Wednesday 29 April 2015

EASY PEASEY CAULIFLOWER CHEESY



Cauliflower cheese! Where would we be without it. A duller place that's for sure. For me it's
something you have for your Sunday roast when you really just want to spoil yourself! Don't be afraid of it tho and don't be getting yourself a ready made cheese sauce. It's so easy to make a fresh version with creme fraiche, mustard and of course the cheese of your choice. Cover that with a beautifully crispy rosemary and soy "bacon bits" topping and you'll be spoiling yourself every chance you get.

Monday 27 April 2015

VEGGIE BOOZY BUFFALO BITES



My favorite hangover food is chicken, especially that of the battered variety. I can easily polish off mountains of the stuff in no time. I'm always trying to recreate my favorites so that I can enjoy them at home with the veggie. This inspired me to create these delicious beer battered "chicken" pieces covered and baked in spicy buffalo sauce.  I've had to rush this post out super quick today the response I've had online to these and I'm not surprised at all! They are brilliant hangover fodder but quite frankly just blatantly brilliant in general!

Saturday 25 April 2015

VEGGIE "CHICKEN" AND LEEK BAKE



I'm always striving to think of new ways to make delicious and healthy veggie meals and this week I hit on this little beauty. Here we have Quorn chicken pieces and leeks cooked in a oregano based vegetable stock made deliciously creamy with the less calorific choice of adding creme fraiche. We all need a little bit of naughtiness in our life so a little bit of cheese and soy "bacon pieces" tops the dish to give a crispy topping to add texture and some zing to the bake. It's quick and simple to make and great for the busy veggie looking for something new!

Thursday 23 April 2015

"THE CAKE AND BAKE SHOW 2015" BAKE COMPETITION



The Cake & Bake Show is introducing a bakes competition for enthusiastic
home bakers. It can be anything from Eric Lanlard's profiteroles, Paul Hollywood's bloomer to Gregg Wallace's Sticky toffee pud 

Monday 20 April 2015

PERFECT ROAST POTATOES



 

Yesterday making our roast dinner I achieved something is been unable to do before! Create the ultimate roast potato! Crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle, these bad boys were the best I had ever done so it only seemed appropriate that I should share the technique with you so you can enjoy them at home. Crack these out next time your doing the weekly roast and everyone is going to be calling you be a Sunday roast superstar.

Sunday 19 April 2015

MINTY FRESH PASTA BAKE



This delicious dish (inspired by Jamie Oliver's "Kushari Al Forno") is a fabulous comforty meal that is perfect now that these spring evenings are getting warmer and staying brighter for longer! It has a carbalicious base of tomato, chili, rice, pasta and lentils topped with fresh parsley, mint and crumbly feta to create a hearty dish perfect when piled high on your plate flying solo as a main, dished up as a side with some salad or presented at a BBQ or party for people to help themselves too with their sausage and burgers. 

Saturday 18 April 2015

CLASSICS REVISITED: BOOZY BANANA LOAF



Banana loaf is always a winner in my eyes but is there anyway that you can make my classic Boozy Banana Bread recipe even better. Well thanks to my recent discovery of Coconom sugar I think I have! This fab new coconut based sweetener helps to create a gorgeous crunchy caramel like crust to the loaf which is to die for. I've also updated the recipe to make what I think is a much less simpler version that any avid baker will be able to whip up in no time. It might be simpler but it's still a beautifully light and fluffy loaf to die for!

Thursday 16 April 2015

MATTYS MOUSSAKA FOR TWO





Ever since I went on holiday to Rhodes a few years ago I fell in love with Greek food. The fresh salads and amazing cheese such as feta were delicious as well as the lamb produce such as their kofta kebabs and of course the moussaka. Being a half veggie household I decided to create this meat free version using Quorn mince in a herby tomato and  vegetable sauce covered in a cheesy white sauce and baked until golden and crisp. Perfect for two and super delicious!

Tuesday 14 April 2015

ROJA PINCHOS LIVERPOOL (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)



My quest to hunt out the best new places to eat in Liverpool continues with a visit to a tapas style restaurant with a twist. Whilst the city might be a little saturated with Spanish eateries, Roja Pinchos is (as it's name suggests) serving pinchos - small plates served on bread and skewered to hold it together. It sounded different so we thought we'd give them a try!

Friday 10 April 2015

PRUNO LIVERPOOL (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)





It's not just the blog which has been celebrating it's birthday this month but I myself have reached the ripe old age of 30 this year! With family wanting to celebrate with me I was tasked with finding a venue that could feed a hungry hoard of 20 people on a Saturday night in Liverpool. A quick Google and I stumbled across Pruno in Liverpool. I had driven past it before but never eaten in and after a quick look at the menu I thought it might be worth a go. 

Thursday 9 April 2015

JINJUU LONDON (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)



Having really enjoyed chef Judy Joo's recent Korean Food Made Simple series on the food network we were delighted to see she had just open I new restaurant in London. With plans to head that way we booked a table to go and sample her delights for ourselves. The experience began before we had even left our Liverpool home when in the morning we received a call from Laura to confirm our booking. Having booked the table a couple months back it was great to get a call to reassure us that our table would be waiting for us. We could now make our journey to the capital with no worries.

Monday 6 April 2015

SWEET AND SPICY HOT CROSS BUNS



Happy Easter everyone! Whilst you might be tempted to stick your face into all those Easter eggs over the next few days there is one thing that you can't have Easter without. Hot cross buns! These delicious bread buns laced with mixed spice are peppered with delicious dried fruits and adorned with that symbolic cross are a perfect treat for those looking to get away from the mountain that is properly in your house around this time. Glaze straight from the oven with more mixed spice wash and your glistening masterpieces are ready!