MATTY'S VEGGIE "BB" CURRY

One of the food based highlights of our holiday to Bali recently was our meal at Skai Beach Club and the chef's signature chicken "Too-Too". This was a twist on the traditional Balinese be tutu dish, a fragrant and spicy yellow curry that is absolutely to die for. I've tried to recreate a vegetarian version here using Quorn pieces instead of chicken which I toss into my own slow cooked take on this yummy sauce along with some vegetables, which I'm calling my "BB" curry (see what I did there!).

GRILL ON THE ALLEY MANCHESTER (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

It wasn't the first time that we had visited Grill On The Alley in Manchester when we visited last month however when we received an email that they were offering discounts on table bookings so that people could sample their new menu and with a visit to the city planned, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to give them another shot. So, off we popped with our reservation ready to see what delicious new treats they were serving up this springtime.

"SWEET AS" CORN AND PEA FRITTERS

I love using frozen peas and sweetcorn at dinner time. They taste great and only take a few minutes to cook. One thing that I'm always  looking for is new ways to serve up vegetables to make them a bit more interesting and so one weekend  I decided to jazz up some frozen peas and sweetcorn by mixing them together in egg based mixture with some fresh spring onion and spicy cayenne pepper. I was surprised at how simple it was to transform them into something incredibly delicious.

CHINESE VEGGIE SLOW COOKED "YEAR OF THE" ROOSTER

Saturday 28th January 2017 was the start of the Chinese Year of the Rooster and so to celebrate I decided to rustle up an Asian inspired dish but as it was a Saturday, I wanted to make something that would require a minimal amount of effort (well the weekend is a time for chilling isn't it?). This dish of five spice Quorn chicken slow cooked in a soy, ginger, garlic and chili broth was the answer to my prayers. All you need to do is add the ingredients into your slower cooker in stages and you'll build up a dinner that is defiantly going to get you in the mood for a party.

LULLY LEMON, MINT & MUSTARD GREENS

I've been getting more adventurous with my flavorings recently and this Sunday I decided that I would try using some lemons to flavor my vegetables. No biggy you might think but I've always had a bit of an aversion to using lemons in savory dishes after a bad lemon chicken incident in a restaurant once. I'm glad that I gave it another go at home though as the lemon, mint and mustard dressing that I mix through this selection green beans, leeks and peas really does give the greens a lully little lift.

PER TUTTI MANCHESTER (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

I'm up in Manchester a lot for concerts and gigs and normally I have an idea about where I'm going to eat before each visit. This week however I traveled up sans schedule and stumbled across Per Tutti as I got off the train at Deansgate. I didn't know anything about the place or what I was in for so with zero expectations I headed through the door ready for some food.

VEGGIE MINT, MUSHY PEA AND BACON PATTIES

Friday night isn't usually fish and chips night in our house however I was in the mood for this British classic yesterday and there is only one side dish you could possibly have with it, mushy peas. You know me though, I'm always trying to elevate simple dishes and that is how these pea, mint, spinach and veggie bacon parties were born. With a delicious crispy golden breadcrumb coating and some sharp cheddar cheese to add a bit of oomph, these bad boys are also really simple to rustle up as a great vegetarian main as well.

VEGGIE "CROQUETAS DE JAMON" (WITH ADDED PEAS)

Last weekend we decided to get our Spanish on and have a little bit of tapas for dinner. The highlight of this feast were these delicious veggie pea and bacon croquettes. They take a long time to prepare but I'm so glad that I took the time and effort to make them as they were one of the best things I've ever made. A bechamel, pea and veggie bacon filling with a touch of nutmeg encased in a crispy golden brown breadcrumb coating that makes for the perfect finger food for eating outside on a sunny day with a glass of crisp white wine.

MATTY'S MINTY GREEN SOUP

A homemade soup might not sound like the most ideal dish to be tucking into on a warm sunny day but there is something about this pea, mint and broad bean soup that just compliments the lead up too the summer season perfectly. It's a no frills, smooth, blended affair with an added kick of garlic, oregano and parsley that is so simple to knock up from scratch that you can have it on the dinner table in less than half an hour, perfect for busy folk or as the starter for a special meal for friends and family.