THE MUSSEL AND STEAK BAR EDINBURGH (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

When you're planning a trip to a new city you can spend a long time looking on the internet for fabulous places to eat but sometimes you just stumble across places when you're walking around and that is what happened on a recent trip we took to Edinburgh. Hunting out a place for a birthday dinner, we saw The Mussel and Steak Bar and the menu looked really tasty and special and so later that evening we walked from our hotel with empty bellies and high expectations ready for some of Scotland's finest seafood.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATTYB BAKES

I can't believe it! My little blog MattyB Bakes is a year old today. When I started writing about my foodie adventures I genuinely thought I'd probably get bored and stop after a few weeks but here I am talking about its first anniversary. This blog has become a real passion of mine and sharing my recipes, tips and recommendations and seeing people's reactions makes me smile everyday. It's a good time to for me to get all nostalgic and look over the last 12 months!

£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!

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.

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!

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! 

HAIRY BIKERS CHILI SALAD BOWLS (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

Check these bad boys out! Don't they look incredible! They are crispy tortillas filled with lettuce, chili, fresh tomatoes, spring onion and grated cheese. They are one of the most delicious things I have ever eaten. I cannot take credit for creation of the idea though. That goes to the Hairy Bikers. If you have never seen any of their Hairy Dieters books then this is my public service announcement to tell you that you need to go and buy them immediately. Trust me, it'll be one of the best things you ever do with your life!

MATTYB IS OFF TO BRUSSELS... AND NEEDS YOUR HELP

We are off on our holidays! I'm so excited to be going on my travels abroad for the first time in over two years and we are heading to the land of chocolate and waffles: Brussels!

This is where you come in - I love hunting out great new foodie hangouts in the UK but I can honestly say I have zero knowledge of the Belgian food scene.

Therefore I reach out to all the lovely people who take the time to read my blog and I ask for you hints and tips on great places to eat, drink and visit (food markets etc) in Brussels and the surrounding areas. Please leave your suggestions in a comment below and hopefully I'll be able to get to visit as many of your top haunts as possible and share my experiences here in the near future.

Thank you to you all!

MATTYB BAKES IS BLOG OF THE DAY!

I'm please to announce that I will be the Onvation's "Blog Of The Day" on their "Blog Of The Day App" on the 22nd January 2015.

This fabulous app dedicates a whole 24hrs to a different blog each day and is a brilliant way to discover new and exciting blogs that you may not have come across before. Best of all it is completely free!

 I would like to thank them for helping me reach out to more people. I'm always looking to share this little hobby that's becoming a real passion of mine with as many people of possible.

Why not give it whirl and download the app here. Who knows who you will discover next!

MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT VIRTUAL BAKE SALE 2014

My previous blog post for my

Marvellously Marbled Boozy Bakewell Cake

has now been dedicated to the Macmillian Cancer Support Virtual Bake Sale 2014. It seems to be going down a storm with all you readers and so what better recipe to drum up support so this fantastic initiative.

Click the link below to read more information on this fantastic fund raising idea and if you can take part or simply want to donate then you'll be making me most super happy!

FREDS 50 FOR 50 (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

I have to admit that there is an ulterior motive for this recommendation. This special book containing 50 fab recipes to commemorate Fred the Homepride mans 50th birthday contains two of my very own recipes, the butternut squash quiche with Ashley's twist and my walnut brownies. This is the first time any of my creations will be in print and for me it's a very special occasion and one of my proudest moments. I've pre-ordered my copy and now so can you too!

MEET MARY BERRY FOR AFTERNOON TEA!

The BBC Good Food Bakes And Cakes Show is drawing closer and today they have released details of a fantastic competition where you could win the chance to have afternoon tea with the legend that it Queen Mary Berry Of Cake. If you think you have got what it takes to make a cake or bake good enough to win, give the official press release below a read for a guide on how to enter. Good Luck!

MATTYB BAKES 100TH POST BONANZA

 

 Well here we are! 4 months in and I'm celebrating my 100th post. I didn't realise when i started the blog just how into it I would get but I'm enjoying it so much. I've had so many people say such nice things about all the recipes and even a few who have tried a couple and told me how great they are which really puts a big smile on my face.

That's one of the reasons I started this blog. When i started posting pictures of my food on facebook like one of those really annoying foodie people a lot of people would ask me how I had so much time to make all this food. They also wanted to know how I managed to lose 3 stone in 3 months and still bake all these cakes and tarts.

VOTE FOR LONDONS BEST BAKERY!

I'm uber excited to be visiting the BBC Good Food Bakes and Cakes Show this October and I'm thrilled to see that they have launch a competition to find the best bakery in London. It can hard at the moment to make a business work particularly when your trying to compete with massive chains and supermarkets so I think its great that they are given recognition to all these fantastically talent people. I wish there were more of these small bakeries all over the UK as you can really taste the love that goes into every bake. Keep reading to see the press release from the 

BBC Good Food Bakes and Cakes Show and to find 

out how to vote for your favourite.

MATTYB'S CHARITY BIKING ADVENTURE

Hello you fantastic people who read my blog. I thought I would take a day away from sharing my kitchen adventures with you and talk about a different kind of adventure I went on this weekend. I took part in a 25mile bike ride from Chester to Liverpool with some of my amazing colleagues from work in order to raise money for the Candice Colley Foundation. I hope my story will make you dig deep and donate to this fantastic charity!

(NOT QUITE AS GOOD AS NAN'S) HOMEMADE SLAW

I grew up in a pub and when there used to be an event like a wedding reception or a birthday party that used to be held for one of the regulars my Mum and Nan used to put on an amazing spread. I think it's where my love for food and cooking comes from. One of the things that always used to get asked for was my Nan's "Scouse" and her homemade slaw. It's famous within my family as well. Sadly she and mum left us before I ever found out the secret to her recipe. It was so crunchy and sweet and light, not like the sloppy shop bought versions you can buy.

When the passion for cooking was sparked up in me and I thought about Nan's slaw I had two or three attempts at trying to make it but I never found that secret ingredient something. Maybe it was just because it was made with love? We will never know. My version is the closest I have ever gotten and it's still yummy, it's just not quite there but I think you'll still find it a great treat for a summer dinner or BBQ.

WASTE NOT! WANT NOT CHICKEN STOCK

If like me, things are a bit tight on the old money front then you need to get the most out of all the food you buy. I have found recently that planning my meals for the week not only helps with the diet but it also helps with saving some cash as you don't waste money on food that you don't need/use that then gets lashed in the bin.

You've just rustled up a fantastic Roast Chicken for your Sunday lunch but don't throw away all those fantastic bones and chickeny bit. Collect them all together and use them to make this fantastic chicken stock.

Leftover Chicken Stock

Grad all your left over chickeny bit, juices and carcass

2 Celery Sticks

2 Carrots

2 Onions

2 Sprigs Of Rosemary

Handful Of Parsley

2 Bay Leaves

8 Black Peppercorns

ICE CREAM SUNDAY

Sunday's are amazing aren't they. It's the day I look forward to the most. I love lying in bed late reading the

Sunday papers and listening to my iPod. Absolute bliss.

It's also another day where I pull in the diet reigns and treat myself to more scrummy puddings. Now if like me you spent Saturday baking up a storm and for some reason you haven't demolished your bakes - you can stick your head in the fridge and dive straight in with no hassle what so ever.

I get jittery kitchen fingers if I'm not making something on a day off work however so to add to my yummy chocolate fudge cake I'm going to show you how to whip up a raspberry ice cream that is so easy it doesn't really warrant this recipe:

WELCOME TO MY BLOG

HELLO!!!!

Hello Everyone!

My name is Matthew - affectionately known to some as MattyB. This is my blog.

Let me explain: a lot of things have happened recently. We moved into a new flat, my partner, Jon has diagnosed with cancer and my dad has had continual health problems. It's been pretty stressful to say the least.

Don't worry - This blog will not be full of doom and gloom. 

Me and Hollywood!!!

During this time I started baking. Yes, I got caught up in the whole Great British Bake Off boom but it turned into something else. I found that it was relaxing just to forget the worries of the week/month/year and just lose myself in the kitchen. Afterwards not only did the flat smell amazing but I also got to eat a gorgeous cake and then share this with my family and friends. It was a piece of happiness that kept me sane in those bad times.