Recipe: Soup Scentral

January 3, 2017January 3, 2017 ~ Harper220

While today is indeed Tuesday, January 3rd, in many ways it is the official beginning of 2017. Most people are back to work, back to school and have their New Year’s Resolutions in full speed mode.

One of the biggest New Year’s resolutions has to do with food. Let’s face it, the holidays are all full of temptations and indulgence is standard operating procedure. But what if there are those of us that don’t want to go on a diet? As I have said before, I for one try to avoid things with the word DIE in it. So instead of DIET I like to LIVE it! Continue reading →

Recipe: Honey Mustard Apple Chicken

December 23, 2016December 23, 2016 ~ Harper220

Recipes this time of year are usually related to festive fare. Yet we still need food to eat beyond the Christmas table. Unfortunately most people are so busy with shopping and parties, meal time is the last thing on their list. So quick trip to a take away or pizza delivery suffices. We could use a recipe that is quick and easy and still relatively healthy. Because we will have enough indulgence for the month of December, right? Enter the Honey Mustard Apple Chicken. Served with a nice rice pilaf and green beans sauteed in shallots and this could become your go to dinner for 2017! Continue reading →

Recipe: Woman Crush Wednesday

December 21, 2016December 21, 2016 ~ Harper220

I’m back in London and ready to fire up the oven for another edition of Woman Crush Wednesday! My fav day of the week. Another female chef is going to be getting the love and we are getting an amazing recipe recreated live on Snapchat (my username is blissbakery if you’d like to come watch). With this being the last Wednesday before Christmas we have to make something festive. But with all the temptations looming, it would be nice to have a not so naughty option. Enter the ever fabulous healthy eating expert Amelia Freer. She is the British nutritionist that not only has two best selling cookery books but has helped umpteen celebs get on the right track with a passion for good, clean food. Continue reading →

Recipe: Woman Crush Wednesday

November 30, 2016November 30, 2016 ~ Harper220 ~ 1 Comment

I am so excited for today for several reasons. First off you know that Wednesday is my favorite day because it is Woman Crush Wednesday and one lovely chef will be getting the love. I am also excited since we are just back from Malta and I will be using some of the ingredients I got while we were there in today’s recipe. And lastly it is day 30 of my #30daysofgratitude Snapchallenge. So there will be lots of LOVE and appreciation in our midst.

Continue reading →

Recipe: A Petite Thanksgiving

November 24, 2016November 28, 2016 ~ Harper220

As I shared in last year’s Thanksgiving post (click here to read) this is my favorite all time holiday. Reading back over that post myself, I give some pretty descriptive reasons why that is so. Therefore, I won’t rehash them (though if you haven’t read the post yet you might be enlightened) but I did want to share a new recipe and a little story with you today. Continue reading →

Recipe: Woman Crush Wednesday

November 23, 2016November 23, 2016 ~ Harper220

It is flat out cold this week, so our lovely Woman Crush Wednesday chef is going to warm us up! Without a doubt we have to make a soup, and the gorgeous gourmet gal perfect for inspiration today is Allegra McEvedy. She is also a resident of London so she’s probably bundled up as well. And I hope she enjoys the lovefest over on my Snapchat channel (username blissbakery) where I will recreate live her awesome Beet and Bramley soup recipe! Continue reading →

Recipe: That’s a Wrap

August 22, 2016October 24, 2017 ~ Harper220

While trying to maintain the balance of naughty and nice, I have a recipe for you today that would definitely fit into the nice category. It is gluten free and filled with veggies and yummy smoked salmon. It is easy to make and very refreshing on a hot summer’s day as we’ve had here in London lately. And if you don’t mind the gluten, why you could always put all the bits and pieces into a flour tortilla and make it into a wrap. But I like to do things a bit differently ,as you know, and have used the cucumber itself as the wrap! You just need to have good knife skills or else a mandoline slicer.

Smoked Salmon Cucumber Wraps

Ingredients:

1 cucumber, sliced lengthwise into thin sheets

1 pkg 100 g smoked salmon

4 Tbsp Philly Cream Cheese

Handful of Rocket (arugula)

2 Tomatoes sliced into strips, removing seeds

1 Avocado, peeled, de-stoned and mashed

Small squeeze of fresh lemon juice

Fresh chopped or dried dill

Salt and Pepper to taste

Toothpicks

To assemble:

Place cucumber sheets in between (kitchen) paper towels to soak up a bit of moisture while you prep other ingredients. Then on a clean cutting board place one cucumber sheet and spread it with cream cheese. Spread avocado on top of cream cheese. Place the smoked salmon on top of that. Season with salt and pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice. Place the tomatoes and rocket leaves on top. Carefully roll from one end of the sheet to the other and secure with toothpick. You should have enough to make 8 rolls. Put on platter and sprinkle with dill.

This Smoked Salmon Cucumber isn’t the only wrap. Our time with Quincy Jones here in London is over. And in showbiz when a event is finished they say, “That’s a wrap.” He was here for the weekend for his Royal Albert Hall concert and we were so blessed to be with him. I mentioned our visit with him on Saturday evening. But to be at The Royal Albert Hall (our first time there) and see him perform was phenomenal. At 83 this dear friend just keeps on inspiring. Not just with his talents of course, but his LOVING spirit. Not sure if we will see him next back at his place in L.A. or other parts unknown. We were with him at the Montreux Jazz Festival a couple of years ago and have also met up at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival in Czech Republic. But no matter where or when, we just want to wrap our hearts around each other in gratitude!