Brunching and Lunching

With the sudden realisation of how quickly my time in Newcastle is going, I promised myself that I would make the most of this year. 

Until recently I've always thought that Newcastle only really has the generic, chain cafes and restaurants. Admittedly, the unique places are well hidden, however they're definitely worth the search. 

This week I've had my fair share of brunching and lunching, starting at Olive and Bean. 

'Olive and Bean is a coffee shop, bespoke sandwich bar and delicatessen all rolled into one'

Escaping from the library, Becca and I went to Olive and Bean for lunch. With an extensive menu, we were spoilt for choice and the decision was hard. I settled for the homemade humous, falafel and sun-blushed tomato salad and it did not disappoint.

The selection of sweet treats was too much. Cakes, tiffin, brownies, cheesecake - they had it all. As always, our eyes were far bigger than our stomachs. Not letting anything go to waste, we resorted to taking doggy bags home!

Next was birthday brunch at Jam Jar in Jesmond. Having been for dinner before, I had no doubt that brunch would be equally as good. Serving full english, pancakes and eggs florentine, Jam Jar is the perfect wake up call. 

Last up was lunch at ARLO, also in Jesmond. This bistro and cafe is a real hidden beauty. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, ARLO is decorated in a quirky yet quaint way. 

This was the perfect way to spend a rainy Saturday afternoon. Catering for all, the lunch menu offers soup, sandwiches, quiche, salads and more. Make sure you leave room for the amazing cakes!

The Sloppy Lola 

Toulouse sausage Bolognese, toasted ciabatta, melted cheddar, salad & crisps

Crumbled Feta, Hummus, Sun blushed Tomato and Roast Vegetable Soft Open Tortilla

Homemade Gifts

It's January which means it's exam time.

Luckily this year I only have one exam so I'm making the most of my time at home, taking the more chilled approach to revision...

I decided to use my time productively and with one of my closest friends birthdays just around the corner, I got creative. 

I've always been a fan of homemade presents, it's such a great way to save money and add a personal touch. Some things - cushions in particular are often nicer when made yourself as you can choose the material you like and add whatever you fancy.

Having never made one myself, I took on the challenge of making a cushion. 

Mum and I made use of material we already had, along with a selection of buttons which I decided to use to form a heart for the centre of the cushion. 

Putting my hand sewing skills to test, I sewed on each button individually - turns out secondary school textiles classes were useful after all.

And there we have it, a homemade present which looks just as good as anything shop-bought! 

Reasons to Believe

'For every reason to fear, there is a reason to hope. For every reason to give up or give in, there is a reason to dig deep and try harder. And for every reason to doubt, there are countless reasons to believe in a better tomorrow.'

Ultimately, the message behind Coca-Cola's new campaign 'Reasons to Believe' is that despite all the negative things that we see day-to-day, there is more good than bad. 

Coca-Cola's marketing has always been of interest to me:

The way in which they customise their products to each and every culture. 

The way in which they are have created such a recognisable brand image. 

The way in which they shaped the image of Santa Claus. 

This new campaign continues to follow the brands values - evoking happy memories. The bold, thought provoking advert can be related to and inspire all. 

Sunday Brunch

You can always count on Waitrose for a delicious recipe and this was no exception. 

Family brunches have become a regular occurrence recently and this was up there with the best.

Banana and blueberry eggy bread.

Essentially bread and butter pudding, but for breakfast. 

This really does set you up for the rest of the day and as breakfast is the most important meal of the day, how can you resist?! 

To serve 4, all you need is:

- 2 bananas, each halved and sliced lengthways

- 8 slices Brioche loaf

- 100g blueberries

- 4 tbsp clear honey

- 4 large eggs

- 150ml milk

- Pinch of cinnamon

- 15g butter

- Icing sugar to dust

Arrange the slices of banana on the 4 brioche slices and scatter the blueberries on top.

Drizzle with honey, then place a slice of brioche on top. 

Place the eggs in a shallow dish with the milk and cinnamon. Place all 4 brioche sandwiches in the eft mixture and leave for 5 minutes to soak. 

Turn over and repeat for the other side. Keep turning until each sandwich is soaked and the egg has been used up. 

Heat the butter in a large frying pan (I was using the AGA so placed baking parchment on the top plates). Gently cook the brioche sandwiches for 3-4 minutes until each side is golden brown. 

Serve while warm and dust with icing sugar. 

The perfect treat for a rainy Sunday morning, sure to brighten anyones day.