Prawn Balls | Book of Elsa

I’m not going to pretend this is work of mere moments, however with some planning and music playing it really isn’t hard. 

Ingredients

800 g raw peeled king prawns

4 garlic cloves, peeled

4 cm piece fresh root ginger, peeled

4 spring onions, trimmed and roughly chopped

4 tsp. soy sauce

2 large eggs

150 g fresh white breadcrumbs

50 g plain flour

100 g sesame seeds

Vegetable oil, to fry

A Christmas Grinch | Book of Elsa

The forced cheerfulness, the crowds, the inevitable rain and anxiety about ones’ whole family gathering in one place can bring me out in hives if I’m perfectly honest. But I do love food and this year I’ve decided NOT to be a Grinch and it’s about time I try to embrace the Christmas spirit or just settle for finding it.
Right, so as I type it’s the 11th December and the shopping for presents is done, tick. The (real) tree is lit up, decorated and smelling lovely, tick. Oversized red stockings are on order and Amazon assures me they’re coming, tick. So far so good. However, the Christmas cheer isn’t spreading through me so much as I’m going through the motions… So last Sunday I went shopping in Manchester city centre. I wish I hadn’t, I thought the high street was dying, that no one shopped in stores anymore, that the consumer had moved online! Who were all these people?! Breathing became a challenge in one retailer such were the swarms, there was no stopping to enjoy beautiful lights; it was all elbows and rush, rush, rush. My friends and I managed a couple of hours before giving up and going home.
Which leads me nicely to this recipe: more tinkering per se rather than cooking. Please feel free to use shop bought puff or even shortcrust pastry if you’re not inclined to bring out the heavy machinery. Making mince pies is as close as I get to the spirit of the holidays and that is quite alright.

Christmas Haul | Book of Elsa

Christmas 2015 | Book of Elsa

Merry Christmas,

I wish you all peace and happiness this festive season.

Elsa 

xo

Mickhaels' 12th Birthday - Book Of Elsa

Why Christmas Is The Worst Time Of Year - Book of Elsa

Why Christmas Is The Worst Time Of Year 

This time of year is hard for me, I don't like Christmas. It only means one thing: spending long periods of time in an enclosed space with Family.

I love my family, I do. Honest. But I've realised after 24 years that I don't like them very much when we are all together. They start to grate at me, my mother constant criticisms, my father asking what am I doing with my life. I don't know is still the answer by the way. And my sisters, well they know how to push my buttons in ways that come 10 pm Christmas Eve all I want for Christmas is to go HOME. sod the presents. 

I would like to add that this is not the familys' fault. The problem lies with me. I've come to realise that I am not a people person and try as I might all other people do is rub me up the wrong way (after awhile).

It wasn't all bad though: watching my nephews open their presents on Christmas morning was pure joy. For that and other small nuggets of happiness dished out throughout the Christmas period and because my mother will never forgive if I don't attend I shall try again next year which I'm told is the spirit of the holidays.

Book of Elsa  

xoxo

My Favourite Brownie Recipe - Book Of Elsa

My Favourite Brownie Recipe 

Made brownies to take over to my mums' on Christmas Eve and this is my favourite recipe. Ever.

By the way you can find the actual recipe here.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 

XO

Christmas in Chester - Book of Elsa

Christmas in Chester

In order to change my attitudes towards this holiday, I've decided to embrace it all. From mulled wine to seasonal markets and twinkle lights... think I threw up a little in my mouth then; Nevertheless undeterred I'm Keeping Calm and Carrying On.

Book of Elsa  

Christmas - Gift Guide for under £15

Christmas - Gift Guide for under £15

The end of November can only mean one thing, CHRISTMAS is here!

This time of year can be seriously expensive so I thought why not give you guys a run down of the best deals I could find; Bear in mind shops have the advantage over the internet in some aspects as with buying clothes for example. 

Also please don't be conned into the whole bigger is better 'thing' that is Christmas, I've come to believe the best presents not only need to cost the earth but are THE best because thought has been placed. 

So have a think about who you're buying/crafting for: what do they like? What do they need? Are they likely to use the phone sleeve you're about to spend £20 on etc...

Goodluck!

Book Of Elsa 

xox

At just £10 this trio of body butter, scrub and body wash can be gifted in a twine basket with some pretty tissue paper lining or individually as stocking filler. Link.