These beautiful tea bags are from Yogi Tea. They’ve been a staple in my cupboard for over a decade and I can never get enough of their gorgeous flavours.
What a couple of weeks coming up… Tomorrow I will be heading to Morocco, returning the following week ready to move house! That means it is going to be a quiet couple of weeks on the blogging front but I hope to have a lot of exciting things to share when I get back :)
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few months (read: year), no one in Yorkshire can possibly have failed to noticed that this year’s Tour de France Grand Départ is kicking off in Leeds. But of course, for anyone outside of the county or indeed outside of the country, Leeds is unlikely to be on your radar.
I’ve been a Leeds resident myself for almost three years now after having moved here to do a MA at the University of Leeds in 2011. My sister has been a Leeds local for twice that; making my decision to move here a pretty simple one. It would have seemed unfathomable, however, to my three-years-ago-self that I would still be here now. Compared to Seoul, my former home (of three out of the four years prior), this city is small and, sometimes, it sleeps at night.
Leeds is often written-off as just another grim Northern city. And certainly, it can be a bit “rough around the edges” and you might get your post-Saturday night out takeaway knocked out of your hands by a passing ruckus, but Leeds has its own unique charm and a lot on offer. It also has a surprising amount of green spaces. In honour of the spotlight being on Leeds this weekend, it seemed the perfect opportunity to show off what Leeds does have on offer with my personal picks of some of the best things to do outdoors in Leeds (all unintentionally in North Leeds!).
Roundhay Park & Tropical World
Roundhay Park is one of Leeds’ best known parks and for good reason. Covering more than 2.8 square kilometres, it is one of the biggest city parks in Europe. The park boasts two lakes, woodland, plentiful green open spaces, and an impressive mansion house.
Located in Roundhay Park, you can also find Tropical World. Very reasonably priced compared to similar attractions elsewhere at only £3.40 for an adult ticket, Tropical World is home to meerkats, birds, butterflies, reptiles, and much more.
The details: Roundhay Park is located in North-East Leeds. Catch buses 2 and 12 from Leeds city centre. For more information visit the Roundhay Park Leeds website.
Golden Acre Park & Adel Dam
Another beautiful and surprisingly large park on the outskirts of Leeds is Golden Acre Park. Well-kept paths snake around the park which features a lake, ornate gardens, and a cherry tree orchard.
Behind the park, you can enter Adel Dam Nature Reserve. The Nature Reserve has various bird watching sheds, including one situated over another smaller lake.
Details: Golden Acre Park is located in North Leeds, between Adel and Bramhope. Catch buses 780, 784 and X84 from Leeds City Centre. For more information visit the Leeds City Council Website.
Hetchell Woods
A tranquil stretch of woodland, Hetchell Woods is a nature reserve featuring rare species, craggy rock faces, and wonderful views over the undulating farmlands around. A network of paths runs in and around the woods, along a babbling stream and out into the surrounding fields. The area is relatively small but makes for a lovely country walk.
Details: North East of Leeds. Best accessed car but buses 98, 98A, 99 and X98 can be taken to nearby Bardsey, around a mile away. For more information visit the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Website.
Harewood House
An imposing country house located in the village of Harewood seven miles from central Leeds, there is much more to Harewood than simply the house. A bird garden, lake, wildflower gardens and tea rooms are just a handful of treats waiting here. The Himalayan Garden is a hidden gem replete with stupa and prayer flags. The house and gardens are encircled by gorgeous rolling pastureland. 
A visit is a bit on the pricey side, with an adult ticket being £14 including the house and £10 for only the grounds, but if you take the bus to Harewood then you can benefit from a 50% reduction.
Details: Harewood, North of Leeds. Bus 36 runs from Leeds city centre through Chapel Allerton, can also be caught if you are coming from Harrogate – or want to continue on to there after (highly recommended!) For more information visit the Harewood House website.
Do you like getting out and about in your own city? What gems have you discovered?
Whole mushrooms coated in a golden linseed batter, baked to perfection and served on a bed of fresh pea shoots and thinly sliced radish. A thick, tangy Korean-inspired dressing brings a spicy punch to round off the dish.
This was a lovely light dinner that I had recently. Baking the mushrooms with no added oil turned it into a tempting but guilt-free option!
In this recipe, I actually used milled linseed mixed with goji berries, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds – a bag that I picked up the bag in my local Lidl. You could use plain milled linseed or a linseed mix depending on your preference or what you have in stock.
The Korean red pepper paste, gochujang, can be picked up in any East Asian food store. Alternatively, you can substitute with a chili sauce but the flavour will be quite different. This recipe uses a whole tablespoon mixed in with the soy sauce and lemon juice; for a less spicy version reduce the ratio of pepper paste to soy/lemon mix.
Ingredients:
250g mushrooms, cleaned, whole (cut larger ones in half)
45g pea shoots
200g radish, top & tailed, thinly sliced
For the batter:
100g gram (chickpea) flour
100ml milk of your choice (I used soy)
2tbsp milled linseed
Pinch of pepper/salt if desired
For the dressing:
1tbsp soy sauce
1tbsp gochujang (Korean red pepper paste)
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 180c / gas mark 6. Put the gram flour in a bowl. Slowly add the milk, mixing well as you do so. Add in the linseed, mix until the batter is smooth.
2. Dip each mushroom into the batter, ensuring it is fully coated. Place each onto a well-greased baking tray or baking parchment.
3. Place in the oven and bake for around 15 minutes or until the batter has turned golden brown and cooked through completely.
4. In the meantime, prepare the salad by slicing the radish and adding to the pea shoots. In a small dish, mix the dressing ingredients together, stirring until they have formed a smooth paste.
5. Serve the battered mushrooms on a bed of salad. The dip can either be drizzled on top or served on the side.
What have you been cooking recently?