Blog Archives

Sleep with Ease with Pukka Tea

6/12/2020

Just like one's health, sleep is one of those things that you don't appreciate until it's gone. Having had two children only 18 months apart three years ago, sleep is sadly one of the things I miss most. Long weekends snuggling under a duvet until 10am are long gone; these days I'm lucky if I get to sleep in until 8am on a weekend!

So, feeling exhausted and looking haggard, I'm always on the look out for things to help me get to sleep that little bit easier. When Pukka Tea recently contacted me to see if I'd be interested in participating in their 'Sleep With Ease' campaign, I jumped at the opportunity. My challenge was to keep a sleep diary and drink their slumber-inducing teas to help encourage an easier night's sleep. Here's my journey...

First off, the tea. I loved the beautiful floral artwork on the boxes. I artfully stacked them on my kitchen table and found I enjoyed just looking at the tea. But of course, I actually had to drink the tea to reap any benefits!

Pukka's Top Tips to Sleep With Ease

The tips were easy enough to follow.

Day one - Creating a clutter free environment was my first task. With two young children running around, I'm often guilty of leaving stacks of clean laundry in piles on my window seat, so I made an effort all week to keep the surfaces tidy and it definitely had a more calming effect.

Day two - Removing technology from my sleep space was more difficult as I've become accustomed to watching Tik Tok videos or catching up on Facebook before bed, but I obliged nonetheless.

Day three - Setting a sleep time. This one is relatively easy as we have a pretty early bedtime anyways given we're so exhausted from taking care of the kids all day!

Day four - Practice a sleep routine you love. I've now started enjoying a nice hot shower and a cup of tea before bed, both of which make me feel refreshed and ready for bed.

Day five - Cut down on caffeine. I've yet to rid myself of my 2pm coffee habit, but Rome wasn't built in a day, so I haven't given up hope yet!

Day six - Unwind with sleepy ingredients. I've been loving all of the different Pukka Teas. From their Relax Tea (chamomile, fennel and marshmallow root; to their Night Time Tea (oatflower, lavendar and limeflower), it's a nice way to ease into the evening (preferably with a good book).

Day seven - Introduce light and movement to your day. We try to take the kids out each day for a nice walk, which is great for getting in some fresh air (well as fresh as it can be for London) and it gives us a bit of light exercise. Win win.

The verdict: I'd definitely recommend Pukka's teas for anyone looking for delicious teas that help you feel relaxed and get you in the mood for sleep. For more information on how you can sleep with ease, visit:

https://www.pukkaherbs.com/uk/en/sleep.html

Click here to learn more about Pukka Teas

Ashley Miln

0 Comments

5 ways to jazz up your sourdough toast

2/12/2020

0 Comments

Photo: @eat_well_with_annie

I love avocado on toast as much as the next lady, but let's be honest, it gets a bit dull after having eating it at nearly every brunch outing over the past five years.

So, when the fabulous bakers at Bertinet Bakery shared their five favourite recipes that are certain to inject a bit of pizazz and creativity into recommendations for sourdough toppings that go beyond the usual offerings, I was all for it.

Bertinet Bakery is a local bakery in Bath renowned for using traditional methods and only few simple ingredients to create delicious bread. They don’t use anything artificial to synthetically boost shelf life or softness. Instead, they invest the time and discipline needed to create real, honest loaves that look, smell and taste amazing.

Here are Bertinet Bakery’s five ways to jazz up your sourdough toast (beyond smashed avocado):

GARLIC, COTTAGE CHEESE AND HARISSA SOURDOUGH TOAST
2 heaped tbls low fat cottage cheese
1 small grated clove garlic
Squeeze lemon juice
1 tsp Harissa paste
Sprinkle of chilli flakes
Fresh basil leaves
Sea Salt & cracked black pepper
Drizzle of herb olive oil or plain

Mix the cottage cheese with the garlic, lemon juice, salt & pepper. Spread on seeded sourdough toast and top with the harissa, chilli flakes, basil & oil.

Photo credits: @thecornerplot @brindisaspanishfoods

CHESTNUT MUSHROOMS AND
POACHED EGGS ON SOURDOUGH TOAST
1 banana shallot, peeled and finely chopped⁠
1 box of mushrooms, sliced⁠
Drizzle of olive oil⁠
Knob of butter⁠
100 ml sour cream⁠
Sea salt and black pepper⁠
Chopped parsley⁠
4 eggs⁠
2 tbsp white wine vinegar⁠
Truffle (optional, of course)⁠

Heat the oil in a frying pan, add the butter and allow to melt. Add the shallot and cook over a low heat until softened. Crank up the temperature and throw in the mushrooms, give a quick stir, then leave. Resist the temptation to fiddle. Stir after a few minutes, by which time the mushrooms will have caramelised slightly. Leave for another minute or so. Season, stir in the sour cream, and sprinkle over the parsley. Layer onto toasted sliced seeded sourdough bread. ⁠
⁠
In the meantime, half fill a shallow pan with boiling water, add a slash of white wine vinegar and a generous pinch of salt. Bring the water to a VERY gentle simmer. Gently slide the eggs into the water and leave to poach for 4-5 mins, until perfectly cooked (move them gently with a spoon to see). Lift the eggs out and place on top of the mushrooms. Season, and shave over some truffle (if you're lucky enough to have some). ⁠

CAPRESE SALAD TOAST

Mozzarella cheese, in ball form
Virgin olive oil
Sea salt and cracked black pepper
Fresh ripe tomatoes
Balsamic glaze
Fresh dill or basil

Slice the tomatoes and mozzarella thickly and arrange over toasted green olive sourdough bread. Drizzle olive oil and Balsamic glaze, then sprinkle fresh dill or basil. Season and enjoy.

Photo credit: @lilofoodie

SARDINES ON TOAST

Quick pickled onion⁠
200 ml cider vinegar⁠
50 ml water⁠
1 1/2 tbsp caster sugar⁠
4 black peppercorns⁠
4 coriander seeds⁠
1 star anise⁠
1 bay leaf⁠
⁠1 red onion, peeled and thinly sliced⁠

Leave the onion in cold water for 5-10 mins to mellow the flavour, then drain. Put everything (except the onion) in a saucepan and bring to the boil, then pour over the drained onion. Leave to marinate for at least 30 mins (the onions can be stored in the fridge for 2 weeks once made). ⁠Butter toasted malted wheat sourdough bread, top with lamb’s lettuce (or similar), a few sweet, succulent Catrineta sardines in olive oil (tiny little ones), and the pickled onion. Add a sprinkle of cracked black pepper and a pinch of Aleppo pepper (pul biber) or chilli flakes, and squeeze over some fresh lemon juice.
⁠
Perfect lunch, full of flavour, texture and colour, and with a healthy dose of fibre, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D. ⁠

Photo credit: @thecornerplot

RICOTTA AND BLACKCURRANT TOAST
Ricotta cheese
Half a lemon
Black currant
Flaked almonds

Mix the ricotta with lemon zest and lemon juice. Spread on the toasted seeded sourdough bread.

Drizzle on the black currant jam and sprinkle flaked almonds for crunch.

Photo credit: @cook.capture

Ashley Miln
⁠

0 Comments

Sleep with Ease with Pukka Tea

5 ways to jazz up your sourdough toast

Food and Drink products and features

Archives

Categories