The Foodie Post - A Super Simple Spinach and Pumpkin Salad

Today I made a spinach and pumpkin salad which turned out rather well (if I do say so myself), so I thought I'd take some photos and share it here with you. It's very simple and easy to make and is perfect as a side salad or even a main meal as the pumpkin and nuts really bulk it up. I would usually use pine nuts for this salad, but as I didn't have any on hand I substituted them with cashews and I think I actually prefer it this way! Feta cheese is also a nice addition if you have it on hand!

Ingredients:

*Baby spinach

*Butternut pumpkin

*Cashews (or Pine nuts)

*Avocado

*Feta Cheese (not included this time but my favourite is Danish Feta)

*Olive Oil

*Vinegar

*Pepper

Let's Do This:

Ok so it's pretty self explanatory - basically you want to chop the pumpkin into small bite size pieces, coat with a little olive oil and pop it in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius for around 25 minutes. This timing is approximate though so it may be a little longer or a little shorter.

Place the cashew nuts (or pine nuts) in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat, continually stirring so they don't burn.

For the dressing, stir together a little vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper. 

Place the spinach, pumpkin, avocado and nuts into a bowl. Crumble over the feta and then drizzle the dressing over the top. 

All Done! There you have an easy-peasy, super yummy and filling salad!

I like making salads like this as you don't need to be precise and you can throw in whatever you happen to have on hand. That's the kind of cooking I enjoy - adding a little dash or this or a handful of that. I'm not fond of really precise cooking where you need to measure everything out exactly - this probably explains why baking is not my forte! 

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this slightly different kind of post. I always planned for this blog to be a bit more varied and not just fashion based - so hopefully this will be the year that I mix it up a bit!

Let me know if you have any favourite salads. I'd love to get some ideas!

Lots of Love

Lauren

xxx

On a completely off topic note, while I was eating this salad tonight I watched "It's Complicated" and I had forgotten how much I love that movie - it is hilarious, and Meryl Streep is fantastic as always. 

Just thought I'd mention it in case anyone's in need of a fun feel-good movie suggestion!

Happy New Year!!

Hello!

I know this is a little late, but I just really wanted to pop in and say Happy New Year!

I hope you had a fabulous New Years Eve and a great start to 2015.

I was planning on doing a post on New Years Resolutions, but to be honest I haven't completely decided on mine yet! For some reason it always takes me a few days into the New Year to really define what I want them to be, instead of just having a vague idea floating around in my head. That's one of the things about resolutions and goals though - one of the best things you can do to help achieve them is to be very specific, so that's what I'm going to try and do this year. 

One of the main ones though is to stop worrying about what others think. It's one of those things that creates so much unnecessary anxiety, and unfortunately I do often let it stop me from doing what I want to do. 

A perfect example of this is how I'm so secretive about my blog. For some reason I hate the idea of people I know reading it (my close friends and family don't count in this) because I worry about what they'll think. 

I know it's ridiculous so this year it's going to stop! 

Have you made any resolutions this year? I'd love to hear about them!

Lots of Love

Lauren

xxx

My Style Diary - The Last Day of December

I'm literally about to run out the door, so I'll have to make this snappy.

This is what I've been wearing today, and for New Years Eve I'm pretty much going to be wearing just a slightly warmer variation of this (switching the shorts out for jeans) as I'm off to a picnic in King's Park.

I can't believe it's going to be 2015 in few hours, the year has just flown by, but to tell you the truth I'm not too sad to wave 2014 goodbye. 

Bring on 2015 I say!

I hope you have a great New Year, whatever you happen to be getting up to!

Lots of Love

Lauren

xxx

Top - Topshop

Shorts - Lee (from a Red Cross Sale)

Sandals - Therapy Shoes

My Style Diary - The Perfect Lazy Day

Today I had a perfect "me-time day" as my family are away and I had the house all to myself.

I'm quite the introvert and I really love the occasional days (which are very rare), when I can just relax by myself at home, tick a few things off my to do list and generally just recharge. 

(Not to say that I don't love spending time with family and friends, it's just that sometimes I need to be alone! - anyone with me?)

I spent pretty much the whole day inside, sheltering form the heat and only venturing out to water the garden (I've been given strict instructions from my Dad not to let the plants die while he's away!!)

Days like this require the comfiest of clothes, but I still don't want to feel like a complete slob - which is where these awesome shorts come in. They basically feel like pajamas but would be a bit more socially acceptable if I did decide to leave the house. 

Days like this also require lots of tea (yes, I drink tea even in the heat), and I was excited to use this beautiful teapot that was a Christmas gift from my Uncle and Aunty. They know me well!

Tea + a good book = a very happy Lauren :)

Ahh holidays... I love you 

Lauren

xxx

Top - Country Road

Shorts - Roxy