One salad with a view, to stay, please. 

A university life essential as I soon found out - a stock of Sainsbury’s value green leaves and carrot, some tomatoes, white cheese, olive oil and salt. 

To elevate it to the status of Sainsbury’s special, I always grow a pot of basil in my room. It kills the smell of books (waiting to be read after the deadline) and student laundry (waiting, too). Makes you feel like Jamie Oliver back in the student days - arguably, not a bad thing. If you’re in a pickle when it comes to growing herbs - some other easily stored ingredients include green peppers, red cabbage and marinated olives.

You may be thinking, that it mustard taste better with some sauce. Keep it nude though, and sprinkle some basil, pepper and minced garlic over the top with a dash of olive oil. It really boils down to a choice between white or parmesan cheese for sprinkling. Can’t decide on the grater of the two toppings? I find white cheese much butter. 

Though it’s fresh and cold, as the winter mornings here, it keeps you out of hot water when in need of quick meal. Look at that view. Goes well with Ketchup in the Rye.

Here’s a morning stroll around the city of Oxford on a crisp late-Autumn morning.

The Thames footpath, many a stroller can be met making the pointless journey along the river to the end bridge and back. You’d think these are the best and brightest.

A view from Broad Street, right next to the infamous Hertford college. Sandwiched between the Bodleian Library and the Sheldonian Theatre, it’s a place as cultured as yoghurt.

In Catte Street (pronounced “cat” which is oh-so-fitting for the venue of the morning strolls of Simpkin, the Hertford college cat, for 9 generations now legend has it). 

The shot of “St.Helen’s Passage”, despite the great timing, in no way reflects upon the behaviour of people to be found on Oxford’s streets. Right below the “Bridge of Sighs”, this passage leads directly to the Turf Tavern. The “Turf” is a lovely pub in the back of my quad, which used to be a favourite of CS Lewis, Margaret Thatcher and Churchill on nights out. And for a signature fun fact - apparently when out on a Friday night at a pub, Oxford has the world’s highest saturation of IQ points per square meter. 

And finally - the quad of Herftord college in its full morning glory. The vines retain the multi-colour all year round, and the grass is not to be stepped on.

Student life doesn’t allow elaborate cooking early in the morning. Alas, Hall food bound,   here is a fine specimen of an English breakfast. It’s on my list of biggest challenges between passing Oxford exams and facing chuck Norris. 

Yet another post from the series “Wake up in the morning feeling like…”

Down in another direction from the centre, here is the Isis, a part of the Thames above the Iffley lock which cuts through the city. It’s late enough to have missed the high traffic hour for Oxford rowers shuffling out of their college boathouses around 5 in the morning.

The outdoor pub, The Head of the River (http://www.headoftheriveroxford.co.uk) has to be one of the coolest pubs of all time. Framed in black iron and heavy oakwood, it has the quaint atmosphere, matched by the warm winter cider scent and banter in the air.

When you’re courage is all up, ready to face yet another beautiful shot of an English breakfast in all of its glory? 

The sausage does look more crispy and there is unfalsifiable evidence of grilling on the bacon and tomatoes. As ever, baked beans.

The tree’s been set up - the lights go on when the guests enter - symbolically bringing  light into the world on this special eve. Santa’s clearly miscalculated and deposited the presents designated for an entire school under our tree.

In the kitchen, it’s been steaming and cooking for days.

The table’s been set - ever with a silvery sparkle on the frosty freshness of white table cloth. Traditionally, Christmas is never dominated by red and green - a true welcome comes on the luxury of snow-white table cloth and the subtlety of silver decorations not to dim the colours of the dishes.

Who doesn’t love a bit of IKEA on every occasion (napkins).

With an innovative snowflake twist (I used IKEA’s snowflake garlands on twistable wires) to brighten up the sky. We decided to keep to the age-long theme - never failing like good wine - white and sparkling.

All 12 dishes present - as on every previous Dash-of-Vanilla Christmas. Only the main ingredient missing at the table: the family.

Arguably an overload of citrus, but since there won’t be any rum and cokes going on in this area, you might as well squeeze in as much as you can. 

A personal favourite when it comes to garnishing salads. Simply cut an apple in 6 wedges, and with a sharp knife cut out a zig-zag ragged edge along the sides. Lastly, pierce the skin on top of each wedge, and peel off a sharp-ended oval shape, as shown below. A poinsettia flower of sorts. 

And of course - what would a Polish Christmas meal be without fish (arguably, not much, since meat is not eaten tonight).

So with special wishes from the cat…

…with all the gleam, glisten, glitter and glow - Merry Christmas, and Let it Snow.

First day of Spring, and last of Dash of Vanilla. Thank you everyone.