CLEAVER EAST DUBLIN (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

There were exciting times last week as I took my very first trip over the Irish sea to the capital city of Dublin and such a special city break away demanded an equally special evening meal to celebrate. Having been online to hunt out some fabulous places to go for a nibble, we spotted Cleaver East, a restaurant right in the heart of the city centre created by chef Oliver Dunne. We decided that it looked like the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing dinner in the city especially after spending most of the day traveling over from Liverpool and so we headed off to see if the goods on the menu were as delightful as they sounded.

PING PONG ST KATHARINE'S DOCK (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

During a well earned week away and on our travels across the UK we thought it was time to revisit an old favorite of ours with a trip to Ping Pong Dim Sum situated at St Katharine's dock. This dim sum restaurant caught our eye many years ago and has now grown to have branches all over the capital and this would be the third time we have ventured under the shadow of the Tower of London for some of their Asian treats. Would it be a case of third time still delicious? We headed over to the docks to find out!

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.

TOM'S KITCHEN ST KATHERINE'S DOCK (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

I've been a fan of chef Tom Aikens ever since I'd seen him on the Great British Menu so I was excited to find out that I would be staying close to one his restaurants, "Tom's Kitchen" during our recent stay in London. Would it live up to my high expectations? We headed off to St Katherine's dock to find out.

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 TRAYBAKE TALES PART 1 - STRAWBERRY SPONGE

When I first got into baking it was the tray bake that prompted me to make my first tentative steps into the kitchen. For my next couple of baking recipes I'm going to take it right bake to the start and share some these recipes with you. This one is the most basic standard all in one tray bake that is perfect for any beginners to try out. I've added my personal touch by decorating it with a strawberry cream cheese frosting which is great for the upcoming summer months. Settle down and let me begin my very first tray bake tale.

CREAMY "ALL ABOUT THE MUSHROOMS" PASTA

Sometimes you don't have all the time in the world cook a meal in the evening. As much as I like spending time in the kitchen, it's not always possible when life starts to get in the way. This doesn't mean you can't have fantastic food though and this is where this creamy mushroom pasta comes in. Showcasing a gorgeous porcini and chestnut mushrooms creme fraiche sauce, this fusilli dish is simply all about the flavor of the mushrooms with a touch of fresh parsley and topped with crispy onion to add a bit of pizazz. All yours in just under 30 minutes!

THE EUROVISION VEGGIE MEATBALL BAKE

OK I know; Eurovision was almost a month ago now but it's taken me that much time to get over how great this veggie recipe is. Inspired by the 2016 Swedish hosts, I set about creating the best meatball dish I could to tuck into whist watching this years contest. In doing so, I came up with this veggie meatball bake. Quorn meatballs simmered in a bay, balsamic and red wine vinegar sauce which is then transferred to the oven after being slathered in mozzarella, mascarpone and green herbs which is so amazing it's going to be soaring up leader boards right across Europe! 

MATTY'S WALDORF SLAW

I do love a good homemade slaw. Comes from the love of my Nan's homemade version we used to have back in the day. I love experimenting with my slaw's, trying to come up with different variations depending on what it's going to be served alongside. Today we were having some BBQ pork belly and jacket potatoes so an all American slaw sounded like it would do the trick so what I did was take some of the flavors of a Waldorf salad, apple and walnuts as well as some sultanas and let me tell you this; it was Da Bomb!

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.