What are the most recommended men’s Apple Watch bands 2022

Men’s style is all about the little details. The right accessories can make an outfit pop, and the wrong ones can make you look like a try-hard. That’s why it’s important to choose the right apple watch band. The right band will complement your style and give you that extra bit of polish. So, what are the most recommended men’s Apple Watch bands in 2022?

most recommended men's Apple Watch bands

1. Apple Watch Solo Loop

Apple Watch Solo Loop is the best option for those who want a sporty, comfortable band. It’s made of silicone rubber and comes in various colors to match any outfit. The band is also easy to adjust and doesn’t have any clasps. Plus, its sweat and water-resistant features make it perfect for workouts and active lifestyles. Its versatile appearance makes it ideal for any occasion, whether you’re hitting the gym or attending a business meeting. It’s compatible with most Apple Watch models giving you plenty of options.

2. Marge Plus Genuine Leather

If you’re looking for a more professional, sophisticated look, the Marge Plus Genuine Leather band is a great option. It’s made of high-quality leather that guarantees a premium feel and comes in various colors to match any outfit. It comes in various colors to match any outfit while also being adjustable for the perfect fit. Plus, it has a quick-release feature for easy swapping with other bands. The band also has a comfortable fit, and the buckle keeps it securely in place. However, it may absorb sweat and is not water-resistant, so it may not be suitable for intense workouts or activities.

3. Nomad Modern Band

Another great option for a professional, sophisticated look is the Nomad Modern Band. It has a unique, modern design with no visible stitching for a clean appearance. The band is made of genuine leather that gives it a luxurious feel. The Nomad Modern Band is available in black and brown colors, with sizes ranging from 38mm to 44mm to fit various Apple Watch models. The no-stitch design gives the band a sleek, minimalistic look that complements any outfit, making it perfect for both business and casual settings.

4. Native Union Curve Strap

Native Union Curve Strap comes as a simple and sleek solution for the modern man. It’s a silicone material that offers it the versatility needed for any activity and the durability to withstand daily wear and tear. The water-resistant design also adds an extra layer of functionality for those who aren’t afraid to get their hands (or wrist) dirty. Plus, the striped design adds a touch of elegance to elevate any outfit. It makes an excellent choice for the man looking for a reliable and stylish Apple Watch silicone band that doubles as a fashion statement and sports accessory.

5. Vaporwave Elastic Apple Watch band

Lastly, there is the Vaporwave Elastic Apple Watch band for those looking to add some personality and creativity to their wardrobe. It’s a handmade elastic band with a stretchy design that’s comfortable and easy to put on. It comes in fun, bright colors that add a whimsy to any outfit. Plus, there’s no need for buckling and unbuckling, making it even more convenient for daily use.

Conclusion

These are just a few options for recommended men’s Apple Watch bands in 2022. With so many choices, it may be overwhelming to choose just one. Ultimately, it’s important to consider your personal style and needs to find the perfect band for you. Whether you prefer a classic leather look or something more unique and colorful, there’s a band out there to match your style and meet your needs.

Nigella Lawson’s Italian Chicken and Sausage Traybake

This Italian traybake recipe was really useful the other weekend. I was struggling to come up with a dish that would serve; my husband and I, 3 hungry children, 2 sets of grandparents with very different food tastes, was food budget conscious and did not require me to stand in the kitchen all day. Having recently downloaded the Nigellissima free app this recipe jumped out at me for its ease and for the fact it would probably appeal to most tastes.

This served 6 adults and 3 children

4 baking potatoes (approx 750g total) unpeeled and cut into 2 cm chunks

10 chicken thighs bone in and skin on

8 sausages (Nigella says Italian sausages but I just used Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Pork Sausages)

small bunch (6 or 7 sprigs) of rosemary

zest of 1 unwaxed lemon

1 teaspoon of sea salt flakes or ½ teaspoon pouring salt

ground pepper

Served with fresh bread and purple sprouting broccoli

  1. Preheat the oven to 200°c/gas mark 7
  2. Put the potatoes into a large, shallow baking tray and add the chicken thighs and sausages.
  3. Arrange about 4 sprigs of the rosemary among the chicken and sausages, then finely chop the needles of another 2 sprigs to give you about 2 teaspoons of finely chopped needles and sprinkle these onto the chicken pieces.
  4. Zest the lemon over everything, and season with the salt and a good grinding of pepper. Drizzle with the oil and bake for 50-60 minute, or until the chicken skin and sausages are golden and the potato pieces are cooked through. It can stand for up to 30 minutes prior to serving which is perfect for someone like me who worries about timings.
  5. I served it with green vegetables.

Italian traybake recipe

It was delicious and the smell of rosemary and lemon wafting around my home was amazing. Interested in more Italian recipes from Nigella? At the time this was published you can buy the book Nigellissima new from the The Book People for £9.99 or from Amazon for £13.

 

Thanks for reading.

Clare x

WHITE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES WITH FREEZE DRIED RASPBERRIES RECIPE – COMIC RELIEF

WHITE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

I created this recipe for white chocolate chip cookies with freeze dried raspberries with the idea that they would be great for raising some dough (groan) for Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day. I wanted to create something that is easy to make, can be made in advance, and wasn’t choc (oh, I’m on a roll) full of red food colouring. These are lovely soft cookies and the recipe will make 15. That’s a quantity that would look more than enough at any bake sale. They keep very well in a sealed container for up to a week. This would allow you to make them ahead of your event without any stress, night before baking.

I bought the freeze dried raspberries from Sainsbury’s in the baking section. You can also buy them from Amazon here.

Really make sure you only put a smallish blob of the mixture on the tray as they do and will spread a lot during baking.

TIP – Once baked and freshly out of the oven push some more white chocolate chips and raspberries on to the top of the cookies. This really gives them the fresh white and red look.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

WHITE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES WITH FREEZE DRIED RASPBERRY SPRINKLES

Slightly chewy cookies which keeps well in a sealed tin for up to a week. Remember to add some chocolate chips and freeze dried raspberries to the top of the cookies at the end of baking.
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Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 10 min
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 10 min

INGREDIENTS

  1. 100g butter, softened
  2. 125g caster sugar
  3. 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  4. 1 large egg, beaten
  5. 150g self-raising flower
  6. 80g white chocolate chips
  7. 5g freeze dried raspberries

 

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Preheat the oven to 190c/fan170c/gas 5. Lightly butter baking trays
  2. Measure the butter and sugar into a bowl and cream together until evenly mixed.
  3. Add the vanilla extract to the beaten egg and then add it a little at a time to the butter and sugar mixture in the blow.
  4. Beat well between each addition.
  5. Mix in the flour.
  6. Add 3/4 of the chocolate chip and 3/4 of the raspberries and give a good mix.
  7. Spoon onto baking trays, leaving room for them to spread.
  8. Bake the cookies in batches on the top shelf of your oven, for 8-10 minutes.
  9. WATCH THEM AS THEY TURN DARK BROWN VERY QUICKLY.
  10. Once out of the oven you can carefully scatter and push into the warm, soft dough the left over chocolate chips and raspberries. (SEE TIP ABOVE).
  11. Leave the cookies to cool and transfer to wire rack with a a fish slice and leave to cool.

Grubby Little Faces https://www.grubbylittlefaces.com/

Happy Red Nose Day Baking everyone. Let’s raise some dough 🙂

Clare

x

CURRIED RICE SALAD

With warmer weather hopefully approaching my thoughts turn to enjoying eating outside. Family picnics and BBQs with friends. When we get together this summer I will probably make this recipe for Curried Rice Salad. It is easy to prepare ahead of time, it’s a great side dish, and has a mild, spicy tang to it. I have adapted the recipe to suit me but the original recipe came from a talented catering friend of my Mums. She used to create mouthwatering summer Wedding buffets in large marquees and I was one of her waitresses. Once the wedding guests had been well fed, tables cleared and everyone was settled for the speeches with a glass of champagne, we were allowed to eat whatever food had been left. Oh what a delicious feast we would have of the finest poached salmon and fresh salads. I loved that job.

CURRIED RICE SALAD
CURRIED RICE SALAD

INGREDIENTS

  1. 175g Basmati rice
  2. 1 eating apple, peeled and diced
  3. a handful of sultanas
  4. 1 medium sized white onion
  5. half a lemon, juiced
  6. 2 tablespoons of mango chutney
  7. 2 rounded teaspoons of mild curry powder
  8. Your favourite french dressing
  9. A handful of flaked almonds.

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Cook the rice according to the packet’s instructions and remove the rice just before it becomes fluffy. Separated grains of cooked rice are what we are aiming for.
  2. Rinse rice in cold running water. Drain and once most of the water is out put into a bowl. Add the French dressing so that the rice is lightly covered.
  3. Fry the chopped onions until transparent. Add curry powder and stir over medium heat for a few minutes.
  4. Peel and dice the apples into little cubes. Squeeze lemon juice over them to stop them going brown. Mix apple into the rice, together with the onions, sultanas and mango chutney.
  5. The rice can then be stored in a container in the fridge until needed that day.
  6. In a frying pan toast the flaked almonds until the begin to go brown. Put to one side.
  7. When ready to serve sprinkle the nuts over the rice salad.

Grubby Little Faces https://www.grubbylittlefaces.com/

Does this sound like something you would try? What do you like to serve for Summer get togethers? I’d love to know.

Thanks for reading.

Clare

x

Mincemeat Cookies Recipe

CHRISTMAS MINCEMEAT COOKIES

CHRISTMAS MINCEMEAT COOKIES

Serve these for a seasonal afternoon treat with a cold glass of milk. They combine the warm Christmas sweet spice flavours with a soft oaty cookie texture. Makes approximately 20.

CHRISTMAS MINCEMEAT COOKIES

INGREDIENTS
125g butter, softened
85g soft brown sugar
1 medium egg, lightly beaten
150g plain flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
110g porridge oats
350g mincemeat
Granulated brown sugar for sprinkling on top

 

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 180c (fan 160c)
  2. Line a baking sheet
  3. Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the egg and continue beating until incorporated and the mixture is smooth.
  4. In a separate bowl measure flour, baking powder and porridge oats together. Fold these dry ingredients into the butter bowl.
  5. Finally fold in the mincemeat
  6. Using spoons drop even sized spoonfuls of mixture onto the tray. Press down with fingers.
  7. Sprinkle with granulated brown sugar
  8. Cook for 10-12 minutes. Remove and cool on cooling rack.

Creamy Slow Cooker Chicken Korma

When you want a mild, fragrant curry that the younger members of your family can enjoy this slow cooker chicken korma curry hits the spot.

Enriched with coconut milk, and aromatic spices, this super creamy curry is a deliciously comforting meal.

Ground almonds help to thicken the Korma but should you still find it a little too juicy then cornflour could be added.

Creamy Slow Cooker Chicken Korma

Serves: 4

Time to prepare: 10mins

Time to cook: 6 hours on low or 3 hours on high

 

INGREDIENTS

1 tbsp butter
4 skinless, boneless chicken thighs cut into bitesize pieces
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
3 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp ground coriander
1 cinnamon stick
½ tsp of chilli powder
50g ground almonds
250ml coconut milk
120ml boiling chicken stock
½ tbsp tomato puree
75ml single cream
1-2 tbsp fresh lime or lemon juice
1 tsp grated rind of a lime or lemon
1 tbsp garam masala
salt and ground black pepper
Rice and/or Poppadums to serve.

INSTRUCTIONS

  • If necessary grease the slow cooker pot with butter.
  • Switch the slow cooker to high
  • In a bowl mix together cumin, coriander, ground almonds, chilli powder, coconut milk, stock, and tomato pureé. Give it a good stir.
  • In the pot place the onions, garlic and chicken.
  • Pour the coconut, spice mixture and cinnamon stick over the chicken.
  • Cover with the lid and cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours. When chicken is cooked and tender stir the cream, garam masala, citrus juice, and rind into the curry and cook on high for 30 minutes
  • Check curry is cooked through. Add salt & pepper to taste. Remove the cinnamon stick.
  • Serve immediately with rice and poppadums.

Slow Cooker Chicken Korma

If you liked this slow cooker recipe you may like to have a look at the collection of other recipes, tips, and advice here.

Thanks for reading and happy cooking.

Clare

Pirate and Mermaid Party

The 5th Birthday party came and went last Saturday for my daughter and her pal. Both our dear sweet girls enjoyed every noisy, sugar laden moment of it. Which is all we ever wanted. Our job was done. We spent a great deal of time creating the decorations.

Pirate and Mermaid Party

Rough, wind battered pirate bunting. Square pieces of fabric sewn to bias bunting and then hacked at with a pair of pinking shears.

The girls got involved with the decorations by making some sealife creatures themselves.

Pirate and Mermaid Party

Paper plate fish. Cut a pie shape piece out of a paper plate then flip it around and stick it on the opposite side to make the fish’s tail.

Pirate and Mermaid Party

An orange sea creatures.

Pirate and Mermaid Party

Sea themed party table.

Pirate and Mermaid Party

Cheeky little pirate bananas.

Pirate and Mermaid Party

Pirate and Mermaid Party

Pirate treasure map cake for our daughter and an amazing mermaid for her friend. I did what a clever reader of this blog suggested and made the cake out of polystyrene allowing me to make and decorate it well in advance of the party without worrying about the cake going stale. Then the day before I made a plain cake and put a plain layer of fondant icing on top, cut it up and wrapped the cake and put it into party bags.

Pirate and Mermaid Party

Pirate and Mermaid Party

They all went home with their party booty in either a cute mermaid or pirate bag.

It was great and exhausting. That night I was in bed asleep for 9.30pm. Who knew a 5 years old Birthday party could be so tiring? But she loved it so much.

Thanks for stopping by.

Clare