Loving Liver

Liver is not a fashionable food, most people will never eat it, you heard the word Liver and think gross. Why? It is incredibly cheap, it is chock full of iron and frankly is actually rather tasty. It has a very gameish taste and a almost mushroom like texture so it does take a bit of getting used to. I suggest you try it though, if you eat pate they you've already tried it before. Time to stop being squeamish and get out there. I usually just made pate but decided to be a bit more adventurous and followed This Recipe making some slight adjustments as I went.

1 cup plain flour
1 teaspoon chili flakes
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon parsley
1 teaspoon pepper
half a pack of chicken livers
Butter
Balsamic Vinegar

Firstly I chopped up the livers into smallish chunks and put them into a pacn. Livers feel gross raw, there is no denying it, they feel slippery and slimy. Once you have come to terms with that you are golden, so power through. Once you've chopped them all, pour boiled water over them and boil for ten minutes.

Then add the flour and all the spices and herbs, I also added some Chives from the garden and some Lemon Thyme for added texture. Mix it all up well, I actually suggest adding more flavourings as that didn't really come across, remember liver is quite an earthy flavour not dissimilar to mushroom, next time I make this I will defiantly up the flavour content but its personal preference. 

Drain the now cooked livers, and toss them in the flour and spices mix. making sure to coat every peice thoroughly. 

Add a little olive oil to a pan and fry the livers , on a medium heat, for five minutes until the flour gone slightly crispy. Then empty the livers onto a plate and set aside.

Melt a lump of butter in the pan you fried the livers in and add half a cup of balsamic vinegar. Boil it and keep the pan moving so it doesn't burn. 

Then throw the livers back in the pan so they are totally coated and cook for another minute. 

They are actually very tasty, I ate them tossed in a lettuce salad, really rich. Go out and buy yourself some liver, livers are great.

Yours

Belinda Stepford

xxx

All things must end

I do apologise for the serious lack of postage lately. I've been snowed under with essays, who knew university would be such work. I've got a happy/sad update about the pack for you. Rosie and Clem have gone to their new homes. They are going to be loved and kept as wonderful little pets but it is still sad to see them go. Lily has been a bit skittish since they have gone, looking for them which is so sad to see. At least we're keeping the other two. Not that Fatherbean is happy about that, he isn't impressed we've doubled the number of dogs and that puppies are as much work as babies.  We'll win him over though. 

Eight weeks go so quickly, its not long until april 5th and I'm home for the summer. No longer shall I be a fresher, my god that is scary thoughts.

Yours

Belinda Stepford

xxx

Whirlwind Visit to The Pack

I'm back. I went home, saw the puppies and my friends then did a U turn and headed back to my uni home.  It was the best way to spend a weekend to be honest. Despite getting stuck in Clapham for two hours, despite having a girl playing her music so loudly I could tell it was lady gaga from her ear phones, despite the six hour trek, it was worth it. The puppies are amazing. They are so huge, but ridiculously tiny at the same time. They don't even look real.

Clem and Angel

We still haven't found a home for Clem, apparently Brindle dachshunds aren't in fashion, but because dachshund in general are in fashion you can find tons of cheap irresponsibly bred ones at the moment. We don't want her going to a home who aren't going to buy a dog from a reputable source, she is PRA clear and has all her history, I think she might end up going to our family friend Julie if no one steps up soon. 

Blossom

Blossom had blossomed into the most beautiful dog ever, her markings and temperament are just amazing. We could have sold her so many times but my Mim just fell in love with her, she is hoping to show her as well which would be a great little hobby i think. She is so playful and just loves bouncing all over you its so sweet. We've also had a breeder interested in studding one of her dogs with her when shes old enough.

Rosie/Darling

Rosie is such the leader of our little gang, she is so much bigger than Angel its insane, she is a real bold little thing. She like to chew shoe laces and attempts to climb everything its quite sweet. Her new owner can't wait to get her its going to be so sad to see her go but the lady she is going to is a lovely school teacher so we are happy she'll be loved.

Clementine 

Clem isn't as bold as Blossom or Rosie but she isn't as shy as Angel. She is a lovely good natured dog who just loves cuddles, on the Friday I got home she refused to get into bed with the others and ended up on my lap while I watched tv and the rest slept, it was adorable. She is such a little tinker though. 

Angel

Little Angel is doing great, she is still the runt by 300g which when you are tiny thats a lot to be smaller by but she is healthy. She is a little slower than the others, the vet thinks she might have been a bit oxygen deprived when her umbilical cord was wrapped around her tail which is unfortunate but it doesn't look like she has any lasting affects from it as she seems healthy other than being little. She is gentle and sweet, an overall  great dog. We are going to keep her as a pet as we wouldn't be being responsible if we gave her to someone else as she might develop health problems in the future. She is such a happy little dog though, I'm so glad we are keeping her. My Mim even agreed if the landlord had let me have a dog I could have taken her.

It was so difficult to say goodbye to their little faces, I almost got Angel in my bag before Mim noticed. Its not that long until I am back home for summer anyway, but it is going to be weird without Rosie and probably Clem seeing as she will hopefully find a soon anytime now. In other news I got my hair done, the blonde is gone and I'm back to brunette, its still very long which is weird for me but I'm enjoying the change from cropped. Now I'm back in Winchester the blogs will get back to there usual updates.

Yours

Belinda Stepford

xxx

Simple Meals

In our house we regularly cook for one another and tonight my housemate Laura took the helm and decided to make her and I a lovely tasty dinner. She made ciabatta with Black olive tapenade and mozzarella and Pancettea salad. It was beyond amazing. So simple but really filling.

Firstly she chopped the ciabatta and drizzled it in olive oil, then put it in the oven at a high heat. She then thinly sliced the mozzarella, and shredded some lettuce into a bowl. She also put finely chopped pancettea onto a low heat to cook.

Once the ciabatta was lightly toasted she covered it in tapenade and placed a slice of mozzarella on top of each slice. These then where returned to the oven to melt. Then she drained the fat from the now cooked pancettea and tossed the pancettea with the lettuce. Finally drizzling some olive oil dressing lightly on the salad to flavour it.

Once the cheese was melted she served. Plates where cleared, this dish is so simple yet so full of flavour you would not believe. It would also make great canapés or a started.  This is why I love living with Laura she makes me tasty food.

Yours

Belinda Stepford

xxx

Freebie Product Review Number One

As promised I'm going to review all the things I got in my gloriously bright yellow Holly Fulton gift bag at London Fashion Weekend. I was not asked to do this and I am in no way sponsored to do this. I also ate the chocolate bar that came in it so that won't be being reviewed...  Anyway first sucker up is... Drum Roll Please.... 

Lavazza Quality Oro Coffee

I have a weakness for coffee, I know I shouldn't because I'm whitening my teeth (which is going amazingly by the way) and sometimes get heart palpitations but oh well.  The vanilla latte I had at London Fashion Weekend was Lavazza brand and it was gloriously creamy, so I was dubious to weather the at home version would stand up to the professional version. 

Firstly when I opened the packet the smell was heavenly, sort of nutty and sweet. The colour was really rich as well, I made mine in a French Press as that is the only coffee maker I currently own.  The sample I got was a medium roast, which was good for me as that tends to be my favourite.

As soon as the hot water hit the coffee the scent really insenified, this really is a fragrant brand. The scent was a lot sweeter than my usual coffee but in a good way. It was more gentle afternoon than brash wake you up scent. I stirred it with a wooden spoon then left it for two minutes before plunging the plunger.

Overall the coffee was really good, the flavour was rich but not over powering. It was a little sweet so I didn't need to add any extra sugar and it wasn't at all bitter. It was a very light enjoyable flavour, probably best suited for evenings or midday. It wasn't punchy enough for mornings. It wasn't as good as the store bought cup but without steamed milk I doubt it could be. Ultimately I would reccomend this coffee as it did taste really great, I just wouldn't go out of my way to buy it.

Yours

Belinda Stepford

xxx

I went shopping today, I shouldn't really being a poor starving student and all... but this dress. This dress just spoke to me. I saw it days ago and I couldn't stop thinking about it. I just love it. So I bought it. Student  budget out the window, more than my weekly shop budget, but I figured if I don't buy it I will regret it. Its just so lovely and odd.

Its a red herring special again, I seriously adore red herring designs. They are so classic. It had little dachshunds and hearts all over, so it suites my life. How often do you see clothes with dachshunds on anyway? It did come with a really ugly tacky brown belt which is being relegated to the dressing up box. I'm going to buy a little red belt to go with it instead.

I desperately need a hair cut at the moment, its just so expensive where I live though and I'm so picky about my hair I don't want to go to a really cheap salon type place, I was meant to get it dyed and cut over christmas but there where literally no free appointments. I'm also bored of the blonde. I've been blonde for longer than I've ever kept a colour before so I fancy a change. I'm just not sure what. Maybe go back to a dark colour, closer to my winter shades, my natural hair is so changeable. I always ended up near blonde in summer it streaked that easily in the sun, so I suit most shades. I'm a little bit of a chameleon that way.

Yours

Belinda Stepford

xxx

Puppy Green Eyes

I'm so jealous of my Sister right now, she had to go to Sheffield to go to a Medics Ball with her med-student boyfriend, and managed to find train tickets that detoured home. She got to see the puppies. They are huge, I mean seriously huge now. She had a couple of hours sitting on the floor playing and cuddling then had to dash. 

I can not wait to go home next weekend, I really miss the little mushes. They will be eight weeks old on the 1st of March meaning they are officially old enough to leave home as soon as we get them vaccinated. Scary thoughts. I'm so glad I'm going home before any of them go, I also need to get some of my summer wardrobe back as the weather is hotting up here already.

Yours

Belinda Stepford

xxx