Paradise by way of Graham & Green

OK, ignoring the silly post title based on this fabulous bar, the paradise range at Graham & Green is so fabulous. I want everything.


I want this quilt set so much. But it's sold out online! I'm certain you'll be able to pick up the quilt in many of the shops in London. And, you can buy the cushions and pillows, which are much cheaper at £18.


This pretty little make-up bag is just £12.95. It would brighten up my bathroom, but really, it'll brighten up the train when I'm running late and have to do my make-up in a dash.


I have very dull kitchen chairs. I need cushion pads with birds of paradise on them. I don't know why I didn't think of this before. They're £12.95.

Sluttishly Savoury: Crayfish and Samphire Salad with Chilli and Lemon

This recipe came about in a rather strange way. I've always misheard people when they're talking about samphire (I blame the guy with the Aussie accent on Masterchef). For years I thought it was called sandfire, and so I've never been able to find it. So until recently, I'd never tried it. Then that lovely guy Marky Market promised me he'd pick some up from Billingsgate market for me (he'll pick up anything for you if you as him nicely).

Samphire, for those of you who haven't tried it, is best described as a kind of 'sea asparagus'. Salty and crunchy. Interesting. Not so strong that you lose the flavour of everything else. I made this salad for a party recently. I had a bit of a hangover and it only took five minutes. You'll impress everyone with your culinary skills without losing too much sofa time.

You'll need:

• 300g crayfish tails
• two large handfuls of samphire
• handful of king prawns
• salad leaves
• 1 red onion, finely chopped
  
• 1 red chilli
• juice of one lemon
• large drizzle of olive oil

Make it!

• Rince the samphire under cold water - it's too salty otherwise.
• Mix with the salad leaves and red onion
• Throw in the crayfish and king prawns
• To make the dressing, just chop up the chilli and add to the lemon juice and olive oil.
• Toss the salad, pop back in the fridge for an hour or so whilst you have a nap.

Flickr image from me'nthedogs' photostream.

Shoe Porn: NW3 Fitzjohn Studded Lace-Up

Shoes are best when they come with a full back-story. I mean, technically these heels are lush purple suede lace-up brogues, made by Hobb's trendier sister label NW3, reduced to £65 from £179.

But really, they say, 'I'm a serious minded intellectual with a nice line in shoes, don't you know? I probably live in Hampstead with a 'partner', surrounded by his discarded bow ties, piles of books and a cat named after a Greek god. I certainly like cycling dangerously fast in a crushed velvet maxi skirt and a floppy hat. Most Tuesdays, I get up early to write a few chapters of my latest novel, fetch some flowers for the house, give a lecture on Victorian Sapphic poetry then roast a chicken before my friends come over. All this, and I still wear ACE heels.'

The Fever Amalfi Blouse

I know it's so very girly, but this flowery blouse from Fever London is just lovely. I love the colour and the print isn't too... three piece suite-y. The ruffles make it that little bit more modern (and let's face it, floral ruffles really shouldn't go together in the same piece). But it's the sleeves that have made me fall in love with this shirt so much. The shape, and the vintage dusky pink cuffs are perfect. And the little buttons are the perfect finishing touch. Wear this with some ripped denim shorts and it'll look fab.

It's £19.99 down from £59.99. Wowsers.

Picnic Time: Hands-Free Glass Holders

We've all been there. You're at a picnic, lazing in your garden or sunning yourself on the beach. You're using one hand to eat that cucumber sandwich, cake, or ice-cream, and the other to caress the muscular chest of that lumberjack-shirted and denim-shorted gardener, park ranger or lifeguard. So what do you do to prevent your flute of chilled champagne spilling all over the grass or sand?

You avail yourself of these picnic glass holders, of course. Made from black powder coated steel, each set contains for glass holders suitable for champagne flutes or wine glasses, and a bottle holder. Designed to float at hand height when seated on a picnic blanket, they'll ensure an uneven ground surface won't result in spilt booze. They're £14 for the set, from the Garden Gift Shop.

Lovely Les Nereides

I've always been a fan of Les Nereides. Whimsical, charming and pretty. I'm obsessed with the pretty enamel colours and want everything in the collection at Accessories Online. These are my favourites:


I only have spindly little fingers, so I can't wear jewellery like this. But I love this circus tent ring (£44.07 down from £62.95). Please buy it so I can live vicariously through you.


Eiffel Tower, romance, dangly bits. What more do you want from your earrings? They're £139.95.


This is my favourite piece. It's a little cafe! On a dangly necklace! With a SAUSAGE DOG. Utterly adorable. This is going to be mine very very soon. I just need to find £99.95 first. Where's my spare change jar?

Sluttishly Savoury: The Shooter's Sandwich

This weekend, I had the best sandwich of my entire life. Even better than the sandwiches my dad used to make when we went fishing (actually, they were gross, but they make me smile now). Even better than the ham sandwiches from that little bakery in that little French village of Alencon (only just though). Even better than an M&S ham and egg, which I get very excited about.

The Shooter's Sandwich is the mother of all sandwiches.

Now, I didn't invent this recipe. Tim Hayward of Guardian fame is the man behind this. But, I tweaked it a bit and well, it's just too darn good to keep to myself. This isn't a sandwich for the feint-hearted. You need a lot of time, and no danger of heart failure would be a good idea too. It's not a cheap meal, but it'll probably be the best thing you eat this summer.


You'll need:

• 1 Round loaf of bread. I used soda bread (not my first choice) which I wasn't sure about, but it worked perfectly.
• 2 rib-eye steaks. Yes. Two. This explains why it's not cheap. And why it'll give you a heart-attack.
• Portabella mushrooms. I used mini ones, because they looked yummy. They were.
• Five shallots.
• Couple of garlic cloves.

Make it!

• Slice to top off your loaf of bread, take out most of the breadcrumbs so you've got a tasty hollow shell. I'd suggest keeping the bread for breadcrumbs, but after the sandwich you probably won't eat again for three more days.
• Slice and finely dice the mushrooms and shallots. Fry on a low heat in some butter with some garlic and seasoning until they're soft and there's no moisture left. Any moisture and you'll be left with a soggy sandwich. No one like a soggy sandwich. Leave the tasty tasty mixture in a dish and try not to eat it all.
• Rub the steaks with garlic and season. Fry them in the same pan, to medium rare.
• Squish the first steak into the bottom of your loaf of bread. Squish squish squish.
• Add the mushroom and shallots on top, being careful to make sure you've gone to the sides of the loaf and everything is even.
• Place the second steak on top of the mixture, making sure it fits in the gap you've got left (mine didn't - I had to slice some steak off to make it fit! It was tasty).
• Admire your handiwork.
• Don't put the lid on yet! I took Tim's suggestion and slathered the steak in horseradish, and the underside of the lid with Dijon mustard.
• Squish everything down and wrap your sandwich in greaseproof paper. Tie up tightly with string and then grab yourself a wooden chopping board. Place your dinner under the chopping board. Add something heavy as well - you need to squish as much as you can.
• Now the hard part: Leave for at least six hours. Really. Apparently, 'overnight' is best, but I have no willpower.
• One six hours is up, unwrap and look! All squashed and ready to slice!
• Slice, eat, pretend you're not going to have another slice. Repeat until it's aaaaaall gone.

Is this the best sandwich in the world? Do you know of a better one? Tell us in the comments!