The Wine List

I love wine, but I must admit that I can't claim to know a lot about it. I know what I like, and I stick to it!

The best way to learn about wine is through discovery – new grapes, regions, and winemakers. It isn't always easy to get out there and discover for yourself though, especially if you don't have the knowledge. 

That's where The Wine List comes in. The Wine List is a way to discover wine, and develop your skills at the same time, all from the comfort of your own home.

Every month, they teach you one Wine Principle, how the wine is made, broken into bitesize chunks. 

Each month you a sent a package which includes the following:

1. Wine Roots

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A monthly wine course: learn the principles, which you can then apply to every bottle of wine you drink.

2. Two delicious bottles

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Two bottles of wine directly from winemakers. Small producers, sustainably made. Fantastic to learn from.

3. Tasting cards

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Peaches, elderflower, lemons, acidity, it's easy to forget the wine words. That's why the tasting cards are there to jog your memory and help you expand your palate.

The information provided with the wine was very informative, and both bottles were absolutely delicious. 

I received a red and a white, and enjoyed every drop, especially with my new found knowledge!

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Money Saving Ideas For The At Home Chef

If you are the person in your family that does most of the cooking, then you will know that having some good quality utensils and materials to work with is beneficial to you. It makes everything a little bit quicker when you have exactly what you need to hand, it also makes things a little bit smoother and can ultimately improve your overall experience in the kitchen. The people you are cooking for will appreciate this since the results will be on the plates in no time, and enjoyable for everyone. But how can we save money on buying this equipment? Sometimes we don’t always have a large budget for the top of the range kitchen equipment, so here are some ideas on how you can reduce the costs of your kitchen utensils and equipment.

Photo by Todd Quackenbush on Unsplash

Vouchers

You can quite easily do an online search that will bring up plenty of voucher codes, and discounts for people who know what they are looking for. Net Voucher Codes has a specific area on their site that you can choose to browse which includes homewares furniture, and kitchen equipment. Having a good look around at the different options available could find you working out some amazing discounts, and even your large appliances could be included in that. If you have a specific retailer that you are loyal to, you may even find that you receive vouchers and discounts in your email inbox once you sign up for their newsletters. This can be a clever way of reducing your costs and ensuring that you have plenty of opportunities to fill your kitchen with some amazing equipment.

Read more about budgeting here.

Sales

Quite often many companies have seasonal sales or flash sales depending on the market and what time of year it is. The January sales are always a good place to start since most companies have a sale that encourages buyers to purchase in January when they might not have otherwise. Taking advantage of this and planning in advance is always a good idea. If there is something that you need to just before Christmas, then waiting a couple of months may be something that could help you save a lot of money. Some companies, unfortunately, do have a closing down sale is, and you may be able to find your perfect kitchen pots and pans, in the stores that do have a closing down sale. The great thing about kitchen equipment, is that it is available in many different places, not necessarily just in kitchen hardware stores, but in discount stores and supermarkets, so they are usually included in sales throughout the different places. Discount stores are always great for picking up the storage solutions or basic utensils, a pound shop or local store that has a mixture of items, generally hold some hidden gems as well.

Shop around

Have a look around especially online for different prices for what you’re looking for. You may be surprised to find that the same items may cost significantly different at different online stores, it isn’t impossible to find the exact same item for at least half the price elsewhere, and there are people that spend a large amount of time searching and finding their tools for cooking at home, and thoroughly enjoying the challenge of finding cheaper prices for the exact same items. You could even turn it into a game for yourself and save money along the way. Different websites have different ways of working things as well, and you may be able to save some money based on free delivery charges, multi-buys, or end of season clearances. The challenge is knowing which websites to look at since there are so many, but you will find You have lots to choose from, and you can fill your kitchen with all of the tools that you need for less money than you imagined.

Secondhand

Buying things secondhand may not be the first thing you think of when it comes to buying kitchen utensils, however you should be able to pick up some heavy iron pots secondhand for much cheaper than they would cost brand-new, and they will be as good as new after being signed up. So there is nothing stopping you from visiting second-hand stores and picking up some bargains to use on your recipes. Many people search high and low for a high-quality le Creuset pan And lots of people are lucky enough to find them in secondhand stores.

So as with anything related to cooking it’s a personal journey, and whether you’re a great curry maker, a cake baker, or a pastry cheaper, you should be able to find some tools that help you with your creations at a lower cost if you are careful.

*This is a collaborative post*

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A Birthday Gift Guide For Your Teenage Daughter

*This is q collaborative piece* 

Raising a teenager is a lot of hard work as their moods can change at a moment’s notice! This also makes it near enough impossible to know what to buy them for their birthday. Teenage girls are especially guilty of flip-flopping between different trends all the time. Plus, when your daughter is 14/15, they’re in that awkward stage where they’re still very much a child in your eyes, yet they want to have adult tastes. All in all, it’s super challenging to find the right presents! 

So, here is my latest gift guide to help you buy some presents for your teenage daughter that won’t be met with a large scowl:

Credit (CC0 License)

Jewellery

This is a safe bet as most teenagers like jewellery of some kind. If your daughter likes rings or necklaces, then have a look at their current collection to gauge their tastes. If they have piercings, that makes you like so much easier! Find a piercing shop and look for earrings or other studs that they might like. The key is to sneakily analyse their current jewellery collection to be sure you buy something that aligns with their current tastes. You might end up surprising them with how good your choice is!

Credit (CC0 License)

A spa day

Obviously, this gift idea isn’t going to work at the minute. I’m not sure about the current lockdown rules surrounding spas, but I’d have to guess they’re not open yet. Anyway, a spa day is still a wonderful gift idea as it gives them a chance to relax and be pampered. Who doesn’t enjoy this? My advice is to buy them two coupons or tickets for a spa day. This way, you can go with them, but you also give them the option to take a friend instead. Now, they can have a lovely mother-daughter day out or a spa day with a friend. Either way, this gift is sure to be appreciated. 

Credit (CC0 License)

Makeup

Again, this is a safe option as your daughter will probably use makeup all the time. The same rules apply here - look at their makeup collection to see their tastes. You don’t need me to tell you that most brands are very expensive. So, your daughter will probably appreciate you buying a new foundation or another essential makeup item. Or, an eyeshadow palette, some new brushes - anything makeup related will go down a treat.

Credit (CC0 License)

Money

Yes, it’s a boring gift, but one that never goes wrong. If you are genuinely stumped and worried about buying something your teenage daughter will hate, give them money instead. Now, they can buy something they’ll actually enjoy, or save the money if they’re looking to buy something in the future. This is where money becomes an excellent birthday present - if your daughter is saving up, they’ll really appreciate it!

Teens are never easy to buy for, but hopefully this gives you a few ideas. You have four options here, so one of them is bound to please your teenage daughter. If they don’t, well, you’ll have to get used to a few years of gifts going unappreciated. It’s not ideal, but most parents have to deal with it!

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CROCKPOT CHICKEN CHILI

Are you tired of the same old chili recipe? Try this chicken chili!! It is delicious, hearty and super easy to make. Comfort food, through and through. Oh, and it freezes well too!!!

The night BEFORE you want to eat, put most of the ingredients into the crockpot and cook on low all night (or about 8 hours). The next morning, add the raw chicken breasts (chicken thighs are delicious too)and shredded carrots and let it cook all day on low. It will make your house smell scrumptious!!!

1 1/2 cups DRY Great Northern white beans (the small ones)
3 raw boneless skinless chicken breasts (or several thighs)
1 cup chopped onion (sauteed)
4 ounce can mild green chiles (I use Ortega brand) 
2 cups grated carrots
3 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 clove garlic minced
1/2 teaspoon dry oregano leaves
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (more if you like "heat")
1 teaspoon salt (use salt ONLY if you are using salt free broth)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
6 cups chicken stock (see note below about salt)
1 cup Monterrey Jack Cheese shredded

Wash and sort the dry beans (no need to pre-soak) and put them in the crockpot. Add the chicken stock, sauteed onion, seasonings and green chile's. Cook on LOW setting overnight (or about 8 hours).

In the morning, remove about 1 cup of the beans and mash them thoroughly. (I put them in the blender)  Return the mashed beans to the crockpot; this will thicken up the broth in the chili.

Cut the raw chicken into large pieces and add it to the crockpot along with the shredded carrots.  Cook this on LOW for another 6 to 8 hours depending on how big your chicken pieces are.

About 30 minutes before you want to serve the chicken chili, add the shredded Monterrey Jack cheese and stir. This adds such a wonderful taste and texture.

I hope you like this hearty
chili as much as we do

NOTE: If you use salt free chicken broth, go ahead and put the teaspoon of salt into the chili. Taste it again after it is finished cooking (and after you've added the cheese) to see if it still needs more salt.   If you use chicken broth made from bullion, don't add ANY salt to the recipe, as the bullion broth is already quite salty.

NOTE: I hope you don't leave out the grated carrot, it really adds a wonderful taste and texture to the chili.

NOTE: We are fairly timid when it comes to spicy heat in our food, so I use an 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne and it is absolutely perfect for us. If you like more heat in your food, just add more cayenne.

NOTE: This makes a big pot of chicken chili. It freezes well.

ENJOY !!!

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Easy ways to experience other food cultures

When it comes to food, people love to try something a bit different. As you will see, all areas of the food industry are recognizing and responding to this fact. Over the past few years, they have come up with new and innovative ways to introduce yourself to a cuisine you have not tried before. Here is our roundup of the best of them.

Cook at home kits

People like to cook, but, understandably, they are always looking for ways to make things easier for themselves. Food kits are a fantastic way to do this. It is possible to cook an authentic Malaysian chicken curry in around 30 minutes using just 3 basic ingredients and a cooking kit. 

These types of kits are becoming increasingly available in large supermarkets and, often, can also be bought online. So, there is no need to spend time going from aisle to aisle to find all those special ingredients. Plus, there is no waste. You simply open the sachets and pour them into the pan. It could not be simpler. The fact that you are not left with half a dozen partially used spice bottles and fresh ingredients also keeps the cost down.

Even better, increasingly, private individuals are getting involved in the cooking kit industry. These cooks, some of whom are not professionals, are very keen to share their family´s authentic food with as many people as possible. They do not want the years of experience it took to hone and perfect those family recipes to go to waste. It brings them great joy to know that someone else can enjoy their granny’s (or great granny’s) special dishes.

Street food

Starting a restaurant business is incredibly expensive. As a result, doing so is beyond the reach of most people. Selling from a food truck or stall is a far more affordable option. The start-up costs are a fraction of what it costs to equip a full kitchen. 

In many countries, street food culture is growing in popularity. The bigger the immigrant population is the more varied the food that is available on its streets tends to be. Selling from a stall is a fantastic way for people to share the recipes they have been enjoying for generations with others. Of course, not every dish lends itself to being served on the street. For some meals, you will need a knife and fork. But, as you can see here, there are many, many dishes that you can eat on the go.

Eat in other people’s homes

Increasingly, people are opening their homes and cooking for strangers. In the past, this only happened in tourist hotspots. But, gradually, this way of using cooking skills to make a little extra money on the side is becoming popular everywhere. Using the internet, these home cooks can reach a far bigger audience. 

Once the coronavirus crisis has passed it will once again become easier to experience and enjoy the cuisines of different cultures. Once again, we will be able to travel and eat local food while we are away. As well as go to street markets and enter other people’s homes without restrictions.

*This is a collaborative post*

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APPLE PIE BARS

Everyone loves these APPLE PIE BARS. There are 3 layers: A sweet and buttery shortbread crust, topped with a juicy apple filling and topped with a sweet and crunchy streusel topping. Even picky-picky husband gives these a (rare) "Two Thumbs Up" !!!

It was hard to get a good photo

This recipe only requires 3 large apples + pantry staples, so it has been a favorite during this Corona Virus grocery shortage.

The full recipe makes a 9 x 13 pan of bars, but if you are like us (empty nesters), half of the recipe works well in a 9 x 9 pan. They also freeze well.

SHORTBREAD CRUST

21 tablespoons of butter, melted and cooled to room temp.

This seems like a lot of butter, but it makes an 

upper AND lower crust

1 cup of white sugar

2 large egg YOLKS

3 cups + 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
2 teaspoon vanilla

Mix crust ingredients with a stand mixer because it makes a very stiff dough. Pat TWO CUPS of this dough evenly into a parchment (or foil) lined 9 x 13 pan (you will use the rest of the dough in the struesel topping, later in the recipe). 

Once you get the crust patted out evenly in the 9 x 13 pan, prick it with a fork, like this, then put the pan of raw dough in the freezer for about 10 minutes. 

Bake the 9 x 13 chilled crust, on the middle rack of your oven, for 20 minutes at 325°. 

While the crust is par-baking, core and peel large 3 apples (any variety). Put them in the food processor with 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, a 1/4 teaspoon  nutmeg** and 2 tablespoons of brown sugar.

Pulse the apples a few times, until the apples are about the size of green peas.  You should get about 4 cups of chopped apples.

Also, while the crust is par-baking, add 1/4 cup of sugar and 1/2 cup of small chopped pecans to the reserved dough you have left. I use a pastry cutter to work the sugar and nuts into the dough, but a fork works well too...just break up any big clumps.

Now it's time to put the 3 layers together. Take the partially baked crust out of the oven and put the chopped apple mixture on it. Sprinkle the crumb topping over the apples and press (ever so lightly).

Bake on the TOP rack of a 350° oven for 35 minutes.

Cool baked bars (in the pan) on a wire rack for at least an hour. When the bottom of the pan is completely cool to the touch, lift the bars out of the pan by pulling on the flap ends of the foil. 

Sometimes I put a simple

vanilla glaze frosting on these bars

but they certainly don't need it

NOTE: The butter measurement of 21 tablespoons is NOT a typing error.

NOTE: *This recipe calls for a pinch of nutmeg. Nutmeg goes a long way and you can leave it out if you don't care for the taste.

NOTE: Line  your 9" x 13" baking pan with parchment (or foil) and leave the ends of the foil a little long, so you can use them as handles to lift the cooled bars out of the pan. You don't have to grease the bottom of the pan because there's so much butter in the shortbread, but DO spray the sides of the pan/foil with cooking spray so the apples don't stick to the sides.

NOTE: Pay attention to baking temperatures. The first crust pre-bake is on the middle rack at 325°. The final bake is on the TOP rack at 350° so that the bottom of the crust doesn't get too dark.

NOTE: If you are going to use a super crisp apple, like a Granny Smith....pre-cook them for about 30 seconds (in the microwave) before you put them onto the shortbread crust.

ENJOY !!!

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Giant Sausage & Mash Stuffed Yorkshire Pudding Recipe

A delicious Slimming World friendly sausage casserole recipe, and it's served in a giant Yorkshire pudding!

Comfort food. At the moment, it is all about comfort food! Anything gravy based is proper comfort food to me, but stick in a Yorkshire pudding and it is a real winner!

I have previously created a tasty Toad in the Hole and a Casserole Filled Giant Yorkshire, so wanted to take it to the next level!

If you are looking to make this as healthy as possible, then chose some low-fat sausages and adjust the calorie count accordingly.

I served it with a thick and delicious gravy that was also syn free.

Fancy some more recipes?

Like the look of this recipe? I have loads more for you to look through as well! Click the links below for more:

Slimming World Friendly Dinner Recipes

 Slimming World Friendly Breakfast 

Slimming World Friendly Lunch Recipes 

 Slimming Friendly Fakeaways

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Related Recipes 

Pigs in Blankets in The Hole

Sausage & BBQ Bean Bake

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Thinking of trying out these recipes? If you do, I would love to see a picture of your creation! @SugarPinkFood on Twitter, @sugarpinkfood_sw on instagram or Sugar Pink Food: Slimming Recipes on Facebook! 

Did you know that I have a weight loss support group on Facebook!? It's a place to share meal ideas, meal plans, food pictures, success stories, and generally support each other on our weight loss journeys!

What do you think of this recipe? Let me know in the comments below!

Giant Sausage & Mash Stuffed Yorkshire Pudding Recipe

Extra Easy Syn Value: 3 syns

Healthy Extras: None

Check out how to Make Creamy Mash here, and Syn Free Gravy here.

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How To Make Your Home Business Look More Professional

*This is a collaborative post*

When you work from home and choose to build a business online, you are on your own and starting from scratch. You don't have an IT department setting up your emails and you don't have a graphic design team to make your logo. Sure, you can outsource all of this to those who know how to work with you, but you need to remember that you have to use your own resources to pay for all of it.

For some people, it can feel fraudulent to work from home. You don't feel like you have a business at all half the time, and the rest of the time you are worrying that your brand doesn't look like a brand to the outside world. You have to do what’s possible to clean up your look and that involves working to make your business look fantastic. Here are some suggestions to make your business professional on the outside.

Image Source: Pexels

A Business Address. When you work from your house, you don't want to give your personal address on your letterheads and email signatures. Instead, you can use services like physicaladdress to help you. You can keep working from home but have your mail go to your online address. A virtual address gives your business clout; it makes customers feel comfortable and safe if they know that you have a real address to work from.

A Phone Number. Your mobile phone may be the one which you prefer people to reach you on, but you need to think about having one purely for your business. This way, you don't clog up your mobile number or your home phone lines and people can still reach you.

A Domain Name. When you pay for your own domain name, you are putting a better spin on your business. It’s a quick way for people to find you and it looks good to have your own website address for your business rather than a generic one created by an outside company. Your own website is going to help you to be a success in your business and it makes you look good. You may not be in your own office or store premises, but it sure looks that way to other people.

An Email Account. Gmail is great, as is Yahoo!, but that doesn't mean that you should use them for professional emails. You need to create a business email with your company name in it if you want to be a success and people need to know that they are dealing with your business. Usually, your own email address doesn't cost much and you don't need very many, especially if you are working alone.

Your home business doesn't have to look like a home business with the tips above. You can make it look good to the customers that you are trying to impress and you can make your business successful by protecting its image. Try these options today and see how your business can flourish.

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Change Up Your Look Fast

This is a collaborative post

Whenever you want to change how you look and what your style is, it is useful to know how you can do so in a way which is going to be quick and easy. There are actually many cheat-like ways you can do this, but before you know about them you are going to be as lost in the dark as anyone else. In this article, we are going to take a look at some of the best ways to change up your look fast, so that you can hope to look how you really want to, without overextended effort.

Add A Small Accessory

Accessories are there for a reason, and their purpose usually is to ensure that you have the freedom to change up a look at whim. That’s something that you can always achieve if you are really hoping to, and it is a good idea to have a backlog of accessories which you can think about making use of in order to ensure that you are going to use them whenever necessary. Whether that’s a pair of cat eye glasses, a particular scarf or belt that you love, or your favourite bag, you can be sure that it is going to be helpful.

Change Your Hair

Because of the way that hair helps to frame a face, you will find that even a slight change in the hair is going to cause a huge change in the way you look in general. So if you want a quick change, consider looking into whether you might try a fringe for the first time, or something like that. Even just that could help you to look completely different in a matter of minutes. All in all, changes to the hair are often a good way to go when you want a change.

Get Creative With Your Eyeliner

If you want to start looking at changes to your makeup, this is obviously one of the simplest ways to ensure that you can play around with your overall look. One kind of makeup that you might find particularly powerful to look at is the eyeliner. All you need to do here is change the shape slightly, or even just use a new colour that you would not normally use, and you will find that your entire look can change in a moment. What’s more, it’s fun to play around with to see the effects you can produce.

Look After Your Skin

If you are not currently doing everything you could be doing to take care of your skin, then you might not be looking your absolute best. Consider trying to look after your skin just for a day or two by drinking plenty of water and keeping out of the sun - and then look at who your skin looks in the mirror. You might be surprised at the change, and it could encourage you to keep on looking after your skin properly in future, so as to enjoy those benefits as much as possible

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Sugar Pink Food in the News!

If you are a new follower that has joined after seeing my blog mentioned in the press, welcome! If you followed me before that, then thank you for being an original!

The last week or so has seen a fair few websites and news outlets share my story about my love of Fakeaways!

If you have followed me for a while, you will know how much I love a good Fakeaway so it was exciting to see my story picked up by so many news outlets.

I love recreating my favourite takeaway dishes at home and sharing the recipes on here, so it is exciting to see the recipes shared online and in these news outlets.

It is crazy to see my photos in the likes of the Daily Mail and the Metro!

The craziest of all was that George Takei actually shared the story on his Facebook page, which has over 10 million followers! 

Of course, with most things internet-based, there are a lot of hate comments on this Facebook post, I only read one, before remembering to never read the comments, and they were hating on my eyebrows!

It got published int he Daily Star newspaper as well as being online, and it was also featured in my local Devon Live as well!

 

Also got a feature in My Lonon news!

Don't forget to check out my now, almost slightly famous, Fakeaway recipes for yourself!

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Lamb Kofta Kebabs Recipe | Slimming Fakeaway Recipe

A long time ago I discovered the deliciousness of Kofta kebabs, and how simple they are to make at home.  

In the simplest form, koftas consist of balls of minced or ground meat usually beef or lamb mixed with spices or onions.

They are perfect for BBQs, as well as grilling and cooking in the oven. You also get the freedom of having as many or as few toppings as you would like.

I served them with flatbreads, mint yoghurt, rice and loads of salad.

*Scroll down for the full recipe & instructions*

To make the mint yoghurt dressing all I did was mix a couple of tablespoons of fat-free natural yoghurt with a pinch of sea salt and dried mint.

Readers photos of this recipe

 Tag me in your pictures to get featured in the recipe!

You could serve them in shop-bought flatbreads or pitta bread, or you can make your own.

 

Fancy some more recipes?

Like the look of this recipe? I have loads more for you to look through as well! Click the links below for more:

Slimming World Friendly Dinner Recipes

 Slimming World Friendly Breakfast 

Slimming World Friendly Lunch Recipes 

 Slimming Friendly Fakeaways

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Related Recipes 

Beef Kofta Kebabs

Chicken Tikka Kebab

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Thinking of trying out these recipes? If you do, I would love to see a picture of your creation! @SugarPinkFood on Twitter, @sugarpinkfood_sw on instagram or Sugar Pink Food: Slimming Recipes on Facebook! 

Did you know that I have a weight loss support group on Facebook!? It's a place to share meal ideas, meal plans, food pictures, success stories, and generally support each other on our weight loss journeys!

What do you think of this recipe? Let me know in the comments below!

 Lamb Kofta Kebabs Recipe

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