Happy to say I'm not part of the 88%..

My old friend Wikipedia defines a New years resolutions as "a commitment that a person makes to one or more personal goals, projects, or the reforming of a habit." Numerous magazine features and newspaper articles state that most people have given up by the end of February. 'Most people' meaning a whopping 88%. So I thought that now would be as good a time as any to do a bit of a review of mine.

They were pretty wide and completely varied.

1. Lose my 'freshman fifteen'.
Well that one's still ongoing I guess, despite a few setbacks. This like many of the others wasn't going to happen overnight. And whilst I may not be as far with it as I may have liked, I'm still trying my best. There's got to be something to be said for that.

2. Watch less telly

Photo: Jeff Golden

Hmm. A hard one to gage really. If anything, I think I probably watch more now, as there have been so many interesting things on since new year; How to cook like Heston, The Fabulous Bake Brothers and One Born Every Minute, to name just a few. This resolution will probably come into play when spring makes an appearance, as the days will be longer and I'll not be home and snuggled up on the sofa so early.

3. Stop biting my nails
Achieved! I did do this for a good month or so. But then with my typical impatient nature, I couldn't be arsed to wait for them to grow any longer and I had acrylic nail extensions! Haha, oops. However, when I decide to give my nails a break in a month or so, I'm confident I won't revert back to my old biting ways.

4. Don't start arguments with my Rob
Think this has been achieved as well to be honest. Has to be said I can be a bugger for starting arguments, but I've found that a little bit of tongue-biting and self-control can really go a long way.

5. Read the modern classics
Admittedly, this was a bit of a late comer in terms of resolutions, and I only decided I wanted to do this around the end of January. Started out well, with me reading 'Of Mice and Men' by John Steinbeck. But I seem to have mislaid my copy of it now?! Not sure where the hell it is, so might have to postpone that for now and make a start on my next one.

Hmm, so that's 2 resolutions achieved indefinitely, and 2 more ongoing. Think I can probably permit myself to scrap 'watch less telly' as I am a self-confessed TV addict. Maybe I could tweak it to watch more relevant programs or write about what I watch? But then again, my beloved Emmerdale and Coronation Street seem to take up most of my time!

February 29th: The most romantic day of the year?

Leap years. Funny things, being that they only come round every now and again. Every 4 years I think? Don't quote me though.

Apparently, the only time when a woman can actually propose to her man. And no doubt, tomorrow the papers - particularly the tabloids - will be full of stories of romantic proposals. But I won't be one of them.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to get married, and have nothing against women who might decide to pop the question on this day, but it's just not me. I'm more of a typical, chick-flick, Disney movie style romantic.

I want to be serenaded at the top of the Eiffel Tower. I'd be delighted if my fella got down on one knee mid-romantic meal. Having 'Will you marry me?' spelt out in the stars would be more than lovely. Any of those proposals would do. But not the other way round.

I'd hate to give up my lovey-dovey, mushy, romantic ideology in favor of giving my man a massive rock for his fourth finger. Largely because I know he wouldn't appreciate it. Not just him, but men in general: they're not massively romantic, fairytale-minded creatures like us females are. That stuff just doesn't bother them. Take it or leave it. Or run a mile in some guy's cases.

Thought it'd be funny to test the water anyway though.

To which he replied: "Someone asked me what I'd do if you did haha"

Hmmm.. didn't immediately say no, I thought. So I replied: "And what would you do?"

Phew. Thank god for that. Typical Robbie response, but actually a welcomed one this time. Glad I wouldn't have to rush out to buy ten dozen red roses and a million carat white gold ring.

Absolutely pukka: Jamie's Italian

Lemon meatball carbonara at Jamie's Italian

Looking through my photos on my phone to find some inspiration as to what to write about today, and I came across this one. It's a dish from the restaurant Jamie's Italian. A lemon meatball carbonara to be exact - I never forget a meal!

Went there shortly before Christmas with my Dad, whilst doing bit of last minute shopping. We were a bit skeptical at first - the stubborn mules that we both are sort of wanted it to be crap, as we're not the biggest fans of Jamie Oliver - but have to say, it was fab!

You can't see much from outside so we wandered in and were quickly seated at a lovely little table near the chef's pass - no going back from here. We ordered an antipasti platter to share to start with. It came served on a long, wooden plank, which the waiter balanced on two tins of Italian chopped tomatoes. Thought that was a nice touch. It was complete with salami, chorizo, baby mozzarella, parmesan thins, bread sticks, balsamic vinegar and olive oil. It was a delight, and felt really authentic; just picking bits at bits of bread and meat with our hands - could well have been sitting in a bar in southern Italy, basking in sunshine. That is, if we hadn't been sat in a shopping centre in Milton Keynes.

Our mains arrived soon after, and I tucked into my lemon meatball carbonara. I could smell it from the pass; gorgeous aromas of lemon and thyme. I finished it in what seemed like record time, and savored every mouthful. It was really unusual, and the strong lemon flavour replaced that of the traditional smoky bacon. All washed down with a lovely bottle of Italian white. It was lush. Have yet to recreate this one at home.

Another bit we liked was the napkins. My Dad is a sucker for anywhere with cloth napkins. As am I really, I think it says a lot about the standard of the restaurant. Anyway, the napkins here were traditional blue tea towels with "Jamie's Italian" printed on them. Recalling them now they don't sound that impressive, but we spent quite a while working out how we could smuggle a couple out for home.

When it came to looking at the dessert menu, we saw a list of prices printed at the bottom. Obviously with it being a celebrity-endorsed restaurant they were going to try and flog the punters as much shit as they could, and this was no exception. Books, olive oil, recipe cards, napkins. TWELVE QUID though. Twelve of your finest English pounds. Decided not to carry out operation napkin smuggle, as we didn't fancy forking out twenty-four quid upon being caught.

Looking forward to our next trip, and will be sure to take my biggest bag in case I fancy myself a few souvenirs.

Could well be separated at birth

Sometimes I think how alike we are. Sometimes I think what freaks we are. And other times I just think what good friends we are.

Nevertheless, the conversations of myself and Aimee Nash don't seem to get any more random. And today was no exception. Going round to her flat after my workshop, and we quickly got onto the subject of food (as we so very often do!) After I gave her a rundown of each of my meals from as far back as Thursday - much to both her shock and amazement - we soon decided we'd go out for tea. It's great that eating, cooking and baking are passions we both share, but at the same time, it isn't doing my waistline any favours; as we know how easily we can persuade the other off the diet and out for tea!

Photo: keepitsweet.co.uk

The Shed was the obvious choice, as it so very often is and we headed there about half three. After ploughing through lasagne, smothered chicken, curly fries, onion rings and mozzarella sticks (and that was just what Aimee ordered ;-) we were left hugging our food baby bellies, disappointed that we had no room for pud - a rare moment for us, we have to admit. Also feel I must mention that we spent the time waiting for our food to arrive, discussing all the gorgeous meals we're going to have when we move in together in August, from paellas to pizzas, steaks to salads. That last one was a joke, by the way, as if we'd ever touch a salad ;-)

Then went off to the Masterchef demonstration, after having purchased two choc dips each from the uni shop to kill the sweet craving.

Remember those?!

Anyway, after further disappointment upon hearing the news that we could not sample Tim Anderson's culinary creations, we headed home. The strange conversation ensued.

After the demo only went on for an hour (the Facebook event had said three) we were unsure about whether it'd be acceptable to have tea or not. After all, we did only eat an hour or so ago at half four, but knew we'd be hungry again by gone nine. The Shed wasn't quite lunch, more wasn't quite dinner. More like 'linner'. A creation of our strange, food-obsessed minds.

Somehow we got on to timings of meals, and what they should be called. Just so you know, the new regime is:

• Breakfast - 7:00am to 10:45am
• Elevensies - 11:00am to 11:45am
• Lunch - 12:00pm to 3:00pm
• The new creation of 'Linner' - 3:00pm to 6:00pm (not quite lunch, not quite dinner!)
• Dinner, the official one - 6:00pm to 9:00pm
• Supper - 9:00pm to 11:45pm
• 'Mignightsies' another new meal time, much like elevensies - 12:00am - 12:30am

Anything outside of these times is just classed as a snack (as if you'd need one!)

Can't wait for us to be living together in the summer, but can't help but feel we could be making appearances on the likes of The Biggest Loser, and Obese: A Year to Save My Life, before the year is out! Oh well, at least I can enjoy the ride with my foodie friend.

"Kebabs are like sex"

According to Masterchef 2011 winner, Tim Anderson.

This evening, the American chef gave a cooking demonstration to Lincoln students at Tower Bar, the SU hangout. He started out by doing a posh beans on toast, or rather 'toast on beans' as he called it. I couldn't help but think whoever had designed the posters advertising the event must be kicking themselves for using the tag-line: "Fed up of beans on toast?" Haha.

Photo: Aimee & I with
Masterchef winner, Tim Anderson

So he started with a few kitchen tips, nothing out of the ordinary really; make sure you have a sharp knife, yadda, yadda, yadda.. Nothing I didn't already know. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm not up there with the likes of Heston and Gordon, but I do like to think I have a bit of a clue when it comes to cooking, largely down to my - what I think is only appropriate to describe as - obsession, with food.

He moved onto chopping onions and garlic, before pan frying in a little olive oil. He added tinned butter and cannellni beans, and a tin of chickpeas too, frying them off for a little while before adding peeled plum tomatoes and heavy pinch of seasoning. As for the bread, he toasted a thick slice of granary, before dicing into 'croutons', and tossing in olive oil and salt. He topped the bean mixture with the 'croutons' and served with torn basil leaves.

I thought this was a pretty cheap, economical meal idea for students, although I'm not much of a fan of beans on toast at the best of times. Might try using the bean mixture as a basis for a pasta bake instead.

Photo: 2011 Masterchef winner
Tim Anderson in action

Next, he moved onto a lamb kebab. Hence, the "kebabs are like sex"; something people are a bit ashamed to talk about, indulge in usually whilst drunk, and often regret the next day. Thought that was a pretty good comparison, and particularly apt to the room full of students.

He started as before by chopping garlic and onion, this time red onion, frying them off in a little olive oil, before adding some cardamom pods and toasting until they were fragrant and aromatic. Next, he added some lamb meat. Tim used quite a good cut of shoulder, but advised that the cheaper cuts such as neck and breast would work well too, and are good for the old student budget.

As he allowed the mixture to reduce down, he whipped up a quick cucumber raita, but don't ask me how - my raita comes out of a Patak's jar.

Onto the "once in a lifetime competition" - the words of the Facebook event, not mine! The omelette challenge. Not Saturday kitchen style, but 'quality' style instead. BORING. Anyway, he declared one of the fairly lacklustre-looking omelettes the winner, and the lucky budding chef in question won a gorgeous wicker basket of store cupboard ingredients! The cheek! Especially seen as though they will probably just go back to the student dietary staples of Supernoodles and Dominoes' pizza anyway.

After a few questions and a couple of photos/autographs/etc, Aimee  and I left Tower Bar slightly less inspired than we had hoped. But then again, not everyone can be born culinary geniuses like ourselves!

Just so you know...

I have nothing against Gareth Gates. In fact, he seems like a nice young man.

Turns out he was on This Morning talking about a new BBC3 program about his infamous stutter, which, if I'd have seen, I probably would've tweeted something lovely like "Oh doesn't Gareth Gates seem like such a lovely guy" or "Gareth Gates, what a role model!" You get the pictures.

In fact, the 'tweeting war' as his 'sisters' (I use that term loosely, very loosely!) called it, has done nothing but actually make me actively dislike him. So they achieved what they set out to.. or rather, didn't.

Maybe it's the likes the superfans who are doing more damage than good for the celeb world out there. But then again, having such an unfulfilled life that you have no one else to look up to, it's probably no surprise that they don't even understand this concept.

Who knew Gareth Gates had so many fans?!

Had my first experience of a 'superfan' today, or rather, several off them. Logged onto Twitter at lunchtime at Uni, to see none other than Gareth Gates trending. Eh?! I thought.. So posted a tweet saying "Why is Gareth Gates trending?! Did spiky hair and gappy teeth make a comeback..?" WHOOOOA. BIG MISTAKE.


Anyway, the next 20 minutes or so saw me replying to a barrage of tweets from dedicated GG superfans. Oh my god. The first one was from someone asking me: "who are you really? Just cos u arnt trending cos ure NOBODY!!"

Exactly like that. Spelling, grammar, everything. Or rather lack of it. Thought that demonstrated in a nutshell what pathetic little girls idolise the likes of Gareth Gates. Pretty laughable. Tweeted back "You're clearly some sort of superfan.. (starting with the obvious there!) .. replying to everyone's tweets.. Why is he trending btw?" She didn't reply to me. Willing to slag me off for poking fun at her idol, but unable to tell me why he was trending. Real good fan right there. Was a genuine question too!

Couldn't resist another one so went in with: "Gareth Gates superfans getting all up in my shit = LOL!" Haha, had to be done! WELL. Another barrage of tweets! This time from more girls claiming to be his sisters, not 1 but about 4.. Beyond funny.

Sisters or not.. (my money's on not) today proved how sad and desperate people can be when it comes to idolising others. They say jealousy is the most flattering form of admiration. But I just think it's sad. When it comes to elevating Z-list celebrities such as the likes of Mr. Gates, to God-stature, you're clearly not happy with yourself in some way.