Grilled snapper with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Whats for dinner:

It's yummy yummy yummy...though I am not a fan of snapper but this recipe I like and I eat and I finish with a smile....Here's how to:

Ingredients:

• 2 medium cloves garlic
• 1/2 lemon
• 1 tablespoon canola or olive oil
• 2 tablespoons grainy Dijon-style mustard
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Two 1-pound pieces snapper fillets, preferably center-cut and about 1 inch thick, pin bones removed
• onion finely diced
• tomato finely diced
• 1/4 cup olives
• 1 tsp sliced pickled beetroot
• potato wedge
• capsicum wedges and 1/4 diced
• carrot chunk
• basil for plating
• 1/2 tsp vinegar

Directions:

Mince the garlic real nicely. Squeeze the lemon as well.

Combine the oil and garlic in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook for 2 minutes, until the garlic has softened and rawness died.

Add the mustard, honey, lemon juice, vinegar and pepper. Cook for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, to form a slightly thickened sauce. Transfer to a wide, shallow dish and cool for 5 minutes, then place the fillets up in the dish; let them sit for about 10 minutes.

In a bowl combine vinegar, onion, tomatoes, olive and capsicum all diced up.

Grill potato wedges and  capsicum as well as the carrot.  

Meanwhile, use nonstick cooking oil spray to grease a ridged grill pan. Heat over medium-high heat.

Place the fillets down in the pan; use the sauce in the dish to evenly coat the top of the fish, making sure plenty of the garlic is there. Discard any remaining sauce. or you and skip the **last part and simply eat it with this sauce. Read end why I like it this way.

Cook the fish without turning for about 10 minutes or until it is opaque and fairly firm to the touch. 

Use a fish spatula to transfer to the fillets to a plate. Place it on top of the grilled veggies and place salsa on top. **Drizzle loads of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Serve immediately. Don't forget the pickled beetroot. Nom Nom!

N.B. I add fresh olive oil after the fish is cooked it because nutrients of olive oil burn while cooking so there is no point in eating it with your food so I add fresh uncooked olive oil in the end. Sauce I make flavors the fish nicely hence, I don't need it further to over power the dish.

Do try! xxox

Fabric flowers: Perfect for bows and hair clip.

Today why don't you try making these flower. They can be made from ribbon pieces but I made these from an old shirt. I was going to throw this shirt away but I thought they would make cute flowers. Its bright, has pink and paisley.  You can attach these flower to a pin, clip, hair band, or use it in gift wrapping. 

Here's what to do: 

Figure out a size you want, You can go as bigger or smaller you want. I usually cut rough but I measure it later for blogging and it's around 2 inches. 

Fold it in Half

Then half again, like a cone.

Then take needle and thread and sow it zig zag at the open/rounded side

Sow them in same one piece thread. Do at least 5, you can to more or even less but for some reason odd number 5 looks good to me. Maybe its a star shape.

I did not have that much of time today + I will hide the middle bit with some embellishment but if you have time and want to make ends super clean then with a lighter/tea light burn the edges slightly  In order to make then cleaner

 Then pull then tightly and they will form a shape themselves. Tie them tightly.

Then decorate as you like. You can even make different sizes and stack  them together.

They look awesome when made from silk. Njoy...xxox.

Feel the water: Clear water beaches

Being essential to keep human a human water plays a huge part doesn't it? 

Some gorgeous pristine water I would like to jump in and take a dip: 

1 To Sua Ocean Trench, Samoa

Tosua actually means a “Gigantic Swimming Hole”. It is believed that lava field blow holes making thees tide pools and walking paths along the shore and near the ocean’s edge. it is about 30 meters down from the ground level, one must climb down a long ladder to the natural pool. The pool is situated close to Lotofaga, which is a village on the south coast of Upolu island in Samoa.

2. Calanque de Sormiou, France

It's one of the big Calanques between Marseille and La Ciotat. It's most striking feature, is the quality of the water that takes shades of turquoise, unimaginable in the Mediterranean. 

3. Primosten, Croatia

It is a real miniature jewel, former fishing village and now heaven for holiday-makers. It ranks among the most picturesque small towns on the Adriatic, with a number of typical Mediterranean narrow streets in the old town core. On two sides of the island/peninsula there are two beautiful rocky beaches.

On the other small peninsula, north of the centre, are the hotels Slava,Zora and Raduca with magnificant pebbly beach with a dense pine forest. The beach stretches the length of the peninsula, followed by a path that goes through thick pinewoods.

While there visit Plitvice Lakes National Park 

4. Blue Lake, New Zealand

The visibility of distilled water is about 80 metres. Blue Lake clocks in at 76 metres. The water is considered almost as "optically clear" as distilled water.

5. San Blas, Panama

It is an archipelago comprising approximately 378 islands and cays, of which only 49 are inhabited. The area is popular for sailing, as it is known for its beauty and lack of hurricanes.

Today these were my 5 favorite even though they might change in an hour because I certainly cannot label nature numerically ever. I mean I cannot forget the waters of Italy, Greece, or that of Malaysia Thailand...and of course Maldives.

But today, now, I would like to feel the water of these someday. It's so relaxing just looking at the pictures right? How much fun would it be to actually be there one day. ^_^

Outdoor girl: L33

So you know how at times you visit vintage shops to find hidden pearls or when destiny has something planned for you, no matter how hard you try it will come find you. 

Alright that was a little to dramatic but something happened! A sales girl approached saying how a lipstick she has matches my dress and I was thinking well a match is right on my lips. Still, she insisted and I never say no to new makeup. So it turns out It's not a new brand and it's not even expensive. It's outdoor girl. 

To be honest I have not heard about it before and did a little research and not many people have blogged about it.

Anyways so It is this fabulous scarlet color and love at first sight. I brought it home and honestly did not pay much attention then recently I tried it and WWOOWWW. Glad I listened and am a very happy customer. It's luscious and a hidden gem.

The makers don't even  know what they have created. I don't want to jinx it but it is in my amazing category. The actual reason it that I had really dry lips earlier and you know when they get chapped and it's hard to apply anything on your lips. Well this miss thing did it fantastically and made space in my everyday lipstick case.

It is also cruelty free and limited edition.

I don't know where that came from as dunno if they have regulars but makers please don't stop making it.

So, If you love bright lipstick that are shiny and creamy then do get yourself one. I won't be letting this one go anytime soon. Who said awesome can't be affordable.

The Berkeley London: Designer afternoon tea, Prêt-à-Portea.

Fancy a treat you all fashionista! Then head over to the Berkeley London to have a designer afternoon tea, Prêt-à-Portea. 

The cakes and biscuits are inspired by the themes and colors of the fashion world and presented on a cake stand. 

Every six months they come up with a new menu following the fashion trend.

The new Spring / Summer 2013 Prêt-à-Portea collection this time sees designers such as Oscar de la Renta, Alexander McQueen and Prada. Held in their Caramel Room, a relaxed, friendly, intimate and discreet venue,  The Berkeley London it is the perfect place for a fashonista and they do have a  dress code, with the following clothing not allowed - shorts, vests, sportswear, flip-flops, ripped jeans or baseball caps. Elegantly smart casual is the suggested.

I loved how they had a personalized name card waiting at the table. I love how they have taken 'small things leave big impression' into consideration. The prêt-à-portea connoisseur explained each creation from  the S/S 13 menu as well has the various selection of tea/herbal infusions. 

The tea began with a plate of sandwiches  and canapes;  water prawn cone (My fav from all), melon and feta press and roasted summer vegetable tart. The meat they serve at the hotel is Halal so YaYY!  

Now towards the main stars of the show; cakes.  I got to know that the pastry chefs even go so far as attending some of the fashion shows to see their inspiration on the catwalk and various glossy magazines advise them on seasonal trends. This time the cakes that are served: 

 

Manolo Blahnik’s slingback chocolate biscuit heel with baby blue icing topped with timeless pearls 

Tory Burch’s glamorous violet halterneck biscuit bikini with magenta icing 

Oscar de la Renta playful high-waisted peach-pink bavarois shorts embellished with strawberry compote rosettes 

Dolce & Gabbana Sicilian chic pistachio green and vanilla striped pannacotta dress topped with chocolate ring 

Jason Wu coconut “Carolyn” hatbox shaped cake bag sandwiched in retro leopard print chocolate 

Balenciaga modern monochrome dark and white chocolate mousse dress set on a pecan nut brownie topped with flamenco ruffles 

Alexander McQueen whimsical yellow honeycomb cream over sized dress topped with marzipan bee 

Jonathan Saunders eye-popping ombré polka dot lemon and orange blossom dome shift dress set on a short bread biscuit 

Prada Geisha-like white chocolate and Grand Marnier oversized coat embellished with red poppies 

The Balenciage and Prada was removed as they had alcohol. How courteous!

I loved the pistachio  pannacotta, it was so light and creamy.

They offer refills so take good advantage of it though I promise you'll get full. The bread is all made fresh and is delicious.

I went all adventurous and got Wild Blossom and Berries tea. It was like having a party and yoga all in one glass. I didn't care for the cucumber gazpacho so they went ahead and changed to prawn cone (yum)! The left over were packed in lovely goody bangs. I saw a guy leaving all blushed and red not knowing how to carry it out! keke

I had a wonderful experience, the staff is so courteous a smiley which is always a + for me and a shout out the their florist: You're Fabb!  Also, I did not miss the clotted cream and scones at all. Do try it out when you're in London and ohhhh advance booking is required. You and Book here.