Autumn is here

The 13.5 tog duvet went on the other evening. Then it was swapped straight back to the summer one. My winter boots even had their first outing and now they're back in the cupboard. The weather can't seem to decide whether it's warm or cold. We're coming into autumn and you can tell by the smell in the air. I even got excited about Christmas presents this morning (sad, I know). I definitely haven't made a list on my phone about what presents to buy whom...

Anyway, enough of the seasonal talk and onto more pressing news. The dream man and I have bought a house. Not renting, not living at the 'rents - we're buying a house. I'm finally back where I belong, in my hometown, and back with my nearest and dearest people who I love the most. Nothing has ever felt so right. We've bought the house down the road from where we both went to school and down from the village we grew up in as children. A proper home. And it's all ours. To live in and that.

So following on from my skin-pinching moment, I've been thinking of ways to record our restoration/extension developments. Instagram? Pinterest? Blogging? I just couldn't decide. The house is Edwardian and the old lady who lived there before has done no interior work since the 60's. We have 'some' work to do. Let's just say that the bathroom suite is black with pink tiles and pink carpet...

We will be discovering and restoring the original features such as the doors, stripping back the flooring to it's wooden boards, and knocking through the covered up fireplaces. It's an absolute dream to think we can make it our own and create a family home.

Seeing the amount of work we need to do, and how much I like to document things, I thought of this little place I call my blog. It's been underused this year, with me not really knowing what to do with it. I now have a project and something to record. This shall be my house diary. All the ups and downs of a house renovation project will be recorded. I could even print it all at the end and make it into a little book to keep as a momento when the house is complete.

That reminds me, I have some other minor news...I have a new job! I'll be making books for a living. Couldn't get much better than that for a little English grad. One step closer to my dream magazine publishing job.

Anyway, must dash; I have colours to match, sofas to browse, and reclamation yards to explore!

Enjoy the changing seasons and don't forget to savour that wet rain smell.

ZP x

Spring is here

The glory of spring has arrived and all hope is new and fresh. I spent yesterday strolling through Malborough, popping into the Dundas Arms for a spritzer then home for roast lamb. No other Sunday better. It was the first Sunday drink in a pub garden. Heaven. On that note, I found some heavenly print capris that I still can't stop thinking about...however my new purchases of today soon bought me back to shopping equilibrium.

I bought some white sandals to match my new primose yellow bardot wedding number, along with a grey and white chevron leather clutch. I now need to find a grey fitted jacket to finish the look. I think it will all come together rather well.  If you spoke to me last week, I did not want to talk wedding guest dresses as I had disaster after disaster, but one dress can change it all. Thank goodness.

Anyway, this post seems to have diverted into a fashion comment on my current state of purchases. Of course, I'm sure everyone wants to know about my new primose, slate, and white outfit...not.

Onto more exciting things on the subject of spring. This year, I am going to chase my dreams. Properly this time, not just haphazardly, or saunteringly; I want to chase the dreams I've always wanted and I'm going to go out and get it.
Spring has reminded me that there's no better time to just go and grab life by the horns.

I can safely tick one bucket list event off: horse-riding...the next goal is horse-riding along a beach and I'm doing that in May in Alderney (the location for the aforementioned primose wedding outfit).

I'm back into lacrosse again, season officially starts in September so I'll be training hard for that. My gym mantra I will be repeating is: I must run for lacrosse, I must run for lacrosse, I must run for lacrosse. Buying new gym kit also helps getting out there. That's always a good incentive; having a new shiny pair of legging to jog in.

Next on the list: buy my own flat, tour Italy, get my dream job in magazine publishing, be a pit girl for a season, learn how to ski, and surprise myself at every corner. You truly never know what you're capable of. Here's to spring and what 2015 brings!

My Christmas 2014

Christmas. It is a time to spend eating, drinking, laughing, and spending time with all your closest loved ones. This year, my family and friends have been my rock and we all ate until we were fit to burst! I've moved back to my hometown and couldn't be happier being back where I belong. Merry Christmas and happy new year to you all!

2015 new year resolutions:

1. Don't worry

2. Be happy

3. Learn to ski/horse ride/snowboard/knit

4. Explore new restaurants (and review them on here!)

5. Have fun foreign adventures

ZP x

New me, new city, new adventures.

What a few months it has been. I've moved back to my home town and during the business of moving, I was asked to travel to Boston for work. 

Here's the view from the Top of the Hub restaurant in Central Boston.

After returning from the trip, I can safely say that I loved it. It was great to spend time away with colleagues and getting to know them more but it was also great to get to know me a little better.

Abe and Louie's restaurant: the best ribeye and Pinot noir I have had in a long long time!

I haven't been away alone for a very long time and I will advise it to anybody, whether it be through work or just a random, sporadic adventure to widen your horizons. Just go do it: be somewhere new and talk to new people. You never know what you'll learn from them and you'll come back a new person because of it. Every new experience will give you new pleasures and create a more worldly view of yourself.

Here's to new adventures and developing yourself! Get on that plane and fly away!

ZP x

Jet lag lasagne

So, I thought I would start posting all my recipes from the past few months on here and I will start with my first meal back from Australia.

My time zones were all over the place when I landed back in London and I woke up at 7am craving savoury dinner. So what do you cook for breakfast when you fancy homemade comfort food? Lasagne, that's what. Everyone thought I was mad but when you fancy something, then cook it.

I simmered tins of tomatoes with beef mince, onions, and mushrooms for about an hour and let it all reduce and get all tasty. I also added some cannelloni beans to bulk out the meat and fill us up more. Lasagne is a dish that you can add loads of boosting bits to to make it taste delicious. I would start with tomato ketchup, chutneys, or any pickles you fancy. You could go extreme like we did and add a spoonful of vegemite and chicken salt (available from your local Australian stores or online) and it added a punchy hit that brings out the best in a strong tomato reduction. Once you start adding bits, you can't stop. But don't go too far though...no-one likes custard in pasta sauce!

Once reduced and tasting good, I layered the punchy beef and tomato sauce with pasta sheets, béchamel sauce, and cheese.

I baked in the oven for about 45 mins and then served with salad.


The key to lasagne is make sure you rest it and let all the juices set a bit. This will make it easier to cut and it will sit better on the plate.

If your not jet lagged then I would suggest to serve at normal dinner hours with a glass of Italian red!

ZP x

Birthday fun: food, food and more food!

So it was my birthday on Good Friday and what a beautiful day it was. I got lots of presents, a new leather-bound notebook, cookbooks, a steamer, a framed picture for my new house (moving day is soon!) and plenty more so thanks to all.

I spent the day by the river floating about in Hungerford, had a toasted sandwich for lunch with Dad, and then went to dinner at The Fishes in North Hinksey.

At The Fishes, I started with Pigeon and pomegranate followed by sea trout and aubergine mash and ended it with a rhubarb tart and amaretto. Throughout lots of prosecco was consumed. It was delicious. Try it out people, the service was great and the food fantastic:

I then returned home and found out that they had surprised me with a cake made in the covered market in Oxford. What a treat.

Thanks to all my amazing family.

I love you all.

ZP x

Instagram: sharing beautiful photos online

Hi all,

Good morning on this lovely day. Just a short post today to say that I also have an Instagram account online where I publish new photos of recipes as and when they are cooked. If you see anything you'd like the recipe of then please let me know.

Take a look at my account here:

zaprestonza

Enjoy the sun rays!

ZP x