Dirty South Crab & Shrimp Étouffée

In the mood for something spicy, I decided it is about time to share my favorite spicy seafood recipe! Get in the kitchen and start cooking this tongue tingling southern seafood treat for a taste of the delicious flavors of the South.

Crab & Shrimp Etouffee

The Odds & Ends
2 cups of Rice
2 cups of Water
1 1/2 cup of Chicken Broth
1/2 cup of dry White Wine

1 pound of Shrimp (peel & devein )
1/4 cup of Butter
2 tbsp Olive Oil
1/3 cup all purpose Flour
1 large Onion (diced)
1  Yellow Bell Pepper (diced)
1  Orange Bell Pepper (diced)
1  Red Bell Pepper (diced)
1 1/2 sticks of Celery (diced)
2 cloves of Garlic (minced)
1 Broccoli crown
14oz Chicken Broth
1/2 cup dry White Wine
1 1/2 tbsp Creole Seasoning 
1 1/2 tbsp Tomato Paste
2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
2 tsp Hot Sauce
1/2 tsp pure cane Sugar mixed with 1 tsp Hot Sauce
16 oz fresh flaked crab-meat


Preparing Perfect Rice

1. The trick to rice is not peaking before the timer has sounded the alarm!
2. Bring to the boil 2 cups water, 1 1/2 cups of chicken broth & 1/2 cup of white wine. 
3. In a separate pot, drop a lug of olive oil in the bottom of a medium sized pot over high heat.
4. Once the oil has started to warm, pour in 2 cups of rice and stir until the rice is lightly coated. 
5. Add the boiling liquid to the rice.
6. Stir, and place the lid on top, setting the timer to 15 minutes. 
7. DO NOT LIFT THE LID UNTIL THE TIMER GOES OFF!
8. Once the timer dings, move the pot of the heat, leaving the lid on while you get the crab mixture cooking

Heat Things Up

1. Melt the butter with oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. 
2. Once butter has melted stir in flour, stirring constantly until the roux begins to turn caramel in color. 
3. Add the celery and the half of the chopped peppers & onion stirring until vegetables are tender before adding garlic.
4. Add chicken broth, white wine, seasoning, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and sugar-hot sauce mix. 
5. Allow to simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

Finish Off the Rice

1. Cook the other half of the onion & peppers over olive oil in a large pan. 
2. Once the vegetables begin to get tender, add the broccoli and after 2 minutes, add the rice. 
3. Stir until the vegetables are well mixed in to the rice and set aside. 

Getting Ready to Serve...

1. Stir in shrimp before placing the lid on and leaving it for 5 minutes. 
2. Once the shrimp has been cooking for 5 minutes, stir in crabmeat and allow to cook for another 5 minutes. 
3. Time to eat! 
4. Serve atop a bed of rice, and garnish accordingly. 
5. Enjoy!

Moist Lemon Bundt Cake (The Healthy Edition)

Having recently learned that I need to make some changes to my diet, I have been experimenting in the kitchen to find ways to create tasty alternatives to my favorite treats. (Going all natural & organic, I am not eliminating anything but have been told I need to cut back on my intake of gluten & dairy, which let me tell you is one hell of a challenge as a Brit.)

As a Brit I feel it is in my nature to love the taste of a freshly baked loaf of bread with creamy butter, decadent tea cakes, and a fresh jar of lemon curd ready to spread. Still enjoying endless cups of PG tips I was on the hunt for a gluten free, dairy free, preservative free, all natural, organic cake to enjoy along with my tea.

After several kitchen experiments, I eventually found a way to make a moist lemon bundt cake that I can happily munch on (in moderation) whenever I want.

Hope you enjoy!

Moist Lemon Bundt Cake

The Odds & Ends
2/3 cups & 1 tsp Coconut Flour
1/4 cup Organic Unrefined Coconut Oil
6 Free Range Eggs
1/3 cup All Natural Honey
1 cup Almond Milk
2 large organic lemons
- Juice & Zest
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp sea salt

Get in the Mix

1. Preheat oven to 350° F
2. Place coconut flour & coconut oil in bowl and mix until combined. 
3. Then add honey, eggs, milk & lemon (juice & zest) mixing until the batter is light and fluffy.
4. Pour into a greased (with coconut oil) pan and bake for 35 minutes
5. Start working on Raspberry Lemon glaze (see below)
6. Test cake is finished by poking it with a knife, knife should come out clear.
7. Allow finished cake to cool.

Raspberry Lemon Glaze


The Odds & Ends
2 tbsp Organic Unrefined Coconut Oil
2 tbsp  All Natural Honey
2 tbsp Almond Milk
Handful of Raspberries
1/2 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
1 large organic lemons
- Juice & Zest

Finish it Off

1. Place all ingredients in a pot, stirring occasionally until raspberries begin to fall apart and glaze begins to simmer.
2. Remove from heat and allow to cool  before placing it in the fridge to cool through.
3. Once loaf has cooled to room temperature, pour glaze on top and place glazed cake in fridge for at least one hour before serving.
4. Serve garnished with fresh fruit and a trickle of honey.

Stars Shoot Past Perseus (Somewhere...)

The Perseid Meteor Shower graces the August night skies every year, encouraging excited astro-fanatics to abandon the comfort of their beds for a picnic under the stars. This year August 12th & August 13th were the prime nights for viewing the annual meteor shower forecasting an expected 60-100 meteors between 3am-4am all over the Northern hemisphere.

Excited to witness this annual phenomenon I prepared my gear on the night of the 11th to head out early in the morning of the 12th, but as a massive storm began to roll through Harris County my night was quickly turning in to a wash. Never one to be discouraged by set backs I set my alarm for the following night and at 2am on the morning of the 13th (night of the 12th), I clambered into our SUV, PG tips in hand, buckled up the pup and set off.

The key to photographing the stars is driving far enough out of the city that you reach a point where the sky can be viewed, free of all light pollution, in its true natural grandeur. Ideally one should scout out their location during the day and set up their shot in the light of day and then wait for night to fall. However, being the genius that I am I chose to sleep until 2 then get up and drive and hour west, taking me well out of Houston where I would have a pitch black clear view of the North Eastern sky. Well, that was the plan anyway, by the time I actually managed to find a location to shoot, it was 3:45 and I watched beautiful meteors shoot through the sky as I set up my camera on my tripod, got my intervalometer connected and waited for the timer to go off for the vehicle lights. I was so so excited! The meteor shower was proving to be amazing and I would soon be catching it on camera to remember for a lifetime!

Camera ready to go, I took my first shot and there was not a meteor to be seen in the sky. Ever hopeful I continually took photos until 5 o'clock in the morning when the sun was beginning to make its way around to spread it's light on our side of the world. In all that time, I didn't see even one shooting star. Incredibly disappointed (and exhausted) I packed up my gear, and headed back home.

Now then, the meteor shower is going on until August 26th so although the peak of the shower had past, I decided I would try one more time to catch that elusive shot of a shooting star over Texas. Deciding to return to the same location, I was out of the house by 1 and set up by 2. This time I was prepared, having brought a tasty picnic and a couple of treats for my dog we munched away, watching the sky for stars to begin shooting by. As time passed by the bright moon moved higher and higher gradually washing out the stars, limiting my visibility. Still hopeful, I waited, continually shooting in hopes of even one meteor making it into my shot. Unfortunately, a thunderstorm began to approach from behind and it quickly became apparent that I wouldn't be shooting any meteors during this years shower. Packing up and heading out, racing back home ahead of the storm, I couldn't help but smile. Though some could easily see my two nights of lost sleep as a total waste, I was so happy I had gone on my astrophotography safari. It had been a real adventure and a true learning experience. (Fingers crossed I have better luck with the Perseids next year!)

Super Moon

Ever since I was a little girl, I have always had a certain affinity towards the moon. This was probably helped along by the fact that Phoebe, meaning "the shining one," was the Greek goddess of the moon and therefore I always felt like I was drawn to it. The moon is magical, inspiring dreams by reminding me that anything is possible! Hence, tonight, I am sharing with you an ultra mini blog in honor of my love of the moon, sharing with you my favorite photos I captured of tonight's super moon.

It truly is the most miraculous sight! 

Hope you Enjoy!

Caution - Alligators (Do Not Feed or Approach)

While some countries have lions or tigers roaming the wild, here in Texas we have alligators and snakes! I have countless memories at Brazos Bend State Park. I remember going to the park when I was just a little girl with my big brother and staying on the look out for Ali the Gator while we played. With plenty of strange spiders, goofy bugs, and beautiful birds to entertain, we had a blast exploring while our parents enjoyed answering the million questions we had about everything all around us. Sitting atop my fathers shoulders, I felt like I could see the whole world & I would squint off into the distance desperately trying to be the first to spot a gator bathing in the lake. 

Now that I am all grown up, I still love to visit Brazos Bend. It is the perfect place to escape from the busy city, stretch my legs, and feel like I am on an adventure as I see if I can catch a glimpse of a glorious alligator. 

The park has plenty of places for the public to enjoy, providing a playground, picnic areas complete with BBQ pits, look out points, walking paths, and even a massive tower you can climb to look down on Forty-Acre Lake for a birds eye view of the wildlife below. 

For those in search of more than pedestrian exploration, the park offers its visitors a wide array of activities  My favorite stop was always the nature center, as there you can learn about the different ecosystems and wildlife in the park. However, you don't have to stick with the educational options. Biking is permitted along the many trails, and visitors are even allowed to camp & go horseback riding as that park provides primitive equestrian campsites for people wanting to camp with their horses. Want to try something a little less active? How about try your luck at catching some fish! Visitors are welcome to fish from six of the lakes and though they should probably do so with caution, I am sure it is still just as relaxing as fishing in a lake without alligators. 

Everywhere you look you are reminded that there are alligators roaming the park, so to keep your eyes peeled, your pets leashed, and your children close. Part of the charm of visiting Brazos Bend is the alligators, but adventurers beware! The alligators are wild! So don't forget to respect their space and give them a wide berth while observing them! Thankfully, unlike my experience with the black bears in the Smoky Mountains, every time I have seen people spying on the alligators they tend to proceed with extreme caution. (Though this is likely due to the fact that even baby alligators don't look cute and cuddly like the black bears of the Smokies.)

Brazos Bend is a true Texas favorite of mine, and I heartily recommend it to anyone with an adventurers soul looking for a different experience than the bog-standard Houston. Just don't forget to keep a look out for alligators!

Hope you enjoy these photographs taken from my last trip out to Brazos Bend. Each time I have a totally different experience that never fails to be awesome!

Float off into the Clouds of Rotorua

Having left the deluge at the fabulous Hobbiton, we began to make our way towards Taupo in the unrelenting rain. Somehow we managed to take a wrong turn and ended up driving through Rotorua. Although we had made an unplanned detour we decided to make the most of it and take a break from the rainy drive to explore. Rotorua is a thrilling town with a beautiful lake and an abundance of adrenaline shooting activities to partake in. As we were driving through the town, gondolas transporting people off into the sky caught our eye and it was officially time to pull over.

Skyline is a company with a complex stretching up the side of Mount Ngongotaha. Ride a gondola to the top of the mountain and take your pick from a wide aray of heart pounding activities. Fly off the side of the mountain in the sky swing, rocket down the luge on a go kart, rent a mountain bike, or go zip-lining. If you would rather do something a little more low key, you can enjoy the view with a meal in the fabulous restaurant or venture along one of the many walking trails.

Seeing as it was still raining (though much more gently than it had been) and the gondola ride up was so incredibly pleasant & relaxing, we opted for the less exhilarating route. After getting a hot drink from the restaurant we went to enjoy some of the walking trails while enjoying the panoramic views of Rotorua. We enjoyed watching some crazy kids shooting down the luge getting soaked by the rain and contemplated going on the zip-line before deciding it was time to go.

Rotorua is a town we wished we had more time to enjoy, and will definitely  be dedicating some time to on our next New Zealand adventure. Bungee jumping, skydiving, zorbing, white water rafting, zip-lining, the opportunities are endless!

Back amongst the cows driving away from Rotorua

Of Course once Rotorua is firmly in our rear-view, the rain stops and the clouds begin to part.

Heating Things Up with Fusography

"Those who dream by night, in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find it was vanity, but the dreamers of the day are dangerous, for they wake to make their dreams a reality. "

I am a dreamer, I suppose that is why I am so enamored with travelling. Even waiting in the airport excites me, building my anticipation for the destination, allowing me to dream of what awaits me. It has long been my dream to own my own business and do something I truly love and I am excited to announce that I am finally making that dream into a reality!

As you probably all well know by now, I have many passions. Travelling and photography top the bill, but writing and creating fall just below them.

"There has to be a way," I thought to myself, "to use these passions in a way that I can support myself and continue to share them with the world."

One day, while photographing the stained glass windows in Chichester Cathedral, I came to the conclusion that there had to be a way for me to put my photographs onto glass to sell for people to enjoy at home. Once this little bee had landed in my bonnet it was only a matter of time until I stumbled upon Sassy Glass Studio. Lisa Gifford Mueller, fused glass genius and owner of Sassy Glass Studio, offers classes to teach curious minds like mine how to create their own fused glass masterpieces from her studio in Knoxville, Tennessee. Not just a brilliant fused glass artist, Lisa is a professional fusographer, meaning she is successfully fusing images onto glass in a manner that is built to last. It was official I was going to have to find away to travel to Knoxville and take this class!


Lisa has a fun bubbly personality, that displays her kind heart right out on her sleeves and I knew when I met her that not only was I going to learn a lot but I was going to enjoy every second learning with this lovely lady.

Fusing glass on its own is a complex process. You can't just use any old glass, you have to use one type of specific glass for your creation to fuse together properly. The first real challenge is cutting the glass, scoring it with confidence before snapping it in two parts. Once you have cut the pieces you want, you then get to begin layering the glass until you have it set up in the way you want it to fuse together. This is the fun part, where you get to be creative and make your vision come to life before your eyes.






















I designed two coasters & one large sushi plate purely using glass and the rest of my pieces I dedicated to mastering fusography. Having placed my fused glass pieces atop kiln paper in the kiln along with the glass we had cut for the fusography, we shut the kiln and phase one began: fusing the glass together.

The next day I arrived with the building anticipation of opening the cooled kiln to see how everything had fused together. It is fascinating to see how the glass works together to form one solid piece, morphing into a beautiful creation. Two coasters complete, and one plate ready to slump, it was time clean them and begin prepping the fusography pieces.

Fused platter placed on the mold in the kiln ready to slump.

 I had ordered some fusography decals from InPlainSight Art and was excited to pull them out and begin the process of adhering them to the coasters we had prepared. The decals are printed on a peach colored paper that disappears during the firing process leaving only your image left behind fused to the glass. Having cut out my pieces, I placed them on their respective coaster and waited for the water heating in the skillet to reach 170°.

Once the water had reached the perfect temperature, it was time to begin preparing the decals to adhere to the coasters. Once you have immersed your decal in water it does not take long before you need to remove it, so I found myself keeping my chopsticks close to the decal, so I wouldn't have to waste time chasing it around the skillet, and hence potentially ruin the decal. 

Once the decal begins to separate from the backing, it is time to carefully slip it off the paper and onto the glass in one cohesive movement, minimizing the risk of bubbles forming between the decal and the glass. Once the decal is positioned, you simply use a plastic card to press firmly on the decal to remove any bubbles and ensure that it has fully adhered to the glass. 

The more I did, the better I became, and after preparing several pieces, I found my rhythm and was able to prep the pieces without too much difficulty. 

Having prepped all of my pieces successfully, it was finally time to take them all to the kiln where we would begin the custom firing schedule for successful fusography. 

Once again returning to a cooling kiln with bated breath, it was with nervous anticipation that we opened the kiln to find the finished pieces of glass art. Funky peach paper melted away, the coasters were left smiling up at me with my very own images forever fused to them in all their glory. I had such a fabulous time in Knoxville, learning all of the ins and outs of fused glass and it is something that I hope will continue to bring me joy for the unforeseeable future. 

With no doubt left in my mind, this is what I want to do in correspondence with my blog, what I want to create to share with all of you. So stand by! Inspiration From Abroad will soon be opening for business, selling handcrafted home goods & gifts featuring custom crafts & fused glass designed using inspiration from around the globe!