The Breakfast Club

'Don't you...forget about me!' I am so slow! So, tucked away, or not so tucked away in Islingtons beautiful beating heart is the 'Breakfast Club'. That's right, that place you already know about. Well, I'd only vaguely heard of it until my bosom buddy Riquel took pity upon me and took me there.

You see, Riquel is one of those cool people- no not hipster- just cool. She's taken me to Caribbean dance classes, salsa and talks to me about bantu knots and Korean BBQ, she's awesome.

Anyway, the Breakfast Club serves breakfast, American breakfast. All day, everyday. Ooh yeah. It's also named after one of my favourite movies- on purpose. You have no idea how many times someone has bumped into me at London Bridge station and I've wanted to stop them, double point at them and say 'Don't mess with the bull, young (wo)man. You'll get the horns!' A la Principle Vernon- what is it about men called Vernon? Principle Vernon (authoritarian douche bag), Uncle Vernon (authoritarian douche bag)...Vernon Kay? Well maybe just the two, then.

Man am I a loser or what! They even have the letter the Breakfast club leave for Principal Vernon at the end of the movie.

You know I always tragically related to Alison. I was never the pretty, it-girl Claire was even though I dig her skirt. Alison was oddly charming albeit kind of gross (that cereal sugar sandwich and the dandruff snow- eww). And even though the makeover she got was bitchin', I kinda liked the eyeliner better.


Back to the point. The Breakfast Club's decor is perfect. It's kitschy, it's bright, it's quirky. The walls are littered with pictures, postcards and posters. Bunting hands from the ceiling and there are nostalgic hits blaring out of the restaurant stereo.

The highlight on the walls was by far this.

Seriously FOLLOW him on Twitter!

I want this in my kitchen.

I had the 'All American' because I frigging love pancakes. The scrambled eggs were perfection and the bacon was crispy and flavoursome. And the potatoes, sweet Jemima, the potatoes- herb and garlic fried with skins still on. The pancakes were light and fluffy, unsweetened for that perfect balance of stick sweetness from the MAPLE syrup. (Yeah stick that Macdonalds Breakfast- cut out the Maple syrup will  ya...*incoherent grumbing*)

And Veggie Option!

There's also a delicious and budget friendly fruit salad option perfect for cleaning the pallet after all that comfort food.

It was amazing!

New Year, New You?

Happy new year!

Tis the season to be punishing and unrealistic with the best intentions. Time to scream at your self in the mirror 'your disgusting!'. By New Years Eve I'm so looking forward to stripping away the sticky sweetness of the Yuletide season. I see New Years Eve as one more opportunity to have a massive blowout, big hair, bold make up, and jagerbombs, jagerbombs, jagerbombs!

I have a long list of things New Years Resolutions that I really want to implement this year. 

First of all I really want to learn to

***Shut The Hell Up***

because....

1. Don't talk more than other people participating in conversations.
2. Awkwardness, if you can't think of anything interesting to say- DON'T!
3. When angry belt up or walk away before you say something awful.

'Oops, accidentally mortally wounded our friendship, my bad!'

There's a New Years Resolution that a lot of people make or secretly hope for that everyone can probably sympathise with. 

*** I Will Find Love****

Umm...no you won't. Love will find you on it's own terms. When and where it feels like it. The time you look for it, you are least likely to find it. 

***Diet Riot***

Okay first of all...Eww!

I love food too much to turn it into an enemy. 

But I want to change my relationship with food like I want to change my relationship with shopping. I don't want it to be a comfort blanket for when I feel like throwing myself off of something high and onto something pointy. That's a dangerous habit and one of my worst. 

Also while I'm here. 

***Dress like it's my last day every day***

I guess overall, my new years resolution is to be the best I can be, a little bit better than last year. 

To live life as vigorously and optimistically as I can.

And

***When life gives me lemons- make margaritas! ***

All the best for 2013.

More Deliciousness

I love making food for people. Whether it be chopping up as salad, making tea or cooking a curry- I love it. People are happy when they enjoy food, and I like sharing that happiness with my friends. Especially when I get to add a little creative flair to whatever I'm creating. Nevertheless, my skills aren't quite as great as I would like them to be.

So I've set myself a task. I intent to try something new every week. It could be something as simple as flapjacks or as complicated as goulash! Whatever it is it'll be fresh. Whatever it is it will be home made!

Hopefully the majority of these well meaning experiments will turn out more like this....

than this....

But I'm prepared for the disappointment of a culinary disaster. Heaven knows, I've had my fair share already.

In the meantime though I want to share with you some nice things I've managed to make (albeit with little effort and even less skill). Healthy and happy meal options- on a bit of a budget. 

Breakfast!

A salmon, onion and sweet pepper salad with my beloved Wakame. I added a Ryvita biscuit (with olive spread) and an iced Latte! Delicious no? To top it off I had a kiwi and orange fruit salad. 

Lunch!

Okay so I went to a placement during the week and decided to bring with me a big packed lunch to help me through it all. 

I made my 'quick tings' pasta sauce because I was in a bit of a hurry this time. I'll  show you my proper pasta sauce- one of my few gems when I have the time and the drive to whip up a proper batch!

Chicken wings, spicy tomato pasta (with dice  tomatoes and onions) and for dessert a fruit salad, with cherries, kiwi and oranges. 

Dinner!

I can't take credit for this, it was my fantastic mother's doing!

Spinach mash, roasted jack fish, and carrot, chilli and tomatoe salsa. Yum!

Okay so I went to a placement during the week and decided to bring with me a big packed lunch to help me through it all. 

I made my 'quick tings' pasta sauce because I was in a bit of a hurry this time. I'll  show you my proper pasta sauce- one of my few gems when I have the time and the drive to whip up a proper batch!

Until then!