Christmas Month!

December has come, finally!

Gingerbread, the pine scented candles, the hot chocolates with marshmallows, the songs... I could go on and on about what's happening during Christmas month, the cold breeze coming around nighttime which makes you want to get into a hot, steamy shower and get in your warm, cozy bed. 

This time, I'm not talking about the goodies that December has to offer us, but I'm going to talk about my favourite films. The ones I watch every year. Some are more recent films, year after year, I added a few more to the list. Do not worry it isn't going to be the longest list even though, I would add a lot more if I had the time. Being an adult means less time to get around my "me" time. Struggling with friends, family, and work... 

So I thought I would share this famous list of mine with you. Hopefully, I will give you a new film to watch! 

Little one...

"Love Actually" (2003)

Number one movie that I cannot get over, cannot stop crying over, and since it's British, I love it even more! How can someone hate it? I don't understand you if you have never seen it or dislike it? Go watch it now! Little plus, the actors are amazing... Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Liam Neeson, Andrew Lincoln, Colin Firth, Bill Nighy, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Martine McCutcheon, Rowan Atkinson, and many others as good as the other. 

Number two...

"The Santa Clause" (1994)

"The Santa Clause 2" (2002)

"The Santa Clause 3" (2006)

I've been watching them since I was a child, in French, but I would watch them all the time. It's part of my childhood.

Little three...

"Elf" (2003)

I believe it's people's favourite... It's such an amazing story, a great film that each year since it came out, it's all over the internet, mugs, I mean Americans go all over this movie each time Christmas is coming. 

Number four...

"The Polar Express" (2004)

I know it's a kid's movie, but how can you not want to watch such a beautiful film? The hot chocolate song always gets me! Give it a shot! 

Little five...

"Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (2000)

I recently got my head around watching it a couple of months ago and I was far from disappointed! The little girl in the movie cannot be more perfect, caught my heart fast! 

Number six...

"A Christmas Carol" (2009)

First time, I ever watched it I was in France, and oh my... It brought me to tears. The movie shows great life lessons. 

Little seven...

"A Child's Christmas in Wales" (1987)

Brings me back to a childhood dream of mine... A snowglobe, rain instead of snow, bedtime stories... Couldn't get better than this film... 

Number eight... 

"Home Alone" (1990)

As a baby in the 90's I couldn't get away from this movie despite being born in Europe! 
I believe it's more a classic movie that anyone could fall in love with at any age. 

Enjoy my list if you are ready to watch any of them. I know, I will make sure to get on the list even if it's much longer than what I gave you! 

Christmas isn't here yet, but trust me when I write this...
I will talk about Christmas a lot! So GET READY!

"What if Christmas, he thought doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more." - Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

~Bella

Welcome back Spring...

Let's take these little dresses, shorts back out of the closet! Spring is here! 

As many of you have been waiting for this day to come, well I'm glad to announce you it has finally arrived! Winter is over, the snow, the rain is slowly starting to go away for better days. 

Spring is the best time to achieve a new goal, start new beginnings, it's the season for fresh new opportunities, for me it just means, new reading, new cooking recipes. 

I went through a few British recipes and came across a quite easy salad which made me feel hungry right away. 

Fiery Broccoli and Chestnut Mushroom Salad

Ingredients and Method

* 1 head of broccoli (about 300g total weight)

*2 tablespoons olive oil

*3 shallots, sliced

* 1 large fresh mild red chili, deseeded and cut into julienne (matchstick) strips

*2 tablespoons caster sugar

*2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

*finely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon

*15 fresh chestnut mushrooms, quartered

*sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper (black pepper)

*poppy seeds to garnish

Remove the broccoli florets from the stalk and cut them all to the same size. Cook the florets in a saucepan of boiling salted water for 4-5 minutes or until tender. Drain, refresh in ice water, then drain again and set aside. 

Peel off the outer layer from the broccoli stalk, then use a mandolin to finely slice the stalk into wafer-thin discs. Set aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large, non-stick frying pan over a high heat and sauté the shallots for about 5 minutes or until golden. Add the chili, then reduce the heat and sauté for a further 3 minutes. Add the sugar, white wine vinegar, and lemon zest, stir to dissolve the sugar, then bring to the boil. Once the mixture starts to boil, remove the pan from the heat, add the broccoli stalk discs, stir and then transfer to a bowl. Set aside to cool and infuse. 

To cook the mushrooms, wipe the frying pan clean, then heat the remaining oil in the same frying pan over a high heat, add the mushroom quarters, salt and pepper and sauté for about 8 minutes or until golden brown. Stir in the lemon juice. 

Mix the sauté mushrooms, broccoli florets and pickled stalk discs together. Arrange the salad in your chosen bowl or an individual serving plate and garnish with a sprinkling of poppy seeds. The salad is now ready to be served slightly warm or it can be cooled and chilled before serving if you like. 

I personally don't put any chili in the salad even if it doesn't make it that spicy, I prefer not to put it just in case something gets a bit too much for me. For the mushrooms, we can't always get some chestnut mushrooms, sadly, so any mushrooms you may like, please go ahead and use them. 

"No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow."

~Bella