MEATBALL PASTA BAKE

Hey Guys,

Sorry there was no post last week, uni life definitely caught up with me. So because I deprived you all last week, I'll be putting up a post midweek, then back to the usual one on Sunday again.

Anyway, this one's going to be a food-y, money-saving-y, student-life-y kind of post. It's a recipe I thought I had to share because it's too easy and has helped me out many a time. So of course, I knew you all would appreciate it.

Whenever I'm running low on food and money - towards the end of the month - but I want something really filling to eat, I make a pasta bake. It's usually with whatever veg I need to use up in my fridge, and a meat - if I feel like it. If you're not too sure what a pasta bake is - it's basically a tray of pasta, coated in a sauce (I usually do tomato), usually accompanied by some vegetables and/or some meat, for example, some tuna or shredded chicken. This is then covered with cheese and baked in the oven - so, it's pretty straight forward.

Recently I made a Meatball Pasta Bake, inspired by a video by Sorted Food on YouTube (I say inspired because I've made a few changes to the recipe, as you'll see below). I had tried many a pasta bake beforehand, (tuna/chicken/sausage/mushroom/veg, the list goes on..), but I had never given the meatball one a try. So on Sunday, I decided to finally make it and document the whole thing.

Firstly, you'll need ingredients, obviously haha. But if you're anything like me when you're just cooking for yourself - I don't measure, so you can use as little or as much of one thing as you like. Here's (approximately) what I ended up using:

For the Meatballs (This made about 12 golf-sized balls)

500g Beef Mince
10g Garlic Granules
10g Smoked Paprika
5g Mixed Herbs
5g Salt
20g Onion, Small Dice
Tablespoon of Coconut Oil

For the Pasta Bake

12 Browned Meatballs
300 - 500g of Fusilli (You can use whatever shape you like..)
5g Salt
Onions, Peppers, Mushrooms
1 Jar of Pasta Bake Sauce
250g Cheddar, Grated

I started by making my meatballs. I combined all the meatball ingredients (except for the coconut oil) in a bowl until well combined. I then rolled them into balls and let them set up in the fridge for a couple hours while I got on with some uni work.

When I was ready to start cooking, I heated the coconut oil in a large pan and added in the meatballs. I used coconut oil because it has a high smoking point, which means I can cook with the oil for a long amount of time. This makes it the perfect choice for browning things such as meatballs in batches.

Now the plan wasn't to cook them, I was only browning them on the outside, so they'd develop a good amount of colour (and flavour) before entering the oven later on.

While these were browning, I diced up my onions, peppers and mushrooms on a chopping board with a large knife. I used about 300-400g of vegetables - I didn't really measure, I just eyed it.

I also put on my pasta to boil in salted water in a small pot. This should take about 7-8 minutes on a high heat.

After I had browned all sides of the meatballs, I took them out the pan and left them to rest in my baking dish (just to save washing up), in the oven at a low temperature (100C? Maybe even lower?)- you have to remember you've used beef, which needs time to rest before it can be cut or eaten.

Using the pan you used for the meatballs, discard half the oil, then place back on the heat and all of your veg. Why cook in the "used" oil? It has the fat, seasoning and saltiness from the meatballs that are going to make your veg, and therefore, your sauce taste amazing.

Your pasta should be done by now - you can test this by trying one - so drain off the water and leave it in the pot, ready to add to your other ingredients.

Fry your veg on a medium heat until it has a bit of colour, and the mound of vegetables you've added have reduced significantly. Take you meatballs out of the oven and add them to the veg and stir briefly, add your jar of sauce and stir until everything is well combined, then add your pasta.

Now if you're wondering why I haven't told you to taste while you go along, I KNOW - instinctively - that you already have been all along (you cheeky sod). It looked and smelled delicious and you just couldn't help yourself, so you've added seasoning if need be (I'm hoping), and now you can put the pasta bake in the oven with the knowledge it'll come out tasting like a work of art. Thank Ben for that.

Pour everything into your baking dish and evenly distribute your meatballs, so each portion has at least a couple. Cover with your grated cheese and cook in an oven (about 160C to 180C) until the cheese has melted and has started to colour.

TIP: Remember that everything is already cooked, except the meatballs, which need a few minutes in the oven just to finish off. Otherwise, you're just bringing everything together so it shouldn't need long in the oven at all. I'd say a good 10 - 12 minutes.

Right, so while this is cooking I'm going to talk you through the changes I've made to the recipe Ben did (Sorted Food).

1. Using a jar sauce instead of making your own. Most jar sauces will either be flour based or have an ingredient in them that allows for the sauce to stick to the pasta a lot better. So in my experience, you'll get an even distribution of sauce, and it won't sink to the bottom of the baking dish during the cooking process. Also, you don't have the added step of making the sauce.

2. Beef meatballs. I did make the same meatballs as Ben (with seasonings I had on hand), but in the future I would definitely mix meats to make a more succulent meatball. What I have in mind is a beef and pork one, because Domino's use this on their Mighty Meaty pizza (which is my favourite) and the meatballs I've tasted on there are the best I've ever had. Ever. You NEED them in your life.

But I've also done my research, and the internet agrees.

So by now your pasta bake should be bubbling and golden. Take it out the oven, plate (SOME of, not ALL of) it up and enjoy hot. And don't thank me, thank the Sorted Boys.

Guys, it tasted incredible.

See you all next week,

Christina x

NEW PIECES - MARCH '15

Hey All,

Every month I like to buy a few pieces - even if it's just a couple new things - to build up the range of items I have in my wardrobe. For a while now, I've kind of worked out what my style is and have tried to find clothing that best reflects what I imagine in my head or what I am inspired to dress like.

So nearly every month I'm going to try and post a something like this, showing you what I've bought this month and what I might be aspiring to buy in the future.

So this month was definitely a "broke" month, meaning that University Life was becoming very apparent to my bank account, and I had to tread very carefully when it came to spending, so was only able to purchase a couple of items, the rest was gifted.

My first item was bought because I needed a smart top to wear because I was presenting research in front of a few people at university. We were being marked on our appearance as well as our content, so I wanted to wear something elegant that also reflected my style, rather than trying to look too formal.

It's a beautiful cream, slightly sheer blouse, that hangs lower at the back than at the front. The fabric feels lovely on the skin and even after washing still looks cream, rather than washed out - so is very good quality. The original price was £30.00 from River Island, but "Savvy Christina" looked around for it elsewhere and found ASOS selling the exact same number for £22.50 with FREE shipping, so - you all know what happened ;)

I bought it in a size 10 just so I could have a little extra room when wearing it, but it came up a little bit small. I can still wear it, but if I could buy it again I'd get a size 12. 

My second new purchase of this month was a very expensive one, but it was "reclaimed" money I used to buy it. Back in September, my house was broken into while I was at a goodbye dinner because I was leaving for university the next day. A few things of a large value were stolen, meaning we could claim insurance money and buy things to replace what was lost - one of those things is my new watch.

This is a Gold Men's Michael Kors Watch. I'm not very into the Michael Kors brand, but I wanted something that looked good and worth the money I was willing to spend on it. A constant rule I have when it comes to clothing, jewelry or footwear is - I want the branding to be very minimal (not as much on footwear because on all of my Nike's, the "swoosh" is VERY apparent). If the item I've bought was expensive, I want it to look expensive without having to showcase the brand to let people I know I've spent a bit of money on it. 

So as you all can tell from the pictures, the branding is very minimal. I've opted for a Men's style watch over a Women's because I wanted it to have a larger face and bracelet, and for it to be heavier than the typical women's watch. 

This model retails for about £229.00. Online it's much cheaper, but I was really excited about getting the watch, so I couldn't wait and I went in-store and got it at Ernest Jones, in Lakeside, Essex.

This month, while I was at home for Mother's Day, my Mum and I decided to take a trip down to Zara (the same day I got the watch) to return and pick up a few bits. There wasn't much in there I really loved for myself, but one thing stood out tremendously, above all else, that my mother and  I ended up getting.

We both first saw this piece when we were watching this year's Comic Relief show (me from at home, Mum three rows away from the stage) on one of the presenters from the night - Claudia Winkleman. I was eyeing them up from the minute she took over as co-presenter alongside Sarah Millican / Russell Brand. It didn't even occur to me that the trousers could be this season Zara?!?

So, when we were perusing the store and saw them, we lost our minds and instantly picked up our sizes and rushed to the counter! Haha

These trousers will set you back about £29.99 when you buy them online. In-store I think they were £35.99 - which I didn't realise until I checked the website - either way, it's worth the investment.

So these are the pieces I welcomed into my wardrobe this month. If you'd like to see any other kinds of items, such as makeup repurchases or general things I buy, leave a comment down below to let me know.

Don't forget you can subscribe by email to always be sent what I post to my blog! There's an icon you can use in the sidebar :) Like if you liked it!

Christina x 

P.S. 

Happy Shopping ;)

MY MUM AND MOTHER'S DAY.

Following my last post on Women Empowerment and International Women's Day, and with Mother's Day fast approaching, I thought it was only right that the post for today's focus was my Mum.

I can't describe how proud I am of my Mum. I really can't. But the likely-hood is, you've never heard of her in your life. So she runs, alongside my amazing and supportive Dad, a charity called Tower Hamlets Foodbank. T.H.F.B helps people in the local area by giving them food, advice and guidance, but most importantly giving people hope when they have none left. Most of the people she and her team deal with are women and children who have run away from an abusive situation, people who have had their benefits stopped, children that have been kicked out of their homes, and people who are just trying to start their life again.

Denise Bentley

It's a hard job, so over the past five years it's taken a toll on family life. My Mum would work the longest hours, and my Dad was (and still is) on shift work, working at his current job, but also helping Mum with her job.

And the reason why she does all this? It all started nine years ago...

I told you I'd share it.

But before I start, can I just say a big thank you to the neurology team that operated on my Mum in late 2006/early 2007. I didn't thank you nearly as much as I could have back when it all happened but it's essential I thank you now. You won't ever understand how much you've changed the lives of my family and myself. You saved my Mum. Thank you. Thank you.


After getting back home from the weekly shop - I think it was the 30th of December 2006 - Mum was cooking dinner in the kitchen (I was in and out, as I wasn't really interested in food back then, but wanted to give Mum a hand) and had her Bluetooth headphone earpiece in. I don't remember who she was talking to. The boys (Dad and my Brother) were watching football in the living room shouting at the TV - as usual.

*As I'm typing this I'm kind of shaking my head, thinking back to the day and how normal it was. It was such a normal Saturday. I'm sitting here in disbelief.*

I went into the kitchen and made some toast, because I knew dinner was far from being ready. As I was walking out, toast in hand, Mum dropped to the floor and while doing so, hit her head against the wall. She lay there with her eyes wide open, with no emotion on her face - I thought she was joking. I actually thought she was having a laugh. So I called my Dad in, laughing, because they had been playing pranks on each other all day, and I thought this was another one of them.

Being ten years old, I had no idea what an aneurysm is. An aneurysm ( it was described to me at a later date) is a little bag of blood on the surface of your brain, and if it pops, you're dead.

Anyway, Dad came into the kitchen and told me to go into the living room. Knelt beside her, he shook her slightly and was calling her name, and she wasn't answering. By this point I knew something was wrong, so was watching this whole scene intently, waiting for signs of life from Mum.

Dad got up and called an ambulance, speaking calmly into the phone. Knowing that something was wrong and not wanting my younger brother to see what was happening (he was eight), I told him to come upstairs with me. Reluctantly he came - the football was still on - upstairs into my room, he got onto my bed while I knelt at the side of it.

"Andre, we've got to pray for Mum. I think she's sick but I don't know what's wrong with her and Dad called an ambulance so I think it's bad but I don't want you to worry because if we pray then -"

So immediately, as if it had been planned, Andre got off the bed and knelt beside me with his hands together and closed his eyes. I as an older sister had never been prouder. This was my prayer:

"Hi God, I come before you today to pray for Mum. I don't know what's wrong with her but can you please make her better. Amen."

"AMEN." said Andre.

My Mum had a brain hemorrhage. That little bag of blood in her head popped and she was going to die. Or so I thought anyway.

Mum was rushed to the hospital and died twice.

But then they brought her round again. But she was far from okay. But alive. And she stayed in the hospital for months. But then around February, or March she was out. But it still took her years to recover properly.

She decided from then on that her life wasn't hers anymore - because as far as she was concerned - God had saved her life. She was told by doctors that if you ever have a brain hemorrhage, there's a 95% chance you're going to die. And that's before you even get to the hospital. Living beyond a brain hemorrhage isn't very likely at all. She realized she was that 5% that made it.

So she's spent five years working hard on Tower Hamlets Foodbank and it's paid off. Not only is it one of the most successful branches in Britain, but she gets to do what she loves every single day, and people have taken notice. There are articles on the web about her, and companies donating their time, resources and money to support the cause. Once again, I am so so proud of her and what she's done so far, but then I have to remind myself that this is just the beginning. And it only gets better from here.

So for Mother's Day, for the Mum who has everything, I had no idea what to get her. But thinking about it earlier on this week, after all the work she's put in, she needs to rest! So I've sort of made her a pamper day in a box - e v e r y t h i n g  a girl would need on a "me-time" day.

It includes a face mask I've been eyeing up for ages:

This is the Nip and Fab Skin Glycolic Instant Fix Mask which was £6.46 at Superdrug and sounds absolutely amazing. It tightens pores while exfoliating the skin for a more radiant appearance, which sounds incredibly good to me, so I'm very jealous.

I also got her the MaxFactor Glossfinity Nail Varnish in colours Hot Coco (Above) and Rubyfruit which were £5.99 each at Superdrug. So she can finally start painting her nails again!

I got her a few other bits and bobs (a brown lipliner, like one she used to wear back when I was little - 90's influenced - some joggers so she can really lounge about on the day, some chocolate and a scented candle). If we get to spend the day together when she decides to have this pamper day, I'll order some pizza and we'll pig out in front of the TV watching Netflix. I'm already excited.

Anywho, sorry for the long post today guys, but if I'm going to dedicate a post to a family member, I have to do it right, right?

It's been real guys, I'll see you all next week at 7 :)

Hear my Mum's story from her point of view here

Christina x

P.S. Don't forget to subscribe via email so you never miss a post!

#DEAR ME - ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF.

I thought long and hard deciding whether I want to write this post. It isn't an easy one to write, considering I have to delve deep into my past and think about things I haven't thought about in years. It isn't fun reflecting on mistakes, but I thought it was worth it for all of you.

So if you haven't gathered it by now, today I'll be giving advice to my younger self, or to you all. Now this isn't me forcing any views on you - you don't have to take anything I say on board. I had to have these experiences in order to give advice based on them. Have a think after you've read this and see whether you'll apply any. I'll see you guys in my next post.

1. If you have a talent, use it.
Younger me was very, very quiet. I think this was mainly because I was talked down to a lot. Or maybe it was because I didn't receive the encouragement I needed. But I have a gift, or "talent". I can make people laugh. I can't tell jokes, but I'm witty, and I know what phrases to use around certain people to get a giggle out of them. And I am an EXPERT at getting myself to laugh, and I'm sure you are with yourself too. Of recent, if my parents are stressed, or my brother is going through a hard time, I try my hardest to make them feel better, and if laughter will do it, I'll be their Kevin Hart for the night. If I had used this skill when I was younger, back when everything I did was funny, maybe I could have helped a friend through a difficult time.

YOU: You need to use your gifts. If your talent is to sing, find a way to sing to the world! If you can draw, work your artwork into galleries, and onto social networking sites. If you can write, write a book. You CAN do it, and you SHOULD do it, because someone out there will appreciate it.

2. Remember to smile.
When things weren't going so great, I stopped smiling. I wasn't very happy anymore. When things go bad I tend to shut down. Recently I've learnt to not take life too seriously. And sometimes it's just better to laugh than to cry. Girls, don't waste your tears on guys, and vice versa. You're not always going to like your friends. Don't waste time getting angry over things you can't change. Cry, but then remember to stop.

YOU: You need to remember that life isn't something you can do again. You need to be able to enjoy every moment you can. You need to remember to laugh.  In the hard times, in the not-so-hard times and when you're feeling burnt out. Remember to pick yourself up when times get hard.

"Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, it's at the end of your arm." 

- Audrey Hepburn

3. Remember who is relevant. 
There's always going to be people that are going to PISS YOU OFF. The best way to deal with situations like this is to remember who is relevant.

YOU: Make a list of the people you actually care about. Those are the people that matter. You don't need to worry about the opinions of anyone else. When it comes to rumors, any talk behind your back, etc, it shouldn't matter to you unless it's coming from the people that are on that list you just made. And if it is, then address that issue. Find out what that problem is and deal with it. All other talk you may hear is irrelevant. Smile - anyone who isn't on that list isn't worth your precious time.

I'm smiling.

4. "You're worth more than that."
My Mum and Dad for years have been drumming this saying into my brother and I. When I was younger, they would often say it without explanation and I'd be confused for days on end. "Worth more than what?", "Why are they saying it now?", "What did I do wrong?" I'd ask myself. It wasn't until a few years ago it finally clicked.

My parents didn't want me to be like everyone else. A statistic. Another number.

My parents didn't (and still don't) want me to become a mother before my time. My parents also want me to value the time I have in education, so I end up in a job I actually want to do. They also want me to look after myself so I don't run into danger when I'm out alone. And there's much more they want. They want only the best for me. But this would be a very long post if I listed everything.

YOU: Need to do the same. Value yourself.

5. Talk to your parents.
You may see them as the old people you live with, or the people that won't stop nagging you to tidy up your room (guilty), but parents may just be one of the best parts of your life - especially if you have parents like mine. They aren't around forever, so spend as much time as you can with them.

When you read that subtitle, I'm sure you thought I was going to ask you to spend time talking to them about all your problems because they have the best advice, blah, blah, blah. I'd be lying if I said I told my parents everything, so you don't have to follow this rule if you don't want to, haha. But I really want you to try and build a relationship with them because they are, in fact, actually just normal people. They have their own problems. They have feelings. And honestly, in reality, at the end of a hard day at work, they might just want to come home and speak to their family. Especially their children. I won't even try and begin to describe the amount of love they have for you.

So sometimes they'll just want to talk.

YOU: It's going to be hard at first, but it's like any new friendship. It takes time for things to get good. But when they're good, they're really good. Don't leave it until you leave home (e.g. for Uni, like I did) to appreciate what you have right in front of you.

Goodnight,

Christina x


Tags: #March8th #InternationalWomensDay #ItGetsBetter #DearMe #SelfEmpowerment #FemaleEmpowerment

RELATIONSHIPS.

Hi All,

I was sitting here, as I usually do whenever I can't sleep, with a big bag of cheesy Doritos watching Pretty Little Liars. I'm on Season 4 at the moment, catching up as quickly as I can on Netflix.

Without revealing too much, I was watching a particular episode, and it occurred to me that throughout most of the series, the girls don't come across as very emotionally stable or happy without a boyfriend or girlfriend. Like everything is a bit better as long as they have someone to share passionate kisses with ALL THE TIME. And although I'm sure that would be very nice, I thought that was really sad.

Now this isn't a bashing of Pretty Little Liars, or how the series plays up to stereotypes of teenage girl life and high school experiences. If the show didn't play up to these stereotypes, it wouldn't have the following it currently does. Plus it's fiction, and the world does realize that. And they also don't press any views on you, which is why we don't feel pressured to go makeup with our ex whenever one of the girls falls back in love with their significant other.

The revelation I had while reaching the end of my Doritos bag, is that people think they need to be in relationship to be happy. Which really shouldn't be the case. You yourself may feel better when you're with someone, and that's great, and it's completely normal to feel that way. But you also need to be able to feel good by yourself. You should be able to feel content by yourself. If you feel great by yourself, then you'll be able to enrich your future partner's life, rather than still trying to work out who you are and therefore still not knowing what you want.

I was guilty of wanting a boyfriend like wanting air. Honestly. I thought having one would make my life complete because I saw ALL my friends around me with boyfriends. Recently I've realized, looking back on past experiences, my previous relationships ended because after the mushy, lovey, dovey stuff, there was nothing left. I rushed into a relationship without really being friends with the person first. 

Hands up if you've been there.

Learning to love yourself is one of the best parts of growing up. Knowing your own likes and dislikes, your political opinions, even knowing what kind of dress sense you have is what your teenage years/early twenties are for.

It's a magical time guys, it really is.

If you don't love yourself then you'll always wonder how anyone else could love you. Or even like you. Have you ever found yourself asking that question? Doubt is one of the biggest killers of any relationship. So I'd really think about how much you love yourself before entering into a new romance.

I'm a strong believer in letting the cards fall where they may, so to speak. You'll have a boyfriend or girlfriend when its the right time for you to have one. I think everything happens for a reason so as much as you may think you're ready for a relationship right now, wouldn't it be better to wait than rushing into something half-heartedly? If you're only in a relationship for you, isn't that a little bit selfish?

Be the best you before you bring someone else into the equation. That way you've done your part.

Lots of Love,

Christina x