new year - new stock

Is it too soon after Christmas to be talking about shopping?

I know I have been feeling a bit shopped out

but it does feel like the right time  - full of resolution for 2017 - to sweep out the cobwebs and choose a few additions to ring in the changes of a new year . . .

I have some website and blog related resolutions that might take a bit if time . . . 

but hey, I've got ALL year!!!

To start the year off I spent the morning playing with instagram 

and loading some new items onto my shop. 

 I thought I would share them here making it easier for you to have a "shouf"{look}

SHOP HERE

SHOP HERE

There is a lot of autumnal brown going on here so I thought we might need to throw in a bit of colour

in the shape of this wonderful bold and bright tassled vintage cushion.

Who can resist a generous tassle??

 

SHOP HERE

And finally, to thank you for taking the time to follow my blog and actually read the posts

I have a small thank you gift! 

Any orders via this post will automatically get a complimentary jar of our fabulous Harissa Paste!

SHOP HERE

Simply leave a comment after this post letting me know about your order and I will make sure its all packaged up together.

And finally,

 a little peace & protection for 2017

image via

{I suspect we might all need it!} 

x

Pauline

#CookForSyria

I dont know about you, but the events of the past year, months, few days,
 have left me feeling a little overwhelmed. 

Suddenly things feel strangely out of kilter.

There is a lot of anger and destruction around us - and this coming from a person who grew up in Apartheid South Africa and spent the greater part of my my 20's fighting for change.

But right now I am indeed feeling overwhelmed . . .

But the #cookforsyria project has rekindled some positivity!

#CookForSYRIA

Reading about #CookforSyria felt like a rainbow emerging out of the morass of media spin and information that surrounds us. Instead of focussing on the destruction and depressing daily reality of many in the world today - it is a celebration!

A celebration of a rich culture that will not be bombed out of existance!

image via

I wish I was closer to London so I could support some of the initatives that are part of this project - if you are, have a LOOK HERE and see if there is anyone or anyplace that you could support. There is a list of participating restaurants where £2 for certain items on the menu will be donated to the charity.

With the thought in mind that "every little bit helps"

I have decided to donate £2 of every jar of our Shouf! harissa sold this month to the fund - so you can enjoy the heat of our harissa knowing that the money spent is going to keep someone else warm this winter!

shouf!{look!} harissa

SHOP

You can also pre-order the cook book #CookForSyria - a result of time and talent in collaboration, with all profits again going to the fund.

And dare I mention the "c" word?

Christmas people  . . . 

and  I know a few people who would love to find this book in their stocking!

It seems to me quite simply to embody all that this festive season of ours should stand for.

x

shouf!

There is a chill in the air as autumn settles in here, which has prompted me to try and cosy up the shop

ochre mountain boujid rug

some new, things some old favourites . . . still very much a work-in-progress!

ewwel sugar bowls

Please follow the link and have a look -would love to know what you think!

www.shouf.co,uk

vintage cushion

xPauline

hard at work . . .

Admittedly its been a little quiet on my blog of late,

but just to let you know that I am working hard behind the scenes 

to make sure everything is working just how I want it to!

in the meantime
don't forget you can find me attempting to be arty
on
 INSTAGRAM

philosophising
on
PINTEREST

and just generally sharing the stuff of life
on
FACEBOOK

please keep in touch & I will be back to the blog soon!
x

Holidaay!

its that time of year

time to step away from my laptop

shake out the beach towels

and head for some sunshine

Flights have been booked

and we are looking forward to taking time to slow down

enjoy leisurely and warm summer evenings

and sunny beach days

and maybe even a little time to play . . .
but as they say
i will be back
see you in a few weeks time
x

A weekend in Tangier, Morocco

Feeling a little tired of the grey uk?

Need something a little more exotic than your daily routine?

Hop across to Gatwick and fly to Tangiers on Friday, and you can be back on Sunday evening ready for that weekly routine again.

And while it may not be a huge amount of time, a weekend getaway that takes you to another country and continent in 4 hours has got to be worth it?

So with the scheduling of Air Arabia Maroc flights on a Friday and Sunday I decided to give some thought to what would I do if I had a fleeting 48 hours in Tangiers?

First of all decide where you want to stay! 

In the medina, in the kasbah, hotel, riad??

La Tangerina

I have a list of my personal preferences HERE on the blog

I think for first time visitors my advice would be to head up to the kasbah  -  The kasbah gives you a feel of the exotic without the chaos . . . there feels like there is a little more light and space, and considering you don't have a lot of time, it will also be a bit more relaxing!

Things start pretty late in the evenings in Morocco - so no need to worry that you will be late for dinner.

If you are feeling intrepid head straight down the hill towards the Grand Socco and the Medina where there is no shortage of places to eat and sights to immerse yourself in.

If you are more in the mood to relax and unwind over a glass of Moroccan red, pop into El Morocco Club in the Kasbah and see who's who in town.

In the morning

take a stroll out of the Kasbah and do a little boutique shopping in Las Chicas right by the main entrance where you will be able browse their curated collection of contemporary Moroccan crafts and fashion.

Then head down the hill to the medina and the markets - take your time, wander around and work out what you want and where to find it.

Keep an eye out for the nougat man in the medina - in my opinion the best nougat around!

Take a coffee break at Cinema Rif and people watch.

Feeling a little peckish after all that walking - try La Petit Socco in the middle of the medina - or La Saveur up the steps just outside the medina for a taste of fresh local food.

A lot of the Moroccan experience is about sitting and sipping a tea or coffee and watching the day go by - so if you are in that frame of mind and it is a lovely sunny day, head all the way back up the hill (you can get a petit taxi but actually central Tangiers is pretty walkable) and kick back with a mint tea at the famous Cafe Hafa.

If a weekend break is more about relaxing around a swimming pool then try a place like   La Maison de Tanger where you can head back to a sunlounger after negotiating the medina.

relax at the swimming pool at La Maison de Tanger

Sunday morning - you might just have enough time to dash into the medina for those babouche you decided you really want (they are apparently set to be the shoe trend of 2016!)
but honestly - if I was you - I would find a spot on the terrace . . .

view from the terrace of Dar Jand

 admire the view and the particular light that bounces off the ocean and enticed artists like Matisse to the city. 

Sip on some freshly squeezed orange juice or aromatic mint tea before heading over to the airport to wing your way home.

Its not a lot of time - but being on the northern edge of Africa, exploring the medina, hearing the call to prayer, all make for something a little more than average for a simple weekend break.

For more information re flights from London too Tangiers go to the Air Arabia Maroc website and head off into that sunset!!

shouf giveaway #2

as promised . . . 

for the month of march

week #2

giveaway #2

you may have hummed along to the song Tea for Two?

well this weeks giveaway is all about 

Coffee for Two!

A set of 2 Espresso cups by Ewwel
designed and made in Morocco

a perfect fit for your coffee of choice!

what do you need to do to win?
not a lot really!

just SHARE this post to facebook, twitter, pinterest  

wherever takes your fancy 

have a look at these and other Ewwel designs 

here on SHOUF!

shouf giveway #1

I have decided it is time for a little 

March Madness!

A different give-away every week for the month of 

March

shouf!{look}
giveaway #1

not one  . . . but TWO
beautiful imprinted organic soaps by L'art du Bain are up for grabs

choose between

Moroccan Tea Time : a camel milk soap scented with sweet orange & peppermint

or

Louise, Louisa: an organic argan oil soap scented with verbena & lemon

?

all you have to do is

1: let me know in a comment below which is your fragrance of choice

2:  hop across to shouf! HERE and like or share or pin any of our products - it gives you the options on the page 

 simple!

whichever takes your fancy!

so

look out for the rabbit
x

Glamping in Morocco

Glamping {Glamourous Camping} is a bit of a buzzword at the moment

and lets face it, Morocco is made for Glamping!

The rich history of the desert  is one of tents and bedouins, carpets and camels.

The ability to transform a corner of the desert into a home with architectural tents and beautiful textiles is not a new concept here,

so lets take a trip . . .

 enjoy the silence of the sahara in comfort

  wall to wall beni ourain carpets,

I would be happy to have a bedroom like this, let alone a tent!

breakfast en plein air - love these embroidered grass mats, so keep an eye out on shouf!
as I might include some after my next trip!

and the soft glow of lamplight at the end of the day,

all images via Mon Maroc Guidea website morocco full of glamourous glamping options that have been personally curated by  Maria
Camps featured here: El Khiam Ahlam, La Pause, and Scarabeo Camp

x

harissa round-up

I thought I would end the week up on a slightly heated note

with some ideas and links of what to do with that jar of harissa sitting on your shelf!

Yesterday I posted a link on my facebook page for this recipe

 for HARISSA SWEET POTATO LATKES which I am planning to try this weekend.

I just love the look of the flavour combinations in this recipe!

images and recipe via The Bojon Gourmet

 Ottolenghi recipes are a favourite in our house with the cookbook Jerusalem being well used and with many an olive oil splatter marking the pages - I found this recipe for CHICKEN MEATBALLS WITH PRESERVED LEMON AND HARISSA RELISH online and decided to try it because I am also more than a little partial to the combination of chicken and preserved lemons.

images and recipe via Ottolenghi

Jamie Oliver does quite a few recipes using harissa as a side condiment or as a seasoning. 

 This recipe for SQUID WITH HARISSA MAYO is a great summer time snack 

 that  reminds me of sunshine &  holidays

- a nice glass of  cold wine after a hot day at the beach kind of meal!

images and recipe via JamieOliver

Another blog I follw and have shared on my facebook page  My Moroccan Food where london based blogger Nargisse shares her take on  Moroccan flavours - and these Ras el hanout and harissa hassleback baby potatoes have become another family favourite.

images and recipe via My Moroccan Food

And of course dont forget our own rendition of HARISSA BAKED AUBERGINEdelicious with some thick greek yoghurt now all you need is your harissa . . .
so come and see me at BATH ARTISAN MARKET on sunday
or go online to SHOUF! to get your jar and start cooking!
x