Weekly – Page 6 – Scandelights

Steak, surprise party and SPRING!

Published on April 4, 2019April 4, 2019 by HannaLeave a comment

The week before last started with a quit day. Just work, and an early night at home.

On the Tuesday I had some work errands and as it was nice weather I put my trenchcoat on and enjoyed the sunshine as I went from place to place. In the evening I made fried halloumi with potato wedges, roasted peppers and red onions and tzatsiki for dinner. Love this kind of easy cooking on a weekday! And it’s SO yummy!

The next evening I met up with two girl friends for steak and a catchup at Hawksmoor. We had such a lovely evening drinking wine, eating steak and chatting away.

On the Thursday I went away with work for the day, but was all shaky and sweaty (very unlike me!) by the time I got to the train station, but luckily some paracetamol helped. But the day felt really long because of the travelling so when I got back to London we ordered burgers for takeaway and watched the first episode of the new series of Billions. Love this series so much!

More errands on Friday but I still felt a bit shaky so took it easy in the evening. And most of Saturday too, but in the evening I put some heels on and went to a friend’s really fun surprise birthday party!

On the Sunday I slept in and met a friend for a late lunch. It was sunny and although not warm the weather was still nice, so I put my trench and new sneakers on because SPRING! Obviously I got a nasty blister that took over a week to heal, but still…

Not the best week but a great weekend!

Published on March 27, 2019 by HannaLeave a comment

Is it spring now?! The calendar says so but not sure the weather gods got the memo. I’ve been longing for spring for so long now, it seems strange that it’s arrived. But I’m really enjoying the lighter evenings and no longer freezing (just cold!) temperatures. I even dared to put on a trench coat a few times.

But I’m really behind on telling you what else I’ve been up to, so let’s get started.

Week before last. Aaand go!

Well, it wasn’t the best week. I had a nice and relaxing Monday night (which is my preferred way – Mondays are hard anyway). But then on the Tuesday I didn’t feel very well and had to cancel my plans.

Same on the Wednesday. I had so little energy I ordered takeaway for dinner. Grateful for healthy options as I wasn’t craving burgers or pizza, so a poke bowl was the perfect supper!

Thursday I was a bit better but took it easy so I could enjoy the weekend. Friday was one of those days when it felt like the world (or London – which IS my world) was against me. It was incredibly windy and cold, lots of street were closed for road works or Brexit demonstrations (they all seem to blur into one) and no buses to be seen. So I took a taxi to my meeting the looong way around but luckily was on time. On the way back I thought I’d be good and walked to the bus stop. Where I and lots of other people waited and waited for buses that never arrived. Whitehall was empty (surreal) and the cab I hailed to get me home just breezed through. But after that excursion I was cold and tired and really windswept.

But I had just enough energy to cook a three course meal for us and a friend in the evening.

Crostini with smoked salmon spread to start, delizie alla romagnola for mains and chewy lemon cake for pudding. It was so nice with home cooked food after not feeling well all week and the others loved it too!

Saturday I had a lie-in and a chilled day. I read my book and feel asleep on the sofa but in the evening we went out for dinner to one of our (mine) favourite places for truffle pasta and other lovely food!

Sunday we slept in, had a cooked breakfast and went to visit friends in the afternoon. We played with Peppa Pig themed toys and in the evening after bed time we (the grownups) had pizza for dinner.

When we got home I made us hot cocoa with whipped cream and we watched another episode of Goliath. It’s still really good!

So to sum it up; pretty rubbish week but a lovely weekend!

Pancakes, dinners at home and out and a Dior exhibition!

Published on March 15, 2019 by HannaLeave a comment

Last Monday I was tired after a lovely weekend in Norfolk, as we got back quite late on the Sunday night, so after work on Monday I had no energy to cook. Instead I ordered a lovely pizza from Pizza Pilgrims and had the leftovers for lunch the next day. Yay for takeaway!

Tuesday was Pancake Day and my dear boyfriend was in charge. He’s amazing at making pancakes so it’s becoming a tradition that he cooks pancakes galore for me on Shrove Tuesday. Last year I also introduced a Swedish treat; cream buns, but it was far too much so this year we kept it simple with just pancakes.

First we had some with savoury fillings, like ham and cheese and crispy pancetta and cheese – both very yummy, and then moved on to sweet toppings.

I love the traditional sugar and lemon so had to have one of those and then of course one with whipped cream, and as I know it would be my last one (I was so full by this stage) I went all out with both strawberry jam AND Nutella. So yummy! Afterwards we half laid on the sofa (sitting up was too difficult) watching Goliath, a new series we started. It’s so so good! Highly recommend it.

On Wednesday I med up with a friend after work. We had our heart set on sushi but ended up in Shake Shack instead (yum!!) and then went to a bar for drinks and a nicer ambiance to properly catch up.

Thursday I had a night in after doing some errands in wind and rain (always fun!).

On Friday night I made another three course dinner and we watched some more Goliath.

On Saturday I had a rare afternoon at home by myself without any plans or chores. So I read the new Living Etc magazine featuring Jenna Lyons amazing New York apartment and almost fell asleep! Then I got ready super slowly (love doing my makeup properly taking my time, but most of the time I only have a few minutes to slap it on) and then we went out for dinner.

Love our date nights and this time we had a lovely steak dinner and the most amazing pudding at Foxlow Soho (will do a proper writeup soon).

Sunday I met up with a friend to go to the Dior exhibition, using my brand new membership card to get us in. It was so dreamy and magical and just exceeded my (very high) expectations!

Afterwards we had cream tea and a catch up in the member’s area – such a lovely space.

Nights in, dinners out and a weekend in Norfolk

Published on March 6, 2019 by HannaLeave a comment

Last week started with three nights at home. So lovely and much needed. I went to bed early, read a good book and watched a new cosy series called New Amsterdam. Love a hospital drama!

On the Thursday night it was a friend’s birthday dinner at Joe’s Brasserie and we had such a fun night!

On Friday afternoon we drove up to Norfolk for the weekend. We had a date night dinner at cosy The White Horse and the next day we went for a long walk on the beach and met a seal.

In the evening we had a friend staying over and we went to the local pub for dinner. The next day the boys played golf in the rain while I read indoors, and after their game we all had lunch together at the club house. In the afternoon we cosied up on the sofa and watched the last two episodes of True Detective season 3. Loved it! In the evening we drove back to London.

Cinema, girl’s night and a sunny weekend!

Published on March 4, 2019March 4, 2019 by HannaLeave a comment

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The week before last I went down to the New Forest for work on the Monday and as usual it was rainy and grey. Such a shame as it’s so beautiful there otherwise. In the evening I had leftover lasagne for dinner in front of True Detective. Perfect for a Monday night.

On the Tuesday I did some errands and met up with old colleagues for drinks and nibbles at our usual place in the evening.

Wednesday was burger and cinema night. Saw Vice which was so so good!

Thursday was a gorgeous day with blue skies and sunshine and I spent the day working in a café with the sun shining in from the window. Such a treat!

In the evening I met up with two girl friends for wine, nibbles and a takeaway. So lovely to catch up!

I cooked a lot at the weekend, and we saw both Roma (amazing film!) and the Oscars. And we enjoyed some sun of course!

Cinema, theatre and a chilled weekend!

Published on February 26, 2019 by HannaLeave a comment

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The week before last spring came to London. It’s was 12C and sunny every day and it was such a treat after the cold spell we had a few weeks before.

I also – finally – finished watching True Detective season one, which I thought was great but uncomfortable to watch when I first started watching it. But I’m currently ploughing through season three so really wanted to finish it. I’m not good at watching scary and uncomfortable series and films on my own. I prefer to read about them, somehow that’s easier. But I’m watching season three together with my boyfriend which makes it so much easier. Maybe because afterwards we talk about other things and it doesn’t stay with me the way it would if I was on my own. But season three is less scary over all. But so good!

On the Tuesday night we had a date night in Barnes with a pub dinner followed by Green Book at the nice cinema there, The Olympic.

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It has a nice bar, sofas (which we booked) with footstools, little tables for your snacks and blankets if you get cold. Love a cinema like that!

Wednesday I stayed in and made myself a chicken burger with cheese and pickled pepper for dinner. (Sometimes I get weird cravings like that!)

Thursday was Valentine’s Day and although we didn’t really meant to go out we ended up going to the theatre and saw Molière’s Tartuffe at the National Theatre. It had some great actors in it but was not a very good production. I don’t really like farcical comedy so it wasn’t really for me anyway, but still… It was the first week of it being put on though, so hopefully it will get a bit better. We just laughed at our first bad theatre experience (and we go a lot so it was bound to happen sometime!) and went home to enjoy a midnight feast of baked Vacherin Mont D’Or instead.

During the weekend I both cooked and went out for dinner.

And I made the most amazing cookies after Alison Roman’s recipe – the ones that almost broke the internet! Will post it later!

We also went for a nice walk and enjoyed the sunny weather as much as we could!

Cinema and a lot of cooking (yes!)

Published on February 20, 2019February 20, 2019 by HannaLeave a comment

The first week in February was not too busy for me, and that was great since I had to battle a cold. But apart from resting a bit to get rid of said cold and working of course, I also managed to get back into the cooking groove.

When I’m out a few nights a week I feel it tricky to figure out what to cook the nights I stay in. But when I stay in more I really get into it. I made a nice omelet one day, my go to poke bowl (same ingredients as in this recipe) and pulled pork in brioche buns with aioli.

I also got a bunch of tulips that lasted surprisingly long and I just love the fact that spring is here and with it TULIP SEASON!

On the Wednesday we went to the cinema to see Can You Ever Forgive Me and although it wasn’t amazing I liked it. Interesting true story and great acting.

I cooked even more at the weekend. We stayed in every night so I planned it all in advance and ordered everything from Ocado. Much more inspiring than just popping into the small neighbourhood supermarket only to find out that they’re out of stock of the chicken you wanted.

If you want to follow my day to day life a bit more you can follow @scandelights on Instagram as well. As blogging takes a lot of time, I find my instagram account a great compliment of what I eat and do on a more daily basis. Hope to see you there too!

Cinema, dim sum and a quiet weekend

Published on February 12, 2019 by HannaLeave a comment

It was winter in London towards the end of January. It snowed and it was biting cold, especially at night, so I stayed indoors as much as I could.

On the Tuesday I went down to The New Forest for work and the train was actually warm which was nice.

Wednesday was movie night with a burger and Mary Queen of Scots at the cinema. I liked it (very pretty scenery) but wasn’t blown away.

On Thursday night I met up with my friend Laura for some warming dim sum at Yauatcha. So yummy and nice!

The weekend was nice and relaxing. On the Friday night I ordered sushi and watched Roman Holiday. Saturday I had a lie-in and went out for some shopping and errands. It wasn’t as cold anymore and so nice to be outside! On the Sunday I made nachos, watched the new episode of Suits and read my book in candle light. Love lighting candles when it’s dark outside!

Cinema, truffle pasta and a royal outing

Published on February 6, 2019 by HannaLeave a comment

The fourth week in January my social life had calmed down a little but work was really busy!

It snowed on the Tuesday but luckily it didn’t settle, but it was a cold day and it definitely felt wintery. We went to the cinema to see The Favourite which I really enjoyed. Olivia Colman was amazing in it! Before the cinema I cooked one of my favourite pasta dishes but used squid ink tagliatelle instead of regular pasta. So yummy!

The rest of the week consisted of full-on work day and early nights in. Friday as well, I was so tired and it was bliss to have dinner cooked for me. We stayed in watching Jack Ryan and thereafter the really good (but gritty) film You Were Never Really Here.

The next morning we had a lie-in and a big breakfast, visited some friends with kids and in the evening we went out for dinner to Sorella.

I was craving their truffle pasta and although different (because the seasons have changed) from last time, it did not disappoint. We had other yummy dishes as well, like charred leeks with egg yolk and sword fish.

The next day was suuuper cold but I still walked around Windsor Castle. It was raining sideways, really windy and cold but I still had a nice few hours there. I saw Meghan’s wedding dress and a bit inside but most of the visit one walked around outside.

When I got back to London I was in desperate need of some warming comforting food and made roast chicken and dauphinoise potatoes, which really hit the spot!

For pudding we had homemade brownies and ice cream, which of course wasn’t that warming but definitely comforting!

Tacos, theatre and Sri Lankan food

Published on February 1, 2019 by HannaLeave a comment

The third week in January was another socially busy one. Monday night I met up with my dear friends Gaby and Ro for tacos and a catchup.

We met at Breddos Kingly Street and ordered up a storm; different types of tacos, tuna tostadas, crab quesadilla, queso and of course guacemole and tortilla chips.

Tuesday was theatre night and we started with an early supper at Terrace, one of the two restaurants in the National Theatre.

A few small plates to share and a glass of Prosecco later it was time for…

…Shakespeare’s Antony & Cleopatra with Ralph Fiennes (!!) in the lead as Mark Antony. It really was a pinch me moment and I loved every second of it!

Wednesday I went down to The New Forest with work. Although it was a grey and rainy day seeing the animals walking around freely was like seeing sunshine. Love the nature there!

Thursday night I went for drinks with colleagues at Frog by Adam Handling where we tried lots of the snacks like crispy frog legs with dip, crab and kimchi bites and cheesy doughnuts. Yum!

Friday night I met up with my friend Daisy for dinner at Hoppers. I’ve been meaning to go for absolute ages and the queue always puts me off, but now that they have opened a second branch near Bond Street it’s much easier to get a table. Yay!

The work week was rather intense so all I wanted to do at the weekend was to take it easy. I slept late, made nice breakfasts, cosied up with scented candles and Netflix. It was absolutely heaven and so needed!