I *heart* Blackpool.

I have never been to Blackpool before, so when my friends said they were going there for the weekend, Ed and I decided to go adventuring for a couple of days. I'd heard mixed reviews of Blackpool, some people said it was a dive and very tired around the edges, whilst others said that there was a lot of fun to be had there. 

Blackpool certainly lived up to the latter of those views! I love seaside towns that are a little shabby around the edges, you can't help but get enveloped in the English seaside nostalgia. There was so much to see and do here, one night there was nowhere near long enough to explore this place.  

I had always wanted to visit The Comedy Carpet in Blackpool, but I had completely forgotten about it. So as it loomed ahead of me, when I was walking along the front, I was incredibly happy. This is an amazing piece of art and I would recommend going to see this for yourself because it is so beautiful. The Comedy Carpet refers to work from over 1,000 different comedians and it squeezes over 160,000 granite letters in 2,200m2 of embedded concrete. If you are a lover of typography I don't think you will want to leave! I only managed to tear myself away when I started to get really chilly from the sea breeze.

I can't wait to visit Blackpool again.

Hope you have had a wonderful weekend <3

Much Love

xKirstx

Tuesday Teacup - Green Mint.

One day last month I was feeling a bit sad, I'd had a bit of a rubbish day and so Ed surprised me and bought me a month's subscription to Tea Horse. He knows me too well because there are few things in the whole world that would make me more happy than great quality tea being popped through my letterbox. I love Tea Horse, especially the simple icons that accompany each tea, that aid you on your way to brewing an awesome cuppa. 

The Green Mint blend is a mixture of gunpowder green tea and mint. When I opened the little pouch it was housed in, I was hit by the most amazing minty smell. Whatever dried mint tea you have smelt in the past this will smell a million times more delicious. I infused this blend with the Tea Horse filter bags (which are like empty tea bags with one end open) and I was really impressed with them, they were a great alternative for when I am feeling too lazy to use my teapot. I followed the instructions and brewed the tea in water that was 80 degrees for 3 minutes. 

Now this tea is special! I have drunk a lot of green tea and mint tea but this fusion is fragrant, light and refreshing. The green tea is just there supporting the mint flavour whilst not being dominated by it. The mint is so fresh and almost sweet, it didn't have any of that bitterness that some mint teas threaten as an aftertaste. It is also perfect to drink after a sizeable meal and it can even quell indigestion, what more could you ever need from this refined little tea blend? Absolutely beautiful!

What teas have you been drinking lately?

xkx

Tuesday Teacup - Camomile Flowers.

I always thought camomile tea was a bit gross. I forced myself to drink it for a while when I first found out that I was gluten intolerant because it is suppose to be very good for inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and at that point, mine was in a pretty bad way. So I bought camomile tea bags and really tried my best to drink them, but they were just bitter and had a funny, sweet after taste. 

A couple of weeks ago when I was in my local deli choosing some new tea, I decided that the loose camomile flowers were so pretty that I would give them another chance and I am really glad I did.

This tea is exactly what drinking flowers should taste like, it has this wonderful earthy body to it, which is followed by a sweet, honey like after taste. To concoct an amazing cup of this tea simply put 1-2 teaspoons of camomile tea in an infuser and submerge it into some hot water, then leave it for 3-5 minutes depending on how strong you like your brew. Camomile is probably my favourite tea at the moment, I especially love it in the afternoons when I need that slight lift to escort me into early evening. Delicious and the perfect drink for these early Spring days.

What teas have you been enjoying lately?

xkx

Kitchen Glamour - Citrus Tea Bath Soak.

To celebrate it being Friday again I thought I would share how to make a natural, vegan bath soak that will leave you feeling refreshed and rather delectable. This recipe is really easy and once you have the idea you can play around with what you put in your bath soak. Bicarbonate of soda is one of the important ingredients, is what's known as 'Baking Soda' in the USA (it took me a while to decipher what the UK equivalent was.) You can find Bicarbonate of soda in the home baking section of most supermarkets. Bi carb softens the water, I have put 6tablespoons in and it seemed to do a nice job but you will have to experiment because the water hardness in your area is probably different to mine. Start with 6 tablespoons and adjust as you feel fit. 

I have used loose leaf tea because that is what I have in the kitchen, but this is the perfect recipe to use up those herbal teabags you may have lurking in your cupboard. You need about 10 teabags for a herbal bath, what better way to use up those old health kick remnants? You could also use teabags you have used over the past couple of days as well.  I have used green tea because it is full of antioxidants and will give your skin a subtle glow. Camomile because the fragrance is relaxing and it is gentle and soothing to the skin. It is very rare but some people are allergic to camomile so if you are one of these people do not put it in your bath.

Citrus fruits are as yummy for your skin as they are for your insides. Citrus is packed full of antioxidants, vitamin C and vitamin E. Using citrus fruits on your skin can freshen, moisturise and rejuvenate. This is mainly because of the alpha hydroxyl which is a natural exfoliator, this means that citrus will cleanse, unblock pores and it will help you to get rid of  those pesky old dead skin cells.   

So once you have all your dry ingredients together, chop the citrus fruits up. This can be as neat or as rough as you like. Next go and get an old pair of clean tights (I usually have loads of these lingering in my underwear draw because I just can't throw some of them away). Now you can either use the foot end or if there is a hole there, just chop a good length out of the leg and tie a knot in one end. You will need to put everything, apart from the Bicarbonate of soda, into the tights. I put the section of tights over a pint glass because it helps me fill the tights up with the rest of the goodies, it also will catch any of the juice because you don't want to waste that! When it is full of all of the ingredients tie a knot in the top. Put the bath sausage under the running water of your bath and pour  the Bicarbonate of soda on top, the water will turn a rather impressive orangey green. I used a pink grapefruit so the colour may be less dramatic if you use a regular one. Now all that is left to do is to pretend you are in a cup of herbal tea and glow about how very gorgeous you are. You can also keep the section of tights and wash it to use it again for another soak, good huh?

Hope you have some lovely baths <3

xkx

Tuesday Teacup - Tea Pigs Chilli Chai

This week I have been drinking Tea Pigs Chilli Chai. This tea is a full bodied assam with beautiful exotic spices and a warm chilli tickle at the end. I didn't really know what to expect from chilli chai, but I am a huge chilli fiend so I just had to try it. 

I drank this tea black to start with, the cardamon and cinnamon were the pioneers trekking out of this tea onto my taste bugs. The chilli was very mild at the end like a warm cuddle. The second cup I had with milk and I think this was my favourite. I also found that if I left the tea temple in whilst I drank the tea it had much more of a chilli punch *yum*. This tea is definitely one to try if you want something a little bit warm and exotic to brighten up a dreary day. 

Hope your week is rocking <3

xkx

My Three Favourite Cook Books.

I'm a bit of a foodie, well that is the posh way of saying that I love food and eating. I can't say I am one of those people who read cook books in bed at night but then again I do own quite a few. I would love to build up a collection of old cookery books, especially ones from the 70s because they are so bad that they are good! I also have my eye on the Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management that resides on my mum's bookshelf. When I moved to Nottingham I tried to hide it in a box of books I was taking, she knew me too well and before I went she rummaged through and repossessed it. So anyway these are my three favourite cook books at the moment: Gok Cooks Chinese by Gok Wan, The Vintage Tea Party Year by Angel Adoree and The Fat Duck Cookbook by Heston Blumenthal. 

My affections for these books are all very different. Gok Cooks Chinese is full of mouthwatering pictures of dishes that I would have been far too scared to attempt. I have a couple of other chinese recipe books and I look at the tasty pictures then look at the humongous list of ingredients and give up. But Gok's book is very different, his recipes are based on a meagre larder of Chinese essentials and if you follow the instructions the food looks just as delectable as the pictures and tastes better than any takeaway! Ed cooked salt and pepper pork from this book the other night and it was out of this world good. 

Now where to start on The Vintage Tea Party Year, its just perfect in my opinion. The content is superb, the layout is beautiful, the illustrations are treats for the eyes. Angel Adoree will aid you through everything you need to know to pull of an exquisite vintage gathering from decor to hair to cocktails, oh and the recipes are pretty amazing too! I own the Vintage Tea Party book too and I just love every page these books have to offer. If you love vintage and you don't own this book you are seriously missing out!

I will probably never be able to cook anything out of The Fat Duck Cookbook, not to its full extent of deliciousness anyway. I would like to have a go at the chilli in there one day though. I have wanted to eat at The Fat Duck restaurant for years, but it is a serious investment to go there, it being a couple of hundred pounds for a tasting menu. But a girl can dream and this book is the perfect aid for that. 

What cook books are your favourite? 

Kitchen Glamour - 3 Ways to Combat Puffy Eyes!

My eyes are super sensitive, they get puffy if any random allergies flare up, I have used make up wipes, there is a lot of dust around, basically they are the equivalent of a High Society Victorian lady who has forgotten her smelling salts. I have found that if I can take care of them as soon as the they start to inflate I have a better chance of restoring face status quo.

I have tried quite a few different things ranging from natural remedies to over the counter creams. But these are my favourite three 'go to' remedies. 

Cucumber is lovely and you will probably have it lingering in your fridge. Cucumber is 90% water and if you chop two slices of cucumber straight out of the fridge they are wonderfully cooling and hydrating for your eyes. 

Tea bags are an age old remedy for eyes that are in desperate need of R&R. The tannin in the tea bag gently reduces swelling and discolouration whilst the caffeine will help get your eyes back to their sparkly selves. Regular black tea is the best to use, keep some tea bags after you have made yourself a cuppa, let them cool (or put them in some cold water for a few minutes) give them a gentle squeeze and lay them on your eyes. You can put them in the fridge before you use them so they are nice and cool if you have the time. Lay them on your eyes for about 20 minutes and relax, I usually do this before bed so I can really chill out. After 20 minutes take the tea bags off and rinse your face with some cold water or you will look like a tea stained panda! 

The third trick I have up my sleeve is aloe vera, I usually use this if my eyes are feeling itchy and grainy. I chop off a little bit and squeeze the goo out and massage around my eyes. You can put the rest of the aloe in the fridge to use again if your eyes persist in being pests. You can pick up an aloe vera plant from about £5 and they are so useful, I keep one in the kitchen because they are brilliant to use on burns.

I have found that none of these are miracle cures that work right away, I will use a combination of these methods 2-3 times a day to get the best effect. Hope these tips will help your tired, puffy, peepers <3

xkx 

Tuesday Teacup - Lapsang Souchong.

Lapsang Souchong is a tea with a very distinctive flavour, I like to think of it as the cowboy of the tea world because it is bold, smokey and untameable. I have to admit to you that I am not a massive fan of this tea, I do like it occasionally but I find the flavour just too much. Ed, on the other hand, loves this tea. Lapsang Souchong is made from the leaves a few steps down from the bud, it gains its unique flavour from the drying process. Usually tea is air dried but this is smoked above pine wood fires, pretty special huh?

I used an infuser to brew this tea, a teaspoon of leaves is more than adequate to make a tasty cup. I bring the water to the boil, leave for a little while to cool then I pour the water into a cup with the infuser. I brew this tea for about 2-3 minutes, I find that this makes quite a robust tasting drink, just taste as you go to find the right strength for you. I would strongly advice not putting milk with Lapsang, would you bathe a cowboy in milk?

This tea embodies everything that I love about tea culture, it just makes me feel so special. When I buy good quality tea I can just imagine all the care that has gone into getting this simple pleasure into my cup. And it can be reasonable cheap as well, I bought a 100g of Lapsang for £3.99! Which will easily last a month, having a couple of cups a day. 

Hope you enjoyed meeting Lapsang Souchong. What teas have you been drinking lately?

xkx  

Tuesday Teacup - Minty Splash.

Even though spring has been very shy raising its head above the frozen earth this year, the brave little mint plants have been battling on, and the first sprigs have pushed their way up through the soil. So I decided to pick a few sprigs and make some fresh mint tea.

Mint tea is absolutely amazing for digestion. If I have indigestion, have had a large meal or my stomach is giving me some trouble I always make some fresh mint tea. Mint is so easy to grow and is pretty indestructible, we grow it in pots outside the front of our apartment but it will grow really well on window sills if you have nowhere else to put it. To make a cup of mint tea all you have to do is pick some sprigs of mint, give them a really good wash then put them in a cup and cover with hot water. I love the taste of mint tea just as it is, it can be an acquired taste at first so if you are not too keen add a teaspoon of honey or agave syrup.   

Happy tea drinking <3

xkx

Tuesday Teacup - Cosy Cuppa.

The weather has been so unpleasant this past week, Ed and I were hoping to get away in Doris (our VW T25 campervan) over Easter but it really isn't looking good at the moment. So to try and keep the faith that we will be Easter camping, we have been having our afternoon tea in our campervan mugs. My mum made me the tea cosy, I think it is possibly the cutest tea cosy in the whole world! Our chosen afternoon tea is loose leaf Gold Yorkshire Tea. This is a black tea that is super comforting and it is the perfect way to warm up and relax after a long days hard work.

I take my black tea with milk, no sugar. I sometimes have sugar if I am feeling like I want a nurturing treat. Having a cup of this tea with the perfect amount of milk is the perfect way to gather my thoughts, unwind and warm up. How do you like your tea best?xkx

Tuesday Teacup - Floral Holiday

I came up with this simple tea blend whilst sitting typing away at my computer one grey, rainy day last week. I found my Damask Rose Tea Buds tucked away in the kitchen cupboard and when I popped the cork of the container my nose was filled with thoughts of Turkish Delight. I decided to add these buds to some Choi Jasmine Pearls, once the two started to infuse together it smelt amazing. The mix of rose and jasmine is super decadent and delicious. 

If you would like to make a little cup of Floral Holiday for yourself then put 7-8 Jasmine Pearls in a cup (if you can't find Choi Jasmine Pearls then look for Dragon Pearl tea it tastes pretty much the same). Boil some water and leave it to cool a little, if you pour boiling water onto green tea it will spoil the taste and destroy a lot of the wonderful antioxidants. Pour the water into the cup over the pearls, I don't bother straining the this tea because it is top quality so there aren't loads of bits that float around the cup. I then drop 3 Damask Rose Buds into the concoction and leave them to float, infuse and make me feel wonderful.  

The Jasmine Pearls are at the high end of my tea hoard, being £15.99 per 100g. They are a little pricey because this tea is made from the young shoots of the green tea plant which are then hand rolled with jasmine flowers! This tea is amazing and worth every penny, its worth keeping in mind that 7-8 pearls per cup will make 3-5 cups of green tea because the quality is so high; so once you look at it like that it doesn't work out that expensive per cup. If you want a cup of tea that makes you feel like an exotic princess this is it! When I drink this tea I close my eyes and just pretend I am sitting on a beach in Thailand soaking up the sun, then I open my eyes and get back to work with the rain pattering on the window. 

If you are local to Nottingham then you lucky things can pop by the Delilah Delicatessen and purchase all the tea featured in this blog and maybe have a spot of yummy lunch while you're there. 

Hope your week is off to an inspiring start <3

xkx

Saturday Frolics...

Today Ed, mum, dad and I went to Shrewsbury for a little look around. We went to our favourite cafe in the market called The Bird's Nest, it is a gorgeous little shabby chic cafe with a good selection of tea which is rather refreshing. 

This was Ed's fabulous soya latte and may I add you don't need to pay extra 30p for soya milk unlike some of the big corporate coffee houses!

They have Suki Tea! I totally *heart* Apple Loves Mint... YUM.

We also did a spot of vintage window shopping; so many pretty things, so little time.

I totally fell in love with this dress, but unfortunately it was a little too small in the bust for me. So it had to go back on the rail, for some other lucky girl to take it home.

Hope you have had a rather spiffing Saturday and have something stimulating planned for tomorrow! We are off to the garden centre's I think...

xkx

Lemon-balm-ade

As it has been such a lovely warm day again I couldn't resist to splash up some lemonade with a slight twist. This is a super easy recipe! To make around a pint all you need is 4 unwaxed lemons (if you use waxed you will get icky scum floating on the top), some sugar, around 1 pint of boiling water, some ice cubes and a little bunch of lemon balm.

I zested the four lemons, then chopped them in half and squeezed the bitter juice out of them (a handy tip is to roll the lemons or put them in hot water for a few minutes to get more juice out of them). 

Next I ripped up and added a small bunch of lemon balm. Then I spooned 3-4 tbs of sugar into the fragrant mix and poured over about 1 pint of boiling water. It is good to taste how sweet it is at this point (be careful not to burn your mouth though) if it is still a bit tart then add more sugar but I always think it is best to have it a bit sharper tasting because this tastes delicious when it is chilled. Then I left this in the fridge to cool. Once it is chilly I strained it through a sieve and chucked in a few handfuls of ice. 

I served this lovely-ade out of my little cottage teapot, in china tea cups with plenty of ice and some sprigs of lemon balm. I also made a little cocktail for Ed by putting a splash of gin into it which was rather yummy as well. 

Tuesday Teacup

Being British means that you categorically have to drink tea. I love tea... green, black, white, its all yummy, as long as you get the good quality leaves! If any of you have tried green tea bags that are just off the supermarket shelf you probably will have pulled that 'eeek it's bitter' face. This is because they use the good quality leaves for the loose leaf and then chop up and chuck the rest into tea bags. (There are some top quality tea bags though such as Tea Pig). Every Tuesday I will share my favourite tea of the moment with you to try and spread the tea love <3

So my Tuesday Teacup this week is one of my own blends that I have been drinking a lot this week in the day time, I like to call it Floral Gunpowder. I blend 1-2 tsps Gunpowder Green Tea with 1 tsp Jasmi Yin Hao Lotus. I pour not quite boiling water onto the leaves and leave them for around 3-4 minutes before pouring. It is best not to use boiling water as this can scald the leaves and it can make it taste a bit funky. Experiment with the brewing time as well depending on how strong you like your tea. I finish off this tea with dropping one Damask Rose Tea Bud into it. The gunpowder tea has grey green leaves that will unfurl to produce a slightly fruity flavour, this is why it works beautifully with the heady fragrance and taste of the Jasmine tea (which I find too strong to drink on its own). I sacrifice a rose bud to this tea because it adds a heady subtle sweetness that promises turkish delight. The tea leaves should last for 2 pots of tea and the rose bud should last up to 5 cups so its rather pleasing on the pocket as well.