SUPER GREEN SOUP

I've got another super duper soup recipe for you and this one is for those who love their greens. Kale and spinach are the stars of the show today and whilst they can be notoriously bland and uninteresting when handled incorrectly this soup shows you how they can be turned into something magnificent. All you need are some chilli, garlic and chorizo to give your soup oomph and onions and potato to give it body and you have all you need for a brilliantly simple and delicious broth.

£3 OFF CAKE AND BAKE SHOW TICKETS (MATTYB OFFERS)

I'm very excited to offer all my readers an exclusive offer of £3 off tickets for any of the "Cake and Bake Shows 2015" All you need to do is quote the following code when booking tickets online:

CAKE313

I went to the show last year and really enjoyed my day which included watching a live demonstration by Paul Hollywood. Click read more below for more information on this fabulous foodie day out!

EPICURED LIVERPOOL (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

It's great to see Liverpool's food scene expanding especially those small independent eateries choosing to open their doors away from the crowds of Liverpool One. Strolling to work the other day I saw a sign urging me to walk up Gradwell street to Epicured. Describing themselves as an "independent, pocket sized and unique destination" for lunch I thought it would be a fabulous place to take breather from work and treat myself to a little me time. So off I popped. Literally a stones throw away from Hanover street I walked in to a warm and friendly welcome.

PATTERSONS LIVERPOOL (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

Anyone who loves meat has to love fried chicken. Well I know I do that's for sure! So when I heard Patterson's Chicken and Tunes bar had recently opened close to my work in Liverpool city centre, I knew I had to give them a try. So armed with an empty stomach, a friend and I headed off to see if the chicken described as "crispy, tender and so tasty" on their website stuck to its word.

LAMPLIGHTER DINING ROOMS, WINDERMERE (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

I've just returned from a rather delightful Hen weekend away at the Lakes. Saturday evening included dinner at the Lamplighter Dining Rooms in Windermere and what a treat it was. Having taken a look online after the meal it was repeatedly referred to as the "best meal in Windermere" and going by my experience, I can wholeheartedly agree.

"AMARETTIETTO" CAKE

Anyone that has been following my recipes for a while will know that I love the taste of Amaretto and I'll find any way to shoehorn it into any recipe I can. This cake is a double pronged attack. Not only is the sponge laced with boozy Amaretto but the centre of the cake is also lined with Amaretti biscuits across the centre which go deliciously chewy during baking as well as being crumbled over the top of some very naughty cream cheese frosting to give a crunchy finish to my most naughtiest cake to date!

VOTE FOR MATTYB BAKES TO BE "FLAVOUR OF THE NEIGHBOUR HOOD"

Exciting times at MattyB Bakes! I've been shortlisted for Hotel Indigo's "Flavors Of The Neighborhood" competition. They are searching for the nation's favorite local food hero and I really need all my readers support to help me become a finalist were the blog could receive a lot of regional and national press coverage. I'm always wanted to reach out the more people so please click on any of the links on this post or on the picture of one of the judges, Jimmy Doherty above to be taken to the "Flavors Of The Neighborhood" app and place your vote for my little blog (I'm on page nine I believe!). 

Voting closes on the 23rd February so there is only less than a week to vote but it will only take you a minute and I would really be over the moon if you take the time to read this or any of my blog posts and enjoy what you read to please support the blog and help me become a finalist.

Thank you, my wonderful, beautiful readers. We can do it!

HEALTHY DIGESTIVE BISCUITS (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

 

My good friend Sarah James, creator of the fantastic blog "Tales From The Kitchen Shed" has done it again. Not only content with creating the best bread roll recipe I have ever made (Ted's Rolls - check them out if you haven't already!) but she has only gone and gone one better with these "Healthy Digestive Biscuits". I loved the sound of them so I took advantage of a Monday day off to give them a whirl. Were they as good as they looked? By jolly they were and then some!

AFTER EIGHT DELIGHT

Check this bad boy out! I'm not normally one for going mad with cake decorations but my creative juices were really flowing yesterday when I created this delicious mint chocolate cake filled with delicious mint and lime curd and smothered with "After Eight" icing. Then by simply decorating with some left over mints and a few chocolate buttons you have yourself a masterpiece that is going to wow at any party or dinner table. If you a fan of chocolate (who isn't!) and mint then this is the celebration cake for you.

CLASSICS REVISITED: EASY PEASY BOLOGNASY

Yes, the recipe with the most cringy name is getting a revamp. My original recipe makes for a super fast, lower calorie version of the humble spaghetti bolognase. This new jazzed up version is still super simple to make but adds a few bits and bobs that might not be as kind to your waistline but you won't be thinking of that when your tucking into this Italian comfort food classic. If your looking for something that is going to take you right back to your mama's home cooking then this is going to become your go too recipe.

CAKE AND BAKE SHOW 2015 COMPETITION!

I had a great time visiting the BBC Cake and Bake Show in London last year and therefore I'm very pleased to help announce that the show will be back for 2015 along with a brand new competition! 

V-PUD, SAUSAGE AND CUMIN SQUEAK!

Veggies behold! Welcome to the wonderful world of the V-Pud, vegetarian black pudding. Created by "The Real Lancashire Black Pudding Company Ltd", this fabulous vegan friendly black pudding is (in my eyes) an absolute revelation and means that you can now make delicious veggie friendly meals which can traditionally use this British delicacy such as  "Bubble and Squeak". Potatoes, greens, veggie sausage and V-Pud fried up with cumin seeds and served with grated cheese and soy bacony bits - you are in for a right old treat!

RICE BOWL MANCHESTER (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

To have over 700 reviews on TripAdvisor and still be in the top thirty restaurants in a major city is no mean feat and The Rice Bowl in Manchester is currently rocking those statistics. I'd heard great things about this Chinese stalwart of the Manchester food scene however when a friend and I rocked up here just before Christmas to be turned away due to being too busy I knew I had to come back armed with a reservation. Somewhere this packed has to be doing something right!

HOORAY FOR HOMEMADE HUMMUS

I love hummus! Dipping in a warm pitta bread, spreading on a butty or scooping it up with tortilla chips, it makes for a more healthier snack compared to shoving a whole bar of chocolate down your throat. When I made my own at home I was blown away by the sheer volume that I produced, how simple it was to make, how much more delicious it tastes than shop bought and finally how much cheaper it is to make your own than buy those little tubs in supermarkets. When you factor all that in, whats not to love about homemade hummus.