Mexican Style Pizza - Recipe

 

I have recently been developing lots of healthy yummy meals that can be thrown together quickly because lets face it we are all busy sometimes. The last few months I feel like I have been extra busy but there is no need to make my tummy suffer.

Here is my Mexican style pizza recipe for you to try.

you will need;

1 can of pinto beans

2 tbsp tomato paste

1/4 tsp hot chili powder

Pizza topping of your choice (I used mushrooms and tofu strips)

Cheese

2 corn tortillas

salt and pepper

a dash of lemon juice

method;

1. Roughly mash the beans and mix the tomato paste, lemon juice, salt and pepper, chili powder. 
2. Spread this onto the the two corn tortillas.
3. Add the topping of your choice, sprinkle with cheese and cook in the oven at 200C until the cheese has melted.

This takes such a short amount to make and no time at all to eat!

Take care

Nicolette

Bon anniversaire!

 

Why in French you say well Joe lives in Paris now and for the foreseeable future so I am very much a skype wife but we do visit. It was great to celebrate his birthday. Thank you for the memories and for being my friend it is an honour to celebrate another year of you blessing the earth. As you can see we like to buy things to do with Joe so I was over the moon when I found a graphic novel call Joe the Barbarian, I can't wait to read it next. 

Happy Birthday Joe I love and miss you. xo

 

 

Take Care

Nicolette xo

 

 

Avocado & Cheese Dip - Recipe

 

Some days I just want to make something simple and cheat my little heart out and this is one of those recipes that even someone who burns a pan of water can create with no mishaps and impress everyone.
 

you will need;

2 avocados

250g soft cheese something like Philadelphia

salt & pepper

method;

1. Halve your ripe avocados and scoop out the flesh. 
2. Whizz the avocado flesh, salt an pepper in a food processor
3. Stir into your soft cheese. If you would like the dip to be looser add a little lemon juice to it and mix well.

There done hardly any time at all which leaves you free to read a book, sit in the sunshine, sip iced tea and of course eat your dip.

Take Care 

Nicolette xo

Archie & the Rug on TV

 

Yes the week is finally here all the preparation for filming, the endless emails back and forth. Taking with producers and filming is all over and I make my television debut. I even have this very blog linked with channel 4 on line scrapbook; the blog that you nominated for and that won me my revered egg cup the blog that I have come to spend so much time writing and creating that it is my second home. 

So this Wednesday join me in watching the start of series 3 of Superscrimpers. I filmed 6 segments in total and have created some wonderful things for the summertime wedding special. I have worked so hard to get this blog to what it is today and I could not have done it without the love and support from family, friends and all my readers. Your support and emails and comments make all the hard work worthwhile.

I have some fun things planned for the next couple of months and have been gaining new focus and a creative momentum, not to mention some great recipes that I have been developing and can't wait to share with all of. 

Thank you again for your continued support and remember to tune in on Wednesday or watch the show on line.

Take Care 

Nicolette xo

Simple Storage - diy

If you are anything like me you must be constantly trying to find new storage solutions. I received shoes from Bertie, I will share pics soon, (thank you Bertie) The box was sturdy and had this vintage typewriter font on it describing the history of the company and it gave me an idea of how I could make the box over to become a new storage solution.

 

I found vintage travel images, (find ones that are copyright free). I printed them out and stuck them to my box. It was that simple. Feel free to make your own. If the box you are using is not a great colour try painting it or covering it with brown paper first before applying your travel labels.

 

 

Have fun creating your shoebox storage.

Take Care 

Nicolette xo

Modcloth in Portsmouth

 

So I spend most of my time in dresses, skirts and vintage whot not and the one time I go to a vintage fair I wear a dress and jeans. Yes yes I am aware that this is further proof that I am born awkward - but who here didn't already know that. I got to play in my Modcloth dress.
 

Outfit Details

 

Dress - Modcloth

Jeans - Vintage

Sandals - Birkenstock

Bracelet - Handmade

Cardigan - Vintage Marks and Spencers

 

Take Care

Nicolette xo

Chocolate Mousse Pie

 

Being a vegetarian I am always disappointed by the amount of recipes for mousse that have gelatin in. You can make a vegetarian friendly mousse. This particular recipe is not as light as others I have developed but this is more of a mousse cake/pie. It is rich though so be warned light lunches and dinners people so you can have extra big slices.
 

 

For the pastry follow this recipe but use plain white flour and add a desert spoon full of icing sugar.

you will need;

500ml milk

1 vanilla pod

6 eggs yolk

125g caster sugar

20g plain flour

80g butter

200g dark chocolate melted

method;

1. Make the pastry cool, roll out and then bake blind.
2. Warm the milk over a low heat with the vanilla pod until it is just before simmer point. Remove from the heat.
3. Beat the flour and sugar into the egg yolks.
4. Temper the beaten egg yolks there are instructions on that process in a previous recipe here. If you don't do temper the eggs you  may end up scrambling them. Once the eggs are completely incorporated into the milk return to the heat.
5. Stir through until the mixture thickens, then melt the butter through.
6. Remove from the heat and stir through the melted chocolate put into an airtight container and cool in the fridge.
7. Once cool you can pipe or spoon the mousse into the pastry case and all that is left to do is eat it all up.

Take Care 

Nicolette xo
 

 

Life Lately

 

I was sitting here and realsied I haven't told you what is happening here for a while. For those of you who are regular readers you will know that I have not been posting as often - don't worry it will be back to normal here again soon. 

So what has been the hold up here in blog world well lots of things lets start with the biggest news first shall we. Archie and the Rug is going to be on television! Well I am I have recently finished filming for Channel 4 for the 3rd series of Superscrimpers sharing my recipes and craft. There may even be a a Superscrmpers special to film for also but that is still in development so hush hush. I will be appearing late July and will share the exact dates soon on twitter and facebook - find my links at the side to follow.

In other new Joe has been seconded to work in Paris. This is news that is a real mixed bag it is a fantastic opportunity for him but I would be lying if I said I was not going to miss him with every fibre of my being. He will be away for the next 10 to 18 months and although I will visit and he will vist me here, and who can forget the wonder of Skype it is not the same as having my man here with me. There is nothing more comforting than Joe holding me and being able to go to sleep knowing he is next to me. We have faced more trying things together, cancer and miscarriages but we have such a strong bond that we always get thorough. Joe supports me in so many of my adventures and I will support him in his. I will be able to post lots of fun Paris stuff.

So whilst Joe is gone I am going to focus on my work, lots of drawing, painting, photographs and developing new recipes to come. I am sure our time apart will fly by - fingers crossed.

Take Care 

Nicolette xo