Entries from September 2015

vietnamese chicken ad rice soup

It’s no secret that chicken soup is so good for you.  So when the weather turns cooler I crave a dose of good, comforting, warming, homemade chicken soup.  Nothing hits the spot quite like this simple dish.  While I love a good old fashioned clear broth, my go to chicken soup is this Vietnamese one.  Not only is it a full meal in a bowl but the subtle flavour of lemongrass adds such a delicious dimension to the soup.  Add to that the coriander and dash of lime and you may have the best chicken soup ever.  Once you try this Vietnamese chicken and rice soup recipe, you will be hooked.  It’s easy enough to make for a mid-week meal which everybody will love, even the fussiest of kids (maybe minus the coriander!)

VIETNAMESE CHICKEN SOUP RECIPE
Serves: 4

For the broth:
1 small chicken
I medium onion peeled and quartered
2-3 cloves garlic peeled and crushed
2 inch piece of ginger sliced roughly
1 dried red chili (optional)
2 stalks lemon grass cut lengthwise and lightly bruised
2 tbs fish sauce

To finish the soup:
2 stalks lemongrass cut in to 3 pieces each and lightly bruised
110gms thai jasmine rice (or any rice you like)
1 tbs fish sauce
3-4 pak choi (optional)
small handful coriander roughly chopped
1 lime cut in to wedges

Start by putting all the broth ingredients in to a large pot – as large as you have!  Add 2.5 litres of water and bring to the boil.  Let it boil for a couple of minutes.  Turn the heat down to a low simmer, cover and leave to cook for 2 hours.

When cooked, skim the fat off the broth, remove the chicken and shred it.  Strain the broth and set aside.  I usually do up to this stage in advance like in the morning so I find the fat much easier to remove once the broth is cooled.

When you’re ready to eat, heat the broth and bring it to a boil.  Turn down to a simmer, stir in the remaining lemongrass, fish sauce and the rice.  Let it cook uncovered on a low heat till the rice is cooked – around 20-25 (but it really depends on your ratio of rice to broth).  Once the rice is done, add as much of the shredded chicken in as you want (I usually keep some back for chicken sandwiches the next day!).  Add your pak choi or other veg if using and once the veg has wilted a bit and the chicken is heated, it’s ready.

vietnamese chicken and rice soup recipe

Spoon generously in to big bowls, top with lots of chopped coriander (may be not for the kids) and a good squeeze of lime and enjoy!

vietnamese chicken and rice soup recipes

The subtle flavours of this Vietnamese chicken and rice soup are not only so comforting but they are also so refreshing.  If food could give you a great, big hug, this would be the dish that does it for me.  Whenever I mention that this soup is tonight’s dinner, everybody in my house is jumping up and down.  And not just them – I’ve made it for friends too and they’ve all become addicted and taken the recipe.  If I sound a bit crazy getting over excited about a bowl of soup, all I can say is that once you try it you’ll know exactly why!

P.S. If you like your Vietnamese food, you might enjoy this delicious Vietnamese grilled chicken dish too.

*Recipe adapted from Ghillee Basan’s Vietnamese Food & Cooking

donna wilson socks giveaway

The adorable raccoon and bear socks in my ebabee shop have been a huge hit.  They are the cutest, quirkiest things and look so cool on chubby little legs.  But today it’s the turn of the adults.  I have some quirky adult socks that I am giving away.  So if you’re one of those people who like to wear your colourful socks and curl up on the sofa or in front of the fire, this is for you.  These fun socks are by none other than Donna Wilson and I am giving away two pairs – a his and hers.  And even if not for you, with the festive season coming up, these Donna Wilson socks would make fun gifts for someone.  To enter the giveaway read on.

donna wilson aw15 collection

I have been a huge fan of all things Donna Wilson for a long time.  If you already know Donna Wilson, you’ll know that her designs are always colourful and playful.  The designs are just as much for adults as they are for kids which is what I love about her creations.  So I wanted to share some of my favourite pieces from her gorgeous new AW collections.  How cool is that women’s bear shawl?  It’s a super cute shawl but I also love it as a rug or a throw on a kids bed.  And the new melamine plates and bowls are really quirky too like that hungry wolf tray which I love for adding a bit of fun to my kitchen.  Now back to the giveaway.

donna wilson socks

THE GIVEAWAY:  One lucky reader will win two pairs of adult sized Donna Wilson socks.  One pair for her and one pair for him.  The winner will receive the women’s flower socks (fits UK shoe size 4-7) and the men’s mountain bike socks (fits UK shoe size 7-11).  To enter simply leave a comment on this post and you can also follow my facebook page to stay in the loop.  The giveaway closes on Monday 5th October at midnight (UK time).  Any entries after this time will not be counted.  Sorry, this giveaway is open to UK readers only.

This giveaway is now CLOSED.  Thank you to everyone who entered.  The winner is Lisa Hilton – congrats Lisa!

P.S. I’m guest posting over at the very trendy Paul et Paula blog today so take a look.

Tortoise and the Hare

September 24, 2015

bunny ears baby hatlinen bunny cape coatbunny-ears-hat-babynatural linen dress for girlsbaby hat with bunny earslinen baby overalls

When my mum was visiting over the Summer from India, she would often browse my blog and commented on the beautiful kids clothes you get these days.  She mentioned that when we were growing up there really wasn’t much choice but now there is not only such a lot more but also something for every budget and taste.  I couldn’t agree more – we are so spoiled for choice that sometimes it feels like there is almost too much.  But then a new range like Tortoise & the Hare comes out and I think, let these new kids creations never stop.  Let these talented makers keep on creating beautiful new lines of kids clothes.  After all in the adult fashion world there is incredible choice so why shouldn’t kids have the same?

While Tortoise & the Hare clothes are beautiful, the story behind the clothes is equally special.  All the baby and kids clothes are made on a family farm in Pennsylvania where the owner Rosina grew up and still lives.  The clothes are hand stitched by seamstresses who were taught to sew by their mothers.  Rosina is drawn to colours found in nature like the blue sky and nearly ripened wheat which is where the colour palette for her clothes comes from.  The whole range is natural and made in linens and chambray fabrics but also how incredibly cute is it?  That bunny cape and the bunny ears baby hat – too adorable! 

Woody the woolly sheep

September 23, 2015

wooden knitting toy

Do you know Les Jouets Libres?  I wrote about their beautiful games on the go ages ago and have been keeping an eye on their creations ever since.  I spotted a new lacing and knitting toy of theirs when I recently visited Anthropologie and I liked the look of it for Anya.  It’s a wooden sheep with holes that comes with a needle and organic wool from French sheep.  The idea is to knit the wool on to the sheep and keep the sheep as decoration after.  This knitting toy is a great introduction to working with wool because it’s not as complex as knitting, it’s more like lacing.

easy knitting toyknitting toys for childrentoys that teach patience

Anya has been showing a lot of interest in knitting and sewing so this sounded like something she would enjoy.  At first she found it a bit tricky as the needle is not one where you thread it but instead you have to almost hold the wool in place.  But that is what this crafty toy is all about – teaching patience and perseverance.  It occupied her for ages and she persevered with great concentration.  She didn’t quite follow the suggested pattern but that didn’t matter as it ended up being her own pattern.   I am a big fan of toys like this that teach and challenge a child.  Oh the concentration on her little face while she was doing it and sometimes frustration! 

Les Jouets Libres have a lovely range of eco toys and games and their range has grown quite a bit since I last wrote about them.  We weren’t sent this knitting toy, we bought it because we liked the look of it and think you will like it too especially if you have kids who like to be crafty and enjoy a bit of a challenge.  It’s sold as 4+ but I thought it more suitable for 5 or even 6 years.  We ended up buying ours online from e-side.

*{Anya wears floral mint pyjama set}

easy vanilla fruit tart recipe

I love cooking but I’m not a fan of baking.  When I have friends over I usually get so involved in the main savoury food that I end up buying a dessert or sometimes completely forget to get one at all.  Recently I started thinking that I should try and up my dessert making skills but only easy-peasy stuff that still has the wow factor.  And preferably no baking involved.  So I decided to try a no-bake shortbread vanilla fruit tart and I can’t even begin to tell you how delicious it turned out.  And the best part is that it’s so easy to make and you can just use the basic idea and get as creative as you want with toppings.  Also it’s a great dessert to get kids involved in too – it’s that simple.

easy fruit tart with cream cheese filling

This fruity dessert is a beautiful cross between vanilla cheesecake and a fruit tart but instead of traditional digestive biscuits as a base or a normal fruit tart base, I decided to try shortbread biscuits and it worked so well.  The shortbread biscuit base has just the right amount of crunch and sweetness without needing to add more sugar to it.

SHORTBREAD VANILLA FRUIT TART
Serves: 8-10

340 gms shortbread biscuits
100 gms butter melted
3 tubs philadelphia cream cheese (180gms x 3)
100 gms icing sugar
300ml double cream
½ vanilla pod seeds
2 tsp vanilla extract
7 kiwi fruits

Start by putting the shortbread biscuits in to a freezer bag or similar and crush them to a fine crumb with a rolling pin.  Add the melted butter to the biscuit crumbs and mix really well.  Spoon this mixture in to your tart tin and flatten with a spoon making as even as possible.

Note: I used a rectangular tart tin (35 x 12 cms) for extra wow factor but Anya also made four individual ones in mini round tart tins (9cms diameter).  So the quantities above are for making more than a rectangular tart but you can reduce slightly to make just one big tart.

Place the biscuit bases in the tins in the fridge so they can harden and set – leave for at least an hour.  While they’re chilling, tip the cream cheese, icing sugar, vanilla pod seeds and extract in to a bowl and mix well.  Next add the double cream and fold it in till it’s completely mixed in.  Get the bases out of the fridge and spoon the cream cheese mixture on to them.  Smooth it out with a palette knife if you have one otherwise just a regular ol’ knife is good enough – it’s what I used.

fruit tart with cream cheese filling

Let the tarts chill and set in the fridge for 2-3 hours.  You can do all this even 5-6 hours in advance.  When you are ready to serve, chop your fruit – you can choose any fruit you like or even a few different ones.  Top your tarts, serve and enjoy!

vanilla cream cheese fruit tartno bake fruit tart recipe

This vanilla fruit tart with cream cheese and shortbread is so delicious.  And it has such a wow factor too but yet it’s so easy to make.  It is quite rich so a little goes a long way.  For the fruit toppings, you can use any fruit you like or even a combination of 3-4 fruits.  I love the slight sharpness that the kiwi fruits gave to this dessert but berries, mangoes, peaches, plums or any fruit you can think of will work just as well.

*I’ve linked up to Honest Mum’s tasty tuedays.

newborn gift ideas girlnewborn gift ideas boycute newborn gift ideas

Whenever I hear a friend announce their pregnancy, I get so excited for them especially if it’s their first.  Although these days most of my friends are on their second or third ones and even fourth ones (what are they thinking 😉  When you’ve had more than one kid, the chances are that you have more than enough clothes, toys and all the other baby paraphernalia you can possibly need.  So when it comes to newborn gift ideas for these babies, I like to try and think outside the box.  I recently came across Ma Premiere Box and thought it was such a sweet little idea especially for those babies who have everything.

Ma Premiere Box is a ready made gift box that comes in two sizes – small or large.  The small box contains an adorable stuffed toy, a security blanket, a notebook, some badges and a funny postcard.  The larger box has all this plus scented water and a tote bag.   This is all beautifully packaged in a cute keepsake box.  And there’s a boy version and a girl version.  I love that the box is just as much for the parents as it is for the new baby and I also love that you can be sure that your gift will be unique and fun even for a baby who has everything.  It’s also a great present to give from a group of colleagues or friends of the expectant mother.  Next time a friend announces their 2nd, 3rd or 4th child, I know what newborn gift I’ll be giving.

My kids bedroom wish list

September 10, 2015

girls metal bed frame white

If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you’ll know that we’ve had a huge house renovation project on for months.  Thankfully the builders have left and now it’s our turn to decorate and furnish.  This is the really exciting bit and I can’t wait to get started.  My first project is going to be Anya’s room for which I have been gathering ideas and inspiration for ages. I’ve started by putting together a mood board and thought I would share it here too.

For Anya’s room, I want to create a space that is whimsical and dreamy, a space where she won’t just sleep but will enjoy spending time in.  The one thing I want to try and manage without is modular furniture simply because I don’t want too many hard lines but instead I want soft shapes, flowy fabrics and different textures that will hopefully make it feel a little magical.  With those thoughts in my mind I’ve been looking around for furniture too.  The bed will be the biggest piece of furniture in the room so I want to make sure that it compliments the whole look I am going for.  I love the look of the kids bed I’ve chosen for the mood board because of the soft curves and circle details that will compliment the rest of the room.  It’s simple and stylish and won’t end up taking over the room which is exactly what I want.  And as for the colours, I can’t seem to move away from grey, dirty pink and white so that’s what it’s going to be!

I used to create kids bedroom mood board’s thinking one day I want to do up a real room and now I have my chance.  So this is my wish list so far – what do you think?  Do you like the look?

Here’s where you’ll find all the stuff I’ve gathered:
pom poms | postersraindrop wall stickersduvet cover | dot wall hooks | kids bedsoft toys | canopy | star garland

ebabee-likes-FP

Taiwanese minced pork and rice recipe

Do you get stuck in a food rut?  Making the same old tried and tested recipes week in and week out?  As much as you may love those foods, it gets boring to eat the same food every week.  I have recently found myself being caught in this trap and decided it was time to try one new recipe a week.  Nothing too complicated as time is always short during weekdays and also any new recipe has to be family friendly too.  So when I came across this Taiwanese minced pork recipe that sounded interesting, I decided to give it a go.  It turned out to be yummy with bags of flavour and has already become a regular in our mid-week menu.  And it also freezes really well so I usually make two meals worth which is what I’ve given you quantities for below.

TAIWANESE MINCED PORK AND RICE
Serves: 8

900 gms minced pork
1-1½ tbs sunflower or vegetable oil
2 garlic cloves minced
2 star anise
2 bay leaves (dried is fine)
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
3 teaspoons sugar
1 tsp Chinese five spice powder
4-5 tbs cooking wine
2 tbs dark soy sauce
4-5 tbs regular soy sauce
600ml chicken stock (shop bought is fine)
80gms fried shallots and a bit extra for garnishing*
3 spring onions finely sliced
One fried egg per person

*For the fried shallots, the easiest option is to get them ready fried from an Asian supermarket.  If not then finely slice and deep fry the shallots till they are crispy.

Start by heating the oil over a medium heat.  Add the garlic and quickly stir for about a minute making sure it doesn’t burn.  Add in the minced pork and turn the heat to high.  Cook the pork, stirring and breaking up any large bits until all the meat is browned.

Now add the sugar, pepper, five spice, star anise and bay leaves to the minced pork and give it a very good mix.  Next add the cooking wine and bring to a boil.  Let the wine bubble for a couple of minutes and then add both the soy sauces and the chicken stock.  Bring back to the boil, reduce the heat to a low simmer and cover and leave to cook for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes add in the shallots and stir everything really well.  Then cover and leave to cook for another hour – stirring occasionally.  Once the sauce has thickened and the pork has become really soft, it’s done.

Taiwanese minced pork recipe

When you’re ready to eat, fry the eggs – one per person.  Pile up a bowl with rice and top with the pork.  The pork is very flavourful so a little goes a long way.  Place the fried egg on top and I like to add some steamed green beans to the dish as this then makes a complete meal – but you can add any veg you have in the fridge.  Serve the dish with the chopped spring onions and fried shallots for everyone to use as a garnish.

Taiwanese minced pork rice recipe

This Taiwanese minced pork dish doesn’t only freeze really well but you can also make the pork several hours in advance and just heat when you’re ready to eat so it makes a great prepare in advance dish for when you have friends over too.  And once all piled up in a bowl it tastes delicious and looks so pretty too.

I got the idea for this dish while googling recipes with minced pork.  There were two recipes that stood out for me and so I kind of created my own version using these two recipes as a guide: 1 and 2.

*I’ve linked up to honest mum’s tasty tuesdays.

chapter books with lots of pictures

While there are lots of fabulous kids picture books out there, I have not had too much luck finding fun chapter books for kids, especially ones with lots of pictures.  Anya is at that age (6 years) where picture books are still of interest to her but she could do with longer stories and more text to develop her reading.  Recently I stumbled across The Beast in My Belly and it was just the kind of book I had been looking for.  It’s a short chapter book for kids with most chapters no longer than a page or two but it also has lots of fun pictures on every page.  At 6, kids still really engage with pictures and like to look at them alongside reading the text and this book has plenty of both.  Besides which it is a great little story too.

chapter books for kids with pictures

Rumble, rumble, rumble!  It’s that noisy tummy rumbling feeling we all get when we’re hungry.  We’ve all experienced it but what happens when you’re a small child and don’t know why it’s happening?  What could it possibly be?  The Beast in my Belly is a funny chapter book about how far a child’s imagination can go when they’re trying to figure out something they’ve never experienced before.  The little girl in the book imagines all sorts of things that could be happening inside her belly each time it rumbles.  She is convinced there is something sinister inside her belly and tries to tell the adults in her life but of course none of them believe her.  The illustrations are quirky and unusual and really bring the book to life.  The colours they’ve used in the drawings are stunning too.

chapter books with pictures

The Beast in My Belly is a great short chapter book for kids around 5-7 years old to read to themselves.  But it’s also a fun book to read out loud to younger kids.  It’s great for plenty of giggles with lots of cute drawings and it’s just a sweet little book which we have thoroughly enjoyed.

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