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. 

EASY PEASY VEGGIE BOLOGNESY

Spaghetti Bolognese is a dish that just screams out to be eaten when you just fancy a big bowl of comfort food, served up in a big bowl and placed on your lap on a chilly evening to warm you right up to the core. Sometimes you want that bowl of goodness as quick as humanly possible and this vegetarian bolognese is so quick and simple it's ideal for busy working or sleepy tired folk who want to put in the minimal amount of effort at tea time! All you need to a bag of good old Quorn mince, lots of veg, stock, herbs, spice and most importantly a good glug of red wine.

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!

"NOT AS GOOD AS NANS" CHEESE AND ONION TART

My Nan is my number one food inspiration. She had some classic dishes in her repertoire from her "Pea Wack" to her coleslaw. It's this recipes that take me right back to when I was young, helping her out in the kitchen and then eating her fabulous creations. One of my favorites of her's was her cheese and onion tart which I've tried to recreate it in her honor. Its obviously not as good as hers but the nostalgia it conjures up is worth making it for alone! If you love a good quiche, and you love the flavors of cheese and onion this is the perfect bake for you!

VEGGIE SAUSAGE ONE POT PAPRIKA WONDER

It's still that time of the year when a good stew is what you need after braving the windy winter weather outside. When you get in after a long day you also want something that is not just tasty but quick to make as well. Wanting to combine all these idea's together is what inspired me to create this one pot veggie sausage stew flavored with fabulous fennel and garlic, packed with vegetables and finished off with some paprika to give the stew a warmth that will transport your mind to more sunnier parts of the planet.

LILY'S WHITE CHOCOLATE AND MACADAMIA TRAY BAKE

I dedicate this recipe to Lily; whose 80th birthday party I made this white chocolate and macadamia tray bake for. Topped with cream cheese frosting and gorgeous little pastel colored sugar flowers in keeping with the color theme of the day, they went down a storm and I just had to get them up on here so that people could give them a go at home. The recipe is super easy to follow but they look and taste so great that it goes to show that you don't always have to make something complicated to treat someone on their special day!

"APPLE PIE" CAKE

I love apple pie but I don't always want to make apple pie. As much as I love making pasty

sometimes I just want to make a bake that I can just whack together with a minimal amount of fuss and effort. With that in mind, this apple pie cake was born. Taking the flavors of apple pie and mashing it up into a cake will satisfy those pie cravings without you having to worry about making a pastry, ideal if you don't have enough ingredients for a pastry or aren't confident enough with pastry making. Even if you are a pastry whiz, you should still give this a go! It's too darn delicious not too!

MATTY'S VEGGIE MAPO TOFU

Mapo Tofu is a traditional Szechaun dish that has many variations but in its essence, it is pork and tofu cooked in a chili bean paste broth. I've been experimenting with tofu and Szechaun flavors a lot since the new year and this seemed like a delicious treat to try and make and upon taking my first bite; I loved it! I've made a veggie version of course using Quorn mince, which soaks up that delicious chili broth. The softness of the mince and tofu is complimented by some crunchy beansprouts and onions to create an amazing bowl of gorgeousness.

MATTY B'S "MAC AND C"

Macaroni and Cheese whilst your watching your waistline? Not possible I hear you cry! Well stop your outrage immediately as I have the perfect recipe for you if you just can't live without that rich, gooey, creamy classic. Obviously it's not 100% fat and calorie free but as a dish served on a Friday as a treat for your hard graft during the week, it definitely 100% guilt free!. You can enjoy it without worrying about what the scales are going to say on your next weigh in day (just don't eat it every night OK!).

GORGEOUS GREEK MINI MUFFIN FRITTATAS

When it comes to the weekend, there is nothing I enjoy more than having a couple of eggs for

breakfast. Whether it be as some scrambled eggs on toast or fried as part of a good old full English, its easy to forget how versatile they are. This weekend I took my eggs and used them to make these little mini frittatas. Now I love the flavors of Greece so by popping some feta into the mix alongside some peas and freshly chopped mint, I turned these little handheld treats into gorgeous mouthfuls of yumminess that are perfect lunchbox ammo.

SPICY SALT AND SZECHAUN PEPPER TOFU

Tofu has always been a bit hit and miss for me. I get nervous if I order it when I'm out and about as when it's poorly cooked it can be awfully chewy and nasty. When done right though it can be a delicious vegetarian treat. As I have fallen back in love with the flavors Szechaun peppercorns again I decided to use them to create this yummy salt and pepper tofu. Like my Szechaun stir fry from an earlier post, it is quite the spicy but if you don't mind a bit of a kick to your food then this is definitely one to try!

RAMONA'S MA'S BREAKFAST BARS

I dedicate this recipe to my old work buddy Ramona and her ma! Ramona left our work recently to head off to Australia (lucky girl!) and before she left she gave me a jar of jam that her mother had made and sent to her from Germany. It was such a nice gift that I wanted to want to use it in something special and these breakfast bars seemed like the perfect time. By adding the jam to a mixture of oats, coconut, sunflower seeds, egg and cashew butter, you can create this fabulous breakfast treat.

"NEW YEAR NEW ME" BREAKFAST PANCAKES

I've never been one to eat breakfast, but with my "new year, new me" attitude I've started to try and get on board with what is often declared as the most important meal of the day. To do this, I've been looking for more interesting breakfast ideas to try and make it more exciting. This is how I came to make these banana and flax seed pancakes. Super quick and simple to make, it turns boring porridge oats into something that's worth getting up in the morning for. There aren't many ingredients to really talk about here. It's bananas, eggs, oats and some flax seeds. Flax seeds can be picked up in lots of large supermarkets now due to their increasing popularity but my tip if your in the UK is to keep an eye on Holland and Barrett's penny sale as I got mine from there at a bargain price.

SPICY SZECHUAN STIR FRY

Well it's the new year and I'm back on the healthy eating band wagon and one of the easiest ways for you to have a meal that won't have you crying on the scales during weigh in day is to make a stir fry. I love Asian food and I also love a bit of spice in my meal so a Szechuan stir fry for me is two of my favorite foodie treats rolled into one. All you need is some fresh vegetables, some Quorn chicken style pieces to act as your protein, some bits and bobs for the sauce and a large frying pan or wok and away you go.

GARLIC, ONION AND PARSLEY TATER CAKES

Is there anything in the world that is more comforting than a good old potato product? Potato waffles, crispy roast potatoes, they are all absolute favorites in our house. Another favorite is anything that you can deep fry! Onion bhaji's, falafel, it begs the question "What would happen if you deep fried potatoes." Well quite simply it creates these amazing potato cakes that are the most fabulous little weekend treat to give you a little bit of hug on the inside when you've had a hard week in school or work.

GAILS ARTISAN BAKERY NEO BANKSIDE (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

It's noon, your in the capital, your feeling a bit peckish but all you really want is a good butty. What's a boy to do? Why not head over to the nearest bakery like we did on our trip to London when we paid a visit to Gail's Artisan Bakery.

TAS PIDE LONDON (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

I tell you what, I do love a mezze style dinner. When I was younger we would call it a "picnic tea". We'd place little bits of nibbly food around the table and just help ourselves to all the little treats on offer. When we walked past Tas Pide during our trip to London's Southwark area we were intrigued and when we checked the menu out and saw all the tasty sounding Turkish treats we knew we had to give them a try. We booked a table and off we trotted!

THE REAL GREEK BANKSIDE (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

Many years ago before my little blog was born I visited The Real Greek in London and really enjoyed it. Last month during a visit to the capital we realized we were close to another branch and I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to revisit them too see if the experience was as enjoyable as I remember! This time around we popped into The Real Greek in Southwalk. Situated on the Bankside next to the Shakespeare Globe Theatre, we arrived for a late lunch and the area was booming with tourists and people from the nearby workplaces enjoying a late lunch.

NO BAKE FRUIT AND NUT CHRISTMAS FUDGE

Dates, nuts, Madeira wine, cinnamon and all spice, they're all things that instantly remind me of Christmas time. Combine all these yummy ingredients to make a delicious no bake fudge and you have a festive nibble that's perfect for tucking into around the fire on Christmas Eve whilst you wait for Santa to come down the chimney! They also make a fantastic little gift to wrap up little bags and give out to friends and family. That's if you have any left to spare after you've munched on a cube or two. Or three. Or four!!!

CHEEKY VEGGIE CHORIZO AND CHICKEN CASSEROLE

That's right, you read that correctly. This is a veggie chicken and chorizo dish. How is that possible? Well I'm using Quorn products of course. Their chorizo sausages are a delight and perfect as part of this vegetable packed winter casserole that I whipped up yesterday adapting a classic Mary Berry recipe.  It has hints of cayenne and paprika from the chorizo, thyme for that herby note as well as a good glug of Madeira wine just to ramp up those Christmas vibes and quite frankly a little booze in anything at Christmas time is kind of the law really isn't it! 

CHEZ LE COQ LIVERPOOL (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

 

A Rotisserie chicken restaurant in Liverpool! Well I just had to check that out didn't I? Chez Le Coq situated on the currently booming Bold street has been making waves for a while now and last month I finally managed to take a trip down there to see if the claim on their website that their rotisserie chicken is the "finest" around was true! With all the recent restaurants open on Bold Street in Liverpool over the last 12 month it's becoming the place to be for hungry Scousers everywhere so you need to stand out from the crowd. With its name and the large cockerel emblazoned on the glass exterior it's pretty clear what Chez Le Coq is all about making it easy to grab the attention of any peckish pedestrians passing by who may be on the mood for some chook! 

"NOT LIKE SCHOOL" APPLE AND RHUBARB CRUMBLE

I used to think that rhubarb was vile. This assumption was based purely on memories of vile crumble we used to be served as dessert smothered in lumpy custard at primary school. Now that I'm more older and wiser (just!) I can see that these crumbles were never going to be amazing having been mass produced and baked to death however if you the plunge and make your own delicious version from scratch with the best homemade ingredients you might've pleasantly surprised to find yourself falling in love with this old foe! 

BECAUSE YOU KNOW I'M ALL ABOUT THE (THAI SEA) BASS

I'm not really a fan of fish but having sampled some delightful sea fare whilst on holiday in Sardinia I'm becoming a bit more adventurous. I am a big fan of Thai flavors so by combining those with two beautiful Sea-bass fillets this weekend I create a little taste of the east that is slowly pushing me over toward the side of full blown fish foodie fanatic. It's quite simple really! All you need is some butter, garlic, chili, ginger, spring onion and a big juicy whole lemon and your on you're way to Sea-bass parcel paradise!

BAKED "SOUTHERN FRIED" BREADED CHICKEN BREASTS

If you love chicken then you probably love southern fried chicken! Frying chicken can be a right faff though if you don't have a deep fat fryer like I don't. Getting that oil temperature just right and then handling super hot oil can get messy as well as dangerous. So how about a more healthier, baked version to sink your teeth in. Yes, it doesn't have that heavenly dirtiness that deep fried southern fried chicken has but it's so much more straight forward to make, better for your waistline and is still a super tasty treat!

LIVERPOOL PIZZA SLICE (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

When I get in late from work I don't need persuading to go for the easy option and get in a takeaway. Liverpool Pizza Slice situated in the Aigburth area of the city has just opened and begun to deliver so we decided to stray away from the big pizza giants and see what this local independent had to offer instead. So yes, this is a review of a takeaway. Don't worry, I haven't gone mad. This is a food blog designed for getting good food out there so let me say this from the off, Liverpool Pizza Slice delivered me one of the finest pizzas I've had not just in Liverpool but in the whole of the U.K. Let me tell you why:

"ACCIDENTAL" CHUNKY RANCH SLAW

I love a good homemade coleslaw, whether it be trying to emulate my Nan's classic slaw or a minty chili version, they always taste so much fresher than the stuff you buy in packets from the supermarket. This chunky ranch slaw was never meant to be a recipe on here but came about by accident hence the name. We thought we had a bottle of ranch dressing that we were going to use to coat our slaw but upon finding it had in fact been binned we had to create our own. The result was too good not to share with you all!

TRIPLE P CHICKPEA CHICKEN

Triple P Chickpea Chicken? Whats that all about then? Well let me tell you. I love a roast chicken for my Sunday dinner and I'm always looking for ways to jazz it up. This weekend I had a look in the cupboards and I had some pepperoni, roasted red peppers and a little bit of paprika. "That would make a nice stuffing" I thought and then when I stumbled across a tin of chickpeas well, that's when I had my "Eureka" moment and my Triple P Chickpea Chicken was born. Quite frankly I find it to be the most sexy bird I've ever had in my house.

THE BAGELRY LIVERPOOL (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

So it's noon and your peckish, where does one go to grab a spot of lunch in Liverpool's bustling city centre. Well if you're in the Chinatown area you might of noticed the Bagelry. This little cafe which specialises in (you guessed it!) bagels got my attention on social media recently so I decided to nip up Duke street and check them out!

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.

CHAOPHRAYA LIVERPOOL (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

With the continual growth and regeneration of Liverpool city centre and the addition of more and more food outlets opening every month you sometimes forget about those guys who have been slogging it out in the area for years. One such venue is Chaophraya Thai Restaurant. We've been to this established restaurant several times in the past but had been a while since we had been through it's doors. Looking for somewhere to dine one evening, we decided it was time to go and check them out again and see if they can still hold their own against the new kids on the block.

GARLIC AND THYME ROAST TATER CUBES

There is no finer tradition in the whole of the UK than a Sunday roast served with oodles of the humble roast potato. I think for most people it evokes memories of Sundays all sat with loved ones around the family dinner table, laughing, joking and relaxing after a long and busy week. The perfect roast potato can be a bit of a faff when you need to prepare them on mass. Therefore, when you want to whip up of a batch of crispy tater treats on the fly, you can't go much wrong with these garlic and thyme cubes. Simple and delicious!

DONT WASTE YOUR PUMPKINS: NO BAKE PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

So now that you have not let those pumpkin seeds go to waste by roasting them up good, what do you do with the flesh. It's simple! Bang them in the oven to roast so that the flesh is nice and soft, turn said flesh into a puree and then use it as the filling to this delicious no bake cheese cake. With its ginger nut base and pumpkin seed topping to create a touch of crunch, this super sweet dessert is flavoured with cinnamon, all spice and ginger to give it that autumnal/christmassy vibe that is perfect for this time of the year. 

DONT WASTE YOUR PUMPKINS: ROASTED CINNAMON PUMPKIN SEEDS

Now that Halloween has been and gone there is probably a whole hoard of carved pumpkins dotted around the houses of the nation or you may see supermarkets furiously trying to sell off the remainder of their stock now that everyone starts to neglect this incredibly seasonal piece of produce. Don't worry, I have a couple of recipes to stop all these pumpkins from going to waste starting with this super simple guide to turning the seeds into a yummy little snack for nibbling on in front of the TV or they look really pretty as a topping for a sponge or cheese cake! All you need is some oil and cinnamon and a spare hour just to whack them in the oven. Simples.

AUTUMNAL ASIAN BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

The clocks have gone back this week and the nights are chugging along, getting earlier each day. On these cold evenings sometimes all you crave for dinner is a hot bowl of delicious soup. With Autumn in full swing, the butternut squash is at its best right now and makes for a fitting star to this delicious broth alongside some roasted red peppers, chili and coconut milk. The Asian touches in this recipe will help you too cling on to those memories of summertime and if you are British, your going to need as much help with that as possible.

GRILLA LIVERPOOL (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

Back out and about in Liverpool last week and upon suggestion from my gig going buddy, we decided to take a trip down to Grilla in Liverpool. Located in the centre of the vibrant Hardman Street area of the city centre, I had never heard of them and neither had any of my work colleagues when I mentioned I was going that day. I was interested then to find out weather I had stumbled across a little hidden gem all for myself so and entered with a little hint of giddy excitement!

BRILLIANT BRUSCHETTA (VIA A FOODIE TOUR OF LIVERPOOL'S BOLD STREET)

Here is another delightful Sardinia inspired recipe for you too try. I've talked before about the quality of the tomatoes and basil on the island but the olive oil is also out of this world. Who would of known that by mixing these three ingredients together and using it to top griddled bread rubbed with garlic would create a thing of such beauty. When it comes to something as simple as a bruschetta it's all about the quality of ingredients that you use. If you want to make your bruschetta brilliant you need to step away from the supermarkets and explore.

CAPRESE-FIED GNOCCHI GRATIN

One of the finest lunches I had whilst on holiday was a delicious Caprese salad. Creamy mozzarella and beautifully vibrant and sweet tomatoes with fresh basil leaves all drizzled with olive oil, it was like someone had sent it down from heaven. I decided to take those flavors and add them to a classic Nigella Lawson recipe for gnocchi gratin and this is how my Caprese-fied gnocchi gratin came to be. I know you should have favorites when it comes to your children but this is definitely of my babies that I'm most proud of.

SARDI-INSPIRED MELANZANE ALLA PARMIGIANA BAKE

Well I've just got back from a week away in Sardinia and I've had a blast. The food has been amazing and I've come back with tonnes of ideas I hope to put into my recipes. My first Sardi-inspired dish is this aubergine and tomato bake. The tomatoes in Sardinia were out of this world and by just adding a few bits to this classic ingredient you can really make them shine.  So whilst making a fresh tomato, garlic and chili sauce and pouring it some sliced aubergines might not sound like the most complex dish ever, it sure is a quick and simple tasty meal.

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?

GORGEOUS GUACAMOLE

It's Fajita night at MattyB Towers tonight. What better way to use leftover chili from earlier in the

week then getting your fajitas out, whipping some delicious sides and creating some yummy finger food for the weekend. A great way to get stuck in with friends or family before the weekends festivities begin. Every fajita needs guacamole! These are the rules! But don't be buying shop bought stuff. No no no! Grab some avocado on the way home and you can make my beautiful fresh version in less than ten minutes.

LEEK, POTATO AND THEN SOME SOUP

Some soups are just never going to die. Tomato, minestrone, mushroom, they are all classics that are always going to be loved for century's to come. One other such classic is the leek and potato soup. A winter warmer that is always going to put a smile on your face during the cold latter part of the year. That doesn't mean it needs to be boring and to prove it, here is my version which adds in a few little extras to elevate this humble dish is to something a little bit more special. 

EASY PEASY MUSHROOM AND ONION GRAVY

You may of noticed the gravy on some of my recipes recently. In my eyes you can't have a Sunday Roast or Bangers and Mash without lashings of mushroom and onion gravy. Now the best chefs out there would tell you that the best gravy uses all the cooking juices from your roasted meat and two veg but not all of us are Michelin star chefs so for those of us who would rather reach for the tub of gravy granules, here is my simple guide for turning a humble vegetable stock into something a little bit more special.

GORGEOUS GLAMORGANS

If there is one thing I have always wanted to try and make from scratch it is veggie sausages but I was always scared to do as I've had a few failures in the past when comes to things that require frying. 9 times out of 10 they tend to just fall apart in the pan. However, with the success of my onion bhaji's the other day my confidence was at an all time high so I gave these Glamorgans a go and let me tell you; it was another winner! These cheesy wonders flavored with garlic, chive, thyme and mustard turn veggie bangers and mash into something truly wonderful.

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!

ORANGE, ORANGE, ORANGE AND MORE ORANGE CAKE

I'm no marmalade fan. Something about the taste of it just doesn't appeal to me whatsoever so I've

never been able to partake in a traditional marmalade cake. That was until I discovered Robinson's squeeze orange fruit shoot jam. It's an orange jam that actually tastes like oranges! Well this was a revelation for an my first thought was "I have to make an orange flavored cake with this" and golly gosh it was yummy. Not only is there jam inside but also orange juice, zest and candied peel so if your not a fan of orange this really isn't the cake for you!

CHOCOLATE ORANGE MINI MUFFIN MADNESS

The other day I invested in a mini muffin tray in order to make some mince pies for work (in September! I know!). Obviously I had to use it for it's true purpose of making mini muffins first (you know just to test that the trays work!) and with an orange sitting in the fruit bowl acting as my inspiration, these mini chocolate chip and orange muffins were born. Chocolate orange is one of those flavor combinations that just works however you utilize it and these babies are no different. They are little nuggets of tasty goodness!

"READY FOR WINTER" VEGGIE HOT POTS

Can you believe that it's September already? It won't be long now until those cold early evenings start drawing in so its time to prepare those autumn/winter classics that are perfect for warming you right to the core. For me, it doesn't get more classic than the hot pot! Oodles of tender carrot, parsnip and mushrooms cooked in a herby, boozy broth with sweet chestnuts and quorn mince all hiding under a blanket of thin and crispy potato slices. When it comes to comfort food, this hot pot is pure bliss on a plate!

GRANNY TIGG'S WEDGES

This month Flavourly box came up trumps this month with the inclusion of a bottle of Tigg's Amazing original dressing. This unique sauce was created by Granny Tigg and can now be seen doing great things at markets and farm shops up and down the country. Its packed full of zingy tomato flavors and I decided to experiment and instead of just using it as a dipping sauce, I used it as a marinade for some of my famous wedges. The results were amazing and I just had to share my guide on how to make them with you, it would be a crime for me not too!

HERBY MUSHROOM MEDLEY PASTA

You don't always need to pile hundreds of ingredients into a dish to make it a stunner. Sometimes the simplest of concoctions can turn out one of the best meals you will ever eat. This mushroom pasta creation is one of those. It's literally a mix of chestnut and porcini mushrooms and herbs, fried in butter and then poached in stock until reduced. Mix in the pasta of your choice and garnish with a final flurry of fresh parsley leaves and in less than half an hour, a little plate of perfection is on your table ready to dive into! 

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!