Five Favourite Cookbooks

       Cooking is probably my number one hobby - I absolutely love food and trying out new recipes but along with that comes a slight cook book addiction. Although I really enjoy finding recipes online (my Pinterest recipe board is never ending) there is something lovely about buying a book and building up a collection. I thought I would share some of my favourites here - being vegetarian as well as fairly health conscious (despite battling an ongoing bread addiction) these might not be the most varied selection but are the ones I find myself using regularly and that have introduced me to some of my most loved recipes.

DELICIOUSLY ELLA EVERY DAY BY ELLA WOODWARD

Despite enjoying the original, I much prefer Ella Woodward's second book which is aimed towards making eating healthily quick and easy to fit around a busy lifestyle. Being a student, finding things I can cook quickly in the evenings with minimum work and clearing up is really important. The recipes are really simple and as long as you have a few basic spices and some fresh vegetables, most can be cooked with just store cupboard ingredients (tinned tomatoes, lentils etc). The veggie paella is amazing - as is the spicy lentil and aubergine pasta. 

VEGAN RICHA'S INDIAN KITCHEN BY RICHA HINGLE

I love Indian food and there is so much more to traditional Indian cuisine than what is available at your local takeaway which is anything but authentic. Veggie curries or rice dishes can be so quick to make and are are both delicious and filling. Richa's book literally has everything you need to create healthy Indian meals, from simple vegetable dishes to avocado naans (yet to try but wow). My ultimate favourite is the mango tofu curry - although I swap the tofu for cauliflower or some chickpeas as I'm not a fan. 

READY STEADY GLOW BY MADELINE SHAW

Ready Steady Glow features a mixture of quick, easy meals as well as more impressive, time consuming recipes. Although lots of the recipes are meat based, the book also includes several vegetarian options, a vegetarian meal plan and lots of the meat based meals are easily adaptable anyway. Standouts for me are the life changing spicy tomato soup that can be made in just five minutes (honestly), the gluten free raspberry and pistachio brownies or the pea fritters - which can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner!

MILDREDS - THE COOKBOOK

If you haven't been to Mildreds - go!!! It's a vegetarian restaurant with locations in Soho, Camden and Kings Cross. The cookbook is filled with some favourites from the restaurant as well as lots of other unique recipes, some of which are quick to make and some that are more elaborate. I really like the mixture of a cuisines, including a dreamy Latin chapter filled with burritos, quesadillas and guac or a whole chapter dedicated to veggie burgers. 

PLENTY MORE BY YOTAM OTTOLENGHI

If you have a little more time, Yotam Ottolenghi's Plenty More has a middle eastern theme and is perfect if your looking for a really unique recipe to impress with. The recipes I've tried have all been amazing and although some of the ingredients may seem a little strange at first the flavour combinations always surprise me. That said, some of the ingredients can be a little hard to come by, so this isn't really a book you can just pull out to choose what to have for dinner as it requires a little more preparation. If you were having some people over for dinner or a barbecue then this is the book you need! I love the mixed vegetables and yogurt with green chili oil, the aubergine pahi and pretty much all of the interesting salads! 

Diptyque L'ombre Dans L'eau

If you've read my previous posts, you may know my love for Diptyque's Baies candle. Fresh and delicate, L'ombre Dans L'eau is the fragrance equivalent of Baies and is scented of roses and blackcurrant leaves. In a sea of sweet and coconutty (is that a word?) summer scents, I love how refreshingly unique this perfume is. Although I have the eau de toilette, the fragrance really lasts on my skin and develops beautifully throughout the day. The packaging is obviously absolutely beautiful, as with all the candles and scents in Diptyque's range. Have you tried L'ombre Dans L'eau?

Perricone MD No Highlighter Highlighter

Perricone MD is the range of skin care and make up created by dermatologist and nutritionalist Dr Perricone, focusing on reducing skin inflammation which can lead to premature ageing. The brand's cosmetics are also infused with skin benefitting ingredients and present a very simplistic, natural take on make up with a limited range of products and shades.

The No Highlighter Highlighter (all the brand's cosmetic items are named this way) is the first product I've tried from Perricone MD. Although sometimes I do favour an intense look, I find heavily pearlised, powder highlights can often be too much for daytime, especially when paired with a lighter, glowier tinted moisturiser which typically what I go for in Spring. This liquid highlight offers a more natural sheen and meshes seamlessly with my base to deliver a lit from within glow - minus any shimmer. The perfect product to create a beautiful strobed effect, I love to dot this over the cheekbones, nose, cupids bow and have even been using it to subtly highlight the centre of my lips - it's an extremely versatile product! Although the formula looks a pearlescent pink, this tint isn't visible on the skin and I think it would suit a huge variety of skin tones due to it's natural finish. The product doesn't drag or disrupt my foundation on application and lasts as long as my base does. I can't say much for any skin care benefits due to the area of application being so small, however I really love the ethos of Perricone MD and the idea of fusing cosmetics and skin care to create a beautiful, healthy finish. The No Lipstick Lipstick and No Blush Blush are next on my wish list, as well as trying some of the brands actual skin care line! Have you tried anything from Perricone MD or have any recommendations? Let me know!