Quick and Easy Supper for Friends

I really love entertaining but these days life is SO hectic for us all I think we forget to sit down with friends and enjoy a great evening, nothing better to recharge the batteries. Unfortunately we always think that time is against us and supper is just too much hassle, well it's not.  

I arranged for friends to come round the other evening and I cooked this very easy yet impressive meal, also happens to be RP's favourite, lobster spaghetti, salad and pear and almond tart with custard.

LOBSTER SPAGETTI & SALAD

I'm lucky because I get really fab lobster from Norfolk, but obviously I know we all can't do that so equally good is using frozen tiger tails from the supermarket. 

To make the tomato sauce I use cherry tomatoes, pressed garlic cloves, chopped onions lightly fried, a red chilli. I pop all this in an oven prove dish with a lid and cook in the oven for about an hour. 

When it's cooked throw in the prawns or lobster pieces and cook through quickly, add either chopped coriander leaves or parsley, that depends on personal flavour choice.

Cook the spaghetti until just soft, drain and mix in with the sauce coating all the spaghetti lightly. Serve directly from the pan with wilted spinach mixed through at the last minute, (the heat from the sauce and spaghetti will cook the spinach.)

Serve this with fresh Parmesan and a tossed salad, I just open a couple of bags of the lettuce, rocket and spinach mix, easy!

PEAR & ALMOND TART

For the tart, buy sweet short crust pastry ready rolled, line a pastry tin and cook blind for 10 mins taking the baking beans out for the last 3 mins to crisp the bottom.

Make the frangipani, in a blender put 150g butter, 150g caster sugar, 2 eggs, 125g ground almonds and 25g plain flour. Blend together and scoop into the cooled pastry case.  

Slice tinned pears and arrange in a fan on top of the frangipani, cook in the oven for 40 mins, 160/ gas 4.  

The tart will feed 6 people. I serve it with ambrosia custard as RP wouldn't have it any other way!!  Be proud, put the carton on the table!! Enjoy, it really is simple and perfect. 

Elizabeth and James

Elizabeth and James is one of my fav collections right now, they seem to really hit the nail on the head when it comes to trends without being too obviously trendy, if you know what I mean... Anyway, I feel comfortable and confident in their clothes, and this is really important to carry a look off. I love their white waistcoat, a real statement piece, and I thought I'd show you how to wear it confidently! (Hopefully!)

It's a great multifunctional piece as it goes easily from day to night...

For day, wear a relaxed loose colour block silk shell top by Elizabeth and James, the waistcoat undone teamed with the luxe track pant and always my fav Philippe Model trainers. I love this look!

Their bags are fabulous too, this black bucket bag is our best seller, the leather is super soft and in my view is the perfect bag!

For the evening I've simply teamed the waistcoat and luxe track pant, a cool tuxedo style look, with my gorgeous Alexandra wang shoes. I've always wanted a white stiletto so... I took the plunge and I must say, I love them!  I've pinned the waistcoat for modesty but you could do the 'Rita Ora' and wear it open to the navel! Bit naked for me though!

The collection is available in ANNA Primrose Hill, call 020 7483 0411 to buy.

Buying in London

Firstly I apologise for not blogging for SO long, only excuse I have is I've been mad busy buying and travelling.  I thought I'd give you a small insight into 'the buying world'

I buy loads of collections from Chiltern Street Studios, (confusingly based on Clerkenwell Road). The AW15 collections are lovely and I get really excited when I see such bright colours, I love colour and print in winter, it cheers me up when the weather is SO dull, little things and all that!  I also love finding different things for the stores like Fig and Yarrow, a lovely skin and body care range from LA, the packaging is great too!

Pascale always books the appointments and she's brilliant at picking the right agency at lunchtimes, CSS does a fab lunch, today was a smorgasbord of yummy breads, pickles and cheese!

My collection Primrose Park is being sold to other stores too, I'm very proud of it and as you can see it's print centric... I'll tell you more when I properly launch it.

I saw these IKKII (photo below) boots at Scoop, a lovely trade fair at the Saatchi gallery, I haven't placed an order yet but I think I will as it's all about the 'snow boot' next winter, I wonder if we get a proper dumping of the white stuff.... until then enjoy now, spring is sprung!

Top Tips for Starting the Year

We all start the New Year with good intentions but it's often hard to stick to them, I hate depriving myself of anything because it always makes me crave it more and therefore I cave in. So I suggest everything in moderation. To lose weight cut down the intake of food or cut out a meal, but be sensible. Here are are some things I do:

1. BRAGGS ORGANIC APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
Every morning I start with a generous swig out of the bottle... sharp intake of breath... I think you're meant to mix a teaspoon with water but I'm hardcore! This drink is a general all-round good-guy! It lifts sluggishness better than an espresso before the gym (and obviously healthier), it promotes weight loss and digestion. I mean, don't expect to lose a stone by just a swig a day but it does help eliminate unwanted toxins in your body.

2. SEVEN - 7 MINUTE HIGH INTENSITY WORKOUT
I incorporate this easy mobile app into my daily routine (if I'm not mad enough to attend a mental session at Barry's Bootcamp). I find it really works after a run or if you prefer a vigorous power walk. Running and this app costs nothing, so no excuses give it a go. I promise short bursts of hard exercise really does work, you just need the motivation, once you're in the routine it's easy(ish)!

3. JUICING
I do Bielers green soup (see recipe here) also I thoroughly recommend a Nutribullet. Vicky, my yoga teaching friend, swears by this combination: half an avocado, handful of spinach, half a pear, a small lump of ginger, topped up with plain coconut water. Fantastic for detoxing and anti-inflammatory!

4. SNACKING
Eliminate all snacks from your house, temptation is the devil! Don't eat too much fruit, it's good for you... but it's full of sugar. Remember a mango is really a Mars Bar masquerading as a fruit!
Eat 6 almonds a day, great to aid weight loss as they are rich in protein and fibre which helps you stay satiated longer... but don't eat more than 6 as the calories will outdo the good done.

5. NO PROCESSED FOODS
Try to stick to no white food... so I mean, flour, rice, pasta, processed starch. Eat fresh foods and try to buy daily from local suppliers.

Right... big tip for 2015 you want to lose weight.... simple, EAT LESS - EXERCISE MORE! In my experience this is the only real lasting healthy way to melt the calories away! No fad dieting.

Christmas trees

I thought I'd just share a Christmas ritual with you...
Don't you think its funny that at the beginning of December we see so many people strutting down the streets that they live on carrying THE best Christmas tree, taking photos of 'Daddy' hoisting it carefully through the front door and 'Mummy' positioning it in the window adorning it with the most wonderful decorations, for ALL the neighbours to see (and envy!)....
Then come January, whats everyone doing, desperately trying to rid themselves of this thread bare manky tree stalk! Now, not so keen to be seen, quickly leaving it by the bins for those 'oh so lovely in December bin men', to take away. Or if you live in a 'trendy media' suburb everyone walks the tree to the park for a group ritual dumping!
Well, in Camden, we just lob them out of the windows into the street and hope for the best.... I'm sure this is all worth it but I do struggle with the disposal of said tree!