Coca-Cola launches receipe book

Nowadays cooking and entertaining is something of a phenomenon.

With shows like Come Dine With Me, Masterchef and Saturday Kitchen becoming increasingly more popular it has become more cool than ever before to learn how to cook.

For those of us who aren’t yet culinary experts (naming no names) a cook book, released this month by Coca-Cola, YES  the manufacturer of Coke, Diet Coke, Cherry Coke and the like (who would've thought they published books and knew anything other than what makes a nice soft drink?!), could be right up your street. 

When You Entertain, edited by Tiffany Darke, editor of the Sunday Times Style magazine, is a modern twist on the original 1932 recipe book by Ida Bailey Allen. 

The limited edition cookery book features recipes from four food celebrities: Michelin star chef Tom Aikens, Celebrity Masterchef Winner 2008 and former Atomic Kitten Liz McClarnon, organic farmer and former Blur member Alex James, and food writer Julia Parsons.

Each foodie has picked 10 recipes brings back memories of family mealtimes and other special (food) occasions for them.
Some but not all of the simple and easy to follow recipes have Coke integrated into the ingredients.
Examples I tried were Alex's Coca-Cola Chicken Salad with Garden Potatoes, and Julia Parsons' tasty Cherry Ice Cream Sundaes - surprisingly the Coke didn't taste out of place in any of the dishes.
Plus it was great making these receipes as I always had a nice refreshing glass of Coke to wash down when I was thirsty (not good for my wedding diet plan!). 

There is quite a variety of mouth-watering recipes in the book, with each dish being divided into four sections: Saturday Nights with Friends, Family Meal Times, Weekend Lunch & Brunch and Easy Lunch. 

"When You Entertain offers ideas from food-linked personalities for entertaining family or friends, while celebrating a long-standing heritage and association of Coca-Cola enjoyed at meal times,” said a Coca-Cola spokeswoman.
"The book has delicious recipes that will excite your taste buds,"

Overall, none of the recipes in the book are too difficult to master which makes them perfect for those of us with busy lives and who wouldn’t class themselves as a talented cook. 
For those people out there who are talented cooks, I reckon your expertise would be wasted on this book! 
When You Entertain is available to buy now exclusively at Harvey Nichols.  

What a great haircut!

---

EVERY girl loves to be pampered.

There is almost nothing better than indulging yourself with a new haircut and massage after a hard few week’s at work.

So you can imagine my delight when I was invited to the very stylish and sleek Mahogany Hairdressing in King Street, Manchester, courtesy of Wahanda - a global health and beauty website.

As part of Wahanda's MobDeals - where you can save up to 90 per cent on daily limited time offers for beauty products, spa, salon & wellbeing deals in Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester (soon to be in Liverpool and Newcastle) - I was treated to a haircut, intensive conditioning treatment and head massage by senior stylist Kalvin.

Having been a hairdresser for 12 years, I was certainly in very capable hands with Kalvin (although if I'm honest I was at first a little sceptical about letting a man cut my hair).

I needn't have worried.

After a full consultation and some recommendations to lose some of my (bland) layers, Kalvin was the BEST hairdresser I have EVER been too (sorry girls). 

His attention to detail was second to none. 

He worked his way through my hair with extreme skill and sophistication. 

He really listened to what I wanted from the experience providing me with a hairstyle I really wanted rather than the hairstyle he THOUGHT I wanted.

The end result? A lovely modern haircut, with a sweeping fringe and the feeling of looking pretty hot (even if I do say so myself!).

Kalvin, trained internally by the Mahogany Creative Team to ensure a consistency in skill and technique, and the rest of the staff at Mahogany Hairdressing were very professional during my visit and they made the whole experience truely wonderful.

It is clear their clients mean a great deal to them - and that can sometimes be a bit of a rarity these days.

I for one will be gracing the stylish award winning hairdressers again in the very near future.

For more information on treatments, opening times, and prices at Mahogany Hairdressing visit Mahogany Hairdressing

For more information about Wahanda's fab MobDeals visit Wahanda MobDeal

Back to school...

So, I've been in my new job for nearly two weeks and I'm now starting to feel like a proper member of the team!
My first day was, in one word, weird.
It was weird because I felt like I was eleven again and just starting high school!
You probably all remember feeling both excited and nervous, dressed in your new school uniform not knowing what the hell the day, left alone years, would consist of.
That's exactly how I felt when I began my new job (only this time I made sure my hair looked nice rather than in a big disgusting pineapple type hairstyle!).

Even though I'd had two interviews for the job and researched the company I still wasn't 100 per cent sure what my actual job would entail - and to be honest I'm still not exactly sure!
But what I am sure of is I am happy with the way things are going at the moment. My employers (who are oozing with professionalism) are gradually easing me into the role and the company definitely seems to be going places.

The people are all so friendly, which is always a good thing because no matter how much you love a job if the people are freaks you just don't enjoy the experience as much (plus they seem to like a drink or two something I realised when I was drunk and had to go home at 9pm one night!).

For the moment I'm happy and the future looks bright.
I hope you all feel the same!

Until next time people, take care xxx