Healthy Dairy Free Crêpes

I love crêpe pancakes! They are one of my favourite treats that I can enjoy guilt-free. I love just throwing ingredients together and seeing what happens and this recipe was exactly that, throwing together these ingredients made such a lovely and healthy crêpe for the whole family to enjoy.

6 Health & Beauty Tips For The Gym

I love going to the gym and honestly, there is nothing glam about it what so ever. I do not know how some women look amazing when they are working out.

Piada Recipes | Crosta & Mollica Review

I was recently sent some products from Crosta & Mollica to try and review. These included Crosta & Mollica Classic Piada and Wholemeal Piada. If you know me and read my blog you know just how much I love to try new foods. This was my first time trying a Piada and oh my, they were very delicious indeed. 

North Cyprus | Places I Visited

If you follow me on Instagram, you will probably know that I have recently come back from a holiday in North Cyprus. My younger sister got married at the Bellapais Abbey in what was a beautiful and perfect day. So we had a lovely family holiday for 10 days. As I mention in my previous travel post North Cyprus | Where We Ate, I took photos not intending to write any specific blog posts but have enough to show you all what we got up to on holiday.

I have actually lost count how many times I have been to North Cyprus as I used to go a least twice a year since I was born. It is where my family are from and a place I call a second home. This visit was planned for my sister's wedding and we had a lovely time relaxing, eating and even a little sightseeing.

There is so much to see in North Cyprus, from the historic ruins of Salamis or the home of an old gangster, Mavi Kosk and a choice of some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. There is something for the whole family.

This time however, we had a large group so we didn't do as much sightseeing as usual. We did however visit a few of my favourite places and went on a boat trip day out, all 28 of us!

Here are just a few of the 100's of photos I snapped on our vaycay to North Cyprus...

GIRNE HARBOUR | GIRNE/KYRENIA

BOAT TRIP | GIRNE/LAPTA

(Lunch & Jet Skiing)

 MY NENE'S HOUSE | LEFOKSA/NICOSIA

(My Nene's Garden)

BELLAPAIS ABBEY | BELLAPAIS | GIRNE/KYRENIA

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Sigara Böreği | Turkish Stuffed Pastries

If you love Turkish cuisine you would of come across many different types of börek and fillings. This is one of my favourite types of börek, Sigara Böreği. It is a filo pastry or in Turkish it is known as Yufka, which is rolled like a cigarette, filled with cheese and parsley. These beauties can be enjoyed hot or old and usually as a Meze or as a snack. I make these in advance and put them in my freezer so whenever I feel I want some I can take them out and cook them fresh.

You may come across different recipes for Sigara Börek but I always keep it simple and they are so moreish you just want to keep eating them.

Traditionally this type of börek is made with a soft white cheese like feta but you can use grated halloumi (Turkish Cypriots like to mix feta and halloumi together) either option tastes amazing. Yufka is a little bit thicker than your usual filo pastry so if you can't find Yufka in your local Turkish shop or Middle Eastern food shops you can use filo pastry, you may need a couple of sheets at a time to stop it from splitting.

INGREDIENTS

1 packet of Yufka, triangular are best, if not cut them

200 ml of Olive Oil or Sunflower Oil

200g Turkish White Cheese or Feta

1/4 Fresh Parsley, about the size of a handful, finely chopped

Milk or Egg Wash

METHOD

In a small mixing bowl, break up the cheese and add the chopped parsley and with a fork mash/mix the two together until all the cheese is soft

Using a chopping board, lay out a yufka sheet

Using a tablespoon spoon a small amount of mixture and place onto the wide end of the pastry (not too close to the ends)

Fold in the bottom corners in and roll the pastry into a cigar (try not to roll too loose) use a little water to wet down the point at the end of the roll

Place onto a plate and repeat until you run out of mixture

TIP: When using filo pastry/ yufka remember to cover the left overs well and put it in the fridge to keep it fresh and use within a couple of days

Before frying, brush the pastries with the milk or egg wash

In a large frying pan heat the olive oil on a medium heat for a few minutes and slowly add the pastries

Make sure you turn them frequently to get an even golden colour, and serve hot.

Other filling suggestion are spinach and feta, minced lamb or beef with tomato pureè, onions and fresh or dried herbs or even cooked sausages, like a turkish style sausage roll.

I hope you like this recipe, let me know what you think.

Enjoy!

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The Happiness Planner | One Year Review

It has been a whole year since I first started using The Happiness Planner. At six months I wrote a review on how I was getting on, which you can find here. I have decided to write my one year review and how The Happiness Planner has helped me in more ways than I thought it would. 

Collagen Beauty Milk | Review

Recently I was sent some protein milkshake drinks from UFIT which I have reviewed here & here. They also sent me this product to try, Collagen+ Beauty Milk milkshake. I was more than happy to try this product as my skin lacks collagen and scars really easily, so I was willing to try anything that would boost my collagen levels.

North Cyprus | Where We Ate

It has been two weeks since we have been back from North Cyprus and I still have the holiday blues. We had such an amazing and memorable time with family and friends and not only did I watch my little sister get married I also got to show my babies where their family are from. I will be honest I didn't pay much attention to taking photos for my blog because it was a family holiday and I wanted to be laid back and enjoy every moment instead of stressing about what to take photos of or write about for my blog. Now if you know me you know I TAKE TOO MANY PHOTOS so looking back through my holiday snaps I have enough of them to make a few blog posts haha! 

UFIT Protein Drink | Review

If you read beautybakingbella you may have seen my review of UFIT Lactose Free Protein Drink. Last month I tried a couple of other UFIT protein drinks that they kindly sent me to review, so here are my thoughts.

The two UFIT protein drinks I tried were the Iced Latte Protein and Coffee Milkshake and the Chocolate High Protein Milkshake.

First I tried the Iced Latte Milkshake one afternoon as a pick me up snack around 3pm when I felt like I needed a caffeine boost. Now, I don't drink a lot of coffee and try to avoid caffeine but when I feel the afternoon fatigue set in I tend to reach for a cup of cafe au last to boost my mood and energy to get me through the rest of the day, this is a great alternative. With 113mg of Natural Caffeine and 22grams of Protein this milkshake is a great source of energy in a tasty drink perfect for on the go or in a rush during a busy day. With 100% Arabica coffee the taste of this protein milkshake was so enjoyable with it's subtle coffee flavour makes it perfect for anyone not just coffee lovers.

On my gym training day I took my Chocolate High Protein Milkshake as my post workout fuel. As you may of read in my previous fitness posts, I like to drink protein shakes and whey protein powders after my workout to refuel and replace protein and vitamins that I lose during my sessions. This protein milkshake was so refreshing and tasty. The bottle is such a nice size and shape which fits easily into my gym bag. With no added sugar and 22grams of protein this shake tasted just like a chocolate milkshake with none of the bad stuff, just full of vitamins and minerals as well as fibre.

Both these protein milkshakes tasted amazing and a great alternative to naughty snacking, just pop one in your workbag, handbag, gym bag or even lunch box for a healthy protein boast and a tasty snack.

After trying a variety of UFIT protein drinks I am definitely a fan and will be purchasing them in the future.

You can find UFIT in Boots, Holland & Barrett's and online.

*this post contains PR samples 

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Lahmacun | Turkish Pizza

Lahmacun is a round shaped flatbread-style pizza with spicy lamb or beef mince which is a traditional meal enjoyed in Turkey, North Cyprus and Turkish communities around the world, served with fresh lemon and salad which is rolled up and enjoyed.

Bed Time Routine | Spacemasks Review

I have always been one for a bedtime routine, yes even as an adult. No matter how tired I am, some nights it can take me a little while to fall asleep. This has improved since I started regular exercise but some nights I just can't drift off to the land of nod! 

After years of trying, I have now got myself into a good bedtime routine. Here are a few of my bedtime secrets to help me relax and de-stress for a good nights sleep.

* A warm shower (maybe a bath if I have the energy after a day with the kid) 

* A good skincare routine

* A mug of Camomile tea 

* Lavender oil on a muslin cloth hung over headboard

* Sleep Eye Mask

I was recently sent a Spacemask to try and review; from what I have read about Spacemasks, this product sounds perfect for me and my bedtime routine. 

Since my second pregnancy I struggle a lot with my sinuses and periodically suffer with acute sinusitis, which is no fun anyway let alone when running around after two kids every day. I usually use a cold migraine pad (I suffer from migraines too!) to soothe my head and eye area; before trying the Spacemask I had never thought to use a heat pad on that area. One afternoon my plan of using the Spacemask at bedtime went out the window as I decided to use it for an afternoon nap (I struggle to fall asleep in the day as I can never switch off) so that's when I gave my Spacemask a try.

Spacemask is a self-heating eye mask, which is activated when removed from it's little pouch. The mask unfolds and has a little loop on each side that goes behind your ears to secure the mask over your eyes. 

Not long after wearing you can feel the heat from the mask, as oxygen molecules activate the iron particular's to create natural heat through the mask. The calming scent of Jasmine transported me back to my happy place in Cyprus, where my favourite plant in my Nene's garden would be where I would sit and make jasmine flower chains for my Dede to hang in his car, a scent that always relaxes and soothes me to this day. 

I was able to completely relax and feel the tension in my forehead and eye area completely disappear, feeling stress free and unaware that after nearly 20 minutes of laying there I relaxed into a great half an hour power nap and felt amazing when I woke up. 

I will 100% be purchasing Spacemasks to use when I'm suffering from sinus tension or struggling to switch off at bed time.. something so simple has really helped me complete my bedtime routine. 

I will be purchasing mine on my next payday direct from Spacemasks where you can get 5 in a box for £15 and I will be taking some on my next holiday for the plane journeys...bliss!

*this post contains PR samples 

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Afternoon Tea | Hen Party

On Sunday I organised an Afternoon Tea Hen Party for my sister at Rowhill Grange Hotel & Utopia Spa in Kent. This place is a lovely hidden gem tucked away in the Kent countryside with beautiful gardens and a beautiful 19th Century Victorian Manor house, this venue is perfect for weddings, weekends away and even Spa days.

Santorini - Places to See

In the last instalment of posts on my holiday to Santorini, this post is all about Places to See. 

The majority of this post will be photos as words can not describe the beauty of this island and the mesmerising views it has to offer.

Santorini - Where To Eat

Continuing on from my post Santorini - Our Villa my travel diary continues onto Where to Eat. 

I love Greek food it is very similar to Turkish food and growing up eating a variety of Mediterranean dishes it has always been my favourite to indulge in a meaty dish with a side of salad and tzatziki/cacik with warm homemade pitta bread. I have travelled to a lot of the Greek islands and have never been disappointed with the selection of food on offer and Santorini didn't disappoint. 

Santorini - Our Villa

If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen my Insta-stories and posts while I was away visiting the beautiful greek island of Santorini. 

I have written up my travel diary in three parts, Our Villa, Places to Eat and Places to See. This post is all about where we stayed, our beautiful Villa in a little village called Vouvolous, just outside the main town of Fira. 

What's In My Hand Luggage?

Tomorrow I am off to Santorini for my sisters 'Hen Do Holiday' so I asked on twitter what my readers wanted to see me write about in terms of holiday packing. The winner was 'What's In My Hand Luggage" so here it is, a post on what I will be taking with me on to the plane.

UFIT Lactose Free Protein Drink

Recently I was sent a sample package to review, which included a variety of products by UFIT, a high protein drink brand.  They aim to reach people that are looking for a healthier snack alternative for a healthy lifestyle and that is great for on the go.

WIN TICKETS TO THE GRAND DESIGNS LIVE SHOW

Win Free Tickets to the Grand Designs Live Show with CLC World Resort

It's competition time! Are you a fan of the TV show Grand Designs or are you looking for some inspiration for your own grand design project?

You could be in with a chance to win 2 tickets to the multi-award winning home event, Grand Designs Live Show, at the ExCel in London between the 29th April -7th May 2017.

My Fitness Journey

Recently I asked my lovely twitter followers to tell me what posts they would like to see on beautybakingbella and surprisingly health/lifestyle & fitness posts won over my food recipes (don't worry there are going to be more recipes coming up later this month.)

My Cake Decorating Course

I recently took a beginners Cake Decorating Class which lasted for six weeks on a Tuesday evening. If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen some of the bits I made in class each week. If not then here is a little post sharing my cake decorating journey and how I got on in my classes.

My BOOTEA Teatox

Recently I decided to do a 14 day Teatox using BOOTEA. This was the first time I had ever done anything like this before, I've never even done a diet. Firstly, I chose BOOTEA because it is a brand I have seen and heard of a lot over the years so I decided that I would use their 14 Day Teatox for my first try. My decision to do a teatox was not to lose weight but to have a full cleanse and detox in my body. 

I eat healthy all the time (if you follow my Instagram and Instagram Stories you will know by how many food photos I post!) and I exercise 2-3 times a week, so I have a balanced and healthy lifestyle and eating habits. This is recommended before starting a teatox to see the best results and it is a good habit to get into, I feel amazing for it. Check out my My Top Tips For A Healthy Lifestyle post for some great tips and suggestions.

The BOOTEA 14 Day Teatox kit is £19.99, I got mine from Boots while doing a toiletry shop. I did wait a while before I started as I wanted to be 100% sure I wanted do the detox.

The kit came with two bags, one had 14 daytime teabags and the other had 7 bedtime teabags. The daytime teabags were to be drunk as soon as or just after waking and to be brewed in nearly boiling water for 3 minutes. The bedtime teabags were brewed the same but drank every other night starting on the first day of the teatox.

In case you are wondering what the teabags are, here is the list of ingredients of each teabag.

The daytime teabags:

Oolong tea
Yerba Mate
Ginger
Lemongrass
Fennel
Danelion Leaf
Siberian Ginseng
Nettle
Gotu

The bedtime teabags:

Peppermint
Fenugreek seeds
Psyllium Seeds
Liquorice
Burdock root
Hawthorn leaves
Dessicated Coconut

So here is how I got on..

WEEK 1

I drink a variety of herbal teas daily so knowing that I had to drink these every day was no issue for me. These teabags were slightly more pungent than my normal herbal teas and the night time ones tasted even more sour; but that was nothing a quarter teaspoon of honey couldn't sort out. I drank the daytime tea within the first half hour of waking every morning. After the first day I noticed that I looked less bloated (I usually get bloated when eating any carbs and some fruits) and even after meals my stomach didn't looked bloated at all.

The bedtime tea, at first was difficult to drink as the taste was very strong but I did get used to it after a few days.

On the second day I noticed upon waking that my stomach looked "flatter" and this actually continued on for the full 14 days of the teatox.

After 7 days I weighed myself and I had lost 2 lbs which surprised me as my aim wasn't to lose weight. My waistline also looked slimmer and overall I was very impressed with the results I was seeing.

WEEK 2

Continuing my teatox into the second week I was very positive at what my end result would be as I felt good and full of energy. However, on day 11 I started to notice some stomach cramping and mood changes. I developed regular stomach cramps like I've never experienced before (and I suffer from IBS!) I was feeling full really quickly when I ate and actually lost my appetite by day 12. On day 13 (sorry to be so graphic but I want to be honest here) I wasn't able to go to the toilet. Now, I usually drink at least 2 litres of water a day and eat very good and whole foods so this was not normal for me. I however continued to finish the final day 14 and it wasn't until the following day when I had not drank anymore tea that my stomach cramps had disappeared completely. A few days later I got my appetite back and felt normal again.

Overall I lost 4 lbs and physically saw a reduction in my waistline so this Teatox obviously works but at what cost?! After talking to a few friends and colleagues, who had also done this exact teatox, it surprised me that they too had the same symptoms of cramping, trapped wind and constipation towards the end of their teatox.

Now I'm wondering was it really worth me putting myself through those painful last few days just to lose a few pounds that I know I could do on my own with changing my food portions and more exercise?!

I personally WON'T be doing this BOOTEA teatox again but it hasn't put me off trying alternate styles or brands of teatox as maybe some of the ingredients in these teabags really didn't agree with my body.

Have you tried the BOOTEA teatox? What did you think? If you have any alternative teatox recommendations please leave them in the comments, thank you - Pinar

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Quick & Easy Turkey Burgers

I love burgers and if it is a healthy burger then even better! I love making homemade burgers, like I have said before on my post Quick & Easy Beef Burgers, I prefer homemade burgers to shop bought ones as I know what I am adding into the mixture. 

Baby Skincare Favourites

I thought I would write a post and share what baby/child skincare products that I like to use on my babies. My children both have different skin types, my daughter has dry and sensitive skin and my son has normal skin. Because of their different skin types/conditions I do have to use different products on them daily. I believe that no matter what age you are you should always have a good basic skincare routine, so why should that be any different for our children?! 

Domatesli Ispanaklı Köfte // Spinach & Tomato With Meatballs

This Turkish dish is similar to the one that I would eat when I was a young child and before I made this I hadn't eaten it for many years. So in true Turkish style I threw in all the ingredients I thought would make up the recipe and voila! it was pretty damn close and tasted so scrumptious.

Alberello Italian Restaurant

Last Friday night Hubby and I went out for a Date Night dinner to a local restuarant, Alberello, an Italian Restaurant in Bexley Village, Bexley. Alberello is a family run business serving lots of delicious traditional Italian cuisine. The last time we ate at this restuarant was 6 years ago, before we got married and had children. We had such a lovely evening with great food and brilliant service and a chance to have some husband and wife time, as 'date nights' are rare for us. 

I would highly recommend this restaurant if you love Italian food. Both the food and service was exceptional, we had a bread basket to start while searching the menu trying to decide what delicious dish to pick. We both decided on a fish dish to start, Stuart had Mussels in a garlic sauce and I had fried Calamari with a wedge of lemon and Tartar sauce. 

For our main meal, Stuart had the 'Special of the Day', Veal Chop cooked at the Chef's recommendation of medium. I had a very succulent grilled Sirloin Steak cooked medium well done. Both dishes were served with a selection of homemade Cauliflower Cheese, Green Beans and Roast Potatoes. I can honestly say that this steak was by far one of the best steaks I have ever eaten, it was cooked to perfection, it was lovely and tender to eat and the Cauliflower Cheese was something else. I can be very fussy eating meat when out at a restuarant and this was definitely a good choice. 

For dessert, (because it would be rude not too!) the dessert cart was wheeled to our table (it is hard to say no when you see all those yummy desserts staring at you!) We got two different desserts to share. We chose the Italian Berry Cheesecake, as it is my favourite type of cheesecake and Profitoroles, which were two giant profiteroles filled with ice cream and covered in a light chocolate cream. 

We had a lovely evening at Alberello, here are a few snaps of our delicious food...

Love & Light

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