My Perfect Weekend: Ella Mills
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FRIDAY
I’m a summer person but I love the cosiness of winter. It gives you permission to rest when it’s cold, dark and raining, to cuddle up, enjoy a bath, and read. I like the quieter nature of winter and one of the things I look forward to most is the warming food – brothy, chunky soups and lots of noodle dishes I make on repeat. One of my favourites is a coconut milk bowl with noodles, crispy tofu and mushrooms. I do prefer winter food as it’s all about unctuous bowls that are cosy, creamy and hearty.
I have two little girls, so Friday nights look a little different these days. They’re about decompressing after a busy week. I switch off my phone after work and head home for quality time with the family. Trying to avoid burnout is key so my husband and I switch off by watching a film or series together. We’ve been enjoying the final series of The Crown. I don’t love it as much as the first few series, as it feels too recent. I’ve also binged series two of The Gilded Age, mainly because the costumes are amazing.
We usually cook a hearty meal, like a bowl of udon noodles. My go-to recipe is udon with mushrooms and coconut from my new book, Healthy Made Simple. I’ll fry off shallots and ginger, and make a broth with some coconut milk before cooking the noodles in the broth. Then, it’s topped with crispy fried tofu, coriander and fresh chilli. I’m not a huge drinker but I do like a glass of red. We’ll usually open a special bottle to enjoy once the kids have gone to bed.
We often go and stay with family outside London. On those weekends, we’ll pick up the girls from school and drive straight to the countryside, which is my favourite feeling. Between raising our two girls and growing the business, we are quite quiet people.
Bubala; Monmouth Coffee
SATURDAY
When we're in London I usually wake up early with the kids, but my husband and I try and give each other a moment for exercise or hobbies. I try and get in an hour of yoga before getting out the house, which usually means heading to Hyde Park with the girls on their unicorn scooters. I love not having plans on the weekend. Being able to do what you want whenever you want (as much as possible with two kids) is a real treat.
We’re obsessed with pancakes, so we make a batch every weekend with blueberries. Coffee is another weekend ritual – I take mine black and make sure I’m stocked up on my favourite Monmouth beans. Then, Saturday afternoons are reserved for baking. The kids loving getting involved so we tend to make chocolate chip banana bread or cookies. Their measurements aren’t too exact, but homemade cake never lasts too long in our house.
I’m a big fan of cooking once, eating twice. So many of us want to eat well and make changes to our diet as we know there’s a huge link between what we eat and how we feel. Around two-thirds of our calories are now from ultra-processed food because life is so busy, so I try to test recipes that are nutritious, and can be made in under 30 minutes. This month, I’ve made a few rounds of my creamy black bean and almond butter stew. After frying shallots, aubergine and garlic, I add black beans and simmer on the hob with stock, coconut milk and almond butter. It’s really thick and creamy, and I add a spoon of harissa at the end for a bit of spice.
I recently visited Bubala in Soho. It’s great to see so many amazing veggie restaurants in London right now – especially when there’s a queue around the corner! The menu is full of delicious sharing plates that showcase inventive plant-based cooking.
Once the kids are in bed, we put on a film or set aside time to read. I just finished Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, which everyone is talking about. It’s such a brilliant book and unlike anything I’ve read recently. I also enjoyed Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey, David Nicholls’ new one You Are Here (which comes out in the spring) and I May Be Wrong by Björn Natthiko Lindeblad, a Swedish monk who is unbelievably wise. A great read at this time of year, it’s full of tips to feel better and gently improve your mental health.
Aleissa C/Unsplash
SUNDAY
My dad lives on the south coast so when we’re in the countryside we often go for a long walk along the beach on Sunday morning. It’s one of my favourite parts of the weekend, especially during the winter months when it’s quiet and you have the whole beach to yourself. My goal this year is to try cold water swimming in the sea, but I’m not brave enough to take the plunge just yet…
I use Sundays to batch-cook recipes for the rest of the week. Having a few meals in the freezer is a lifesaver, so I make dishes the whole family will want to eat, like a lentil bolognese or a chunky stew. Dhal is a go-to, as is my beetroot salad which includes ready-cooked beetroot served with yogurt, harissa and toasted pitta.
I like to wind down in the evening with my skincare routine. I take it much more seriously now I’m in my 30s and like to finish the day with a face mask or ten minutes of self-care. I love the Sarah Chapman 3D Moisture Infusion Mask which is super hydrating and gives skin a nice glow, as does as the Drunk Elephant Electrolyte Waterfacial Night Mask. One of my favourite brands is Esse which creates probiotic skincare – its facial oil is a saviour during the colder months.
While I’m switching off, I’ll plug in my infrared sauna blanket to sweat it all out. It’s kind of gross but feels amazing. I also love a bath with lots of Epsom salts while listening to a podcast – one of my favourites is Shameless. I also tune into well-known feel-good series like Happy Place and How to Fail to set me up for the week ahead.
Healthy Made Simple by Ella Mills is out now at Amazon.co.uk
Follow @DeliciouslyElla
CLAIRE WINFIELD
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