Roasted Lamb

Have you ever roasted a leg of lamb? It may sound intimidating, but roasting a leg of lamb is actually really, really simple – quick to prepare and quick to cook.

I love roasted lamb. I love its tenderness and it’s packed full of flavors. Perfect for your weekend lunch or any celebrations.

Roasted lamb

When roasting leg of lamb,

• I opted for using a bone-in lamb leg because bones hold so much flavor, and I am getting all that flavor in the meat itself.
• I prefer not marinating it, since lamb leg is already a tender cut. I just season it with tons of herbs – thyme, rosemary, parsley, oregano, pepper, garlic, ginger and some fresh lemon juice and mustard.
• My family and I prefer it well done, so I roasted the lamb leg for an hour and 45 minutes. The question of how long you cook it will depend on your personal preference of desired doneness – rare, medium, medium-rare or well-done.
• I roasted it on the bed of potatoes and we have ourselves a very easy and very delectable and succulent roast lunch classic!

Roasted lamb

Here’s my simple and fuss-free recipe of roasting a leg of lamb. It always turns perfect every time I cook it.

What you will need:

• 1 leg of lamb
• 3 white potatoes, peeled, and sliced about 1mm thick, rounds
• 5 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp ginger, grated
• fresh lemon juice of half a lemon
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp parsley
• 1 tsp rosemary
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp pink Himalayan salt
• 1 tsp black pepper, freshly crashed

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How to roast lamb:

• Preheat oven to 250⁰C.
• Prepare the potatoes – wash and peel the potatoes. Slice them into 1 mm thick rounds. Then arrange them into the roasting dish.
• Prepare lamb – wash and clean the lamb leg. Use a pointed sharp knife to make shallow cuts all over the lamb meat. Pat lamb dry with paper towels. Sprinkle some salt and black pepper on both sides. Then, place lamb into the prepared roasting pan.
• Prepare the paste mixture – toss in garlic, ginger, lemon juice, mustard, olive oil, oregano, parsley, rosemary, thyme, paprika, turmeric, salt and black pepper. Whisk together until all the ingredients are well incorporated.
• Spread the paste mixture evenly over the lamb. Then rub the paste evenly into the scored cuts.
• Cover the baking dish with foil.
•  Place into the preheated oven for an hour. Remove the foil. Then roast it again (uncover) for 30 minutes or until how done your meat want it to be. In short, how long you cook the lamb leg, depends on your personal preference.
• Serve it with potatoes and your favorite vegetables.
• Et voila! Share and enjoy.

Wanderlusting around the world in my own style

I have always loved to travel. I love to see new places, experience the beauty of every nooks and crannies of the world, food, and people from different regions. Through the years, while traveling with my family, I’ve learned that comfort is everything and I’ve learned to travel light in a cozy, sanguine and stylish way.

Traveling in a stylish way

Traveling in a stylish way

Traveling in a stylish way

All these years, my hubby has been my travel buddy and at the same time my fashion critique – he taught me to dress up gorgeously and elegantly without being flashy, embrace comfort and practicality, be happy with my own style and be confident about it. Before I met my hubby, I never really understood about fashion, it was only since 2009 that I’ve started to allow myself to enjoy my style in whatever I do and wherever I go. I have realized that fashion is so empowering – it’s something that makes me feel empowered, makes me feel good and positive, and fashion is a form of art that I can use to express myself and allow my personality to show through.

Traveling in a stylish way

Traveling in a stylish way

Traveling in a stylish way

So, whether I am traveling for work or for leisure or for day-to-day errands, I’ll make sure I’m in for a chic stylish treat without getting broke. Here’s how I minimally pack my suitcase while looking my best when traveling:

Plan before you pack – First, I check the luggage policy of the airline carrier. Next, I make a list of every item I need to bring, so that I would never forget to bring something important and reduces that panic of last-minute packing. Then, I set aside a little extra time to pick out the clothing I want to bring. Afterwards, I organize what I want to take and eliminate the items that I don’t need in order to avoid over packing as extra luggage will weigh me down on my trip.

Traveling in a stylish way

Traveling in a stylish way

Traveling in a stylish way

Consider the destination – My knowledge of the destination – like what’s the weather like, etc. – helps me to narrow down what I need to bring and helps me pack some appropriate clothes. Then, I map out the tourist attractions I want to visit and activities I want to do.

Traveling in a stylish way

Traveling in a stylish way

Traveling in a stylish way

Pack the essentials and the basics – Depending on the purpose of the trip, generally, I pack 3 pairs of shoes – a pair of sneakers, a pair of sandals and a pair of high-heeled shoes. For my bags, I usually pack 2 bags – a cross-body bag or a backpack I bring on the plane and a clutch for a night. Then, I pack my medicine kit, toiletry bag, make-up kit (that consists only of a lip balm, a lipstick and a face powder), and perfume. I can go out without wearing make-up, though, but I can’t go out without wearing perfume.

Traveling in a stylish way

Traveling in a stylish way

Traveling in a stylish way

Pack Accessories that have multiple functions – I love scarves and jewelries studded with gold, diamonds and pearls. For me, they are enduring and made with stories. It’s a way to express who I am and they help me stand out. For my jewelries, I always take a few pieces with me wherever I go, because I feel incomplete if I do not wear them. Also, I always bring scarves – it’s lightweight, comfortable, stylish, and bring a splash of colour. It’s a timeless piece that will always looks good, never gets old, and I can wear all the time.

Traveling in a stylish way

Traveling in a stylish way

Traveling in a stylish way

Traveling in a stylish way

Decide what my go-to “plane outfit” is – My plane outfit depends on what type of trip I am into. If, upon arrival, I go directly straight from the airport to the venue, then I wear a casual dress and high heels. But usually if we go on holidays and for long flights, I wear something light – like leggings, a tee-shirt, a cardigan and a pair of sneakers or flat boots.

Traveling in a stylish way

Traveling in a stylish way

Traveling in a stylish way

Traveling in a stylish way

Finally, I keep in mind to pack what’s pretty and practical because they always go together. Also, I pack what I wish to happen – like we might be attending someone’s birthday aperitif, etc. Then, I organize everything I’m taking with me and fold and store it all in my luggage neatly so that I won’t end up with a wad of wrinkled clothes at our destination.

Ratatouille

One day, I wanted to sneak up on my husband and my son with something simple, so I opted to bring Ratatouille to our dinner table for a thankful Tuesday! Does the name have a familiar ring to you?

Ratatouille

Ratatouille is a classic French dish with colorful layers of basic fresh vegetables – zucchini, eggplant, yellow squash, carrot, white radish, tomatoes, shallots on a bed of garlicky peppery tomato sauce. On top of the luscious flavor, we love the simplicity of this quintessential vegetarian dish as it turns basic veggies into magic. Plus, this comforting thick and silky vegetarian stew celebrates so much of the bounty of the summer produce, and it’s even excellent the next day.

Ratatouille

In my recipe, I topped the traditional ratatouille with a bit of cheese to make into an aromatic winner dinner. The real magic of ratatouille happens when the vegetables melt into each other, turning completely tender, while the herbs – thyme, garlic, basil, parsley and pepper infuse every corner of the baking dish. You can serve it with steamed rice, pasta or you can serve it as-is with a side of chicken (or any meat of your choice) and a bread to scoop up delicious slowly cooked tomato sauce.

So when your kitchen is packed with fresh produce, cook Disney inspired Ratatouille, and enjoy a perfectly tasty and fresh meal!

Ratatouille

What you will need:

Vegetables

• 1 pc zucchini, sliced into about 1-mm rounds
• 1 pc eggplant, sliced into about 1-mm rounds
• 1 pc carrot, sliced into about 1-mm rounds
• 1 pc white radish, sliced into about 1-mm rounds
• 4 pcs shallots, sliced into about 1-mm rounds
• 4 pcs tomatoes, sliced into about 1-mm rounds
• 1 pc yellow squash, sliced into about 1-mm rounds

Sauce

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 pc red bell pepper, diced
• 1 pc yellow bell pepper, diced
• 4 pcs big tomatoes, chopped
• 2 tbsp fresh basil leaves, chopped
•  2 tbsp fresh parsley leaves, chopped
• 1 tsp oregano
• Himalayan salt, to taste
• black pepper, freshly crashed, to taste

Herb seasoning

• 5 tbsps olive oil
• 2 tbsps fresh basil leaves, chopped
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 tbsp garlic, minced
• 2 tsp fresh thyme
• Himalayan salt, to taste
• black pepper, freshly crashed, to taste

Ratatouille

How to cook it:

1. Pre-heat oven to 200˚C.
2. Prepare the vegetables. Wash and slice the veggies – eggplant, zucchini, radish, yellow squash, onion, tomatoes, carrot – into approximately 1-mm round rounds. Then, set aside.
3. Prepare the sauce. Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Sauté the onion, garlic and bell peppers for 10 minutes or until they become soft. Add tomatoes. Season with salt, pepper and basil. Stir until the ingredients are well combined. Remove from heat. Blend the vegetables using a blender. Then smooth the surface of the sauce with a spatula as you pour it into a baking dish.
4. Arrange the sliced veggies in alternating patterns (for example: eggplant, tomato, squash, zucchini) on top of the sauce from the outer edge to the middle of the pan.
5. Prepare the herb seasoning. In a small bowl, mix together the basil, garlic, parsley, thyme, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Stir in until the mixture is fully incorporated. Spoon the herb seasoning over the vegetables.
6. Cover the baking pan with foil and bake for 40 minutes. Uncover, the baking pan and bake for another 20 minutes, until the vegetables are softened.
7. Serve while it is hot – as a main dish or side. Sprinkle some grated Emmental cheese (or any cheese of your choice) above the Ratatouille. Share and enjoy!