Super Simple Protein Pancakes

Pancakes. Who doesn't love them? Pancake day fired up my love for a good old stack again. So much so, that I've been making them not just for breakfast, but for tea too. Winner winner, pancake dinner.

These protein-packed versions are an ideal post-workout meal idea or a just a great way of getting more protein into your diet, and guess what? They are insanely simple to make.

So, wanna make pancakes? Here's the lowdown.

Life on Instagram #2

The few past weeks have been an absolute whirlwind and it feels like I haven't stopped. Here's a look a what's been going down recently via the magical filtered eye of Instagram.

1. Interior porn at Tynemouth Market. / 2. After the best flat white in Newcastle? Head to Ouseburn Coffee Company's minimal Harvest Canteen in West Jesmond. The interiors, as well as the coffee, are on point. / 3. Protein pancakes! If you fancy whipping up a batch this weekend, check out AMB on Sunday morning for the full recipe. / 4. A couple of weekends ago, I spent the entire weekend housebound thanks to a sickness bug. Big thanks to Ru Paul's Drag Race for helping me get through it through. / 5. Behind the scenes filming for a big work project. / 6. Avo and spinach on Biona Rye bread. The obsession begins. / 7. My take on Madeleine Shaw's chickpea flour taco recipe. / 8. All hail kale. / 9. So, yeah, Coyo do ice cream now. I can neither confirm or deny that I scoffed the lot in 2 days.

10. Everything is blurry on a 6am run along the North Tyneside coast. / 11. One of the best soaps I've used forever. Check out Washed Out Soap Co - you won't regret it. / 12. My beautiful big sis and I at mine and J's engagement do. / 13. *insert heart-eyed emoji*  / 14. Big shout out to Jenny at Nars in John Lewis, Newcastle for somehow making a smokey eye work on me. Now, to perfect this myself... / 15. Refuelling after bootcamp at Dil & the Bear, one of the best spots in Tynemouth. / 15. Fireside wine. / 16. Two of my newest (and already most favourite) cookbooks from Hemsley Hemsley and The Fat Radish. / 16. Light shining bright in Tynemouth Station, after dark. Brilliant place for a fashion show, non?

For more heavily filtered views of daily life, follow me on Insta - @alicemarybarnes

Battle of the Cleansers | Beauty

I've been on somewhat of cleanser quest the past few months. Skincare is kind of a big deal for me and I don't mind spending a bit of dollar to keep it looking on top form, afterall 2015 is about looking after my health and myself (rhyming cringe)

Now I still love a bit of the original Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser, but something about the creamy formula just hasn't been cutting the mustard recently. My skin got a bit used to it, and it just wasn't getting the daily grime off, so I decided to switch things up. Oil, gels, balms; you name it, I've tried it.

So, following my extensive research, here's a line-up of my three current favourites.

February Favourites | Lifestyle

Time for some February favourites. Here's a right old mixture of goodies that I've been loving this past month.

All hail kale
Everyone who knows me, knows I have a mild - ok full-blown - obsession with kale. What's not to love? Leafy, green, damn good for you. Man, I love the kale.

I'm also right in thinking that most of us will have seen the Beyonce 7/11 video, and that Kale sweater. Ever since the first view, I've been literally obsessed. I had seen similar jumpers over at SeaSoul & Snow (after the Beet sweat next) before I saw Bey's version, but wasn't quite sure about parting with 40 big ones for it. Luckily for me, the birthday gods knew how much I wanted one and I was gifted this beauty #kaleyeah

The Gentlewoman
My absolute favourite publication returns for SS15. Look at that cover. Look at Bjork! If you've never picked it up before, it is a seriously smart publication for smart women.

Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara 
Now it wouldn't be a monthly favourites post without a bit of beauty. I am so chuffed I finally got my hands on some Tarte goodies when in the States at the beginning of the year. I am a big, voluminous, Sixties eyelash kind of girl - the bigger the lashes, the better IMO.  Tarte's Gifted mascara was one of many purchases from Sephora in NYC and it is an absolute beauty. Doesn't leave the lashes looking clumpy at all, instead leaving them voluminous and fluttery. Winner.

Sephora Cream Lip Stain
I read about this product on Lily Pebbles blog at the end of last year, and instantly put this on my hit list for Sephora. It is the most long-lasting liquid lipstick ever. I can't even explain. So light and not drying in the slightest, this is an unbelievable product for long-lasting lip colour. I purchased 01 Always Red, but will definitely be picking up some more of the pinky tones next time I visit the US.

Pukka Peppermint and Licorice tea
I've been trying to cut down on the caffeine recently and on my quest for something interesting to replace my usual cuppa with, I came across this blend from Pukka. Now I'm not going to lie, the packaging was the main reason I picked these up, but the contents are just as tasty. Sweet and refreshing at the same time, this is my new go-to tea.

Colab Dry Shampoo
I am a big dry shampoo gal. Having long hair means only having to wash it about twice a week, so for those in-between days, I'm always reaching for a dry shampoo to keep my locks looking tip-top. Ruth Crilly from A Model Recommends partnered with Colab to create a new range of dry shampoos, in delicious scents named after cities and formulated to be sheer and invisible. I picked up the Extreme Volume version in the scent New York, and can hands down say that this beats my usual go-to, Batiste XXL. The Colab range is on offer at Superdrug at the moment, so make sure you get your hands on some whilst it's at this lower price. You won't regret it.

What are you loving this month?

Goan Chicken Soup

Good old chicken soup. A makes-you-feel-better marvel. This uber-version, with a Goan twist, has been somewhat of a Sunday cook-up staple for the past few weeks. 

Super simple to make and packed with amazing spices, this will warm you up on the coldest of days.

This recipe, by alpha-babe Madeleine Shaw, was an exclusive in one of her weekly emailers. If you haven't already signed-up, make sure you hot-foot it on over to her site and subscribe, for a fresh batch of nourishing goodies to be delivered to your inbox. 

Madeleine Shaw's Goan Chicken Soup (serves 4)

What you'll need:
1 tbsp coconut oil
2 large onions, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, diced
2 carrots, finely chopped
Half red chilli, finely sliced
1 thumb of ginger, chopped into chunks
1.5 tsp coriander powder
1.5 tsp cumin powder
1.5 tsp turmeric
1.5 tsp garam masala
1 tsp chilli powder
500g diced chicken thigh
1 can chickpeas
Bunch fresh coriander
700g chopped tomatoes or passata (I used chopped for a bit of a chunkier soup)
500ml chicken stock (used fresh bone broth or veggie stock will also do the trick)

Make that soup!
1. Melt the coconut oil in a large sauce pan and sweat the onions, garlic, carrots, chilli and ginger on a medium heat
2. Add all of the dry spices except the garam masala into the pan (if these are start getting stuck to the bottom of pan, add small quantities of water to moisten)
3. When the vegetables are soft, add the diced chicken thighs and brown these off
4. Add the tomatoes and heat bring to a simmer
5. Add chickpeas and stock
7. Allow to simmer and reduce down for 20-30mins minimum for a good thick consistency
8. When this has reduced, add garam masala and fresh coriander.
9. Serve with fresh coriander and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

Voila! Nourishing, hearty and amazingly good for you.

Have you tried any of Madeleine's recipes? Check out her website it you haven't already - packed with goodness for all alpha-babes.