CURIOUSLY DELICIOUS COURGETTE, LEMON AND PISTACHIO TRAY BAKE

Sometimes I see a foodie trend pop up regularly in magazines and on TV which I'm not really quite sure will work. Courgettes being used to make cakes was one of them. I just didn't like the sound of it at all but last weekend I bit the bullet and decided to give it a go as I had been quite curious about how it would taste. I'm so glad I did as it transpired that it would actually taste most delicious especially when flavored with ground pistachio and plenty of zingy lemon both in the cake and the lemon curd icing on top!

THE RETURN OF THE CHILI, POTATO AND MUSTARD MEDLEY

With the arrival of my 500th blog post last week I thought it would be a great time to go right back to the start and revamp another old classic. With the evenings being warm recently, I decided to pull out an old summer favorite I posted back in May 2014, my chili and mustard potato medley. Essentially it's a potato salad but not a cheap and nasty one you'd get in a supermarket that's smothered in mayonnaise but a proper fresh one full of spicy, tangy flavors and textures that really turn it into something really special.

MY 500TH BLOG POST

So here we are! Over 3 years since I started my little blog and here I am posting my 500th blog post. All I really wanted this post to be about was really just to say a big thank you to anyone who has ever read any of my posts, liked any of them, shared any of my recipes, posted any comments, followed me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, pinned something from my Pinterest board or visited a restaurant and had a great night thanks to reading one of my restaurant reviews! It means so much to me!

HOST LIVERPOOL (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

We have visited Host up on Hope Street in Liverpool several times in the past and we had always had a great time. It was slightly surprising then when we realized that it had been quite a while since we had ventured through their doors. That changed one evening when we bought tickets to see a show at the nearby Everyman theatre and having looked at the what seemed to be completely new menu on their website from the one we had last time we came we decided to go and see if their treats were still as good as what we remembered. Off we went on a warm Saturday evening with great expectations!

"BISCUIT AND BOOZE" "FRUIT AND NUT" NO BAKE CHOCOLATE BARS

Sometimes you need a recipe for a sweet treat that is quick and simple to make when you have a last minute gift making emergency. When I decided to make something as a thank you present for the superstars at my dad's care home which he was leaving this week I needed something that I could rustle up quickly after work ready to take the next day. These no bake chocolate bars were the answer to my prayers. They contain all my favorite things; ginger nut biscuits, chopped pecans and best of all, booze soaked dried fruit. Brilliant!

OOZY MELTY CHEESY CENTRE BEEF BURGERS

Cooking lots of vegetarian food in our house means that I don't often get the chance to make proper meaty treats. However, last weekend when presented with some mince on a brilliantly hot summers day, I decided to have a go at making my own burgers. Me being me though I had to add my own twist to them so I decided to hide a blob of mozzarella in the centre of the patties so that once they were fried and you bit into them, there would be a marvelous melty oozy centre to them. Let me tell you; they were brilliant!

ROSEMARY'S CAKE

Who is Rosemary? Well actually she is no one, it just eludes to the fact that this is a cake flavored

with fresh rosemary leaves. See what I did there! Herbs in cakes and desserts have become increasing popular over the years and after I dabbled in a lemon and thyme loaf last year I decided to try and give rosemary a shot in a bake. Well, let me tell you this for certain, it definitely works especially in the rosemary sugar crust sprinkled on top of the cake. Don't be scared people and embrace the herby bakes!

BRILLIANT HONEY MUSTARD PARSNIP BAKE

Just after Christmas I bought a load of parsnips in Tesco that were being sold off for cheap and decided to freeze them to use at a later date. That later date arrived a few weeks ago when I used them to make this delicious honey mustard parsnip bake for a Sunday roast one weekend. I took those parsnips, defrosted them and then baked them in a home made white sauce flavored with honey and Dijon mustard which I topped with a crunchy cheese and onion topping. Parsnips have never been more yummy than this!

TREDWELLS LONDON (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

Having visited the Gilbert Scott at London St Pancreas before this blog was born and really enjoying it we were glad to see that chef owner Marcus Wareing also looked after Tredwells near to the Cambridge theatre. Close to the Seven Dials which we were visiting to see a show, we took a look at the menu and we were instantly sold so we booked a table and headed down one Friday evening to go check it out.

RAVISHING RED PEPPER PESTO PASTA

Last weekend I had a go at making my very own green pesto (recipe is here if you want to give it a go - it's really good!). This weekend to try and mix things up a little I decided to make a red pesto. Now it may not look particularly red in the the pictures I'll give you that but this version made with roasted red peppers and cherry tomatoes is super delicious and at the end of the day it is the taste that matters the most isn't it? Toss it around some of your favorite pasta and lunch can be yours in no time!