living alone diaries | Winter Recipes, Fashion, My Last Day of Uni & More!

A few chatty days in my life, living alone in Toulouse, France. I'll share some cozy and healthy recipes to support your immune system during this time of the year, show some winter fashion outfits, take you along on my last day of uni whilst studying abroad, show some snippets of life in Toulouse and more! Hope you enjoy :)
Wish you all wonderful holidays and a happy new year!
xx Cila

RECIPES:
MY BROWNIES
Ingredients:
2 large eggs (room temperature)
3 tbsp all-purpose flour
1/3 cup + 2 tbsp melted coconut oil
150g melted dark chocolate
1/4 cup cacao powder
3/4 cup coconut sugar (or slightly less if using regular sugar)
Pinch of salt
1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:
Prepare the chocolate: Chop the dark chocolate into small pieces for easy melting.
Melt coconut oil: In a saucepan, melt the coconut oil over low heat.
Add chocolate: Once the coconut oil has melted, add the chopped chocolate. Stir constantly to prevent burning.
Mix in cacao powder: Add the cacao powder to the melted chocolate mixture and mix until smooth.
Whisk eggs: In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs until well combined.
Add coconut sugar: Stir in the coconut sugar, pinch of salt, and vanilla extract with the eggs. Mix until smooth.
Combine mixtures: Pour the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture and stir until well incorporated.
Add flour: Gently fold in the flour. The batter should be thick but smooth.
Bake: Pour the batter into a greased or parchment-lined baking dish and bake at 175°C (350°F) for about 25 minutes.

LENTIL SOUP
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
2 medium carrots, diced
1-inch chunk of fresh ginger, minced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika powder
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/2 teaspoon chili flakes (optional, for spice)
1 cup dried brown lentils, rinsed
4 cups water
1 chicken stock cube (or vegetable stock for a vegetarian version)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Salt, to taste
Juice of 1 lemon or lime (to taste)
OPTIONAL:
Fresh coriander or parsley (for garnish)
Cloves (to support immune system)
A few dashes of Tabasco

Instructions:
Heat the oil: In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat.

Sauté vegetables and aromatics: Add the diced onion and carrots to the pot. Sauté for about 5-7 minutes, or until the vegetables begin to soften and the onion is translucent. Add the minced ginger and garlic, and cook for another 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until fragrant.

Add spices: Sprinkle in the cumin, paprika, turmeric, and chili flakes (if using). Stir to coat the vegetables evenly with the spices and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.

Add lentils and liquid: Stir in the rinsed brown lentils, followed by the 4 cups of water. Add the chicken stock cube and stir until dissolved.

Simmer: Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and let it simmer for about 30-40 minutes, or until the lentils are tender. Stir occasionally to ensure nothing sticks to the bottom of the pot.

Season the soup: Once the lentils are cooked, taste the soup and add salt and pepper to taste. For a touch of acidity, stir in the juice of a lemon or lime.

Optional heat and garnish: If you like a little extra spice, add a few dashes of Tabasco. Garnish with freshly chopped coriander or parsley.

George Street Shuffle by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: http://incompetech.com/
Music by Cael Dadian - You Season (Interlude) - https://thmatc.co/?l=213DB5D6
Music by Citrus Avenue - Window Seat - https://thmatc.co/?l=BA58C5ED

Find me on:
INSTAGRAM: @lifebycila | instagram.com/lifebycila
PINTEREST: @lifebycila | pinterest/com/lifebycila

Wish you all the best ♡

TAGS: toulouse vlog, living alone in france, winter in toulouse, christmas in toulouse, winter fashion, healthy recipes, toulouse life, uni life vlog, living in france, healthy eating, how to stay healthy in winter time, study abroad vlog, life in toulouse, cozy & chic winter fits