16 THINGS YOU NEED FROM ASOS THIS AUTUMN

It's not always easy hunting down the seasons "must have items", if you are anything like me you sit for hours upon hours each night scrolling through what seems like a shit tonne of clothes and ask yourself repeatedly,do I actually need this? or "ah bollocks the electric bill is due I should pay that instead" trust me, I know the feeling all too well, so I've made it easy and gathered 16 key pieces from ASOS that I think everyone should get their hands on this A/W, and you know what? Fuck the electric bill,it can wait,go on,treat yourself. Thank me later!

KATECOOKS: EASY AUTUMNAL SOUP

It's officially Autumn and what better way to keep the chill out than a big bowl of Vegetable soup.
I've gathered together the last of the Summer veg from the garden to create this beautiful warming broth that will keep you going back for more.

: YOU WILL NEED :

+ A Handful Of Runner Beans

+ 2 Carrots 

+ 3 Sticks of Celery

+ 3-4 Baby Potatoes

+ A Handful Of Kale

+ 1 Red Onion

+ 2 Cloves of Garlic

+ 1 Chicken Stock cube

+ 400ml Water

+ S+P

+ 1 Spring Onion To Garnish

: HOW TO :
1.Melt a knob of butter or oil in a pan and add the diced Onion,fry until soft. Add Garlic and fry for 1-2 mins.

2.Add chopped Carrots,Potatoes,Celery and Runner Beans to the pan and cook for a further 2-3 mins making sure they don't burn or stick to the pan.

3.Boil 400ml Water and add to the pan along with a Chicken stock cube,if you are Vegetarian or Vegan simply use a Vegetable stock to transform this dish to your requirements.

4.Cover and cook for 15-20mins or until all the veg has softened,don't overcook as the Veg will loose it's colour, It is always better to have a crispy vegetable rather than a soggy one.

5. When the vegetables are cooked add the Kale and stir through,Kale only takes seconds to cook so this should be a last minute thing. Season to Taste.

6.Serve piping hot with a sprinkling of Spring Onions and some fresh bread.

If you don't like these vegetables you can easily replace with ones you do like or throw some chicken in for a meatier option,the possibilities with this dish are endless so have fun.

I'd love to know if you try this,tag me on instagram and show me the outcome @KateCooksBlog

Enjoy!

THE BOX YOUR DOG WILL THANK YOU FOR

This isn't just any ordinary mail.... this is doggy mail,the best kind of mail.
I love seeing my two happy and what better way to spoil them than with a box of goodies from Pawsome.
If you have followed my blog for a while then you will have seen posts about the Pawsome box before,basically it's the Pet alternative to the likes of your Birchbox,Graze box etc.

This is what was included in the September box,it was Betty & Burt's favourite box so far,they got hours of fun out of the rubber rope toy and the Sushi bites went down a treat!!

Pawsome cater to your furry little friends' needs,all you need to do is answer some questions about your dog e.g: weight,size,fur type etc and then they do the legwork by putting together a little surprise each month for your fur babies.My two know exactly what this is when it drops on the door step and it never seems to fail in keeping them amused,they even liked the brush this time and thats saying something!!

Have you tired Pawsome? What animals do you own? I'd love to know

FASHION WEEK MUST HAVES

It's that time of year again when fashionistas gather in their thousands to view designer's new collections and the general public huddle around somerset house in the hope of being papped. If you are attending this year or next,then I have put together some must have items to get you through the headache that is,Fashion week.

PACK'D

Early start? These little freezer bags of goodness will keep your fuelled up for hours. Pack'd smoothies are rammed with fruit,veg and superfoods such as spirulina,cacao and flaxseed.They taste so good.Simply pop them in your freezer and when you need them get them out,blend with liquid of your choice (I like to mix mine with coconut water) and you're good to go. It couldn't be quicker or easier,take my word.

TOTAL BLACK

Struggling with what to wear? Each year you see people trying so hard it's actually painful to watch,however,in my eyes you can't go far wrong with a good graphic tee.This one from Total Black is perfect.Team with a pair of leather trousers,some backless loafers a backpack and a cool updo,you'll be good to go.Remember,you are going to enjoy yourself,not to break your neck in 10inch platforms and freeze to death in a skimpy dress.

SWEET CICILY

A weekend of talking and smiling will take its toll on your lips.This handy little quad from Sweet Cicily is the perfect size to pop in your handbag and whats even better? you get to swap up the flavours throughout the day.My personal fave is Prosecco Cocktail,a hint of prosecco without the guilt and hangover! Handmade and natural ingredients too,whats not to love?

FAUST'S POTIONS

Talking of hangovers....There are bound to be drinks flying around,especially if you are attending after parties and if you are anything like me then you love a cheeky drink (or ten)! Faust's potions are full of vitamins which will aid your hangover or just give you that kick start to the day.Included in the pack is a potion to take before you go to sleep and a potion which will revive your weary head the morning after.I tried and tested these last week after dealing with THE WORST HANGOVER EVER and they were very effective,I need to bulk buy these!

REGENERATE

There will be a lot of opportunities to get caught on camera at fashion and you want your smile and teeth to be their best selves.I have been trying out the Regenerate Enamel science toothpaste and serum and all I can say is I BLOODY LOVE IT! My teeth feel weirdly stronger and extremely fresh and clean after using the toothpaste.This product reverses the early stages of enamel erosion,a huge thumbs up for an avid tea drinker!!

LASCIVIOUS

Okay so you've made it through what I can imagine was a very stressful weekend? It's time to treat yourself with a spa day don't you think? Of course after attending fancy shows you still want to look the bomb at the poolside,I have the bikini brand just for you.... Lascivious.How beautiful is this bikini? The colour is to die for and the shape is gorgeous,I can't wait to rock this next time I go to the spa.If you are a fellow bikini hoarder or just a general lingerie enthusiast then you need to check out Lascivious.NOW!

STROLLING THROUGH THE DAM

SUNNIES || TOP || JEANS || WATCH ||  BIRKENSTOCKS

Why have I never visited Amsterdam before? I'm probably the only person in the world who hasn't seen this wonderful place.....well until now that is. I was lucky enough to be invited to the W Hotel to take part in a Detox weekend with Tara Stiles (The founder of Strala Yoga, if you aren't familiar with her, check out her videos HERE).

I had a bit of spare time to myself so decided to take a stroll through the streets of Amsterdam.It isn't  the seedy,pervy place everyone makes it out to be,I didn't smoke any weed and I didn't get a lap dance, call me boring but I was quite happy sipping on my smoothie,people watching and taking in the sights, oh and trying not to get run over by people on push bikes...what the fuck is with that? pedestrians are definitely the minority there!!

It was so nice to take a break from the norm and have a few days away,if you are ever craving a weekend city break,Amsterdam is the place.I will be going back asap!

Visited Amsterdam? What did you do while you were there?

KATECOOKS: A HEALTHY YOGHURT POT

It’s that time of year when the succulent summer fruits are coming to an end and we are, dare I say it…. starting to say hello (or more likely, bugger off) to those lurking Autumn months. I can’t be the only one who has noticed the cold mornings and nights drawing in, surely? However, with an ongoing supply from my parents’ fruit bushes and some help from the supermarket I’ve managed to cling on to the last bit of summer and have put together a little healthy breakfast that will still put a smile on your face as you crawl out of bed to face to day.

:YOU WILL NEED:

Handful of Chopped Strawberries

Handful of Blueberries

Handful of Raspberries

1 x Kiwi

1 x Plum

Handful of low sugar Granola

Nuts of Choice

Chia Seeds

0% Fat Free Greek Yoghurt

Water

Honey

The only bit of work you need to do for this recipe is to make the Raspberry coulis, which is a doddle just chuck your Raspberries into a blender with some water and Honey to add a bit of sweetness. Taste as you go, as you don’t want it too sweet (this will take the healthiness away from the dish).

Now all you need to do is build your breakfast, there is no fixed rule on how you should do this, just have fun with it, if you want lots of fruit then add more fruit if you love yoghurt then add more yoghurt, its pretty self explanatory but tastes amazing and is healthy either way. If you need a bit of guidance then start with a layer of yogurt followed by a layer of fruit and add swirls of your Coulis as you go.

You can add nuts as you go or just sprinkle them on the top, this will depend on how much you like nuts (cough, cough) or you can leave them out, again this recipe is based entirely on preference so make it your own. I added a bit of Granola to mine, not too much as the Sugar content is ridiculous in most granolas however I do have a sweet tooth and a scattering never hurt anyone, right?

Hey presto, you’re done, a super easy, healthy breakfast.

P.S This is great made the night before, use a clip jar like this one from Kilner and pop in you bag for work/School the next day.