THE RETURN OF THE (NO) BUTTER (NO) CHICKEN CURRY

Everyone loves curry night! Getting a takeaway on a Friday is the ultimate in lazy weekend treats. I love creamy curries and my absolute favorite is a scrummy butter chicken. Dipping your naan bread into that yummy sauce, it's naughty but oh so nice! Butter chicken is not the best thing to have really if your trying to shed a few pounds though so it was great when we created this low calorie version a few years ago as it meant I could enjoy this coconut milk based version without any of the guilt. Hurrah!

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!

VEGGIE PEPPER "CHICKEN" CURRY

If you don't like spicy food then I suggest you turn away now! This veggie pepper Quorn chicken curry is a great dish for blowing away those January cobwebs with its intense chili kick and fiery pepperiness. Its definitely one that's not for the faint hearted! What's also great about this curry is that it's packed full of veggie goodness with a sauce made from fresh tomatoes and Greek yogurt so that it's also good for anyone who still wants to enjoy their curry night whilst being able to cut down on some of the calories. 

THE CHILLI PICKLE BRIGHTON (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

Sometimes when your googling a city to find out the best places to eat you'll get the same places popping up time and time again. "Award winning" you will hear or "best in the city" but it's when even friends start telling you about somewhere that you start thinking that this place could be particularly special. That is what happened with The Chilli Pickle in Brighton, we kept hearing such amazing things that we knew we had to give them a visit.

LULLY LULLY CHICKPEA CURRY

If you are not a fan of spending time in the kitchen then you probably have herbs and spices in your pantry that you bought yonks ago that are now sitting unloved in your cupboard. Set your spices free people! A curry made from scratch is so much more fragrant and tasty than a jar from the supermarket and is a great way to use up all those odds and ends. Once you've made your spice mix, all you need to make this curry is some fresh vegetables, garlic, ginger, tomatoes and chickpeas (of course!) and you are onto a winner.

SIMPLY CHAPATI

It was curry night in our house again last weekend and with a slow cooked veggie "butter chicken" on the go I had a bit of time on my hands to have a go at making some bread to serve alongside it. I'd tried making naan bread before so I thought I'd give another Indian bread a whirl, chapatis! They are so simple to make especially as there is no yeast involved which can be so hard to work sometimes. All you need is some flour, salt, oil, water, a super hot griddle pan and just over an hour of your time and you'll have 8 fabulous flat breads for the dinner table.

SUPER SLOW COOKED ROGAN JOSH

One of the best things about the weekend is that I have more time to play in the kitchen and when I'm feeling like I want a big plate of comfort food there is nothing better than getting the slow cooker out and making a delicious curry from scratch. No ready made sauces from a jar here, it's all about a homemade curry paste made with an array of herbs and spices and then frying it up with some onions and carrot before letting it simmer for hours until it's ready to be bulked out with some Quorn chicken and more fresh veg.

KO GRILL LIVERPOOL (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

For me, a lazy Sunday is all about tucking into a massive Sunday roast and if I had my way it would always be with a plump and juicy chicken. Therefore when it came to choosing somewhere to eat last Sunday in Liverpool, the tasty sounding chicken dishes on KO Grill's menu sounded like just what we needed, I mean sometimes you don't always want to cook that chicken yourself do you? So our decision was made and off we popped to Bold Street, Liverpool's continually expanding foodie hot spot to see if our wishes for a fabulous Sunday dinner could be fulfilled.

PERFECT SLOW COOKED PEA AND PANEER CURRY

One of the best nights in our house is curry night. There is nothing I enjoy more than making a curry sauce packed with herbs and spices, popping it in the slow cooker early in the afternoon, leaving it to brew all day so that by the time you come to eat it in the evening, it's so intense and beautiful that all the worries of the week just float away. This time round I'm using paneer, an ingredient I've never cooked with before but it's surprising easy to use and when combined with peas, you have a match made in curry heaven.

MOWGLI MANCHESTER (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

When I finally got round to visiting Mowgli Street Food in Liverpool last year I was incredibly delighted that I enjoyed it as much as I expected too what with all the positive comments I'd heard about it from my friends and family. Because of this, I didn't think twice when there was a possibility of visiting their new opening in Manchester over this Valentines weekend to see if they could carry over the good work to a second city. So off we went on an extremely cold Friday in February to the newly revamped Corn Exchange in Manchester's bustling city centre. 

CHAI SPICED STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING

Doesn't really get any more British than a sticky toffee pudding really does it? That piping hot dessert of a chopped date based sponge slathered in decedent toffee sauce is the perfect way to round off any meal. Can it be improved in anyway? I've tried it in the past with my Nutty Version but I think I may of done one better with my Chai spice infused version I'm about to share with you below. The hint of those Indian spices adds additional flavor and intrigue that, if there is any room left, will have you going back for a second bowl in no time.

GATWICK ORIENTAL (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

It can be quite a boring experience having to stop at an airport over night. The remote location can make for a long, restless night. Luckily, the Sofitel at Gatwick airport has the Gatwick Oriental to keep you fuelled but is it good enough to match the luxury surroundings of the hotel that houses it?

IDIOT PROOF ONION BHAJIS

I love onion bhaji's and for years I have tried to make my own at home but every time I've tried they have either fallen apart in the pan or been too stodgy. Yesterday however I finally achieved it, a tasty and delicious bhaji that is so simple to make. All you need is some flour, onions, baking powder and spices. Whisk them together and then deep fry and depending on how quick you can heat your oil you can have 12 yummy crispy treats on your dinner table in less than 30 minutes! If an idiot like me can make them then I'm sure that you all will be able too as well!

CURRIED CAULIFLOWER (NO CARB) RICE

Lots of people out there are always looking for ways to be more healthy with their diets and one of the latest crazes that I've seen on TV and in books and magazines a lot recently is cauliflower rice! By blitzing up a whole cauliflower into itty bitty pieces you can create the illusion of rice grains but without all those pesky carbs. It doesn't have to be bland and uninspiring though. All you need some coconut oil, curry powder and fresh coriander leaves and you can lift this simple side dish right up to the next level!

CLASSICS REVISITED(ISH): BUTTER (NO) CHICKEN CURRY

One of the most popular dishes on my blog is my veggie and healthy "no butter, no chicken curry", a twist on the old curry house favourite. It's a fabulous recipe but it was most defiantly ripe for those who aren't too fussed about watching the calories and really want to spoil themselves to a delicious and unctuous classic. It's still veggie friendly but this time I'm including the butter and cream as well as adding some additional little flourishes to really lift this dish up to the next level. It's full of sin's but we all need to be a bit naughty now and then!

URBAN COOKHOUSE MANCHESTER (MATTY B RECOMMENDS)

Manchester's food scene continues to grow and grow with numerous new places to eat popping up on what almost seems to be a weekly basis. One such venue is the Urban Cookhouse which was handily close to the hotel we were staying in during our latest visit to Manchester and with an appetizing looking menu on offer we thought we would go check it out!

RAPID ROTI

I love baking my own bread but even I have to admit that sometimes I really can't be bothered with that slog of making the dough then proofing then knocking it out and proofing again and so on and so on. When you are too busy in the kitchen but still want to enjoy fresh bread why not try these roti. Great with curry dishes, all you need to do is make the dough, let it rest whilst you prepare your mail meal and then roll out and fry the roti. It may be simple, but the taste of that deliciously charred flat bread is up there with the best of them!

MOWGLI LIVERPOOL (MATTYB RECCOMMENDS)

I had been dying to come to Mowgli for months! I love Indian food and ever since I first saw the menu online and listened to the high praise I had heard from friends and family it was time to see if this street food restaurant could live up to the hype.

CLASSICS REVISITED: JALFREZI FRENZY

Having blogged for nearly a year now, I'm always pushing myself to try new things and I think my abilities at both writing and cooking have improved so much since then which always goes to show that practice makes perfect. I've been looking over past recipes and started thinking "I could really make some improvements on these". My original recipes will be great for kitchen novices but here is the first of my revisited classic recipes which add that little extra for more experienced foodies wanted to push themselves; my veggie jalfrezi.

MATTYB'S MANGO CHUTNEY

The Christmas jam and chutney marathon continues but this time with something new. Having stumbled across Nigella seeds whilst perusing around Spice Mountain's stall at Borough Market I snapped them up with thought of trying out a mango chutney this year. Great on a cheese board or with that turkey curry you make with your leftovers, it's another fab homemade gift you can dish out this Christmas time that will really put a smile on the face of your friends and family.