It's been a little while since I last did some baking so this week I thought I would dedicate my post to my 'cooking hit list', which is basically all of the recipes I've been eyeing up over the last couple weeks that I can't wait to recreate for myself!

I'm always looking for healthy dinner ideas and I'm definitely one of those people who feels the need to finish a meal with something sweet, so my list below is geared towards ticking both of these boxes!

Dinner Hit List:

Livia's Kitchen: Avocado and Mushroom Risotto

Risotto is such a winner for me but I'd probably say that I'd classify it as more of an indulgent dinner choice due to the white rice and creamy sauces involved; however Livia's recipe really solves this dilemma. This recipe gets its creamy goodness from avocados and it can be created as either a side or a main dish. 

The Body Coach: Lean Lentil Burger with Portobello Mushroom

Joe Wicks makes cooking look quick, easy, healthy and fun! He's known for his mantra "Lean in 15" and I cannot wait for his cookbook to come out in a few months time. This recipe looks both delicious and nutritious and I've been wanting to make a burger with portobello's for quite some time now, so this is definitely on my agenda! 

Jamie's Superfood: Green Tea Roasted Salmon & Sizzling Moroccan Prawns 

I absolutely loved Jamie Oliver's superfood TV series as it provided me with so many new and different ideas for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Two recipes that particularly took my eye were his green tea roasted salmon and sizzling Moroccan prawns. Seafood is a big part of my diet and both of these recipes sound experimental and flavoursome. Normally I would drink my green tea so I'm intrigued to see how it will taste in a different context! 

Dessert Hit List:

Deliciously Ella: Carrot Cake Cookies

Carrot cake is one of my favourite cakes and cookies are an ultimate weakness of mine, so combining these two beauties together sounds absolutely glorious! These cookies are full of goodness, being made from ingredients such as oats, bananas, apples and nut butter...perfect with a nice evening cuppa!

Plant Based Pixie: Chai Flapjacks

Chai has such a warm, wintery taste and flapjacks are so lovely and comforting, so these are perfect for this time of year. I've always wondered whether herbal teas could be incorporated into recipes to add some extra flavour so hopefully these should give me an indication! 

Hemsley & Hemsley: Avocado Lime Cheesecake

Cheesecake is my favourite dessert and definitely something that I'd love to indulge in more often without having to worry about the ridiculous sugar content. This year at the Big Feastival I watched the Hemsley sisters make this dessert and I'm honestly so intrigued as to how it tastes! With the addition of lime and honey to the avocado flesh, I'm positive that this cheesecake alternative will be a delight.

So there you have it, my cooking hit list for the next few months! Hopefully I will get round to making all of these recipes before the year is up and if not, it will definitely be one of my New Years resolutions to make something new each week!

- Megan

A Hug in a Box

Subscription boxes are all the range at the moment, covering everything from snacking (Graze) to cosmetics (Glossybox) and my latest discovery - mental health.

Last week I stumbled across 'Buddybox'; a subscription box created by Blurt Foundation with the aim to make a difference to anyone affected by depression. These boxes are filled with things to help, comfort and inspire individuals that are struggling and they can be treated as either a thoughtful gift for a loved one or a means of indulging in a bit of self-care. As a former psychology student and a current volunteer in mental health, I have a great interest in finding new and innovative ways to support people and I think these boxes are a fantastic step in the right direction. 

As I write this post I'm currently browsing through the Buddybox website and I can't even begin to tell you know lovely I think the whole thing is; each month a new page is dedicated to people's reactions to receiving their boxes and it just goes to show how the little things can make a big difference-  check it out here!

If I was to design a one off box for myself I think I would include the following:

• Hot chocolate: my ultimate weakness and number 1 comfort
• A quote plaque: I really love the little quote plaques/ornaments that you find in little trinket shops - a few words of wisdom are always encouraging to read no matter what mood you're in!
• Rabbit pyjamas: Probably a bit bulky for one of these little boxes but I absolutely love rabbits and I have a guilty pleasure for buying pyjamas so this would kill two birds with one stone!
• Recipe cards: A friend of mine bought me a recipe book called "Eat Yourself Happy" for my birthday last year and its full of interesting food facts and mood enhancing recipes, which I think would be a great addition to a box like this!
• A lipstick: I am obsessed with buying lipsticks and tints so this would be a nice little extra to make me feel good about myself!
• Colouring book: Colouring books are a new trend taking the shops by storm and I definitely agree that they're a great way to unwind.

I can think of thousands of other items that I'd happily receive and I definitely think I'm going to invest is one of these boxes in the near future, whether it be for myself or someone I care about - I'll be sure to share with you the contents when I do!

- Megan