Slow cooked Chicken Provencal

I cook from scratch, love it and have discovered since breaking my finger,three months and still in a splint I was destined to have personal sous chefs! Chris and Paige have been great choppers,dicers and peelers, so I can still keep my hand in and cook. I may continue this routine hehe!! 

We do more food planning so that all my ingredients are chopped the day before and then I can cook at leisure,pan lifting is a bit tricky so my slow cooker has been on the side permanently. Its really helped with the heat of summer an unexpected bonus, we have been  eat a great cooked meal without melting from the heat of the oven.

 I reviewed the Tefal slow cooker http://given-to-distracting-others.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/judge-slow-cooker-review.html

I have had great success with it, my best question and find was Can you cook bread in a slow cooker? The answer was a very successful yes!! Look out for the giveaway to win one!
http://given-to-distracting-others.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/slow-cooker-bread.html

Back to this weeks recipe I so waffle, I have been reviewing more products to make life simple designed for busy cooks not just broken digits. The latest is the Just Add range herbs and spice in an easy tube,I love them, they have a three week shelf life if refrigerated,I am already half way through the garlic in a week.

Just Add removes the fiddly task of chopping when cooking meaning that you can simply reach for the squeezy tube or one shot sachet to add your desired taste sensation, which includes: Garlic, Chili, Basil, Ginger and Coriander. They are perfect for a fuss free, flavorsome supper across a range of cuisines, for example, the Coriander is great in curries and stir-frys and the Ginger makes a delicious marinade. Available from Tesco Asda, Waitrose and Ocado
http://www.justadd.me.uk/

I used the Just Add Garlic and Basil for this slow cooked chicken, its a lovely alternative to snipping leaves or crushing garlic and stringy ginger.The basil especially had a lovely fresh aroma and in  the finished dish it was very evident.

To make a Slimming World Chicken Provencal, just use fresh garlic and basil.
I made this a rather herby chicken,feel free to omit or add herbs of your choice,most  of the recipes start as a certain dish then I tinker!

Do not be alarmed by the size of the dish above I doubled up my recipe,as I was taking some to London for my Mum and Dad.



Serves 4
Ingredients

1 red pepper, cut into large chunks
1 green pepper, cut into large chunks

1 onion sliced

450 grams chicken breast or thigh
400g tin chopped tomatoes
1 tbs tomato purée
1 tsp Just Add garlic
1 tsp Just Add basil

A few sprigs of fresh thyme

Black pepper

Method

Fry the chicken if you want to but I did not this time as using breast pieces. It tastes the same either way and saves even more time.

The method again is very simple,place all ingredients in your slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours!

Disclosure Just Add sent me the Garlic, Basil and chill range to try. I received no other payment,my views are my own.

THINK SMART ABOUT YOUR WARDROBE

MARK HEYES CALLS ON BRITISH WOMEN TO THINK SMART ABOUT THEIR WARDROBES

·         The average British woman owns over 100 items of clothing

·         Research shows women admit to having 10 items of clothing they have never actually worn

·         Women in the North West have the most unused items of clothing with 20% having more than 11 unused items

·         Women admit to wearing clothes a maximum of 10 times before throwing them away

We are a nation obsessed with the latest trends; we spend £63.7 billion* on clothes collectively each year, so it should be no surprise that the average woman owns over 100 items of clothing. However, despite the bulging wardrobes and options a plenty, research by Comfort Brights fabric conditioner reveals 10% of the average woman’s wardrobe is made up of clothes they have never actually worn.

Of the clothes they do wear, women admit to wearing them a maximum of 10 times before throwing them away, with the main reason for doing this being that once they’ve washed them, they never quite look the same.  Three quarters of women say if their clothes were to stay brighter and whiter no matter how many times they were worn, they would wear them again and again which is why Comfort Brights – a fabric conditioner specifically designed to help keep your colours and whites brighter and more vibrant– is on a mission to get the nation thinking smarter about their wardrobes with their ‘7 Days, 7 Ways’ campaign with leading fashion stylist Mark Heyes.

Mark Heyes says: “As someone who loves fashion, I know how easy it can be to get carried away with the latest fashion trends, but I also want to inspire women to embrace versatile and stylish capsule wardrobe pieces that will stand the test of time, especially if they’re well taken care of with products like Comfort Brights.”

According to the research, half of women say they generally buy cheaper clothes but more often. However, given the chance, a whopping 77% say if they could they would choose to buy fewer, on-trend but classic, staple items of clothing that are higher quality.

Mark commented: “Capsule wardrobes are proving a real trend, with celebs and even our very own Princess showing off how many great looks you can create with a few wardrobe staples.”

Mark Heyes’ Top 7 Style Tips

1.                  Be a savvy shopper. I know it’s difficult but sometimes taking a step back before hitting the till with an arm full of clothes is the sensible thing to do. It’s all too easy to be seduced by trends, colours and sparkles. The question is, are you going to wear those clothes when you get them home? Visualise what you already have in your wardrobe and work out what you’ll wear them with.

2.                  Quality over quantity. We all love a bargain, but sometimes a bargain just isn’t so. Especially when you either don’t wear it or it simply falls apart. When it comes to classic pieces, quality over quantity is definitely the way to play it. All of your classic pieces will be the core of your capsule wardrobe. For example, a crisp white shirt is a brilliant staple that can be worn in a hundred different ways. Just make sure you take care of them and use Comfort Brights fabric conditioner to help keep them looking newer and stylish for longer!

3.                  Recycle. Breathe new life into those pre-loved items, and give them a new lease of life. Try layering a bright neon vest under a sheer blouse or top, to bring it bang up to date. Or with the help from a friendly alteration shop, think about changing buttons on a coat or blazer for just a couple of pounds. The possibilities are endless.

4.                  DIY design. Get creative and make your own clothes and accessories. Think about attaching a necklace onto an old t-shirt neckline, popping some lace on the bottom of a top. Or if you’re feeling really adventurous, pick up a new skill like knitting or crocheting and make your very own hat, scarf or jumper!

5.                  Care for you clothes as you would your skin or hair. Clothes are made to last, and to do this they really need looking after. Give them a bit of TLC by using Comfort Brights fabric conditioner – it will help keep your bold colours bright and your whites super white; that way they’ll stay looking newer and fresher for longer.

6.                  Swap ‘til you drop. Set up a clothes swap with your friends or colleagues where you all bring in clothes you no longer wear. Seriously, one person’s ‘trash’ is another person’s treasure, you could find your new favourite outfit for free, and it feels great to have a clear out.

7.                  Shape up. Knowing your body shape is the key to successful shopping and dressing. If you’re apple shaped, meaning you carry weight on your upper half, then opt for bright colours down below. If on the other hand you’re a curvy pear shape and carry weight on your hips and bottom, wear brights up top and draw attention away from your areas of concern. In other words, let the colours do the talking and accentuate your best parts with them.

Win an ilumi Hamper

Its time for a giveaway and I can guarantee a tasty one.I have reviewed for ilumi a couple of times now, http://given-to-distracting-others.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/ilumi-gluten-free-foods-review.html however happily I can rave about them for no reason other than my love of the brand and give you a chance to discover a range that is 'free from' lots of food intolerance products but really not free from taste!

If you have a dairy,nut or gluten intolerance they are the company to take a look at. I have a nut intolerance at times, its mild and some nuts I am  fine with, I have to check ingredients still.  My friend has a gluten allergy, she says she is fed up with scouring packs to find food that she can eat, ready meals and soups are off the menu as she cannot risk an upset.

The brilliant benefit of ilumi is they take away the worry of finding a quick meal that can be prepared easily, its great for people who are out at work all day.
They cook all our meals from scratch - and package them too.  No complicated chain of  supply, they make it and they deliver to your door so you can have peace of mind if you do have an allergy.


Now allergies aside, the food is seriously good, as well as my original review for the meal and soup range ,I recently tried out their new cooking sauces a Kerala and a Red Thai.We loved the fresh tasting sauce,The Thai  has all the ingredients I would use myself, not an E number or additive in sight.

On top of all this the price is a real incentive,from £1 for rice to a meal being £3.75, this company are ensuring  a health range that is healthy for your purse,they often have great discounts and free delivery to your door if in the UK

Now ilumi have asked me to ask my readers for some input,they are developing the range further and have asked us for some ideas, maybe you have a meal you fancy seeing in the range, a new sauce, maybe something different. Ilumi will be reading all the suggestions so pop it down here. Take a look at the existing range and tell us what you would like to see.

http://www.ilumiworld.com
One lucky commenter will also win a Mini hamper worth £17 plus free delivery. The hamper consists of:-  Pork, Mushroom and Madeira Kerala Chicken Curry Beef Meatballs in Tomato Sauce Vegetable and Chickpea Jalfrezi Cardamon Chicken Along with an exclusive ilumi bag!!

Use the Rafflecopter to enter capture and keep your details private and do not forget to post your idea!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lego Lunch Box How cool!!

Th conversation on my daughter's Facebook page went  like this

I'm going to be the coolest student! — with L....

• L OMG so cute! U r so gonna fit at uni! All the cool kids will b wel jel!  haha 

  
  

  10 hours ago via mobile · Like · 1
• LC where did you get these from!!!!

  10 hours ago via mobile · Like · 1
• 

  Paige  I don't know, Mum got them! I'll let you know! I know 

  
  

The biggest question was where can we all get them from, Store A Place For Everything.co.uk is the place, its a great place to really sort out storage solutions for your home, from boxes and baskets, storage furniture,kids toy storage ideas, to lunch boxes that are great for 'Back To School' and Uni students as you can see.

This Lego Lunch Box intended for Back To School  has created a stir amongst uni students  Facebook friends and visitors to our  house whose student days are far behind. I cannot post all the comments on facebook as they mixed with banter not fit for a blog post. However the main gist is that everybody wants  a set! 

What is so cool about these are the Lego design Licensed by LEGO themselves and distributed in the UK by STORE, The set consists of a lunch box, smaller insertable boxes and a drinking bottle with the iconic LEGO®Minifigure head as a lid. The lunch box looks like an oversized LEGO® brick and can be matched with the smaller insertable boxes for small, healthy snacks. The LEGO® lunch range definitely makes lunchtime more fun…for children of all ages!

They also have a really cool Giant Lego Head storage container!

So whether your 

child is a boy or a girl, and whether they like strong graphics or cool 

simple design, they are sure to find a lunch set they love.

http://www.aplaceforeverything.co.uk/home-storage/lego-lunch-storage-box

http://www.aplaceforeverything.co.uk/home-storage/lego-drinking-bottle

SmoothSkin by ipulse Patch Test

I have read the manual for the SmoothSkin by ipulse. I blogged just recently about my hair irritations and if you want a laugh at my expense have a read here http://given-to-distracting-others.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/ipulse-smoothskin-permanent-hair.html

I promised I would let you all know how it goes.

My desire to be hair free and the chance to make it a reality is exciting and I wanted to leap in and start zapping the unwanted hair, but I had to be patient. Its very important to read the manual thoroughly. Not only will it help me carry out the treatments effectively, the system works for most people but there are certain skin tones, times in your life and  people who will not be able to use it.

Ok first things first the patch test,I had to shave the area I wanted to do, I read its important to shave, not pluck wax or epilate,the hair shaft is needed in order for the unit to work.


The area needed to be cleansed and then patted dry. I chose my leg but I will probably work on my underarms first as I want a smaller area to get used to used to it and report my progress.

Intelligent Skin Tone Sensor

I placed the Skin Tone Sensor to  the reading and happily my skin scored 3 which means in future my legs are OK to treat.

The sensor must be used for future sessions on different parts of the body as obviously skin tone varies from place to place.


Next I have to apply the Activator gel, I placed it into the fridge for a cooling effect,and because its a heatwave today! I smoothed it on and got ready to treat!

The handset is then ready to use. I placed the contact bar directly onto the prepared area and it also advises to look away from the handset. 

Job done,no pain, just a 48 hour wait until I can start.


http://ipulse.co.uk

Superstitious Gifting to ruin someone’s Special Day

Perhaps you despise them, perhaps you don’t care. Regardless of the what’s and why’s, here a some ways you can absolutely ruin someone’s day, ensuring them a bag of bad luck, death or maybe an even worse fate.

Get your evil Christmas presents from gettingpersonal.co.uk.

Warning: before you go ahead with ruining someone’s day you should consider that, if they ever fall to your malicious design, you will have to live with that guilt forever… forever… forever… the echo is for dramatic effect.

A wallet with no money

Buying someone a wallet without any money in it will basically ensure that person never has any money ever. You are condemning them to abject poverty.

If you do put money in, make sure you put in an even number. Giving someone £10 is a horrible thing to do. You shouldn’t even be thinking about it, you monster.

Give everyone knives for Christmas

A gift of a knife or a pair of scissors suggests that you want to cut off your relationship with that person. Give a knife to everyone, but pass it handle first because you should never forget safety.

If they try to give you a coin in return it’s because there the superstition states that it counts as paying then and not a gift. If they hold out their hand with pennies in it, punch them in the hand. It’s also bad luck to get punched.

Umbrellas make it rain on your happiness

Giving someone an umbrella as a gift is back luck for them. Opening an umbrella inside is bad luck. Disguise a closed umbrella as a different kind of gif and then make them open it indoors while you rejoice. Sing that Rihanna song for dramatic effect.

Death Clocks

In China, the phrase ‘to give a clock’ sounds the same as ‘to attend a funeral.’ No one has ever specified why exactly that means it’s bad luck, and there can never be a reasonable explanation why they didn’t just make two phrases, but if you get someone a clock you might as well be saying that you want them to die.

Conversely, watches don’t make people die, so make sure you don’t get them a watch, or you risk getting someone a nice gift.

What Four?

East Asian communities sometimes have superstition surrounding instances of four. This is called tetraphobia. If you wanted to ensure absolute destruction of the soul, you should buy your dearest East Asian an umbrella, a wallet with no money in, a knife and a clock.

Evil planning - complete.

This is a sponsored post.

Cargo Uni shopping

Well its drawing closer, the day Paige steps out into the world on her own, moving into halls of residence and studying like mad, oh and wild parties ...I won't go there.

The last few weeks have been a shopping whirlwind for essentials for her room and kitchen in halls.

She is now budgeting and has been keen to buy good quality items but at low cost.

Both she and I love our pretty decoration and for needed  items like bedding and crockery I encouraged her to buy for her eyes as well as practical use. So she has a lovely floral vintage style bedding set,cute plates and Cath Kidston teapot and cup set.

Cargo asked if I would like to look at their range that is ideal for uni and well any home. You may remember I featured their cake stand and fab vintage style cake tins recently. They are a great addition to the kitchen, not just practically but they are attractive and great to have on display.

They sent Paige a lovely Hearts tea towel and Buttons photo frame.  These will brighten up her uni rooms no end!

Hearts Tea Towel 2 for £6

The tea towel is really thick,will be great for Paige as she plans t ocook a lot at uni,which brings the inevitable washing up and drying. Its £3.50 for one and 2 for £6 which for the quality and thickness is very reasonable!

Buttons Photo Frame £8

The   pastel buttons are placed in a chequerboard design amongst brightly-painted squares with diagonal stripes. Its a nice size for her room,she is unable to put anything on the wall,she has a new bedside table and will be choosing a nice photo to go in it, I'm hoping its of me!! 

http://www.cargohomeshop.com/