a cosy cottage hidden away in the grounds of the owners’ home, Penally House, on the bank of the River Teifi in the small village of St Dogmaels. Beautifully renovated to a high standard and furnished in an quirky mix of contemporary and antique pieces focussing on the nearby river and its fishing history, the split level L-shaped layout leads from the sitting area with cosy wood burning stove, which overlooks the pretty gardens with views of the nearby estuary.

We arrived on a warm May day, having stopped at nearby Ceibwr Bay for a walk along the stunning coastline and a bite to eat at Penralt Garden Centre. After some debate over the directions, we found the gate that leads into Penally House and it’s gardens. We were immediately shocked at how different it felt within the walls. Flowers were blossoming everywhere we turned, birds were flying around the trees and we could see the estuary in the back. We parked up and were greeted by the wonderful Venita, who showed us around her wonderful cottages and garden.

2 Penally Boathouse Mews was a perfect fit for us, a cosy space, with all the mod cons, a wood burning stove and little trinkets that represented the area. We soon got settled in and decided a walk along the river would be the best thing after a stuffy car journey. You can access the river from the garden of the mews, and the path follows the river down to the sea, through the village. There is a fantastic little pottery shop in the village, and we picked up some beautiful mugs and chatted to the Potter about the area and also Bath. We headed back to the cottage and settled for a quite night in, with a simple dinner and a bottle of wine, and watched the sunset from the garden.

The following morning, we awoke to another glorious day, and decided we would explore some more of the coastline. After a breakfast of local produce, we set about heading to the opposite side of the estuary, to a small hamlet called Gwbert. We had heard you can spot seals there, so thought it was the perfect place for a stroll. The sea was bright blue, and we hiked along the cliff edge, spotting many jellyfish in the sea below. It wasn’t until we were about to turn around and head back, that we caught glimpse of a seal close to the shore. We watched him swim about for a good 30 minutes, sealing around and loving the attention he was getting. We wandered back along the coast and took in the view.

We headed back to St Dogmaels for some lunch. We had spotted a local pub the day before, and headed there for a roast in the sunshine on their beautiful deck which overlooked the river. Their vegan roast was fantastic, one of the best I have ever had (seriously you guys!). A vegan nut roast with ample seasonal veg to accompany it. A great meal to end a fantastic (albeit too short) weekend away.

Thanks to Coastal Cottages for use of 2 Penally Boathouse Mews.

Have you visited St Dogmaels or Pembrokeshire before? What’s your favourite part of it?

Disclaimer – Coastal Cottages offered us a complimentary stay in return for a review. All opinions are my own. For more information on Coastal Cottages, head to their website, www.coastalcottages.co.uk

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Reichshof, Hamburg: A Review

During our recent trip to Hamburg, we had the pleasure of staying at Reichshof Hotel (part of Curio Collection by Hilton). We enjoyed 3 wonderful nights in the stunning Art Deco themed hotel.

Reichshof Hamburg, combined an ideal location and a charming historic building for an exciting experience. The hotel, which has been completely renovated,  blends the ‘golden twenties’ with modern elements. Located right in the heart of Hamburg, opposite the central station. Alster Lake, the Rathaus, shops, restaurants, museums and galleries are all within walking distance. It originally was opened in 1910 as a Hamburger traditional hotel in the classical patrician style. It was a four-star hotel by the end of May 2014, when the Hotel Reichshof was closed. On 17 July 2015 after extensive renovations it was re-opened under a new name and management.

We arrived early on a Friday but luckily our room was ready for us. Our room was perfect: a large double bed, a tall window and all normal hotel mod cons (including a clever iPad as the guest information service). The bathroom was huge, with an enormous walk in shower and large basin area. I’m pretty sure we both squealed with delight as we opened the door. The bed was super comfy and we both slept wonderfully each night. The room had touches of art deco and was totally Instagrammable!

We spent half an hour exploring the hotel and taking snaps of the gorgeous features. Many of the original elements – like the lift sign – are all still in the hotel, in pristine condition. On Sunday, we were given a behind-the-scenes tour of the hotel, and got to see the old car park system, which is no longer in use. The hotel clearly take pride in the space, and the staff were more than happy to talk us through the history and stories of the hotel.

Breakfast, in the Stadt restaurant each morning, was a glorious buffet. Fruit salads, muesli, cakes and pastries, cheeses and meats, omelettes, pancakes, and more, they had thought of everything. Reichshof source all their ingredients from suppliers within 100km radius, they have even met the cows they get their milk from. They are passionate about using sustainably produced and fair trade foods. We made sure to fill ourselves up with a three course breakfast every morning so we had fuel to keep us walking and exploring throughout the day. We also got to enjoy a sumptuous afternoon tea in Emils bistro on Sunday afternoon. Emils was opened earlier this year, and named after the hotel’s founder Anton Emil Langer. We even got to make the signature cake in the hotel’s kitchen.

We totally fell in love with Reichshof, and both agreed it was one of our favourite hotels to date. Extensive thought and careful design has gone into restoring this wonderful building. The location is great too, right next to the central train station and nearby the busy shopping area, perfect for us. We slept peacefully each night and gorged blissfully each morning at the breakfast buffet. The staff were a delight and it was wonderful to see them so passionate about their place of work.

Reichschof, we will be back soon.

Original window glass in the bar

Marble Staircase

Bloggers afternoon tea!

Disclaimer: We were guests or Reischof Hamburg and #ComeToHamburg. All opinions, as always, are my own. Thank you for your continued support which helps make it possible to keep Rough Measures alive. 

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Autumn is one of my favourite seasons. I love the golden hues that make the trees glow, the cooler misty mornings with pink sunrises, and cosy evenings infront of the fire. Now we have swapped a boat for a house I appreciate these even more. Wrapping up in throws on the sofa and settling down with a book in front of a glowing woodburner, these are my Autumnal moments that I love. I remember running into the park and nose diving into piles of leaves as a child. Gleefully kicking up orange leaves and watching them float down like nature’s confetti. Watching the trees change colour in wonder from my bedroom window. The smell of the first bonfire of the season. The first conker fight with my brothers. Autumn holds so many happy memories for me and I itch for it’s return year upon year.

I have always loved copper shades, and love to style the house in these brassy tones. They complement my love of grey too. I’ve styled a few Wayfair pieces for an autumn colour challenge to create a cosy scene for this wonderful season. How would you style your home with an Autumn theme? I chosen a few pieces I feel compliment each other and bring a sense of warmth into the house for these chillier evenings. This bedspread is going to be a big hit during cold evenings tucked up in bed under the gorgeous Hokku Designs pure cotton duvet set, and the lamp is the perfect addition to my bedside table.

Colder days with dark evenings also call for hearty stews and soups, this cast iron dutch oven and skillet will take residency on our hob for the next 6 months. Along with stews comes slightly more indulgent cakes and loafs. I’ve been longing to a cake stand for a while and finally found a gorgeous marble one I love. Finally, what better way to serve up a slice of cake that a gorgeous copper tray. Autumn, we’re ready for you!

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Wayfair. I was not paid to write a positive review and all opinions are my own. Stay cosy folks.

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In my parent’s garden, behind the house where I grew up, there are 4 or more apple trees lined up in a row. Every year they bear their fruits of the season; big, juicy apples ready to be baked or turned into chutney. We would have apple pie for weeks while my mum tried to use up the bucket loads of fruits that the trees had gifted us with. This vegan slow cooker Autumn apples recipe reminds me of all those times we would plead to have something different for pudding, but were secretly glad we got to have a comforting bowl of homemade pie.

I love making these vegan slow cooker Autumn apples on a cosy Sunday afternoon. Just 10 minutes prep, then 2-3 hours in the slow cooker makes for an oh-so-easy comforting pudding recipe fit for a king or queen. I used my Crock Pot and love the fact I can switch it on and forget about it for a few hours. More time for snuggles on the sofa in front of the fire.

I made this recipe in my 5.7 litre Crock Pot slow cooker. It’s a perfect size for us to meal prep and cook in bulk. You can lift the lid and serve straight from the bowl, but when you just want to stir, the hinge means you don’t drip water on the counter. I haven’t used a slow cooker before, but I am loving the ease and simplicity of the Crock Pot. Winter cooking is a-go!

October is peak season for slow cooking, why not follow along on social media using #Crocktober! You’ll find loads of fantastic blogger recipes and inspiration to encourage you to get your Crock Pot out and get creating.

Disclosure: This CrockPot recipe for slow cooker Autumn apples is sponsored by Crock-Pot. Thank you for supporting the brands that make it possible for me to continue following my passion. All opinions are my own.

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When the lovely folk at A Little Bit got in touch about their delicious artisan dips made with fresh herbs, I was eager to hear more. I am a little bit dip obsessed. Give me hummus, guac and baba ghanoush, give me hot salsa with crunchy corn chips, give me white bean dips with all the garlic. I’d happily have a selection of dips for dinner every evening. I like having lots of little options to choose from. The selection feels like a pic’n’mix, and who can argue with that?

A Little Bit make dressings, dips and sauces using fresh herbs. Their products are made with natural, wholesome ingredients that are gluten free and suitable for vegetarians. They are bold and vibrant colours (I adore the rosy beet dip). They create their recipes with sensational taste and adaptability in mind.

I tried their three dips: Fresh Thyme & Butternut Squash, Fresh Oregano and Aubergine, and Fresh Mint, Feta and Beetroot. I loved the consistency of the dips, thinner than hummus but thicker than salsa. Perfect to share with a crunchy baguette, some crackers or maybe crudities. Each dip was full of flavour and tasted as if it had been made that morning. C gave a glorious happy nod as we both tucked into them one weekend lunchtime. Artisan producers like Sophie make me all excited about food again. People that share the passion and love of flavour like I do. Yes, the dips are a winner in our household. They keep in the fridge for around a week too (if you can resist them for that long!). I love discovering new brands like A Little Bit, who are passionate about using fresh, good quality ingredients to obtain the best flavour possible. I’m a fan and will be back for more – their sauces look gorgeous too.

Sophie has offered one of each of the three dips to one lucky reader. Just leave a blog comment AND enter via the Rafflecopter below (both must be done to count as an entry).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms & Conditions
Entry into my giveaways will be deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions.
The winner will be announced on the Rafflecopter widget after the prize has been claimed.
There is 1 prize of the item listed above.
There is no cash alternative and the prize is not transferable.
This giveaway is open to UK entrants only and runs until midnight on 26 November 2017.
The winner will be picked at random and then contacted via email.
Rough Measures, as the promoter, reserves the right to cancel or amend the prize, giveaway and these terms and conditions without notice.
Entrants must be over 18 years old.
If the winner doesn’t respond to the email within 5 days, another winner will be picked.
The prize will be delivered to the winner as soon as possible by the brand directly.

Disclaimer – A Little Bit sent me the dips to review and are providing the dips for the giveaway. All thoughts entirely my own. Thank you for supporting Rough Measures.

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Textures. Salty and sweet. Smooth and rough. Liquid and crunch. That’s what I like. Something with some bite. I love a hearty soup in Autumn and Winter, but sometimes miss the motion of chewing or crunching on some ‘substance’, this savoury turmeric granola was a whimsical idea that turned out rather fantastic. We have made it on repeat since then and pack it into a jar for easy accessibility at every meal time. 

This recipe is a loose one. Rough Measures at it’s best. Chop and change the buckwheat groats for rye or quinoa flakes, or if easier, leave out all together and double the oat quantities.

I made a big batch of this savoury turmeric granola to sprinkle over some soup last weekend. Not just any soups though, the lovely flavours of Cully & Sully. Cully & Sully started in Cork, Ireland, and set out to make soups with tonnes of flavour, and packed full of nutrients. I have had a rough month and needed an easy, comforting lunch one rainy day, and these were just perfect. They offer a range of flavours, but my favourite was the Pea & Minty soup, while C loved the mushroom soup.

The granola adds a little bite to a comforting dish. We love it on salads and stews too. I’ll even have a bowl in the morning with some homemade hemp milk.

Disclaimer – This is a sponsored post with Cully & Sully. All opinions, words, thoughts, and recipe are my own. Thank you for continuing to support Rough Measures.

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My review of the Harrods Christmas Hamper: The Harrogate

Over the years, I have managed to acquire some rather nice hampers. I love their wicker look and they make great storage options. But mostly, I like what the often contain – food! I did a little squeal when Harrods asked if I’d like to review one** of their Luxury Christmas Hampers. They have a vast selection on their website, and I would be reviewing ‘The Harrogate’ – a generous hamper with an enormous selection of indulgent treats, perfect for Christmas time and festive evenings.

 From mint sauce to caramel waffles, the Harrogate has something for everyone. Personally, my favourite part of it is the gorgeous, large wicker hamper – perfect for extra storage in our cottage. I will be using many of these items as little additional gifts to my loved ones (I know my Granddad is going to love the fruit jellies).

The generous hamper contains:

Dark Chocolates with Sea Salt & Cocoa Nibs Slab Dark
Salted Caramel Fudge
Succulent soft Fruit Jelly
Original Toffees
Acacia Honeycomb
Butterscotch Crunch Biscuits Flour
Butter Thins With Almonds
Caramel Syrup Waffles
Caramelised Onion Chutney Onions
Cheddar Cheese Biscuits
Wafer Fingers
Chocolate Wafer Rounds
Cranberry Crumbles Flour
Dark Chocolate Ginger
Date & Walnut Loaf Cake Dates
Gouda Cheese Twists
Piccalilli Cauliflower
Milk Drinking Chocolate Milk
Mint Sauce
Roquefort Cheese Melts
Luxury Shortbread Duo
Fruit Marmalade
Tomato & Black Olive Bread Thins
Wholegrain Mustard Water
After-Dinner Blend Coffee 100%
Classic Earl Grey Tea Bags Black
English Breakfast Tea Bags

We’ve sampled a couple of items, all of which were heavenly, but are saving most of them to share with friends and family over Christmas. Harrods have a great selection of hampers, at a range of prices and themes to suit all dietary needs. Most of the items also come in lovely tins, jars or boxes – all of which will get reused in our kitchen once we have finished the contents of them. What items would you love to have in a hamper?

Disclaimer – Harrods kindly sent me a hamper to review. All opinions are entirely my own.
** – This hamper contains items that are not vegan.

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Nothing like a good cup of coffee to get the day going. I used to love flavoured syrups (oh hey hazelnut) in my morning cup of Joe, but over the last few years as I am weaning myself of refined sugars I’ve managed to drop the habit.

Whilst coffee isn’t the healthiest thing on the planet, it’s my vice and I try and limit myself to one a day. A big change from the 7-a-day habit I used to have whilst working in a busy vegetarian kitchen. No idea how I even managed to get any sleep with that amount of caffeine in me. No, one a day, slowly, taking time to enjoy and savour the notes and flavours that come from a well-brewed glug of coffee.

I have weaned myself off sugary syrups in my coffee slowly over the last few years. Whole Earth Sweeteners have definitely helped. Derived from nature, and no effect on our blood sugar levels, they’re an obvious healthier swap in our household. #sweetresolution

Disclaimer – this is a sponsored post – thank you for your continued support whilst I side-hustle my way through life.

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