I have to confess that I am undoubtedly a cabinet neat freak. The pleasure I feel upon opening a cabinet door to reveal its perfectly arranged contents is so satisfying that I can spend hours rearranging cupboards, drawers and cabinets throughout my home. Unfortunately, this neatness does not always extend to the rest of the house and I have an awful habit of leaving things strewn about wherever I last used them - but when they do eventually find their way back to their cupboard, they are placed there with the utmost reverence!
I have to admit that since getting married, my husband and I
have left Valentine's Day to languish on the sidelines while we got on with
married life. The first year we celebrated by continuing with decorating our
home late into the night and feasting on a romantic take-out pizza for two! And
last year we managed to book a lovely restaurant, but we didn't get there until
11pm as we were totally preoccupied with prospective job applications... and I
think my Valentine's Card is still tucked away in my husband's bedside table!
So this year I've decided to make a really romantic dinner
for two, especially as it will be our last Valentine's before our new arrival
in April! Here's my plan of action, feel free to use any of it or if you have
any other suggestions please send them in to designstylebeauty@gmail.com and I
will add them to this post. Happy Valentine's!! xxx
I always think of chicken as the 'anti-marmite' of the protein world ... nearly everybody likes it and yet no-one has particularly strong feelings towards it! However, I have found two recipes that elavate the humble chicken to a taste sensation that will have your guests declaring a renewed love for this poultry that is so often taken for granted. Simply follow the recipes below, Sweet and Sticky Chicken & Ribs and Lemon and Thyme Chicken Delight to uncover the secrets of delicious chicken main courses. And don't be put off if you're a breast lover as these chicken thighs are so tender and juicy you'll immediately forget that you're not normally a lover of dark chicken! Enjoy!
This is a delicious chicken recipe that has never failed to delight my guests and always allows me to relax while entertaining, secure in the knowledge that this chicken will be sumptuously tender and delicately fragrant. This is also a great recipe for entertaining because you can leave the chicken in a hot oven to keep warm whilst plating up your accompaniments and it will not dry out. Finally, although the list of ingredients suggests that this will be a hot and spicy dish, I find it delicious and I am definitely a bit of a wimp when it comes to very spicy food!
Table centrepieces are not just for weddings or extra special occasions. They can liven up any dining table and transform your entertaining into something really special. And what's even better is that they can be created for very little money and effort. Here are 3 that I regularly use as the focal point of my dining table, that you can use as inspiration for creating your own fabulous centrepieces:
