Five Favourites: Summer Salads

We're coming towards mid-July and I've suddenly realised over half the year has disappeared. Um how did that happen exactly? Good thing is, we're well into summer and also into the (in my opinion) best season for produce. There are so many delicious fruits and vegetables in season in these months, it makes having salads an absolute treat that just isn't quite the same in winter. I've definitely been enjoying some recently so I thought I'd share a few of my favourites, some of which are even better going into autumn to use all the upcoming seasonal veg...

Photo and recipe from Deliciously Ella

1. Aubergine, sun-dried tomato and pine nut salad from Deliciously Ella
I love sun-dried tomatoes, and I go through regular phases of being pretty obsessed with roasted aubergine so this is a dream. The chunky veg makes for a surprisingly filling salad and the tomatoes and pine nuts give this the most amazing flavours. Very moreish!

Photo and recipe from Tesco Real Food

2. Crab (or prawn), mango and avocado salad from Tesco Real Food
I cannot describe how incredible this tastes. The first time I tried this, we made it as a starter for a dinner party and I absolutely feel in love with the flavours. Anything that contains avocados is always an instant hit with me but with the chilli, lime and mangoes? Absolutely heavenly! I've never actually done this dish with crab, I've used prawns but I've been assured both tastes incredible and so light. Perfect for summer.

Photo and recipe from BBC Good Food

3. Feta tabbouleh and aubergines from BBC Good Food
Sorry, it's the aubergines again! But combined with feta gives this dish a bit of a greek flavour. Maybe not a salad in the traditional leaves-sense, but definitely a delicious cold dish which can be enjoyed in the sun. 

Photo and recipe from Minimalist Baker

4. Kale salad with crispy chickpeas from Minimalist Baker
If someone said food porn to me, this photo is basically what I would imagine. Baked chickpeas are my fairly newly discovered favourite snacks and additions to meals. Add them to the superfood kale, and you automatically have a winner. So yum. 

Photo and recipe from Cookie + Kate

5. Caprese pasta salad from Cookie + Kate
I don't think there is actually a combination more heavenly than perfectly ripe summer tomatoes and basil. I actually prefer this pasta salad cold, and I've also tried feta instead of mozzarella which is pretty incredible. Either way is delicious though, and so simple and quick. Kate is onto a winner with this one!


What are your favourite foods in summer? Comment below if you know of any great recipes!

Five Favourites: Paris

It's pretty much a Paris-themed week on the blog due to my recent return so I thought I'd continue with this week's Five Favourites dedicated to my favourite places/things to do in Paris. So if you're planning a trip, here's five ideas for you:

1. Have a cocktail in La Favorite
Absolutely my favourite bar in Le Marais. It's been my haunt for a while, throughout my placement year and when I returned this week. It's a little pricey but Happy Hour (7pm to 9pm) solves that, plus they really are seriously good cocktails. I can also vouch for the mocktails being incredible too, and are also included in Happy Hour. Find details on their website here.

2. Eat Ladurée macarons

When people say they are the best in Paris, they're not wrong. I reckon there are a few independent patisseries that equal them but they are worth their name and, if you're going to try macarons while in France (which you should!) then they may as well be Ladurée with their many enticing flavours. If you can drag your eyes away from the pastel coloured rainbow of macarons then they also do other patisseries and bakes, as pictured above. Find the nearest shop here.

3. Cycle around Le Marais
I was persuaded by a friend to do this on my year abroad and was so pleased I did! I love Le Marais anyway but if you're brave enough to jump on one of the Velibs (find one close to Le Marais by Saint Paul metro stop) it gives a totally different view of this pretty area. The streets are far quieter too so you can worry less about traffic! 

4. Sit on one of the bridges
It almost doesn't matter which one because they all give a different but gorgeous perspective of Paris. Watch the sun go down, or come up and it'll be magical. Watching the sun go down the night before my birthday was truly memorable!



5. Visit Shakespeare and Company bookshop
If you're a Literature student, or just love books, you'll love this little bookshop. It is a bit of a tourist trap and there are other equally cute bookshops in Paris but this is easy to find, and is next to Notre Dame to just pop in. Its history and charming nooks, along with its dedicated reading spaces make it a book-lover's dream. Make sure to go as soon as it opens for a quieter experience. Click here for their website.


Hope I've given you some ideas for your trip to Paris! Do you have any favourite haunts? I'd love to hear them!

Five Favourites: Smoothies

Happy Friday everyone! Today's Five Favourites are my top smoothie choices. I like to play around with recipes depending on what I actually have in the fridge/freezer but these are definitely firm favourites for me. All healthy, delicious and thick treats which are sure to get your day off to a good start! I love topping mine with leftover fruit, and/or seeds. Some of these don't require more unusual ingredients like chia or flax seeds, although I've found that buying these in means I have them on hand for a great breakfast boost and they last me ages!

Fit Foodie Finds

Creamy Strawberry Chia Smoothie from Fit Foodie Finds. Super creamy and yummy. The chia seeds can be left out, just be aware that they help to thicken it up a bit.

Simple Green Smoothies

Mango Green Smoothie from Simple Green Smoothies. Get your greens in with this one and you won't even taste it. Mango is one of my favourite fruits so this definitely brings a great start to my mornings!

Martha Stewart

Blueberry Banana Smoothie from Martha Stewart. This is incredibly easy and only has three ingredients. Quick, simple and failsafe with the perfect combination of blueberries and bananas.

Deliciously Ella

Cacao, Banana and Avocado Smoothie from Deliciously Ella. Always my go-to site for any kind of healthy recipe, Ella nails combining sweet, dessert-like flavours with a nutritious kick. 

Minimalist Baker

Summer Berry Smoothie from Minimalist Baker. Perfect for summer with all those berries coming into season. If I had a swimming pool, this is what I would sip on lounging in the sun.

I hope something's caught your eye here! All of these websites are great for finding other healthy recipes, whether you're looking for meal ideas or healthy snacking options. Do you have a favourites smoothie recipe? Let me know below! 

Five Favourites: Instagram Accounts

Happy Friday everyone! I'm introducing this new feature today, Five Favourites. Since I'm a Literature student (or was, *cry*) and alliteration comes to me as naturally as adding numbers comes to a mathematician , I thought doing Five Favourites as a feature on a Friday was appropriate. I thought I'd start with my favourite Instagram accounts because I'm the first to admit that my morning ritual of scrolling through my stream probably borderlines obsessive. But I actually struggled to pick just five accounts for this! I really wanted to choose some of the smaller accounts I follow, so a follow up post might be required! But I feel like these five cover a little bit of every interest, and are definitely the accounts I look out for when I scroll through Instagram. Check them out, and give them a follow...

A photo posted by Rebecca 🌹 (@fromrosesxo) on Apr 27, 2015 at 12:08pm PDT

@fromrosesxo
Beautiful, just like her blog, Rebecca's Instagram account is a mix of style, beauty and her cute dog. I love the look of her pictures and I definitely take hints from her interior decor! 

A photo posted by Ella Woodward (@deliciouslyella) on Jun 4, 2015 at 2:27am PDT

@deliciouslyella 
Since I begin following Ella Woodward and her food blog Deliciously Ella about 18 months ago, she's shot into the limelight and her success has rocketed. I attributed a good chunk of my healthier lifestyle to the delicious and nutritional recipes on her blog, but also to her attitude. I cannot recommend following her enough, or better yet checking out her blog here. Positivity and happiness oozes from every corner of all her social media and it's enough to seriously inspire.

A photo posted by Rachel Brathen (@yoga_girl) on Jun 4, 2015 at 6:24pm PDT

@yoga_girl 
Everyone seemed to have discovered Rachel Brathen before me. I blame that on the fact I only recently started to fall in love with yoga and stumbled across her account. Best stumble I ever made. Practicing incredible yoga positions against equally incredible backdrops, you'll find yourself captivated by Rachel's life.

A photo posted by Shay Mitchell (@shaym) on May 27, 2015 at 5:35pm PDT

@shaym
The absolutely stunning Shay Mitchell has an equally stunning Instagram account. I am constantly amazed at the pictures she posts - she's a seriously inspiring woman. Includes everything from her life from her travels and fashion shoots, to behind-the-scenes on Pretty Little Liars and pizza (she loves pizza, so naturally we love her).

A photo posted by Rosie (@ciderwithrosieblog) on Feb 10, 2015 at 9:47am PST

@ciderwithrosieblog 
I think I've mentioned before that I love Rosie's blog, and her Instagram account is no exception. It has a cute, cozy and homely vibe combined with outdoors shots that I naturally love. It's the sort of account I look up to and a blog that I follow religiously.


Which Instagram accounts do you love? I love discovering new accounts so post below if you know some awesome accounts to follow, including your own! Find me here (@rhthomason)