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Best Baba Ganoush

I have been growing Eggplant or Aubergine as I know it better in my garden during the summer. I’ve loved growing them but they are quite labour intensive and the plants are really large. There are easier plants to grow but the results are so delicious that it is well worth the effort in the end.

I have managed to harvest these cute fruits. Yes they are fruits but are commonly used and eaten as a vegetable. Whatever they are classed as, these little gems are beautiful and sweet when roasted.

I wanted to make the Best Baba Ganoush dip that I could and have the perfect recipe that show off their sweet flavour.

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5 from 1 vote

Baba Ganoush

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

40 mins

Total Time

50 mins

A Silky Egg Plant Dip ideal for all occassions

Course: Snack

Servings: 6

Author: mainy - myrealfairy

Ingredients

1 Egg Plant (Aubergine)
2 tbsp Tahini Paste
1 whole Garlic Clove
Salt and Pepper
1 pinch Ground Cumin
1 tbsp Olive Oil

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 200 oc
Wipe clean the skin of the eggplant.
Place the eggplant halves, flesh side down, on a lightly oiled baking sheet then drizzle with olive oil. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the eggplant fully softens through.
Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
When it is cooled, scoop out the flesh out and transfer to a food processor.
Do not use the skins in the dip, just the flesh.
Add the garlic, lemon juice, ground cumin, olive oil and tahini paste.
Process until you achieve a puree consistency.
Add salt and pepper to your personal taste.

Recipe Notes

Top with a little olive oil and fresh coriander for garnish and aroma.

Let me know what you think to this and have you tried to grow your own?

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Do you fancy a Twisted Valentines Day? Gift Guide and Giveaway

It’s nearly here, I can’t believe that it’s nearly Valentines Day. It seems like a blink ago I was getting excited for Christmas and now here I am talking about the most romantic day of the year. This is one of those days that you can get so right or more worryingly so wrong!

Here is the start of my gift guide series to keep you on track, point you in the right direction and also help you along the way of feeling tip-top for the special day.

Twisted

Founded in 2016 by Sophie Thorne, Twisted Lingerie was created to fill a gap in the market – seductive lingerie with all the style and attitude of luxury designer brands but none of the price tag.

Designed to thrill and add that extra bit of spice to your life I loved the range on Twisted. It’s a little bit different and I like that! If you get bored with looking through your underwear drawer and seeing the same old comfortable everyday pants then this site is for you.

Do you fancy a Twisted Valentines Day? Gift Guide and Giveaway

I picked the Xenia Suspender priced at £29.00 for my treat. I loved suspenders but had not seen my suspender belt in years and when I saw the style of the Xenia I loved it. I really liked that it came in plain black packaging and beautifully packed inside.

Our mission is to empower women to embrace their desires, and make every day that little bit naughtier.

Do you fancy a Twisted Valentines Day? Gift Guide and Giveaway

The suspender is comfy and sexy, the best of both worlds. The fetish-inspired range has that bit of difference and an edge to it that I haven’t seen in the standard lingerie market.

Twisted’s range starts at just £17 – the only limit is your imagination.

We have a delightful giveaway to offer you today to make Valentines go with a sizzle. A £20 voucher to spend or put towards an item of your choice at Twisted.

Enter using the rafflecopter giveaway below. Good Luck and enjoy your Valentine’s day!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open to entrants with a UK postal address. All entries will be verified. Please see my contacts page for competition t&c’s

Naipo Cushion Massager Review Giveaway and Discount Code

Wow, today I have the Naipo Cushion Massager Review Giveaway and Discount Code all in one post for you. Happy 2018!

I have a lot of lower back pain and spend a fair amount of time with hot water bottles or cold packs on my back trying to relieve the symptoms. I jumped at the chance…excuse the pun… to review the Naipo cordless massage cushion to sample the effects of the directed massage pressure where I need it. I have other members of my family who wanted to get involved and I’ll get onto them in a moment!

Lower back massager with 3D shiatsu kneading massager balls.

I really like the look of this cushion, it easily fits in with the cushions already on my sofa which is great as I don’t have to keep putting it away somewhere and it’s available for when I need to use it.

I have featured Naipo before here on the blog with another one of their massagers and as I indicated then, studies into stress suggest the meaningful, positive results achieved by using massage. It’s not just the relief of tight and painful muscles across our body but also the mental relaxation we can find when we are looking after ourselves. It’s good to take the time sometimes and not just look at our ‘to do’ lists and plough on regardless. 2018 is the year when I am going to look after myself far more and I know now that I must be in charge of making that happen.

Easy to operate and here’s how:
1. Press ON/OFF one time, the device will start kneading function in a clockwise direction, without heating.
2. Press ON/OFF again, the device will begin the kneading function with heating, massage head is now in an anti clockwise direction.
3. Press ON/OFF again, the device power off.
4. The device has a handy countdown timer which is set for 20 minutes.

My other half goes to the gym and attends spinning classes which can result in aching leg muscles. As you can see in these pictures, we placed in under his calf’s and in the small of his back. The heat function is a really welcome addition to the massage. We found it added to the overall effect.

I did have the idea that I would be taking it to work with me and use it in my office chair but I don’t know if my other half is actually going to go along with that now.

Overall result:

We found it very easy to get the right position in the back, with the legs you have to spend more time in getting the right angle to sit or lie in before placing it under your legs.

It worked equally well on adults and my 12-year-old son which makes it more usable for our family.

Because it has a contemporary look it can stay on show and not get forgotten in a cupboard.

Bonus Promotion Code:

You can enter this code for the Naipo Massager at the checkout: SARH5VZQ

For 25% off.

You can visit the team at their facebook page where they have so much information on well-being, it’s a great resource.

Naipo Care

Now onto the giveaway….

Enter using the rafflecopter below – Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I was kindly given my products here for the purpose of an honest review.

What Distinguishes Engagement Rings From Wedding Rings

Rings have long been an important symbol in the wedding culture. However, it’s not uncommon for the engagement and wedding rings to get mixed up or misunderstood. In fact, you can say that both terms are almost interchangeable in the modern culture.

This leaves us to ask, is there really a big difference between the two? If so, what are they? Do I even need to have an engagement and a wedding ring?

This article seeks to answer all of those important questions to gain some clarity on the matter. Nonetheless, there are so many choices for bespoke diamond rings online and in store now. It’s never been easier to buy any ring that fits the desires of your partner, especially if it’s custom made.

ENGAGEMENT RINGS

Firstly, let’s look at engagement rings. These are given at the time when someone asks the other person to marry them. Back in the day, women were given these rings and were meant to wear them from that moment to tell others she was now unavailable.

Of course, an engagement ring can take any shape, form or style. However, they have typically come to be known as having diamond or precious gemstones in. They also usually come with a beautiful band that may have engravings on it.

WEDDING RINGS

Now, wedding rings on the other hand are swapped between both parties during the actual wedding ceremony. You will often find that style-wise, they tend to be much simpler than the engagement ring and are placed on the fourth finger of the left hand. This is the main similarity, that both rings for the bride are placed on the same finger.

As you can see then, the engagement ring and the wedding ring are given at two different times and usually look different aesthetically. Do they also carry different meanings?

How the meanings behind wedding and engagement rings differ.

Engagement rings have been in the business for centuries and signified an exchange in ‘ownership’ from the father to the new husband. The ring would have been valuable however they developed in detail and grandeur as the years went by. This was mainly to signify the wealth of a man and make him more desirable to the woman and her family.

Therefore, it was as though to say the man was financially marrying the woman’s entire family with the engagement ring. It was a huge commitment not only to them as a couple but to the bigger picture. So, there was a lot of status attached to an engagement ring. Whilst these notions are clearly outdated, the sentiment of ‘giving the hand away in marriage’ still lives on.

So, even though there is a lot of importance with the wedding ring, it should never overshadow the engagement ring. With its simplistic design, the engagement ring still shines.

What are your thoughts on rings and do you wear a ring?

This is a collaborative post

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If you like this post then you may enjoy my Prom Dress post

Luminous Fire Lanterns Giveaway

I love these lantern bags and at the end of last year I ran a giveaway which included these. I had so many comments that I have been waiting until after Christmas to be able to run another one just for my readers.

They are such fun and also a really cool gift.

There are 5 bags here to use. Place the lantern bags on a suitable surface and watch the lovely atmosphere they can create.

Create a sumptuously soft glow, place a tea light or two inside the bag. Weight down with a little gravel and decorate your outside space.

Enter in the rafflecopter giveaway below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open to UK entrants only. See contacts page for full terms.

Good luck!

Keep bags well away from children and animals due to the risk of burning!

My illicit affair….

You’re on my mind so much of the time

But then that’s ok, I created you, you’re mine.

My eyes glaze over when people talk

as I drift my thoughts towards you…

It’s what happens now, it’s what you do.

For you are always here, silent in the background…

I won’t desert you though, you’re a new love I’ve found.

You know I have to be careful, not let you take over, make too much noise

I have my other loves , my family, my man, my boys

I see others online and for a moment I crave

But I come back to you, write some more and then press save

They flash at me and wink

Giving me tips on how to be, sometimes they make me think.

Myrealfairy post after post, never late…

I’ll take you out, care for you, write and create.

For now I’ll keep you half hidden in your own world wide kingdom

My beautiful blog…. myrealfairy.com

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If you like this then you much see my ode to him poem!

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8 Incredible January Facts

As you probably know I love facts and trivia so I thought I’d kick the new year off with 8 Incredible January facts to get your mind awake.

The zodiac star signs which cover this period are Capricorn which spans from December 22nd – January 19th who’s element is earth and Aquarius January 20th – February 18th who’s element is air.

Something which I am very pleased about is that on January 9, 2007, Steve Jobs announced the iPhone at the Macworld convention. It wasn’t until June that it was actually released. In apple ads for the iPhone, the time is always shown as 9.41

Australia day on the 26th is when Australia celebrates the day of the establishment of the first European settlement at Port Jackson, now part of Sydney, which happened in 1788.

Movie releases for the UK in January 2017 were; Monster Calls with Felicity Jones, Lewis MacDougall, Sigourney Weaver, cert 12A, Assassins Creed with Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons cert 12A, La la Land with Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone cert 12A

In 2018 we have; The Commuter, you have to love a bit of Liam Nelson battling against the odds. Downsizing with Matt Damon looks well worth a box of popcorn. I’m still watching Martian quite happily after about the 10th time! The Post is the one to watch for Spielberg fans.

It’s the month of birth of Robert “Rabbie” Burns, Scottish poet. Burns Suppers celebrated all over the world each year on this day on the 25th January. Auld Lang Syne is one of the most frequently sung songs in English, most of which was written by Robert Burns.

There is a variety of cold-tolerant winter cabbage grown in England known as January King. It is purple and blue in places and is a hardy winter veg.

Martin Luther King day is held on the third monday in January in the United States. He was an important civil rights activist and was a leader in the movement to end racial segregation in the United States. His most famous address was the “I Have A Dream” speech in 1963. He was an advocate of non-violent protest and became the youngest man to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

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The Anglo Saxons who came from north-western Europe to Great Britain called it the Wulf-monath (meaning “wolf month”) as it was the time of year when the wolves were unable to find food and their hunger made them bold enough to come into the villages of ancient Britain.

If you enjoyed this and would like to see a few more then have a little look at another of my posts here: Amazing Facts – you never knew you didn’t know!

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Carrot and Gogi Berry Loaf Cake

I’ve been wanting to make a carrot cake for a little while now and I wanted to give it a bit of a twist, something to make it stand out from the crowd. Well I have done just that! Adding Gogi Berries to it has given it a lift and a flash of colour, I love it!

I’ve used Gogi berries before and was looking for other recipes I could adapt so that I could make even more use of this yummy fruit.

Carrot and Gogi Berry Loaf Cake

4 from 1 vote

Carrot and Gogi Berry Loaf Cake

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

35 mins

Total Time

45 mins

Add a twist of something special to this lovely Carrot cake with these super cool Gogi Berries

Course: Dessert

Servings: 10

Ingredients

50 g Dark brown sugar
2 Eggs
125 ml Rapeseed Oil
3 large Carrots
50 g Gogi Berries
150 g Plain Flour
half teaspoon Baking Powder
half teaspoon Bicarbonate of Soda
1 teaspoon Mixed Spice
30 ml Maple Syrup

Instructions

Grate the carrots (these will be part of your wet ingredients)
Mix all of the dry ingredients together apart from the Gogi Berries in one bowl then set aside.
In a food mixer put all of the wet ingredients and mix until combined.
Combine together and add the Gogi Berries.
Pour into a medium loaf tin
Bake for 35 mins on 170oc

This is great to use up some of those extra ingredients you might have around the store cupboard. Another easy recipe which big results is my Cheese Scones which are super quick. If you fancy a sweet treat try my Ultimate Chocolate Brownies!

Quick tip!

If you want to rehydrate dried Gogi berries then pop them in a bowl or cup, pour over boiling water and leave for 10 minutes. Drain well and then they are plump and juicy, ready to use.

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How To Take Care Of Your Daughter’s Prom Dress

While prom may not be a big deal to some, it’s a very important milestone in your teenage daughter’s life. Of course, she will pick out a dress she adores and wants to last for years to come, whether as a special memory of prom or to wear to other events. So, how can you take care of her new prom dress?

Wrinkles

When the new dress arrives home, make sure it has room to breathe. Nothing should rub on the dress so as to prevent wrinkles. If the dress does incur wrinkles, get them out before prom. Most dress retailers will offer a final steam the day before prom, but if not, take the dress to a dry cleaner to be pressed. Alternatively, place the dress on a hanger on the back of your bathroom door. Turn the hot water on in the shower, close the door, and leave the dress to steam for around 15 minutes to remove wrinkles.

Storage

Whether she’s gone for a short flirty dress or one of the classy white prom dresses in 2018 at Peaches Boutique, it ought to be dry cleaned before storing it. Stains may happen, and they will ruin the dress. The longer you wait to get rid of a stain, the longer it has to soak in and do permanent damage to the dress. After prom, have the dress dry cleaned before storing it.

Formal dresses should be stored in a cool, dry place that is dry and not hot. Try to avoid storing the dress anywhere with tons of natural sunlight, too, as it can cause severe discolouring to the dress with time.

Remember to check on the dress often to make sure it’s not being damaged. An ideal storage place is on the top shelf of a wardrobe. Lay the dress flat within a garment bag or sealed box. Don’t store a special dress in places like storage units, basements, or attics.

Stains

Stains are just the pits and must be treated immediately. The first step is to identify the stain so as to remove it accordingly:

Grease – Wash the dress in warm water and place the stain on paper towels. Rub dry using a pre-treatment liquid spray. After, was in warm water and hang the dress up to dry.
Makeup – Dampen the stain with a warm towel and lightly press a liquid detergent or colour-safe bleach into it. Finally, wash the dress in warm water and hang up to dry.
Sweat – Gently rub a damp bar of soap on the stained are and apply a liquid detergent to the sweat stain. Wash it and hang to dry.
Outdoor stains and grass – Use alcohol to wipe off the dress and apply a colour-safe chlorine bleach to rub the remaining stain.

If the stain is really bad, take the dress to a professional for spot cleaning.

Use these tips to ensure your daughter’s new prom dress remains as good as new, both before and after prom night.

This is a collaborative post

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Christmas Linky 2017 #mainyloveschristmas

I love christmas! By now those of you who are familiar will know that I also love easter, summer and generally most events that I can get excited about. I also love to hold linkys over these times which I see as a good old get together. It’s where we share posts and meet up with people through their blogs that we might not of come into contact with before.

You can add up to 3 posts on whatever theme you like. As it’s a one off christmas linky here at #mainyloveschristmas you can add old or new posts for this link up. The topic is up to you, let’s see how diverse we can get.

One of the other christmas bonus points to this link up is that you don’t have to add a badge, just link and promote yourself and your fellow bloggers. This link up is just for fun and you choose how much you want to participate.

The link up starts Friday 15th December at 6am GMT and closes Friday December 22nd at 6am GMT.

Let other people know about the linky...the more the merrier! Ho Ho HoClick To Tweet

Suggested guidance for participating:

I’d love it if you commented on the host post and at least one more for every post you link up.
Tweet using the hashtag #mainyloveschristmas @myrealfairy when you link up and you’re away!
Tweet, pin, stumble and share using all the wonderful ways you wish and let the blogger know when you comment how you have shared their post.
Use the hashtag #mainyloveschristmas
Enjoy and read something you wouldn’t normally click on.
Have fun, Mainy x

An InLinkz Link-up

Best Baba Ganoush

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Do you fancy a Twisted Valentines Day? Gift Guide and Giveaway

Twisted

Naipo Cushion Massager Review Giveaway and Discount Code

Lower back massager with 3D shiatsu kneading massager balls.

Overall result:

Bonus Promotion Code:

Now onto the giveaway….

What Distinguishes Engagement Rings From Wedding Rings

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Luminous Fire Lanterns Giveaway

Luminous Fire Lanterns Giveaway

My illicit affair….

My illicit affair….

Subscribe to Blog via Email

8 Incredible January Facts

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Carrot and Gogi Berry Loaf Cake

Carrot and Gogi Berry Loaf Cake

Quick tip!

Subscribe to Blog via Email

How To Take Care Of Your Daughter’s Prom Dress

How To Take Care Of Your Daughter’s Prom Dress

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Christmas Linky 2017 #mainyloveschristmas

Suggested guidance for participating:

I’d love it if you commented on the host post and at least one more for every post you link up.

Tweet using the hashtag #mainyloveschristmas @myrealfairy when you link up and you’re away!

Tweet, pin, stumble and share using all the wonderful ways you wish and let the blogger know when you comment how you have shared their post.

Use the hashtag #mainyloveschristmas

Enjoy and read something you wouldn’t normally click on.

Have fun, Mainy x

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