LIFESTYLE | WEEKLY ROUND UP

It's had its up and its had its downs but I've come out the other side almost in one piece.

I've finally just about managed to get my head around my dissertation topic, meaning I am now able to crack on with more productive research and planning - Hurrah!

Also,The Great British Bake Off has now finished (I'm having James withdrawals already!)

...taking myself to that dreaded question of "What do I do with my life now?".

The answer is BAKE AND MAKE AMAZING FOOD (obviously).

So that is exactly what I've been doing...

I created the best oatmeal concoction to date the other morning. It was more of a mismatched masterpiece fuelled on "I'm going to be late for my lecture but I need FOOD RIGHT NOW" inspiration.

It comprised of mashed banana, cinnamon with a few swirls of marshmallow fluff and peanut butter.

H E A V E N    I N    M Y    M O U T H .

* Unfortunately I have no picture for you...

I think it pretty much hit my stomach before my eyes even got a good glance - let alone my camera.

I will do my best to get a picture next time.

But I won't leave you without some wonderfully bad photography.

So here are some pictures (not taken on my good camera - sorry!) of a batch of banana pancakes we made last night...complete with vanilla ice cream, sliced banana and homemade peanut butter chocolate sauce.

P . S .

I've also started writing for the lifestyle section of the university newspaper, the Leeds Student.

Last week they used my Courgette Brownies recipe in an article on which you can read HERE.

I'm currently working on a double-page spread (hell yeah!) centred around a breakfast theme, with a particular focus on those bad ass OATS that I love so much. Watch this space.

RECIPE | CARROT CAKE OATMEAL

No, this is not a bowl of vomit.

It's a bowl of...

CARROT CAKE OATMEAL !

Ingredients:

30-50g of Medium Oatmeal/Scottish Porridge Oats

1 grated Carrot

2 teaspoons of Dessicated Coconut

A generous sprinkling of Cinnamon, Allspice and Nutmeg

3 drops of Vanilla Essence

200ml of Milk or Water (or more depending on your preferred consistency)

Sugar to taste

Instructions:

1.  Place all dry ingredients in a bowl and mix well.

Add the carrot, vanilla essence and the milk/water and leave for 10 minutes.

2.  Most of the liquid will have been absorbed by the oats. Stir the mixture well. You can then choose to cook it as it is or add more liquid.

3.  Place the bowl in the microwave on a high heat for 2-3 minutes...or if you've got time, pour the mixture into a pan and place on a stove on high heat for 5-8 minutes, stirring regularly. Add sugar to taste.

I have been drooling in my sleep and looking forward to waking up to a bowl of oatmeal every morning.

This Northern chill calls for the breakfast that sticks to your ribs.

I love experimenting with different variations and I have stumbled across quite a lot of "pudding inspired" oatmeal ideas from various blogs over the past few weeks.

And here are my current TOP 5 FAVOURITE OATMEAL inspirations which I will be trying out:

#1

Bruleed Baked Oatmeal from Turntable Kitchen.

#2

Chocolate Latte Oatmeal from Kath Eats Real Food.

(This woman is insane...she even has a 'Tribute to Oatmeal' page HERE).

#3

Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal from Oh She Glows.

#4

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal from Chocolate Covered Katie.

#5

Apple Pie Oatmeal from The Oatmeal Artist.