October | 2015 | Cider with Rosie

Classic cut.

29.10

T A N + N A V Y .

There’s something about the this outfit combination, of an oversized jumper, relaxed shirt, slightly slouchy ankle length trousers, and masculine brogues that appeals to the part of me that kind of loves men’s clothing more I do than women’s.

I catch myself on Pinterest pinning endless photos of girls wearing baggy jumpers over boyfriend jeans, and my own style, especially in the colder months, always leans more towards masculine than feminine.

So much so, in fact, that Jason recently begged me to stop stealing his clothes all the time. ‘You’ve got a wardrobe that’s five times the size of mine Rosie, what do you need my jumpers and shirts for!?’ he said!

I nodded along pretending to agree with him, all whilst trying to figure out how I was going to hide the fact that I actually had one of his T shirts on underneath my jumper at the time…;)

I think it’s this time of year especially that brings it out.

I’ve never been too fond of the whole ‘dress and tights and boots’ combination on me, and the herringbone tweeds and thick cable knits and darker colour palettes that come back time and again each autumn winter season just make my heart sing.

Proof comes in the form of repetition.

That tweed blazer, which again has a slightly relaxed and masculine cut, I’ve been wearing for five years now (originally from Toast- beautiful alternative linked below!), and that ribbed camel jumper was a Christmas gift from Jason some three odd years ago.

What I wore >>

I think those principles, of repetition, and longevity, and wearing items of clothing time and again instead of leaving them to linger at the back of your wardrobe after only one or two wears, are what’s most important to me when it comes to ‘personal style’.

True, it might well just come down to the fact that I form emotional bonds with just about everything that comes into this house and hate to let things go, but oh my, I’ll take classic cut pieces that’ll last a lifetime over anything trend-led any day.

Now, where’s Jason left that lovely new waxed jacket of his…

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The Sunday ritual.

27.10

S L O W D O W N .

My alarm went off at 8.30 on Saturday morning, and I drove to Heathrow feeling more than a little bleary-eyed after having accidentally (but happily!) spent every evening since Jason went away to the Highlands on Wednesday catching up with friends over dinners and drinks.

We decided that our weekend needed to make up for having spent most of the week apart, but between the Saturday catnaps, the tidying and organising that always comes after a trip away, and the errands we each had to run, it felt as though we barely saw each other for the first half of our weekend.

And so, it fell to Sunday to make up for lost time…

We started with coffee, freshly ground and served with warm, frothy milk. I’ve found recently that oat milk makes the best foam- I’ve even managed to nail one of those fancy latte art ‘hearts’ once or twice, which is absurdly happy-making!

The winter sunlight streams in though the kitchen window first thing in the morning, and makes the pond outside look like a sheet of glass.

Next came breakfast, both hearty and healthy all at once.

We’re in love with green smoothies at the moment (usually frozen mango and pineapple, then a ripe banana, a handful of kale, and splash of coconut water), and, of course, bowls of nourishing oats topped off with raspberry jam.

It took me years to fall in love with porridge, but now I wouldn’t be without it. There’s nothing like waking up to dew-tipped grass, and having your breath curl like smoke on the air as you stand watching the dog stretch his legs outside, in the knowledge that a pan full of oats is thickening on the hob whilst you wait.

With bellies full and coats and scarves piled on, what next to do but head outside?

We picked up my sister on our way over to the woods not far from where my Mum lives, and spent an hour tramping up and down the hills and through the bracken with Teddy dancing along in front of us. All that was missing was some hot chocolate…

S O U P + B R E A D .

Lunch came in the form of ribollita soup, with my current favourite snack served alongside it- sourdough rye toast with hummus and homemade tapenade! The combination of the creamy hummus and rich, salty tapenade is just heaven. I’ve gone through a whole jar of olives in three days…

Our final stop of the day was at the lake, with family. We headed up about an hour or so before sunset, so that I could shoot some maternity photos for my sister-and-brother in law, who are expecting their first baby in January. <3

Oh, and I should explain that this shoot is why I’ve been pinning lots of maternity and baby photos on Pinterest lately- for inspiration! I’ve had a few questions about whether I’ve been hinting at something recently, and I can promise you that that’s not the case!

We caught the most beautiful light, and finished the shoot down by the waters’ edge just as the sun dipped over the treeline. The results were some of my favourite photos I’ve taken in a long time.

Tell me, how was your weekend?

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Who’s been in my sidebar this month? || October advertisers!

25.10

What to do with the extra hour we gained this morning? Why, read blogs of course! And you’re in luck, because I have some beautiful ones to share with you this morning! We’ve got lifestyle blogs, and blogs based in the U.S of A, and fitness blogs, and blogs about wellbeing and inspiration and motivation…truly, there’s something for everyone! So…happy reading, my friends!

Oh, and if you’d like to see your own blog featured here on Cider with Rosie, a little bird tells me there’s a 20% discount code at the bottom of the post…

Jennifer Polly
Jenny’s blog is such a sweet one, and I’ve so enjoyed getting to know it over the course of the past month! On her site, Jenny shares lovely recipes, lists of ‘loveliness’, and posts about her lovely home. It’s her recipes especially that I love- they always seem to strike that perfect balance of being healthy and wholesome for the most part, but with just enough naughtiness to make them tempting! Most recently, Jenny’s shared recipes for a vegan blackberry tart (it looks *amazing*!), three topping ideas for popcorn, and a pesto and slow roasted tomato pasta dish. I love how effortlessly charming everything Jenny shares is, and am certain you’ll be won over by it just as quickly as I’ve been!
Favourite post of the past month? Vegan Blackberry Tart.

Silverspoon London
It’s so much fun following along with Angie’s adventures each month. And I love getting to share a little bulletin of them here, too! This month, Angie went for a caviar tasting evening, visited Sotheby’s and shared photos of some truly spectacular jewellery, and has been sharing updates from her travels in beautiful Bali- most notably from her return to the jaw droppingly gorgeous Bulgari Hotel! I find all of Angie’s posts so interesting to read, and love how honest and insightful she is about the hotels and restaurants she visits. Her photos and reviews are always so comprehensive, and for anyone looking for luxury travel recommendations, her site’s a must-visit!
Favourite post of the past month? A Nostalgic Return to the Bulgari Hotel, Bali.

The What Now Blog
Louise’s blog has been a favourite read of mine for months now, and I’m so excited that The What Now Blog’s been back in my sidebar throughout October so that I can share how fantastic it is! Louise describes her site as being about ‘finding your work-life balance’, and on it she shares posts about wellbeing and a healthy lifestyle, travel, and think pieces about self progression and the world of work. I just love how unique Louise’s blog is, and how well researched her posts always are. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever left her site without having some new idea or thought to ponder on, and that’s pretty amazing if you ask me!
Favourite post of the past month? What is Periscope and Who’s Worth Tuning In To?

Brooke Meagan Jones
Brooke’s blog is one of those your read and think ‘Yep, I want to be friends with this blogger’! Every single post she shares makes me A. Laugh out loud, and B. Remind myself that the most enjoyable blogs to read are those that show personality. On her site, Brooke shares outfit posts, updates from her recent goings on in South Carolina, and stories about pretty much anything she fancies writing a post about! I love that reading Brooke’s blog feels like sitting down for a good long chat with a friend over a cup of tea, and how everything she shares feels like it’s come straight from the heart. You’re going to just love this one, I’m sure of it!
Favourite post of the past month? Fall Is In What You Wear.

A few more blogs to read and fall in love with!
The Courtney Diaries || Favourite post? Life is a Journey
Supernaturally Healthy || Favourite post? Matcha Coconut Almond ‘Fudge’
Get the Skinny || Favourite post? Boyfriend Jeans.

If you’d like to see your own blog featured here on Cider with Rosie, and to gain a host of lovely new readers and some valuable exposure, click through to the Sponsor page!

I’m offering 20% off all ad spots until midnight tonight (23.59, 25th Oct.) with the code AUTUMN20, so today’s the day to snap up a spot!

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Dark chocolate + pecan buckwheat brownies.

22.10

A N O D E T O P E C A N N U T S .

If there’s one thing I’m taking away from this recipe, it’s the realisation that I put pecan nuts in far too few baked goods.

I’d forgotten how deliciously chewy and rich they go once baked, and how the oven seems to intensify their nutty flavour. When I was younger I had an obsession with this cinnamon pecan tart my Mum used to serve as a treat after special Sunday lunches, and I’d clean forgotten about how much I used to love it until biting into one of these brownies!

And really, is there any better combination than that of chocolate and nuts?

What else do you need to know about these babies? Well, for starters, they’re vegan! I stumbled upon the original recipe on Pinterest and thought it looked so delicious it was worth testing out, and after a little tinkering, am totally sold on it.

They’re a little lighter than your average brownie- still rich and sweet and intense enough to sate even the most overpowering of chocolate cravings, but not quite so cloying as your average brownie.

The wholemeal buckwheat flour adds depth of flavour and nuttiness, and by ensuring that the buckwheat flour you buy is a gluten free blend, you can make them both vegan AND gluten free!

Here’s how to make them…

I N G R E D I E N T S ::
200g dark chocolate {Lindt’s 70% is the one I used here}
5tbsp dairy-free spread {I use Pure Sunflower Spread}
170g buckwheat flour
1tsp baking powder
200g soft light brown sugar
3 tsp cocoa powder
Pinch salt
1tsp vanilla extract
230ml unsweetened soya milk
150g pecan nuts

- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celsius, then lightly grease a square baking tray and line it with parchment paper.

- In a bain marie, melt together 150g of the chocolate with the margarine, and then set aside to cool slightly. Take care not to melt the chocolate too fast or over too high a heat- slower is better!

- In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder and baking powder, and then stir in the sugar and pinch of salt.

- Whisk in the soya milk and vanilla extract, followed by the melted chocolate mixture. Finally, stir in 100g of crumbled pecan nuts, and the remaining 50g of chocolate broken up into small pieces.

- Pour out the batter into the prepared baking tray, scatter over the final 50g of crumbled pecans, and bake for 18-22 minutes.

* I found these cooked far quicker than the original recipe suggested, and so for a soft, squidgy brownie, check them towards the lower end of the cooking time. I took mine out at 20 minutes, and they came out more firm than I’d have liked! Still delicious though, so I can’t complain… *

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Posted in BAKING, CHOCOLATE., FROM MY HOME TO YOURS, RECIPE, SWEET