my study week #10: combating procrastination

When revising, procrastination is a beast that must never be awakened if you can help it. And the best way for me to do this is through the use of the FocusNow app where you grow plants. Every 25 minute burst grows a fruit but if you play with your phone when the timer is on, that fruit dies. It's quite addictive as you get to see how your farm looks. There's also a leaderboard which refreshes each week so the more bursts you do, the more points you'll gain. Furthermore, there is the opportunity to level up also - a certain number of one fruit unlocks the next fruit up and so on; and the higher up that chain you go, the more points you gain per fruit grown. Interested? Last time I checked, it's free on the AppStore and no, I'm not paid to talk about it! It's just an excellent app where you can actually see the progress you make.

in search of the perfect blue-black ink #5: lamy blue-black cartridges

In this post, we venture back into cartridge-land with Lamy blue-black cartridges. These were a bit of a disappointment to say the least (I can find no reason to explain why it looks so washed out with extended use!).

Previously: Platinum blue-black cartridges, Pelikan Edelstein Tanzanite, Diamine Twilight and Diamine Blue Black.

And how it looks within my notes (along with a festive scribble during a tutorial in December):

my week #206

This week, I took things really easy but I still ended up with a fever on Friday (all ok now though thank goodness). That's a sign that perhaps I should be taking better care of myself instead of being the workaholic that I am.

Each week in my planner, there is a quote and this week's is so true, I thought I would type it out in full:

"A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees" 

- Amelia Earhart. 

Prior to this year, I'd never seen an episode of Friends but when one of my friends said that it's the sort of programme I would like, I went and bought the digital boxset off iTunes as I had some vouchers that needed using. I'm glad I did and I finished it this week. Phoebe and Joey are my two favourite characters of all time, from all TV programmes that I have ever watched. Phoebe and her phalanges have me laughing out loud and it's just fitting that a phalange had a part to play in the ending too!

How was your week?

homemade burgers: healthy and budget busting

I don't often blog about food because let's face it, I'm no connoisseur. The majority of my meals are as simple as you can get and I'm such a stickler for healthy eating at home, the posts wouldn't be much fun! That's not to say I don't have the occasional treat and I do this by eating out once every two-three months where I choose something a bit naughtier.

Today, I thought I'd share my ridiculously simple homemade burger recipe. Those of you who've been to London or live in London may have come across the many burger chains around. And it is one of those chains that inspired me to make the meal below. It is very quick to cook though the prep time can take a while so this isn't a meal to be made on a regular basis if you're stretched for time. However, it is very healthy - I've used barely any fat/oil and even the beef I used was a lean cut. The only sin in it is a bit of cheese.

HOMEMADE BURGERS, SALAD AND ROSEMARY SEA SALT FRIES

Ingredients - this makes five burgers
For the burger
500g lean beef steaks (or beef from a roasting joint)
1.5 whole red onions
2 garlic cloves
Sea salt and black pepper
1 medium egg
A few leaves of lettuce
Two salad tomatoes
Three gherkins
Burger buns, cut in half horizontally
A cheese of your choosing (I chose Stilton - surprisingly good in a burger!)

Salad
Rocket leaves
Spinach leaves
A small handful of fresh basil
Cherry tomatoes
Balsamic vinegar
Ground pepper
Sea salt

Oven-Baked Fries
Eight Maris Piper potatoes
Fresh rosemary
Sea salt
Olive oil

Method
Oven-Baked Fries
1. Wash the potatoes and cut into 1cm thick fries (I chose to keep the skin on but you can peel it off if you want).
2. Boil the fries for two minutes and then drain.
3. Line a tray with tin foil and place all of the fries on it. Add a dash of olive oil, ensuring that all fries are coated.
4. Bake at 180 degrees Celsius for thirty-forty minutes. Keep your eye on it!
5. Meanwhile, blend the rosemary until it is a powdery consistency. Add sea salt to the blender and blend once more.
6. Once the fries are done, toss them in the rosemary and sea salt powder.

Salad
7. Wash the salad leaves and cherry tomatoes and allow them to dry.
8. Place all leaves into a bowl, add a dash of balsamic vinegar, grind some black pepper and sea salt and then mix. Place in the fridge.

Burger
9. Slice the beef and then blend until all ground. Now, cut the onion and garlic and add into the ground beef. Add some black pepper and sea salt too. Remove from the blender and add an egg and mix thoroughly using your hands.
10. Roll the beef into a small golf ball size then flatten.
11. Cook the beef patties according to how you like it done. This can vary so I haven't specified times but a good way to judge is to see how much it shrinks vertically. The more it shrinks, the better it is cooked inside.
12. Wash the lettuce and salad tomatoes. Cut the lettuce so that it's shredded and slice the tomatoes.
13. Toast the burger buns prior to building the burger.
14. Building from the bottom of the bun up: add the shredded lettuce, sliced tomato, then the beef patty once cooked to your choosing, add some cheese, sliced gherkin and finally the top of the burger bun.

15. You're now ready for dinner!