The Edible Tulip

Why a Cordless Vacuum is an Essential Purchase for Food Lovers

A messy kitchen is the sign of a good cook!

Have you ever heard that expression? I think there's a lot of truth to it. Cooking isn't a clean and tidy business. You need to be willing to get a bit messy if you want to cook things in a reasonable amount of time.

Of course, the clean-up afterwards is one of the main downsides of cooking. It's disheartening to spend a couple of hours slaving away to cook the perfect roast, only to realise you've got another hour of washing up before you can relax!

That's why I'm always looking for ways to decrease cleaning up time after one of my very messy cooking sessions. There are a few things that have helped:

• Buying a dishwasher. For years I didn't have one, but since getting one I think I love it more than any human.
• Doing washing up as I go. If it's a recipe that has some downtime, I do as much washing up as I can so there isn't as much at the end.
• Properly lining and greasing trays. It can take a lot of scrubbing and hard work if part of your meal catches on a baking tray or pan. Avoid that by using non-stick products and being careful to properly grease them (your food will taste much better too). This is especially important for baking - BHG have a good guide here.

These have all helped, but buying a cordless vacuum cleaner has also decreased the stress of cleaning after cooking.

I had no idea cordless hoovers existed until a few months ago, when I stumbled across this guide. The article explains all the benefits of a cordless hoover - such as extra convenience - and I instantly realised I needed to get one for the kitchen.

In the end, I decided to go for the Dyson DC44 Animal, which I absolutely love. Now instead of constantly sweeping up onion peel, breadcrumbs and who knows what else when I'm cooking, I just have the Dyson next to me at all times. It's also great for getting down the side of the fridge as it's a stick model - a common spot for my extra food to get caught.

I will say one thing though: I don't think cordless vacuums are the future until they can sort the battery life out. I'm happy with getting 20 minutes of use before needing to recharge, as I mainly use it for kitchen spills and other small things (maybe some models have a longer life?). I don't see how anyone could replace their main vacuum though - I spend a lot of time cleaning my home and I would keep needing to recharge it.

So there you have it - my tip for the day when it comes to cleaning your messy kitchen. I hope it helps!

My Struggles with Food and Exercise - And How I Solved Them

A lot of people are afraid of heights. Not me, I'm afraid of widths.

-- Steven Wright

I'm going to get on with posting my favourite recipes SOON (look out for the post on a gorgeous curry that's always a family favourite), but for this post I wanted to talk about something I've always struggled with: fitness.

See, there's nothing I love more than food. I enjoy everything from a Big Mac and chips right up to Michelin Star restaurants, and I wouldn't stop eating if that was an option. The problem is that I also want to take care of my body.

That's why I've always had a constant battle between enjoying my favourite hobby (because that's what food is to me, and I suspect to you too if you're reading this blog) and remaining healthy.

I admit that I haven't solved this completely yet - but I've picked up a few tips along the way. Here's how I manage to enjoy food without feeling guilty, yet remaining a reasonably respectable weight:

• Make exercise a daily part of your routine. Sounds simple doesn't it? But we all know it's hard to exercise daily. And by exercise, I mean the kind that gets your heart pumping and your body sweating - walking or yoga doesn't count (not that they aren't good for you). I tried almost every type of exercise - swimming, weight lifting, running - but the thing that I managed to stick to was using a cross trainer. I bought a York Cross Trainer (which I love) and exercise for a minimum of 20 minutes with it each day. It's low impact too, which is great for the joints.
• Cut out the mindless eating. Each day I have a direct choice - mindlessly eat snacks (I'm a sucker for biscuits) and then feel guilty when it comes to eating meals, or avoid junk food altogether when at home so I can enjoy the meals I cook. When it's put like that, there isn't really a choice at all.
• Don't obsess about weight. I used to weigh myself at least twice a week. Now I probably check my weight once per month. It's just as accurate and a lot less stressful. If I've gained, I just up the exercise and try to reduce my intake.
• Reduce portion sizes. This is a hard one - but vital! I used to eat huge portions, so it's no wonder I got quite "large" at times. Now I try to serve myself small portions, but savour every bite.

Here's the bottom line: if you're a foodie like me, "dieting" isn't an option. So do more exercise, cut out needless calories, reduce your portion sizes...and enjoy your food!

Welcome to The Edible Tulip!

Hello and welcome!

This site is about everything related to food. That includes recipes, restaurant reviews, kitchen ideas and tips, and much more.

I love food - I would eat all day if I could (I hold back for health reasons!). So when I do get a chance to eat, I like to make the most of it. While I'm not a professional cook, I hope to be one day, so this site is about everything I'm up to - it'll also serve as a kind of "portfolio" in the future.

I'm not going to stick to a regular posting schedule as I'm quite busy - but I'll post whenever i have something interesting.

Look out for the first post soon!