PERFECT CITRUSY POLENTA BICCIES

These have to be the best biscuits I've ever made. Yup, I'm going to open with that line. It's true though, these polenta based biscuits which are flavored with fresh lemon and clementine juice and zest are to die for. They look amazing with their little cracked tops and they have the most incredible texture of any biscuit I've ever made thanks to the addition of the polenta into the dough mix. I was in love on first bite and quite frankly I don't see a reason why I would ever have to buy a shop bought biscuit ever again!

"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!

SUPER SPECIAL SPICED SPECULAAS

Last December we were really lucky to go on a free trip to Amsterdam thanks to a prize that I won at work. We went around St Nicholas Day, a festival to mark the arrival of Sinterklass (Santa Claus!) and all over the capital you could see traditional Speculaas biscuits being baked and sold as part of the celebrations. I adored them so and I vouched to try and recreate them when I got home. 6 months later, I finally got round to doing just that. I'll be honest, they weren't exactly the same but I still think they are still super special!

CHUNKY CHOCOLATE AND ALMOND COOKIES

Chocolate Cookies are great and homemade ones are even better so this weekend I decided to make some whilst I waited for the forecasted thunder storms to arrive. Chocolate cookies are also great for bakers to make when they are skint like I was this weekend as you only need a few ingredients that you should have knocking around in your kitchen. I even had some leftover flaked almonds in my pantry too I decided to add them to my cookie dough for a bit of texture and they made a great companion to the chocolate chunks in the cookies.

CLASSIC CHOCOLATE ORANGE COOKIES

Well after our holidays this month I am now officially skint. No money for buying fresh baking ingredients this weekend so I worked with what I had. That is what lead me to create these gorgeous chocolate chip cookies which are laced with the classic flavor combination of chocolate and orange thanks to some leftover birthday chocolate I had sat in the fridge. If you are a keen baker like me you should have all the other ingredients you need in your kitchen which shows that you should never let a lack of funds stop you getting your baking fix.

LULLY LEMON AND GINGER SHORTBREAD

I was feeling a little under the weather for most of the last week and so on the weekend I decided that I wanted to make something that was super quick and simple to prepare using lemon and ginger, two ingredients that always make me feel a little better when I'm run down. Shortbread was the answer to my prayers, a simple bake that only uses a few ingredients but the result is a deliciously buttery biscuit that is the perfect accompaniment to your medicinal pot of piping hot tea.

BISTRO FRANC LIVERPOOL (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

Looking for a three course dinner in Liverpool priced at just £12.95? Not possible I hear you cry! Well let me take some time to introduce you to Bistro Franc on Hanover Street, Liverpool. This French restaurant has been operating in the city for a fair few years now and is famous for offering it's patrons a three course pre theatre menu for just that. Cheap? Yes, but is the food any good? With tickets to the Liverpool Empire theatre one evening last week to see the touring production of Rent and without wanting to spend an arm and a leg on dinner; it seemed like the perfect opportunity to try it and find out.

LULLY LEMON OATIBIX

Sometimes you need a good biscuit to have with a cup of tea on a Saturday afternoon after a long, hard week in work. The ultimate way to fulfill this need is to make your own homemade biscuits as not only do you get to taste the deliciousness, hot and fresh straight from your oven but your house will also acquire that amazing baking smell with is just as comforting as being wrapped in a big fluffy duvet. These oaty lemon biscuits can give you that feeling with no problem whatsoever as they are the easiest bake on the block!

GINGER NUTTY KEY LIME PIE

I love any citrusy based desserts. That sharp kick really packs a punch and works so well with all
different types of cakes and bakes. It's only natural then that every time I see a Key Lime pie it takes all my might not to jump over and stick my face in it! I'm no food historian so I don't know what's in a traditional Key Lime pie but I say who cares about the rules and just make what you enjoy to eat! That's why for me the best biscuit base to use on a Key Lime consists of crushed ginger nuts. Lime and ginger! A fabulous flavor combination.

"AFTER DINNER" BISCUIT BITES

If you took a look on here late September time you would of seen my 4C and 1G Biscuit Bites. These little treats really went down a storm when I made them so I decided to give them another spin and this time I gave them a little twist by swapping out the tinned caramel so that the coconut in the biscuit filling really becomes the star of the show. When you cover that filling with some proper good quality mint chocolate then you have a little nibble that is a great alternative to those famous after dinner mints (you know, those ones!).

4C AND 1G BISCUIT BITES

So, what's in a name? Well, let me explain what these 4C and 1G biscuit bites are all about. The 4C's are coconut, cinnamon, caramel (used in the biscuity filling) and chocolate (used to coat the bites). The G is ginger which you also add into the biscuit filling to give it a warming spiced lift. Makes perfect sense now doesn't it? Well, I could of called them my dark chocolate coated caramel, coconut, cinnamon, ginger spiced biscuit bites but that's a bit of mouthful really isn't it? One thing I do know is, whatever you call them they are moreish and delicious!

"BACK TO SCHOOL" BICCIES

Now that the kids of gone back to school I think they deserve a little treat. It can be very daunting heading back to the world of education so these sweetie topped biccies are the sweet treat that is going to put a smile on any kids face. Also, I think some parents might think they deserve a little treat having putting up with their little cherubs for five weeks (admit it, you gave out a sign of relief didn't you!). This simple biscuit recipe will give you 12 yummy biccies that you can top with whatever choccies you wish!

LITTLE LEMON BISCUITS FROM THE LAND OF LULLINESS

I hadn't made biscuits in a long time and this Saturday I really felt in the mood to make some little nibbles to enjoy with a nice cuppa whilst watching comforting weekend movies on the TV. If you look back at some of my old recipes you'll notice that lemon is possibly my favorite flavor when it comes to sweet treats and so when it came to deciding what biscuits to make it really wasn't too difficult decide. These little lemon biscuits covered in a zingy citrus icing are so buttery and crumbly that it's like they are giving you a warm hug.

MOOSE AND MOONSHINE LIVERPOOL (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

Moose Coffee have been operating in the North West for some time now and the success of their

American/Canadian diner breakfast experience has led to the opening of Moose and Moonshine on Liverpool's trendy Hope Street. With tickets booked for the Philharmonic hall just a few doors down, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to go and try out their preview menu to see if that passion for producing a great North American brunch could be transferred to an evening offering.   

MATTY'S HONEY LEMON BICCIES

I haven't been at all well this last week. Proper bout of man flu going on here. It's very sad for me let me you! When you're feeling a little under the weather then nothing is going to get rid of that foggy head better than some honey and lemon. Combine those medicinal flavors in a baked treat and you have my honey lemon biccies. Don't worry, they don't taste like chewing a cough drop, the suitableness of these two healing flavors combined with a classic biscuit dough is just what you need for a little pick me up to put a smile on your face!

BOOZY BISCOTTI

It felt like a just the time for baking biscuits this weekend. It had been a while since I'd made some , crunchy sweet biscuit treats and even longer since I'd made some twice baked biscotti over two years ago when I gave them out as gifts at Christmas. With that in mind I took an old classic recipe and jazzed it up in the best way I could think of; by adding alcohol to the mix. These flaked toasted almond, amaretto and raisin biscotti are super crunchy and ideal for dunking into your tea on a wet Sunday afternoon.
nibbly

PRETTY LITTLE CHOC CHIP SHORTBREAD

Even when I'm feeling a little bit under the weather I can't resist the temptation to get into the kitchen on a day off and whip up some little homemade baked goods. They need to be simple little treats when your feeling a bit blue and these chocolate chip shortbread's are ideal. It takes no time at all to whip up your dough, shape into little discs of deliciousness and bake and you can feel your home with the comforting smell of freshly baked biscuits in less than an hour! If that doesn't perk you up then I don't know what will.

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!

KRAZEE KRANSEKAGE

I love everything Scandinavian. Not that I have ever been their (although it's on the bucket list!) but having watched many shows about the culture, beautiful natural landscape and their fabulous cuisine I was keen to try and bake my own little tribute to my Scandi neighbors. That was when I came across the Kransekage. A traditional ringed tower of spectacular looking sugary marzipan treats served by the Danish and Norwegians at special occasion, I've down sized them to little bite sized treats that will be perfect to serve at afternoon tea.

"JAM JAR EMPTYING" BISCUITS

I'm a bit of a jam hoarder. I'll buy a nice looking conserve to use in a bake and then end up with about 3-4 jars in the fridge with tbsp of jam in the bottom which would never be enough to fill a whole cake. This recipe for jammy biscuits is brilliant for using up these bits and bobs as you only need a small about of jam for them and keen bakers should have the rest of the ingredients knocking around for a spontaneous bake. Lets be honest; you would well rather have a biscuit over a slice of toast wouldn't you? Thought So!