Jekyll2019-10-14T18:59:38+00:00https://www.lydiasigne.com/feed.xmlLydia SigneA blog about all things books, food and life.Lydia SigneEdinburgh2018-04-03T11:00:00+00:002018-04-03T11:00:00+00:00https://www.lydiasigne.com/Edinburgh<p>You’ve probably noticed that recently my blog has been rather bare. To rectify this, I thought I’d share with you what I got up to on a recent trip to Edinburgh. I might also do a little update post on what I’ve been up at some point – let’s just say that most of the time I’ve been consuming copious amounts of caffeine and working my way through a never-ending pile of university reads. For now, grab a warm cup of something and enjoy having a little read about what Dom and I got up to in Edinburgh - enjoy!</p>
<h1 id="exploring">Exploring</h1>
<p>As a belated birthday present, Dom booked for us to go to Edinburgh. I’ve visited Scotland a few times before but never had the chance to visit Edinburgh, so I was really looking forward to exploring this enchanting city. The first thing that struck me as I came out of the train station was the sight of the gothic castle mounted on the hill. The castle sits on top of a cliff and really does have a sense of magic about it - so much so that I was expecting to see a dragon take flight from it at any point. Now, I’m not a huge Potter fan, but this city has encouraged me to maybe try and give the books another go. Edinburgh is an ideal place to visit if you are a Potter fan though as it is said that J. K. Rowling wrote some of her books here, and you can certainly see why this Gothic city would stimulate tales of magic.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/life/edinburgh/new_town.jpg" alt="Edinburgh New Town" /></p>
<p>We stayed in the New Town, not too far off Princes Street, and location wise it was ideal as it encouraged us to explore all areas of Edinburgh. On the first day, after dropping off our bags at our hotel, we decided to go for an explore around the Old Town. Firstly, we decided to ramble up the rather hilly yet idyllic winding roads to the area of the city where the university can be found. It’s vast in size but has a welcoming feel, and it’s well worth a wander around. Surrounding it are numerous cobbled streets, memorials and independent shops. Following our little explore of the university area, we decided to walk part of the Royal Mile up to the castle, where you can find breath-taking panoramic views of the city. You can go into the castle, (which appears to resemble more of a mini village) but we chose not to do so this time. Even so, we would definitely recommend wandering up to it just to see the views.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/life/edinburgh/castle_views.jpg" alt="Castle Views" /></p>
<h1 id="coffee-and-cocktails">Coffee and Cocktails</h1>
<p>There are numerous tour buses around the city, but Dom and I found walking around (despite the rain) a delight, as you really do see more on foot. Walking off those calories also meant we could indulge in more food. In fact, another reason why we headed up to the Old Town was to try out one of the city’s numerous independent coffee shops. Situated near to the university is a café called Brew Lab which offers some pretty wonderful cups of coffee and tea. It had a buzzing atmosphere both times we visited, so much so that it was rather difficult to find a seat. The first time, I ordered a Columbian brewed coffee (which is basically a slowly filtered coffee). All of their filters are served black, but don’t let this put you off as you really don’t need milk. Due to the slow brewing of the coffee, it has a wonderfully rich yet mellow flavour. The coffee shop itself also offers a selection of loose leaf teas, some warm food, stone-baked filled baguettes, cakes and decadent brownies (the peanut butter brownie is a must have). Its décor is industrial in style, and it also offers free Wi-Fi which appeared to attract numerous students who were frantically working away at papers. It really does have a welcoming feel, and we liked it so much we had to venture to it again on the last day just to have another coffee. I sadly don’t have a picture of my brewed coffee (I was too eager to glug it down), but the pictures below show mine and Dom’s flat whites which we ordered on our second visit. (If you do stumble across this coffee shop, I would 10/10 recommend their Columbian filter).</p>
<p><img class="post-image post-image-pair-left" src="/img/blog/life/edinburgh/brew_lab1.jpg" alt="Lyd's Brew Lab Flat White" /><img class="post-image post-image-pair-right" src="/img/blog/life/edinburgh/brew_lab2.jpg" alt="Dom's Brew Lab Flat White" /></p>
<p>After walking a fair few miles around the city on our first day and having a spot of dinner, we wanted to extend the evening and found a bar to have a few drinks. Now, I’m not much of a drinker as I’ve already said, but I wanted to try this underground cocktail bar called Bramble. This bar is not easy to find! It is situated in the New Town in a small basement underneath a dry-cleaners. Its location may not sound appealing, but it is well worth a visit as you feel like you are in a secret little cave. They offer a wide range of different cocktails to suit all different tastes, but don’t go expecting old favourites like a Piña Colada or Mojito, as most of the drinks crafted are unique to the bar. They do though serve up a Bramble which Dom informs me is well worth a try. It isn’t the biggest of bars, due to being situated in a basement, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in comfort and atmosphere. There is very little phone signal in this bar which is ideal because it allows a bit of a digital detox and encourages you to relax and appreciate the music. Due to its rather low-light, I only managed to take one quick snap which I’ve included below. My drink is the one on the left and was a Mint 500 it was delicious. I would 100% recommend this bar as an ideal place to relax and spend a few hours.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/life/edinburgh/bramble_cocktails.jpg" alt="Bramble Bar's Cocktails" /></p>
<h1 id="royal-yacht-britannia">Royal Yacht Britannia</h1>
<p>On our second day in Edinburgh, we took a short bus ride to Leith to visit the museum of the Royal Yacht Britannia. I know this may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it really is well worth a visit. You get to explore the majority of the ship and are offered (included in your ticket price) an audio-assisted tour which really made the museum experience thoroughly engaging and informative. They’ve designed the tour expertly and there is a relaxed feel to wandering around. There is a teashop on the sundeck and additional guides to help answer any additional questions you may think of whilst passing through this luxurious yacht. My highlights were the state drawing room and the engine room, both completely different but equally as interesting. The tour takes around two hours and I would encourage anyone to go and have an explore because they really have ensured that everyone can have an enjoyable experience. Another great thing about this museum is that they actively encourage photographs, so I’ve added a few below. As we travelled up to Edinburgh by train, we didn’t have use of a car, but this wasn’t an issue as there are many buses which run to the Ocean Terminal where the museum can be found. For an all-day bus ticket, it cost us £4.00 each and the journey takes around 30 minutes. (You can use the bus ticket then throughout the rest of the day to escape the rain and rest those weary feet!)</p>
<p><img class="post-image post-image-pair-left" src="/img/blog/life/edinburgh/port_view.jpg" alt="Port View of the Yacht" /><img class="post-image post-image-pair-right" src="/img/blog/life/edinburgh/queen_bedroom1.jpg" alt="Queen's Bedroom" /></p>
<p><img class="post-image post-image-pair-left" src="/img/blog/life/edinburgh/dining_room.jpg" alt="State Dining Room" /><img class="post-image post-image-pair-right" src="/img/blog/life/edinburgh/drawing_room.jpg" alt="State Drawing Room" /></p>
<h1 id="more-coffee">More Coffee</h1>
<p>Dom and I are always on the hunt for coffee stops, and after our visit to the Royal Yacht Britannia we were parched and decided to try Fortitude Coffee. This coffee shop is situated near to the Scottish Portrait Gallery and has a Nordic minimalist feel. It offers coffees, loose leaf teas, cake, soups and a selection of sandwiches. It is far smaller in size than Brew Lab, and it feels like you are in the owner’s home. Here I decided to sample another brewed coffee and yet again opted for a Columbian blend (if you haven’t guessed by now Columbian coffee is my favourite). This coffee shop has a far calmer and solitary feel than Brew Lab due to its smaller size. (I wouldn’t recommend this coffee shop if there are a large group of you as it only has seating for about 10 people). It is well worth a trip if you are looking for an expertly crafted coffee and an escape from the bustle of the city. I’ve included a photo of my generous filter coffee below and Dom’s beloved flat white.</p>
<p><img class="post-image post-image-pair-left" src="/img/blog/life/edinburgh/fortitude_filter.jpg" alt="Lyd's Fortitude Filter" /><img class="post-image post-image-pair-right" src="/img/blog/life/edinburgh/fortitude_fw.jpg" alt="Dom's Fortitude Flat White" /></p>
<h1 id="calton-hill-and-the-royal-mile">Calton Hill and The Royal Mile</h1>
<p>As the second day was the best weather wise, Dom and I decided to amble up to Calton Hill. From here there were mesmerising panoramic views of Edinburgh, and it felt like you were taking a country walk rather than exploring the capital of Scotland. It’s elevated as it makes up part of the volcanic area of the city along with Arthur’s seat and really was breath-taking. It is also where the observatory is which is currently undergoing renovation. If we’d have had more time, I would have liked to have explored this park area more, but sadly I’ll just have to save that for my next visit. Below I’ve included a selection of photographs from this park and viewpoint.</p>
<p><img class="post-image post-image-pair-left" src="/img/blog/life/edinburgh/princes_street_from_calton.jpg" alt="Princes Street from Calton Hill 1" /><img class="post-image post-image-pair-right" src="/img/blog/life/edinburgh/princes_further_back.jpg" alt="Princes Street from Calton Hill 2" /></p>
<p><img class="post-image post-image-pair-left" src="/img/blog/life/edinburgh/calton_looking_north.jpg" alt="Looking north from Calton Hill" /><img class="post-image post-image-pair-right" src="/img/blog/life/edinburgh/arthur_seat_from_calton.jpg" alt="Arthur's Seat from Calton Hill" /></p>
<p>At the end of the second day my feet were rather heavy as we also decided to walk the Royal Mile in its full length. We started off from the Palace of Holyroodhouse and walked all the way up to the Castle. Next time I visit, I really fancy having a look around this palace and its gallery. All along the Royal Mile there are views to occupy the eye, memorials, churches, different architecturally styled buildings and a buzzing atmosphere. You seem to almost pass through the generations. On our way back to our hotel we took a less touristy route and walked around the back of the Castle. I really was taken aback by the castle, and it was great to be able to view this landmark from so many different points.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/life/edinburgh/palace_of_holyroodhouse.jpg" alt="Palace of Holyroodhouse" /></p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/life/edinburgh/castle_from_the_south.jpg" alt="Castle from the South" /></p>
<h1 id="final-sights">Final Sights</h1>
<p>Our final day was spent having another cheeky coffee from Brew Lab and exploring the Scottish National Gallery. The permanent collection of the gallery isn’t very large and can easily be perused in under an hour. My highlights were some of the paintings which detailed how the city used to look in the seventeenth and eighteenth century and the gallery’s selection of Impressionist paintings. On our way back to the train station, we took a short meander into the Princes Street Garden. This park again is home to many ornate memorials and statues and is somewhere I’d love to explore in more detail next time.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/life/edinburgh/open_air_theatre.jpg" alt="Open Air Theatre Princes Street Gardens" /></p>
<p>I loved visiting Edinburgh and scratching the surface of what this enchanting and intriguing city has to offer – I can’t wait to return!</p>Lydia SigneYou’ve probably noticed that recently my blog has been rather bare. To rectify this, I thought I’d share with you what I got up to on a recent trip to Edinburgh. I might also do a little update post on what I’ve been up at some point – let’s just say that most of the time I’ve been consuming copious amounts of caffeine and working my way through a never-ending pile of university reads. For now, grab a warm cup of something and enjoy having a little read about what Dom and I got up to in Edinburgh - enjoy!Simple Oaty Goujons2017-10-22T08:00:00+00:002017-10-22T08:00:00+00:00https://www.lydiasigne.com/Simple-Oaty-Goujons<p>Some evenings you just fancy something a bit comforting, and this recipe fulfils that without being too unhealthy. I created this one with my little sister Izzy in mind, and it is intended to be served with her favourite condiment ketchup, but it can be jazzed up and enjoyed in numerous ways. It’s also super easy to prepare, with very few ingredients.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/food/chicken_goujons/featured_goujons.jpg" alt="Served Goujons with Sauces" /></p>
<h3 id="ingredients">Ingredients</h3>
<ul>
<li>Approx. 500g chicken mini fillets</li>
<li>1 large egg, whisked</li>
<li>3 heaped tbsp plain white flour</li>
<li>60g rolled oats (crush the oats a little)</li>
<li>Salt</li>
<li>Cayenne Pepper</li>
<li>Oil of your choice for greasing the baking tray</li>
</ul>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/food/chicken_goujons/ingredient_flat_lay.jpg" alt="Ingredient Flat Lay" /></p>
<h3 id="method">Method</h3>
<p>Preheat an oven to 200°C / 180°C fan / gas mark 6 and grease a baking tray. Next, set out three bowls and place the flour in one, whisk the egg into another and in the third bowl put the oats. In the bowl with the flour, grind in some salt and pepper. Now take the mini fillets one at a time, and cover first in the flour, then dip into the whisked egg and finish by rolling in the oats. Once you’ve dipped the mini fillet in all of the bowls, place it on the greased baking tray. Repeat this process until you’ve used up all of your chicken.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/food/chicken_goujons/before_bake.jpg" alt="Goujons before baking" /></p>
<p>Pop your yummy oaty chicken in the oven, and place a timer on for 25 minutes. Half way through the cooking, it’s a good idea to turn your chicken so that it’s crispy all over (but if you can’t be bothered, don’t worry, they will still be fine!). Once the timer’s up, check your chicken is piping hot all the way through and enjoy!</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/food/chicken_goujons/served_goujons.jpg" alt="Served Chicken Goujons with Sauces" /></p>
<h3 id="suggestions">Suggestions</h3>
<p>These goujons are not only yummy, they’re also incredibly versatile, and you can enjoy them in many different ways. They could be a starter, a side, or the main body of a meal for lunch or dinner. They are also ideal for children and would be fun for them to make (obviously under supervision). I tend to enjoy these with sweet potato chips, on top of a fresh salad, or even in a pitta with hummus.</p>
<p>I really hope you enjoy these. Do stay tuned for some more ideas in the coming weeks.</p>
<p>Lydia Signe x</p>Lydia SigneSome evenings you just fancy something a bit comforting, and this recipe fulfils that without being too unhealthy. I created this one with my little sister Izzy in mind, and it is intended to be served with her favourite condiment ketchup, but it can be jazzed up and enjoyed in numerous ways. It’s also super easy to prepare, with very few ingredients.Chilli Con Carne2017-09-30T14:00:00+00:002017-09-30T14:00:00+00:00https://www.lydiasigne.com/Chilli-con-Carne<p>This is my version of a chilli con carne. It’s a firm family favourite, and once you’ve invested in the numerous spices (sorry about that) it is relatively cheap to make. It’s also an ideal dish to freeze into portions for future use and is a relatively healthy dish when served with rice or a jacket potato. If you’re not keen on kidney beans, feel free to swap them out for chick peas or omit them altogether. The quantities below should make 4-6 portions.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/food/chilli/ingredient_flat_lay.jpg" alt="Ingredient Flat Lay" /></p>
<h3 id="ingredients">Ingredients</h3>
<ul>
<li>1 tbsp olive oil</li>
<li>1 onion, finely diced</li>
<li>2 cloves of garlic, minced</li>
<li>2 large carrots, grated</li>
<li>70g tomato puree</li>
<li>500g lean beef mince</li>
<li>1 tin chopped tomatoes</li>
<li>1 tin red kidney beans, washed and drained</li>
<li>450ml beef stock (made using one full stock cube)</li>
<li>2 tsps hot chilli powder</li>
<li>2 tsps ground cumin</li>
<li>2 tsps ground coriander</li>
<li>1 tsp ground cinnamon</li>
<li>1 tsp dried oregano</li>
<li>2 dried bay leaves</li>
<li>1 tsp sugar</li>
<li>Freshly ground salt and pepper</li>
<li>1 red pepper, deseeded and chopped (optional)</li>
<li>200g closed cup mushrooms, chopped (optional)</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="method">Method</h3>
<p>Take a heavy-bottomed casserole pan and add one tablespoon of olive oil. Add the finely diced onion with a pinch of salt and sweat over a medium heat. Once the onion has started to soften and become transparent, add the garlic to the pan and allow it to cook for around 2-3 minutes. Now throw in the minced beef and turn up the heat slightly. Break up the mince into small pieces and cook until it is browned. Whilst the mince is browning, prepare your beef stock.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/food/chilli/mince_mix.jpg" alt="Mince Mix Cooking" /></p>
<p>When the mince is gorgeous and brown, add the following: 2 tsps of hot chilli powder, 2 tsps of ground coriander, 2 tsps of ground cumin and 1 tsp of ground cinnamon. Once the spices have been added, give the mixture a good stir and allow to cook for around two minutes. The pan should now be giving off a wonderful aroma, meaning it’s time to add the tomato puree. Make sure this is mixed in thoroughly, it will act as the thickening agent.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/food/chilli/add_tomatoes.jpg" alt="After Adding Tomatoes" /></p>
<p>Next, stir in the chopped tomatoes and hot beef stock along with the bay leaves, dried oregano and sugar. Once these are all mixed in, add the grated carrots and kidney beans. Now top it off with a generous grinding of black pepper and a pinch of salt.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/food/chilli/add_kidney_beans.jpg" alt="After Adding Kidney Beans" /></p>
<p>Turn up the heat on the casserole dish and bring the contents to the boil. Keep it boiling for two or three minutes, then turn the heat down to low and allow it to simmer away for forty-five minutes. Keep an eye on it though, and give it a good stir every 10-15 minutes to ensure it doesn’t catch. I usually leave the lid off so that the chilli can reduce down and become lovely and thick, but if you prefer it a little looser, place the lid on loosely after twenty minutes.</p>
<h3 id="serving-suggestions">Serving Suggestions</h3>
<p>Once cooked through, taste your chilli con carne and adjust the seasoning as you see fit. I usually serve this dish over rice or with a jacket potato, but you could even serve it over nacho chips for a laid-back naughty dinner.<br />
If it’s a little too spicy, you can serve a dollop of soured cream on the side to tame it. On the other hand, if you want an added bite, top it with a good helping of freshly chopped coriander and pickled jalapeños.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/food/chilli/dinner_table.jpg" alt="Dinner Table" /></p>
<p>I do hope you find this chilli con carne as yummy as my family do!</p>
<p>Lydia Signe x</p>Lydia SigneThis is my version of a chilli con carne. It’s a firm family favourite, and once you’ve invested in the numerous spices (sorry about that) it is relatively cheap to make. It’s also an ideal dish to freeze into portions for future use and is a relatively healthy dish when served with rice or a jacket potato. If you’re not keen on kidney beans, feel free to swap them out for chick peas or omit them altogether. The quantities below should make 4-6 portions.Exploring Ibiza2017-09-17T09:00:00+00:002017-09-17T09:00:00+00:00https://www.lydiasigne.com/Exploring-Ibiza<p>Having just got back from a week long holiday in Ibiza with my boyfriend, I thought it would be fun to share our experiences with you. We stayed for a week in Santa Eulària des Riu on the eastern side of the island, situated just under ten kilometres from Ibiza town itself. When my boyfriend suggested Ibiza, somewhere he used to visit as a child, I was fairly reluctant as I’d only ever acquainted it with partying, but actually this small Island has a very varied appeal. I thought in this post I’d share with you some of the places we visited and loved. Sadly, we didn’t take the camera with us everywhere, but still took some interesting photos of the island to share.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/life/ibiza1/santa_eulalia_bay.jpg" alt="Santa Eulalia Bay" /></p>
<h1 id="santa-eulària-des-riu">Santa Eulària des Riu</h1>
<p>This little costal town has a beautiful promenade which we enjoyed strolling along in both the day and the evening. It has plenty of bars stretched along it, and although some of my friends will be surprised, I did actually frequent them! We particularly loved Restaurante Atenea with its seats on the promenade, looking out over the sea. I would highly recommend the sangria here (shocker, I drank alcohol). The best part is that at around €6 each, their very tasty cocktails will not break the bank.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/life/ibiza1/bar_atenea.jpg" alt="Restaurante Atenea" /></p>
<h1 id="cool-down-time">Cool down time</h1>
<p>Ibiza is hot with almost guaranteed sun, and I certainly needed to find ways to keep cool! I’ll be honest, I’m usually a shade hopper, but due to the numerous beaches there were plenty of places for me to swim and cool off. The small beach in Santa Eulària des Riu, close to the marina, is an ideal place for a dip. Not only is the water here beautiful and clear, but the beach also – as they’ve worked incredibly hard to clear it of litter and cigarette butts.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/life/ibiza1/marina.jpg" alt="Marina" /></p>
<h1 id="a-yummy-little-treat">A yummy little treat</h1>
<p>We found another way to cool down at a frozen yoghurt joint called Ice Wave. Here you could pick from a yummy selection of different fruits or chocolate biscuits to flavour the frozen yoghurt, and top it with anything from dark chocolate to desiccated coconut or berry sauce. After picking what to flavour and top your frozen yoghurt with, they prepared it in front of you on a freezer plate. We went here twice on our trip, and both times it was just as yummy. If you are in the area and would like to try it, you can find it set back from the marina close to the small play park in the centre of the town.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/life/ibiza1/river_mouth.jpg" alt="River Mouth" /></p>
<h1 id="a-secluded-spot">A secluded spot</h1>
<p>The only thing we weren’t too keen on about Ibiza was just how busy and crowded it can be. As I’m a person who loves a bit of quiet time, it is perhaps not surprising that I craved somewhere to escape to, away from all the people (we were staying in a large hotel so it couldn’t always be found there). Luckily though whilst trawling through trip advisor for the local area, we found some good suggestions.</p>
<p>The most recommended was the Puig de Missa, a quaint catholic church situated on a hill looking over the town. Many reviews highlighted how the church could be approached by taking a picturesque walk along the river. We found directions online for the walk and followed them, and I’m so glad we did. It provided all the seclusion and beauty I craved.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/life/ibiza1/puig_from_river.jpg" alt="Puig De Missa From River" /></p>
<p>We did the walk at around five o’clock, and it was the perfect time. Not only was it quieter, but the temperature had dropped, making it all the more enjoyable. I would hedge my bets and say that this walk would be relatively quiet at any time because although the walk is wonderful it is quite steep in parts. You do have to conquer some steps and there are a fair few inclines, but honestly the views both along the walk and from the top of the hill make it all worthwhile. Just be certain to take ample water with you as there aren’t really any places to stop along the walk and buy any, and due to the heat we found ourselves drinking a lot more.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/life/ibiza1/old_bridge.jpg" alt="Old Bridge Plunge Pool" /></p>
<p>The route takes you along the river and up to an old plunge pool, complete with a little waterfall. There are signs all along the walk informing you on what used to stand in different parts, and how the land had previously been used agriculturally. It was interesting to learn how the town had developed and changed over the centuries (I’m a sucker for a bit of history). Sadly, we missed out on visiting the small museum which you pass on the walk due to the time of day, but honestly I don’t think I could do this walk in the midday heat. It is a shame that we didn’t get to explore the museum as I heard from a couple we got talking to one night that it was certainly worth a visit.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/life/ibiza1/ascent_puig.jpg" alt="Ascent to Puig De Missa" /></p>
<p>Once we had ambled our way up to the church we were not left disappointed. At the top of the hill we were rewarded with panoramic views of the town and further, it really was breath-taking. Also, the church was not only spiritual, but quiet and a welcomed escape from the hustle and bustle of the town.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/life/ibiza1/view_from_top.jpg" alt="View From The Hill" /></p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/life/ibiza1/flower_near_puig.jpg" alt="Flower Up The Hill" /></p>
<p>I hope you enjoyed reading this post about Santa Eulària. If you did, look out for the second blog post about my travels around the island.</p>
<p>Lydia Signe x</p>Lydia SigneHaving just got back from a week long holiday in Ibiza with my boyfriend, I thought it would be fun to share our experiences with you. We stayed for a week in Santa Eulària des Riu on the eastern side of the island, situated just under ten kilometres from Ibiza town itself. When my boyfriend suggested Ibiza, somewhere he used to visit as a child, I was fairly reluctant as I’d only ever acquainted it with partying, but actually this small Island has a very varied appeal. I thought in this post I’d share with you some of the places we visited and loved. Sadly, we didn’t take the camera with us everywhere, but still took some interesting photos of the island to share.Mac And Cheese Gratin2017-09-08T17:00:00+00:002017-09-08T17:00:00+00:00https://www.lydiasigne.com/Mac-and-Cheese-Gratin<p>This is a rather indulgent and comforting recipe which can be made with fairly limited ingredients. You can make this dish with a pasta shape of your choice, so don’t rush out and buy anything in particular. I find that with the quantities suggested below, this recipe serves five hungry people.</p>
<h3 id="ingredients">Ingredients</h3>
<ul>
<li>1 tbsp oil</li>
<li>8 thick rashers of smoked bacon, cut into bite size chunks</li>
<li>1 onion, diced</li>
<li>300g closed cup mushrooms, thinly sliced</li>
<li>2 garlic gloves, minced</li>
<li>1 tbsp dried thyme</li>
<li>450g pasta (good options are macaroni, penne or fusilli)</li>
</ul>
<h4 id="cheese-sauce">Cheese Sauce</h4>
<ul>
<li>550ml semi skimmed milk (and a little extra to remoisten the bake later)</li>
<li>50g plain flour</li>
<li>50g butter</li>
<li>150g grated mature cheddar</li>
<li>2 tsps Dijon mustard</li>
<li>A pinch of ground mace</li>
<li>Salt and pepper</li>
</ul>
<h4 id="topping">Topping:</h4>
<ul>
<li>150g - 200g of bread (best if slightly stale)</li>
<li>Approx. 15 fresh basil leaves</li>
<li>3 tbsp grated parmesan</li>
<li>A drizzle of extra virgin olive oil</li>
<li>Salt and pepper</li>
</ul>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/food/mac_and_cheese_gratin/flat_lay.jpg" alt="Ingredient Flat Lay" /></p>
<p>Preheat your oven to 190°C / 170°C fan / gas mark 5, and lightly grease an ovenproof dish large enough to hold your yummy pasta mix.</p>
<p>Now begin to warm your milk over a very low heat, ensuring it doesn’t boil (it can turn very quickly so just keep an eye on it). Whilst the milk is warming, dice an onion, and cut the bacon and mushrooms into small slices. Heat up a tablespoon of fat in a large non-stick pan over a medium heat and add your thinly diced onion with a pinch of salt. Once the onions are translucent, add the minced garlic cloves and let them cook with the onions for around two minutes. (You might now want to check and perhaps turn off your warming milk). Finally, add the bacon, mushrooms and the tablespoon of dried thyme, stirring every now and then. Once this mixture is lovely and cooked through, transfer it to a bowl to mix back in later and put the pan to one side, ready to be used for the cheese sauce.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/food/mac_and_cheese_gratin/base_mix.jpg" alt="Base Mix" /></p>
<p>Next, boil up a pan of water to cook the pasta in. As this is going to be a pasta bake, and I don’t like mushy pasta, I usually take a minute or two off the cooking time stated on the packet. Once cooked, drain your pasta and allow it to stand until assembly time.</p>
<p>Whilst the pasta is boiling, to the pan which you’ve cooked the lovely meaty, mushroomy mixture in, add your 50g of butter and allow it to melt over a low heat. Then, slowly mix in your flour, stirring constantly with the butter for around a minute. When there is no sign of loose flour left, slowly add in your warmed milk and whisk together constantly. When all the milk has been added and the sauce is lovely and smooth, turn up the heat to medium and bring it to the boil. When it has come up to the boil, immediately turn the heat right down and add a generous pinch of salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper to taste. Add the ground mace, grated mature cheddar and Dijon mustard to the white sauce. Mix until the cheese has melted, and taste. Don’t be afraid to add more salt, pepper or mustard if necessary.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/food/mac_and_cheese_gratin/cheese_sauce.jpg" alt="Cheese Sauce" /></p>
<p>Cover the pan containing the cheese sauce with cling film to help prevent a skin from forming, and set it to one side whilst you make your herby breadcrumbs. To a food processor, add your bread and whizz until it forms small breadcrumbs. Next, add the fresh basil leaves and whizz for a further twenty seconds or so. Finally, add a drizzle of olive oil, the grated parmesan and some salt and pepper.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/food/mac_and_cheese_gratin/pasta_mix.jpg" alt="Pasta Mix in Pan" /></p>
<p>Now the fun part: assembly. To the cheese sauce, add your cooked pasta and mushroom-bacon mix. Stir this thoroughly, and transfer to the pre-greased ovenproof dish. If at this point the mix looks a little dry, add a dash of milk. Finally, top with the herby breadcrumbs and place the whole thing in your preheated oven. Bake this for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked through and the breadcrumb topping gorgeously golden.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/food/mac_and_cheese_gratin/before_baking.jpg" alt="Grating Before Baking" /></p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/food/mac_and_cheese_gratin/after_baking.jpg" alt="Baked Gratin" /></p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/food/mac_and_cheese_gratin/full_meal.jpg" alt="Full Meal" /></p>
<p>I usually serve this comforting dish with some freshly chopped tomatoes, mixed with some additional basil leaves and balsamic dressing. If you fancy, you can also add to the tomatoes some green salad leaves.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/food/mac_and_cheese_gratin/table.jpg" alt="Dinner Table" /></p>
<p>I really do hope you enjoy this comforting dish.</p>
<p>Lydia Signe x</p>Lydia SigneThis is a rather indulgent and comforting recipe which can be made with fairly limited ingredients. You can make this dish with a pasta shape of your choice, so don’t rush out and buy anything in particular. I find that with the quantities suggested below, this recipe serves five hungry people.Dracula2017-09-02T17:00:00+00:002017-09-02T17:00:00+00:00https://www.lydiasigne.com/Dracula<p>This post follows on from the previous first year uni reads post covering Persuasion, so <a href="/Persuasion">give that a read</a> if you haven’t already!
Here I look at the second book we were encouraged to read for the prose module: <span class="book-title">Dracula</span>, written by Bram Stoker in 1897.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/books/Dracula/Dracula_front.jpg" alt="Dracula Front Cover" /></p>
<h3 id="an-overview">An Overview</h3>
<p><span class="book-title">Dracula</span> was far more popular with my seminar group. This was made particularly evident when the first assignment came round, and I found myself in the minority, choosing to focus on <span class="book-title">Persuasion</span> for my formative assessment. <span class="book-title">Dracula</span> was deemed to be interesting and thrilling, whilst <span class="book-title">Persuasion</span> was largely considered dull.</p>
<p>Now, with my previous post I provided a brief summary of <span class="book-title">Persuasion</span>, but I sense that the story of <span class="book-title">Dracula</span> is far better known, so I’ll get to my review sooner. However, if you do want to get better acquainted with the tale without reading the novel, there are numerous films and summaries available to read and download or buy online.</p>
<p>So, let’s get down to the nitty gritty!</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/books/Dracula/Dracula_study.jpg" alt="Dracula Study Session" /></p>
<h3 id="the-review">The Review</h3>
<p><span class="book-title">Dracula</span> the novel quite frankly isn’t my cup of tea. I label it as the novel because I find the plot of <span class="book-title">Dracula</span>, as retold in numerous film and theatre productions, far more enjoyable and appealing than the novel itself. Bram Stoker laid the foundations for a wonderful story, but the novel itself for me was a little dull. Don’t get me wrong, I can appreciate the appeal of the tale of <span class="book-title">Dracula</span>, and have actually performed the part of Lucy in a school play, but the reading of this text was laborious.</p>
<p>Although the plot is shocking and exciting, the novel itself plods along at an alarmingly slow pace.
I feel like this is due to the epistolary style adopted by Stoker, in which the narrative is told through many different mediums and narrators. He uses letters, diary entries, ship logbooks and newspaper articles to convey the storyline, which although all ordered chronologically, are at times confusing to follow, and incredibly slow in getting to the juicy parts of the tale.</p>
<p>I perfectly understand that this writing style was probably adopted to make the reader feel on edge and uncertain in the narrative, but I just don’t think it worked for this text. The switching and changing from location to location was intended to add interest, but just made me yearn for the plot to move forward. I admit that I perhaps am not the best judge of this genre as gothic horrors are never normally my first pick, but even so I really did give <span class="book-title">Dracula</span> a fighting chance, and just didn’t feel wowed after reading it. Actually, I felt rather disappointed and deflated. I remember vividly the chore it was to pick up this novel, and the willpower it took to read it completely. I would have shelved this text if I wasn’t required to read it for my course.</p>
<p>Although this post may have an incredibly negative tone, and for a few may even be shocking to read, have no fear, it is not all doom and gloom! Though I may have very strong opinions on this text, others did too, and I have to say it really did make for interesting discussions in seminars. Moreover, <span class="book-title">Dracula</span> is an ideal novel to study, because you can really explore and open up passages of it. For example, we had many discussions regarding the feminist dimensions of the novel, as well as numerous debates about Stoker’s choice to cast Count Dracula as a foreigner. To be honest, I probably should have written one of my assignments on this text because although I didn’t enjoy reading it, I loved studying it.</p>
<p>I can’t lie and say I loved this novel, because quite frankly I didn’t, but I’m equally not going to tell you to ‘keep away’ from it or say you won’t see the charm in it. For me, this novel wasn’t a masterpiece or the ideal read, but for others it was. That’s the wonderful thing about books, they have the ability to divide and unite people. What I can say with conviction about <span class="book-title">Dracula</span> is that Stoker should be admired for creating such a wonderful plot and character that lives eternally in the memory of so many.</p>
<p>So, if you fancy giving this novel a read – do it! I think because I was so well acquainted with the plot of this novel before reading it, the magic of discovery was taken away slightly. If you don’t know the tale of Count Dracula, and his numerous victims and hunters, you will probably enjoy this novel far more than I did. Perhaps then this text falls victim to the film and stage, with their adaptations wooing me before I experienced the true origin of Dracula in Bram Stoker’s novel.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/books/Dracula/Dracula_open.jpg" alt="Open Dracula Book" /></p>
<h3 id="the-judgement">The Judgement</h3>
<p>This is tricky. I loved studying this text, and I think the plot is genius, but what it boils down to is: “would I read it again?” and “would I encourage a friend to read it?”. The answer to both of these questions is no. Therefore, I would give it a <span class="rating">5/10</span>. It feels rather mean to give a novel considered a classic text a such low rating, but if I had reviewed it without any input from course peers and discussions in seminars, the rating would have been far lower.</p>
<p>I hope you enjoyed reading this post. The next book review will be on the third text of this module, so keep your eyes peeled for it.</p>
<p>Lydia Signe x</p>Lydia SigneThis post follows on from the previous first year uni reads post covering Persuasion, so give that a read if you haven’t already! Here I look at the second book we were encouraged to read for the prose module: Dracula, written by Bram Stoker in 1897.Hello2017-08-29T17:00:02+00:002017-08-29T17:00:02+00:00https://www.lydiasigne.com/Hello<p>I have wanted to start a blog for what feels like an eternity now, but haven’t really felt confident enough. On numerous occasions I’ve written posts, or designed a blog, but have never been brave enough to share it. This year, I have decided enough is enough, and feel ready at last to share with you some of my written mumblings.</p>
<h1 id="the-categories">The Categories</h1>
<p>As you’ve probably seen from the homepage, I’ve divided my posts into three categories and I thought I’d go over why I picked these. Hopefully I can whet your appetite for what to expect from these blogging categories.</p>
<h1 id="books">Books</h1>
<p>So, the first category is books, which will perhaps come as no surprise to some who know me, as I’m currently studying English Literature at the University of Birmingham. It wouldn’t be a massive leap to presume that because I study English Literature that I love books; in fact, I have been a passionate reader from an early age. Although reading hasn’t always been easy for me (it isn’t really now, if I’m totally honest), it’s something I’ve always enjoyed doing. Therefore, it felt only natural that within my blog there should be somewhere I could share with you my love of books.</p>
<h3 id="what-can-you-expect-from-this-category">What can you expect from this category?</h3>
<p>As I study English, I thought it would be fun to share with you some of my university reads. I know people are always interested to know the sort of things that are read at university, so I thought this was a great platform for me to be able to share what I get up to. Now, as not all the texts I read are novels or poems, this blog will only feature a small selection of the types of things I study. However, if you would like to hear more about the quirkier or more contextual pieces I study, don’t hesitate to ask, and I will be able to include posts on that content. I want to emphasise that it will be a selection of the texts I read, because we study so much content that my blog would be littered with technical fodder, and might end up quite dull! Also, I don’t always love or enjoy the texts I read, and I want to share with you the ones I’m most passionate about.</p>
<p>In this category, I envisage being able to share with you some of my most loved books. Those which I’ve picked up one day on a whim, and had superglued to my hand for days, unable to put them down. I can’t really pinpoint any genre which this section of my blog will be heavily focused upon though, as I really do love all kinds of books and read anything. Don’t be surprised if one week I’m reviewing or discussing one of the non-fiction texts which has inspired me, and the next chattering on aimlessly about a childhood fave.</p>
<h1 id="food">Food</h1>
<p>I’m a real foodie, I just love food and cooking, so again this was a no-brainer for me to include on my blog. From a young age, I have loved baking, cooking and concocting things in my kitchen. When one meal ends, I’m never too far off thinking what needs using in the fridge, and what I can create for the next. Also, as a person prone to overthinking, I find cooking to be incredibly therapeutic, and a great stress release.</p>
<h3 id="what-can-you-expect-from-this-category-1">What can you expect from this category?</h3>
<p>Mainly recipes. These are ones I’ve crafted myself, and I really hope you find them as yummy as my family and I do. There’ll be all sorts of recipes here: quick fixes, family favourites, midweek pick-me-ups , university necessities and even indulgent weekend treats. I hope to inspire a few people to either love cooking as much as I do, or try a recipe which they never thought they would. I’ve tried to make recipes that are not only yummy, but easy to follow. I’d love people to give them a go and let me know how they find them.</p>
<p>Also in this section (as my mind is never too far away from books), there will be reviews and recommendations of recipe books. For some, buying clothes is their vice, but recipe books are mine - I just can’t help collecting them!
There are some recipe books which I couldn’t live without, and I feel like this is a great place to share those with you. Every now and then, there may also be recommendations for eateries that I’ve tried and think you may like also.</p>
<h1 id="life">Life</h1>
<p>The final category is named life, because it’s going to be the one I can post anything I fancy in. It will be a place in which I can share with you what’s currently going on in my life. It will also be where I house anything else I feel passionate about, or believe is important for you to know.</p>
<h3 id="what-can-you-expect-from-this-category-2">What can you expect from this category?</h3>
<p>Unlike the other sections of my blog, this one is going to be a real pick ‘n’ mix. There will more than likely be posts about my experiences of university as a student living at home. I will also share with you some of my favourite places to visit and holiday destinations. As I’m a lover of film and theatre, occasionally there will creep in a review or recommendation of something to go and see. Also, I find people are constantly wanting to know a good TV programme to watch, and I see this section as a great place to share with you some of the series I dip in and out of, and love. There may even be reviews of products, or suggestions for things to help with university. Just a heads up: I really doubt there will ever be anything fashion related!</p>
<p>Ultimately, this category will keep you guessing, but will hopefully have some content of interest to you.
As you’ve probably surmised from my already rambling post, I don’t exactly know how this blogging malarkey will work, or indeed whether anyone will want to read it. But, seeing as though I have been harping on to my family and friends about wanting to produce a blog of my own for yonks, I’ve decided to finally bite the bullet and not only produce content (which I have done for quite a while), but actually publish it.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/life/intro/intro.jpg" alt="Family Photo" /></p>
<p>Now I am merely another babbler on the internet, but I hope, amongst the waffle, you find something interesting to read. I have taken the liberty to upload two other posts alongside this introductory post which can be found <a href="https://www.lydiasigne.com/Persuasion" title="Persuasion">here</a> and <a href="https://www.lydiasigne.com/Jazzed-Up-Jackets" title="Jazzed-Up-Jackets">here</a>. If you like what you’ve read so far, check them out. I really hope you’ll enjoy this blog at your leisure, as there will certainly be a leisurely approach to writing and uploading these mumblings!</p>
<p>Thanks for reading,</p>
<p>Lydia Signe x</p>Lydia SigneI have wanted to start a blog for what feels like an eternity now, but haven’t really felt confident enough. On numerous occasions I’ve written posts, or designed a blog, but have never been brave enough to share it. This year, I have decided enough is enough, and feel ready at last to share with you some of my written mumblings.Persuasion2017-08-29T17:00:01+00:002017-08-29T17:00:01+00:00https://www.lydiasigne.com/Persuasion<p>Seeing as I study English at university, I thought it would be fun to share with you some of the texts I read in my first year. In the next few blog posts I’ll discuss the texts from the Prose module at the University of Birmingham, and share with you not only my opinions of them, but also how they were perceived by my peers. Even though I enjoyed some texts more than others, it was interesting to encounter a wide range of novels, short stories and essays.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/books/Persuasion/persuasion_front.jpg" alt="Persuasion Front View" /></p>
<h3 id="our-first-text">Our First text</h3>
<p>The first primary text we were encouraged to read on this module was Jane Austen’s <span class="book-title">Persuasion</span>. Now, I’d read a few Austen novels before for pleasure, but had luckily (or unluckily, depending on how you look at it) never read this particular text. I have to say I really enjoyed this as a first text, and wouldn’t have wished to switch it, but this wasn’t the opinion of most of the people I spoke to.</p>
<h3 id="an-overview">An Overview</h3>
<p><span class="book-title">Persuasion</span> is Austen’s last complete work, and it’s a fair bit shorter than her other texts, making it a good read for anyone who is short on time. It’s also a good choice for freshers, as it lulled us back into the reading process without too much trouble or effort. Even so, this didn’t instantly lead to it being popular with my seminar group. Many of my course peers found the novel rather tedious, and felt it was a carbon copy of other Austen tales. Admittedly, it does share some themes with <span class="book-title">Pride and Prejudice</span> and <span class="book-title">Sense and Sensibility</span>, but I personally didn’t find this made the reading any less enjoyable. That being said, with all the bad press it got from my cohort, I wouldn’t be surprised if another novel takes its place on this year’s syllabus.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/books/Persuasion/persuasion_study.jpg" alt="Persuasion Study Session" /></p>
<h3 id="whats-it-all-about">What’s it all about?</h3>
<p>The text follows the life of Anne Elliot, a young woman who has been forced to end an engagement to Captain Wentworth. The relationship is encouraged to come to an end because Anne’s family and friends felt he was not wealthy enough and therefore not worthy to be associated with the Elliot name. The Elliots initially live at the grand residence of Kellynch Hall, but are forced to let it out and move to Bath due to the overexuberant lifestyle of Anne’s father, Sir Walter Elliot, encouraged by his eldest daughter Elizabeth. Honestly, the book is worth a read just to laugh at the vain and pompous Sir Walter Elliot, a man obsessed with both rank and money.</p>
<p>Anne is reluctant to leave Kellynch Hall and the local area, and therefore stays frequently with her younger sister Mary Musgrove at the nearby Uppercross Hall. She becomes friendly with the new mistress of Kellynch Hall, Sophia Croft, who just so happens to be the sister of the now highly wealthy and eligible bachelor, Captain Wentworth. As Anne and Captain Wentworth are once again moving in the same circles, they are forced to reacquaint but the reintroduction is far from perfect.</p>
<p>Anne is well liked in the Uppercross community, and is invited to accompany a party of them on a trip away to Lyme Regis to meet some of Wentworth’s old naval pals. At the seaside though, disaster strikes, and subsequently leads to Anne returning to her family in Bath. Her father and elder sister have already implanted themselves into the social scene there, and have reacquainted themselves with an estranged relative William Elliot, who is presumed to be the heir of Kellynch Hall. Even Anne is won over by her distant relative, but things with him aren’t quite as they seem, and discoveries lead to a churning up of the past. Throughout the story, Anne is forced to reassess her family and friends, and made to reconsider whether she made the right decision to end the engagement all those years ago.</p>
<p>I’m going to leave my summary there as I fear I may give away the whole plot, but I do hope it has whet your appetite.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/books/Persuasion/Jane_Austen_books.jpg" alt="Jane Austen Books" /></p>
<h3 id="the-review">The Review</h3>
<p><span class="book-title">Persuasion</span> is by no means a hard hitting text, and certainly isn’t a challenge to read, but this didn’t demean it in my eyes. It is an ideal read for a commuter or anyone who doesn’t have much time, as you can dip in and out of it without the fear of forgetting the whole plot. As a main character, Anne Elliot is ideal because you can’t help spurring her on. I found myself sniggering and amused throughout due to the stupidity and vanity of the characters of Sir Walter and Elizabeth Elliot. It is also unlike other Austen texts, as the romantic element of the tale has largely been developed, and supposedly ended, before the novel has begun. It is a story which is full of sorrow, amusement and intrigue, but I admired it most for its critical and humorous appraisal of the snobby aristocracy. I loved Austen’s wittiness and honesty throughout this novel, and for this reason I’d give it a respectable <span class="rating">7/10</span>.</p>
<p>I hope you enjoyed reading this post, look out for the next post in this series featuring Bram Stoker’s <span class="book-title">Dracula</span>.</p>
<p>Lydia Signe x</p>Lydia SigneSeeing as I study English at university, I thought it would be fun to share with you some of the texts I read in my first year. In the next few blog posts I’ll discuss the texts from the Prose module at the University of Birmingham, and share with you not only my opinions of them, but also how they were perceived by my peers. Even though I enjoyed some texts more than others, it was interesting to encounter a wide range of novels, short stories and essays.Jazzed Up Jackets2017-08-29T17:00:00+00:002017-08-29T17:00:00+00:00https://www.lydiasigne.com/Jazzed-Up-Jackets<p>By no means is my dad a fussy eater, but unlike everyone else in the household, he’s not a massive fan of
jacket potatoes. This dish was actually invented to try and please everyone, and, to my surprise,
it did! It’s cheap and simple to make, and serves as a great quick supper or indulgent lunch.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/food/stuffed_jackets/jackets_with_salad.jpg" alt="Jackets with Salad" /></p>
<h3 id="ingredients">Ingredients</h3>
<ul>
<li>4x jacket potatoes</li>
<li>180g ricotta</li>
<li>240g spinach</li>
<li>2-3 tbsp of low fat crème fraîche</li>
<li>2 tbsp grated parmesan</li>
<li>1 garlic clove (minced)</li>
<li>1 tbsp butter</li>
<li>A good grating of fresh nutmeg</li>
<li>Freshly ground salt and pepper</li>
<li>If you want to make a meaty addition, feel free to add some pancetta.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="method">Method</h3>
<p>Firstly, preheat the oven to 220°C / 200°C fan / gas mark 8. Take a fork and prick your jackets really well to stop them from exploding in the oven. When the oven is at the right temperature, place the potatoes in the centre of the oven and put a timer on for an hour.</p>
<p>After an hour, give the jackets a check to see whether they are cooked all the way through. Don’t worry if they’re not done at this point, just leave them in for longer until the centres are soft and fluffy (I often find another 15 minutes does the trick). Once baked just right, take the potatoes out of the oven and leave to cool slightly whilst you prepare the additions for the filling.</p>
<p>Take a large non-stick pan and melt the required butter on a low heat. When the butter has melted, add the minced garlic, and fry it gently until it starts to smell aromatic, ensuring it doesn’t brown. Add to the pan the spinach, and cook it down, stirring the now garlic infused butter through it all.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/food/stuffed_jackets/cooking_spinach.jpg" alt="Cooking Spinach" /></p>
<p>Once it has reduced in size significantly, grind a good amount of salt and pepper into the pan. Now stir in the ricotta and fresh nutmeg, and have a cheeky little taste.</p>
<p>In this next stage, please be cautious, because the potatoes, though they have been cooling, can still be incredibly hot. Cut each potato in half and scoop the flesh into the pan with the spinach and ricotta filling, being careful not to damage the skins. Next, give the mixture a good stir and season to taste. To make the filling a little looser, add the crème fraîche.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/food/stuffed_jackets/jacket_filling.jpg" alt="Jacket Potato Filling" /></p>
<p>Now refill the potato skins with the mixture and sprinkle on top the grated parmesan.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/food/stuffed_jackets/just_before_grilling.jpg" alt="Skins Before Grilling" /></p>
<p>The skins are now almost ready, all that’s needed is to brown the tops and melt the cheese. To do this, heat a grill up to medium and place the filled potato skins underneath for a few minutes, keeping a close eye on them.</p>
<p>I usually serve these with a lightly dressed salad.</p>
<p><img class="post-image" src="/img/blog/food/stuffed_jackets/dinner_table.jpg" alt="Dinner Table" /></p>
<p>I hope you find these as yummy as we do! Be sure to keep an eye out for my next recipe, a tasty Mac and Cheese Gratin.</p>
<p>Lydia Signe x</p>Lydia SigneBy no means is my dad a fussy eater, but unlike everyone else in the household, he’s not a massive fan of jacket potatoes. This dish was actually invented to try and please everyone, and, to my surprise, it did! It’s cheap and simple to make, and serves as a great quick supper or indulgent lunch.