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sweet potato, quinoa and greens w/peanut dressing 03.03.2020

A healthy, plant-based student meal

Last night I made this for dinner, and wow, it was so delicious! It is also very nutritious, filling your soul with beautiful, wholesome food.

1. Start by cutting up a small sweet potato in rough chip shapes. Keep the skin on - it’s where all the nutrients, fibre and antioxidants are! 

2. Place them in the oven at 200°C electric or 180°C for fan ovens. drizzle over olive oil and season with salt and pepper. These will take around 40 minutes to cook. 

3. Once in the oven, make the sauce. Mix together peanut butter, olive oil, lime juice and maple syrup in quantities to taste. Start with less, you can always add more!

4. Now you have around 10-15 minutes spare, and I just sat and chatted with my flat mates.

5. Then get the quinoa cooking, which usually takes about 20 minutes when I add it to boiling water. Watch it as it is obvious when it is done! 

6. Finally, prepare the greens. I chose tenderstem broccoli and asparagus (on offer in Tesco!). These take around 5-7 minutes.

7. Then assemble all together, and drizzle the peanut dressing over the top then scatter some peanuts for some extra crunch and protein. 

This meal is a great plant-based meal for post-workout as it contains a high protein content. it was delicious after my evening run with the Athletics club. 

NUTRITIONAL CONTENT: 

Sweet potato: fibre, vitamin C, antioxidants and potassium                                  Quinoa: high protein content - one of the only plant based options to provide all              9 amino acids, calcium and its gluten free!                                                  Broccoli: Vitamin A, phosphorus, iron and folate                                                  Asparagus: Vitamin K, E, B12, antioxidants and chromium                        Peanuts: Biotin, manganese, folate and much much more!

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A 2-day itinerary for Brussels 01.03.2020

With Brussels being in the centre of Europe, and so well connected, it is easily reachable. For me, this meant a 2hr Eurostar journey from St. Pancras, London. Upon arrival in Brussels, you are met with a typical ‘grungy’-urban, suburb district. The station is so close to the main town square, about a 25min walk, depending on how many photos you like to take, down Avenue de Stalingrad through Stalingrad district. This has a big Moroccan and Turkish influence which is really interesting and shows how culturally diverse Brussels is.  

    1. Take a free walking tour. These need to be pre-booked but I cannot recommend them enough. The volunteers have such a passion for the city; hence they offer their time. Their knowledge is second to none. Ours was booked for 11 and lasted until 1:30. I recommend tipping (5-10).

    2. After this, you will most likely to be very hungry, and, depending on the time of year, also freezing. Head to Sainte-Catherine and eat in Ballekes. This urban café serves wholesome, food, with a big focus on traditional cuisine. There are vegan and vegetarian options also. I highly recommend the vegan meatballs with tomato sauce and sprouts!! My sister loved her beef meatballs, with cheese sauce. This area is very local and has a radiating, happy vibe, where lots is happening.

    3. Next, head to the Melting Pot, a vintage clothes lovers dream. It is about a 2-minute walk away and definitely worth the visit. If you are conscious about the fast fashion industry, this is a great shop! The price is 15 euros per kilo. They had a huge array of jackets in particular. The shop was extremely organised and clean. 

    4. Now head to the European quarter, this is one of the longer walks but there is no point taking transport. By walking, you get to see so much of the city which you would miss otherwise. You go through the Grand Palais, up and through Mont des Arts, past the Place Royale Bruxelles in Koningsplein square and through Parc de Bruxelles. From the top of the park, head straight down Rue Belliard and you will be right in the European quarter. The transition to modernist architecture is fascinating, and the whole district feels both very formal and energetic.  Today, head to the House of European History. Check before if there are any temporary exhibitions on and, if there are, allow more time. We went to the exhibition on youth movements during the 20th century which was incredible! The permanent exhibitions focus on the Cold War primarily, but also key events from science to the arts, that marked the 20th century. 

       5. We now headed to check into our Airbnb, located perfectly in Ixelles. I really couldn’t recommend this Airbnb for two enough if want to be right in the heart of a very local area. It gave us both a different perspective of the city, something we would have missed staying in the tourist traps in the old town area. 

    6. In the early evening, head into the local district of Flagey. There are numerous independent restaurants but what we found was a hidden gem and I cannot recommend it enough! It was called Takumi, they serve fresh, delicious Japanese cuisine. We tried edamame, gyoza, ramen and the chicken salad and everything was exceptional. Oh, and the home-made iced tea was to die for! The staff were so so lovely and friendly, which really made our meal. The restaurant is tiny, so potentially book if you are a bigger group, but they do not make you feel at all rushed. What’s more, the interior is insanely funky, with red neon lights, Japanese text and posters, so much thought had been given to every minute detail. It really was a perfect meal.  

    7. As a British person, it is easy to forget that most European cities are pretty sleepy on a Sunday morning. Brussels is no exception. Don’t be fooled by opening hours online, we tried to go into two cafes for breakfast which were both closed! Luckily, we found Fika. A chic, independent café. The coffee was delicious, and the brioche bread melted in our mouths. We were the only ‘tourists’ inside, and the vibe was very local. 

8. From here, this is a great location to visit the Parliamentarian. This is such an informative exhibition, we both learnt so much about defining events of the 20th century and how the EU became the institution it is today. Both the Parliamentarian and European House are completely free, including the lockers and an exceptionally good audio guide is provided! Highly recommend. Also, don’t forget to go into the free photo-booth! 

    9. From here, it is only time to get a waffle. Our tour guide told us there are two types. The smaller, sweeter version (what most people think of) with many toppings being the Liège waffle and the traditional one which is longer. The traditional one is delicious on its own – which is what I tried. Our guide told us that the prices do not vary around the city, and pretty much everywhere has a similar standard. Due to the cold, we opted for Gaufre De Bruxelles, which, right in the middle of the Old Town was a bit a tourist trap, but they were delicious, and the smell wafted around the restaurant!

    10. Can a visit to Brussels be complete without trying Belgian chocolate? Absolutely not! Head to Chocomuseum, a brilliantly interactive museum which tells the full history of chocolate, from its Inca origins to the industry in Brussels. Oh… and every half hour there’s a demonstration on how to make pralines… tasting recommended!!

    11. For your last few hours in a city I think it’s really important to leave them free. Spend this time visiting anywhere you hadn’t already, or re-vising your favourite spots. Its these independent times of exploration where you find your own jems. Every corner has a different mural, with another story to tell. But if you’re looking for a place to start, try the streets of Matonge. 

    12. I don’t think there is anything more wholesome than a picnic dinner. Just before we caught our Eurostar home, we popped into one of the Moroccan bakeries called Boulganrie Tazaghine in south Stalingrad (on the same street we took to reach the main square on the first day) to get some snacks for dinner. The owners were lovely, and even warmed up our food.

This really shows how much you can fit into 48hrs in Brussels. The city is small enough to be able to walk everywhere which is what is great, as you are seeing so many interesting sights as you get from A to B. If I were to go back, I would however check out the Musée Magritte and Tich café.

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Brussels 14.02.2020

Late 2019 I was lucky enough to win the #DiscoverEU pass. Sadly, due to #brexit, I had to use it by the 31st of January. With university and prior commitments, I knew I wanted to go somewhere that was easily accessible with a direct transport link. But I also wanted to go somewhere which was rich in history, home to cultural differences and a place I hadn’t yet been to. This led me to Brussels…

In this first post as part of my #Brusselsbest series, I will talk about Brussels as a place, what we learnt, how the people were and the rich culture. I will be doing further posts about ‘What to do in 36 hours in Brussels’, ‘Eating and Drinking in Brussels’ and a more in-depth account of the ‘History and Culture’.

The charm of Brussels truly captured me. I left feeling a buzz in my stomach, as if I had come across a little unknown world which I just wanted to be a part of. As cliché as it may sounds, Brussels really is a hidden treasure chest of cultural diversity, entertainment and history. What always stands out to me, wherever I go, is the people. The locals make or break your opinion and lasting impressions of a place, and the locals of Brussels were some of the kindest, most cheerful people I have met. From the Turkish baker, the waitresses, our walking tour guide, the off-licence owner, our Airbnb host – everyone was wonderful. They each had their own thing going on, were so engaged in whatever was most important in their lives, and always had a smile and time to chat. It was as if the city was breathing inclusivity and togetherness. The city was so representative of the world, so many nationalities visible across the different districts we visited such as Dansaert, Stalingrad, Matonge, Freedom Quarter and Jourdan. Each area had its own melting pot of traditions, but with a welcoming air that floated throughout them all. We never felt like outsiders. At a time politically, as a British citizen, I feel the country becoming more isolated, this was refreshing.  

The city was one of the most empowering places. Somewhere whilst travelling, I’ve felt most alive. For the arts, the city is electric. Around every corner is another mural, another Art Deco feature, Baroque building or Art Nouveau wonder. It goes without saying that there really is something for everyone. The whole concept of ‘Brusselism’ underpins the city, which I will go into greater detail in a future post. The juxtaposition of the city somehow faultlessly compliments itself. It is impossible not to be inspired.

To contrast the creativity culturally, there is the European Parliament. This in itself in poignant and I really felt as this embodied the EU. The inclusivity of the institution reflected on every wall in the city. The quarters felt alive and buzzing, the energy evident from the huge glass building which is the Hemicycle. To me, this was particularly special. Sadly, I felt the most European than I ever have in my life. But Brexit aside, the very fact I got the opportunity to visit Brussels through #DiscoverEU was fulfilling enough, and I really felt like I had done my ticket justice!

If you can’t already tell, Brussels went far beyond and pre-existing expectations. 

I would return in a heartbeat.

Here are some of my favourite photos from my trip, which I believe optimise the fascinating city of Brussels.

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the beginning 10.02.2020

‘The beginning is the most important part of the work’ – Plato

This blog has been a dream of mine for years, but the beginning has always seemed so daunting. I didn’t know the direction, the content. I didn’t have the confidence. I don’t know how to convince you that I’m not just joining the band wagon of blogging, which seems to have come full tidal force at the online world in recent years.

My passions will be combined in my posts. This will be my creative outlet. I will be discussing the topics of travel, perhaps the most invigorating concept in, excuse the pun, the world, recipes, focusing on healthy habits and nourishing ingredients that fuel the soul, not restrict it, as I did for so long and university, a roller-coaster of academic stimulation, opportunity and fulfilment.

All content in this blog will be my own, from the written posts to the photography – a hobby of mine I want to develop. Please do not take without permission:)

So, let’s begin...