Quick Easy Meal ideas... Aubergine and Red Lentil Bake

Hello community, hope you are well and safe and are finding ways to navigate these unprecedented times. It’s the 4th Saturday of lockdown in the UK, and I’d like to say it’s getting easier, but in fact it’s getting a little more daunting!

That said, I have been organically finding things to keep me entertained and occupied for the majority of the time. Never one for rigid plans and structure, I have been gentle with myself, allowing things to naturally develop rather than forcing myself to learn a language in 3 months or crochet a new bed spread! One thing that is beginning to emerge naturally, is my new found love of cooking.

The forced lockdown has meant that I am shopping in bulk more, shopping to last at least 2-3 weeks, then not going to the supermarket again until I have to. This has made me plan ahead more and schedule meals, making ingredients work harder and longer, and making sure I am eating well to feel well. Eating ready meals and convenience foods was never going to work long term, and would have had a negative impact on my physical and mental well being.

With more time available, cooking has become a hobby, rather than a necessity. I am experimenting with ingredients and ever the maverick, I’m being creatively rebellious with recipes! More free time has meant cooking at my leisure, other than at meal times, then freezing and batching meals for the next few weeks.

But this new ‘Nigella-me’ isn’t just thanks to Covid. In February this year I finally decided to give up meat for good. I had been toying with the idea for a long time, having never really been a huge meat eater, (but sometimes enjoying the odd bacon sandwich!) so it forever seemed a possibility. After researching the environmental impact of meat production, paired my huge love of animals, I decided to finally commit. I am now pescatarian.

I thought you may find it useful or inspiring to read a few of my most favourite recipes, so I will be logging these on the blog in the next coming months. Please do try some, and let me know your thoughts, and if you have any vegetarian or pescatarian favourites you would like to share, I would love to hear from you.

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Aubergine and Red Lentil Bake

Aubergine and Red Lentil Bake served with rocket salad

Honestly, smells and tastes unbelievable! This recipe was creatively adapted from a BBC Good Food Moussaka recipe, but as always I go off-piste and didn’t have all the ingredients so here’s my version below, you will have to use some ‘executive judgement’ for your own measurements and amounts.

Serves 4

• 2 large mugs of red lentils

• 1 large aubergine

• dash of virgin olive oil

• large dash of tomato puree

• salt and pepper

• 3 cloves of garlic

• 1 tin of chopped tomatoes

• 1 1/2 red onion

• 1 large mug of frozen peppers

• dash of chilli powder

• dash of cinnamon

• 4 new potatoes

• 1/2 small block of cheddar

1. Add lentils to a pan of water and boil till absorbed and thick, then rinse and drain.

2. Chop the aubergine into rounds and toss with oil, add salt and pepper then pop under grill until browned on both sides.

3. Cook the onion and peppers in a large frying pan or wok for 3 minutes until browned, add the garlic and tomato puree and mix.

4. Add the chopped tomatoes and cinnamon to the onion and pepper, simmer for 5 mins.

5. Chop the potatoes into rounds and do the same under the grill, add a splash of oil and salt and pepper, part cook them.

6. Add the lentils to the tomatoes, onion and pepper, mx together and leave on low heat while the potatoes cook.

7. Use a oven proof dish to layer up the lentil mix and aubergine slices, and then top with the potato slices

8. Spinkle grated cheddar on top and cook on gas 4 for 30 mins, until cheese is nicely melted and brown.

9. Serve with a healthy rocket salad.

TAKING CREATIVE, SOUL - PLEASING ADVENTURES!

Well hello there to those of you who have a peep on here regularly, (or annually!) - how are you all? how has the winter treated you? A difficult season for many people; Christmas, a challenging time for some, and the flurry of storms we’ve had presenting challenges left right and centre, along with the dark nights sometimes limiting our energy and motivation.

I struggle personally with winter, constantly striving for continued productivity, but lacking energy and drive and usually, after some pretty tough internal battles, I surrender to hibernation mode and being gentle with myself, sitting hopes and expectations on the fence until Springtime, and this is ok for me.

This is the exact reason why I’m only just sharing my Berlin adventure with you! Other things have taken precedent, I was fortunate enough in November to travel to Germany, unknowingly, at the time of the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, “mauerfall”. We had planned to eat and drink our way around the capital, but the additional surprise of the anniversary celebrations made fr a very memorable trip indeed.

Taking inspirational trips away, be it a city break, a longer beach break, or a day trip to the UK coast, really soften my soul and relax my mind, allowing a little bit of energy to be restored and rejuvenated. Here’s to adventure and experience, and a slow and simple Spring-time. xx

#wellness #wellbeing #inspirationaladventures #creativebreaks #soulpleasing

GIVE INDEPENDENT AND SHOP SMALL THIS CHRISTMAS

Black Friday, Cyber Monday - Take it back Tuesday!

This time of year is a crazy one for many folk, the pressure to create a perfect ‘all singing all dancing Christmas’ can often force you to make quick, unconscious decisions in attempt to get a ‘good deal’. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the whirlwind frenzy of consumerism, feeding into our ‘not enough’ human failings, driving us to buy quick, buy more and buy cheap, because “you deserve it!”

No. Think again. What you deserve is far more than that, you deserve peace and joy, the traditional blessing of Christmas.

In this short blog post I hope to make it easier for you to access relevant information on the topic, and to help you make informed, and conscious shopping decisions going forward.

Slow down for just a minute, zone out of the hype, turn off the TV and the radio shouting at you to buy and just find that inner magic inside you, what are you grateful for this season?

What you and your loved one’s really deserve, is a healthy, magical, thoughtful Christmas, one that is considered and curated with attention and care. Find unique products that aren’t seen in every retailer in the UK, uncover unusual hidden gems that make the receiver feel like they have something truly special.

Independent designers and makers put their heart and soul into their goods. We won’t settle until we have created something we are proud of, we don’t just churn things out. We won’t inflate margins in order to make it look like we’re than cutting the costs dramatically, our prices are true and honest all year round. We design to express, and that expression is something you can’t buy anywhere else, guaranteed.

Here are a few links I have found on the topic, that are a joy to read…

The Independent on “How to Shop Better this Christmas”

The Guardian on “How to have a green Christmas”

To find unique gifts and support small, you can use the following website links, my round up of fave goods from these sites are below.

urbanmakers.co.uk

etsy.com

notonthehighstreet.com

folksy.com

pedddle.com

I can’t put it better than 91 magazine, their ethos mirrors mine, this article is well worth a read…

91magazine.co.uk/blog/2019/11/25/slow-living-at-christmas

… and they have great sections dedicated to independents on their blog;

91magazine.co.uk/blog/category/Shopkeeper+Spotlight

91magazine.co.uk/blog/category/Meet+the+Maker

You can also keep an eye on my social media accounts, which will feature markets and fairs I attend all year round.

Wishing you a peaceful and conscious pre-festive period.

Ruth Holly xx

SUPPLIER VISIT

Hello and Happy New Year! Hope you all had a peaceful Christmas and rested well.

It’s January and with that come all the pressures of a new year - new you! I have started the year writing a ‘done’ list rather than a ‘to do’, this allows me to feel satisfied with what I’ve achieved and accomplished throughout 2018 rather than filling me with dread about what needs to be done in 2019. That said, there is always the promise of new adventures, new treasures to be found and more wonderful connections to be made.

Speaking of connections, last week I visited my fabric supplier, a company in Cheshire where I get all my designs printed. I email these guys regularly and rarely get to see them so it was great to put faces to names and re-connect.

The afternoon started with a catch up and discussion about new developments, costings and problem solving. Mum came along too to meet everyone, we enjoyed a cup of tea and a brainstorm.

We then had a tour around the factory, I got to see the machines where my designs are printed, the cutting room, the sewing department (where each item is machine sewn by hand!) It was a really inspiring afternoon and was great to get involved and really see how and where my products are made.

I had a chat with the daughter of the business about environmental issues and how the company are doing all they can at the time to reduce impact. There was water recycling from the dying process, cardboard and fabric core recycling, along with the fact that everything is done under one roof, reducing the need for transporting the goods by van, ship, plane. They even carry heavy rolls of fabric across the car park by hand each day!

Below you can view some photos of the day, if you have any questions about the process or anything else to do with how your wonderful goods are designed and produced then please do get in touch. hello@ruthholly.co.uk

SUSTAINABLE GIFTING

I have done the majority of my Christmas shopping online this year. I am continually aware of shopping small and shopping independent, but equally I’m more and more interested in sustainable, responsible companies who put thought and care into their process, as well as their finished product.

As promised, here’s a peek (without giving too much away for xmas!) at my top 6 responsible businesses. I hope this helps you in time for your Christmas gifts, but if not, maybe it will encourage you in 2019 to really think about where your purchases are made, how they are made and most importantly why.

Thanks for reading. x

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

This week I’m taking part in an Instagram based campaign called Just a Card. The JUST A CARD campaign aims to encourage people to buy from Designer/Makers and Independent Galleries and Shops by reinforcing the message that all purchases, however small, even 'just a card' are so vital to the prosperity and survival of small businesses.

This is something I have always championed as a designer myself. For years I have visited design fairs and markets and been in awe at the talent, skill and bravery of the small independent businesses I saw develop in front of my eyes.

Now, being one of them, I feel it even deeper, and really feel privileged to be part of this movement. And I really do feel it is a movement. If you are aware of the amount of creatives using Instagram and social media for their creative outlet, and to sell their creations, you will feel it too.

I have struggled to find the words for this post, because how I feel is at times difficult for me to process, let alone articulate. For a long time I have been at a loss to find my tribe. At 35, without a family of my own yet, I have often got confused as to my position in society, my role, my purpose, my identity. Starting out on this journey, my aim was simple, to develop a lifestyle brand that was authentic to myself and the way I see the world, to create products for people who share my vision, who truly see the beauty in life most un-obvious places. To create a warm, loving home sanctuary for myself, to be financially stable, to survive.

I had no ambition to make friends along the way, if anything this was a way for me to be independent, to do something alone, without relying or depending on anyone else.

I now know this isn’t possible, life’s true blessings are our connections, our relationships and the energy that flows between us. In 4 years, I have learnt SO MUCH, every day I have found a new way to express myself, everyday I have come up with a solution for a problem, developed a products, created designs. The takings from this business are far more than financial. I have made fantastic connections; for a day, for the length of a trade show!, for months, and now for years.

Both personally and professionally I have found a sense of belonging within the design business community. These folk are just true. Creative, passionate, hard working mavericks, each singing their own tune but equally so open and willing to sing mine too.

LALALALAAAAAAAA - THANK YOU!