Thursday, 17 March 2016

MATTYB'S BANANA BREAD BONANZA PART 4: SUPERFOOD SEEDS




This recipe brings my banana bread bonanza to a close with a forth version of my favorite bake which is packed full of delicious sunflower and flax-seed. Sometimes referred to as superfoods, those crunchy little nuggets of goodness will have you saying "well it's OK for me to have a slice of this, its full of superfood goodness". Well that what I kept telling myself when I dived into a slice or two of this over the last weekend. Well when cake is as quick, simple and delicious to make as this then it would be criminal not too!

Wednesday, 16 March 2016

MATTYB'S BANANA BREAD BONANZA PART 3: TOTALLY TROPICAL



So you don't want fruit and nuts in your banana bread and you're not keen on popping chocolate chips in there (you nutter!), so what do you do. Well how about getting all tropical with your bad self and popping some coconut into the mix. Banana and coconut are very complimentary to each other so they make the perfect combination for many a bake. This is such a great way to use up your old bananas and desiccated coconut and once again you can get it prepared and baked in under 1 hour if you get your quick legs on.

Monday, 14 March 2016

MATTYB'S BANANA BREAD BONANZA PART 2: CHOCOLATE CHIP



So what happens if you look at my boozy fruit and nut banana bread and decide that's not the one for you. Well how does a banana bread littered with chocolate chips grab you? This version of my banana bread is even quicker as you don't have to worry about soaking  sultanas or chopping nuts. You simply chuck in your chocolate chips in at the end, bake and in under an hour you can have an amazing chocolate banana bread on your table ready for your next pot of tea! Magic! Now the quality of the chocolate chips you use does equate to the quality of the bread. You can lash in some cheap milk chocolate chips if you want but I find that dark chocolate chips of around 85% cocoa gives the chocolate enough oomph to be heard over the banana flavor. 

Sunday, 13 March 2016

MATTYB'S BANANA BREAD BONANZA PART 1: BOOZY FRUIT AND NUT!



Ah! What better way to spend a chilly afternoon then making a delicious banana loaf. For me its one of those go to bakes for when you need something comforting and warm with a nice big mug of tea! We always have bananas in our freezer which we pop in there as they begin to turn and then when defrosted, they become soft and perfect for incorporating into a cake batter. Banana bread recipes are easy to adapt so over the next few posts I'm going to show you a couple of variations starting with this boozy fruit and nut banana bread.

Wednesday, 9 March 2016

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.

Thursday, 3 March 2016

EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA CAKE



Firstly, let me apologize for the terrible Easter pun but it had to be done. Secondly, let me introduce you to this slab of chocolate heaven. If you love creme and mini eggs then this is the Easter cake for you! What you have here is a recipe for the most deliciously fudgey chocolate cake which has oodles of creme egg halves and mini eggs baked inside it. If that doesn't sound good enough as it is, the cake is then slathered in chocolate icing and decorated with (Yup, you guessed it.) more creme egg halves and mini eggs. Eggs-cellent (Soz!).

Tuesday, 1 March 2016

WAHACA LIVERPOOL (MATTYB RECCOMMENDS)



In my third ever blog post I spoke about how I wanted to visit a Wahaca in London as I'm a fan of creator Thomasina Miers fabulous Mexican street food cookbooks. Imagine my delight then when I heard they were opening a branch right over the road from my workplace in Liverpool city centre. As part of a glut of new restaurants opening inside the reinvigorated Stockton's building on Hanover Street, it was a given that I was going to go and check out this new restaurant when it opened. Having visited on opening week, I went again after work on a mild February evening to see how they were faring 3 months on!

Wednesday, 24 February 2016

ZINGY CHILLI CHOCOLATE COCONUT 'CAROONS



I use coconut a lot in my baking that it seemed strange to me that I had never made coconut macaroons before. Having read up on how these little spheres of joy were made I was surprised at how easy it was so it seemed like a no brainer that it was going to be the next bake for me to try. My twist? It's a small one but by adding in some lime zest as well as dipping your balls into some melted chili and lime flavored chocolate, you give them an added zing as well as some heat which give these coconut macaroons something of an grown up edge.

Monday, 22 February 2016

SWEET AND SPICY SPEEDY STIR FRY



When you've had the most horrendous week in work, you want to walk in on a Friday evening and have one of your favorite meals without having to stand around for hours preparing and cooking it. This is where my sweet and spicy stir fry comes in. Asian food has to be my favorite and this oriental dish takes some of those classic flavors including the holy trinity of garlic, ginger and chili, mixes it with some Quorn chicken pieces, five spice powder, fresh vegetables, coriander and a liberal helping of sugar to create this super quick and simple dish.

Friday, 19 February 2016

FANTASTIC FENNEL SOUP



One day it will get warmer. Probably that one week in May when everyone goes mental and has to have BBQ's everyday until we are forced back inside for the rest of the year. Until then there is always going to be a need for delicious soups to warm up your core and get you through the chilly evenings. In my continuing endeavor to use fennel more, here is a fabulous vegetable soup which uses all parts of the fennel bulb alongside an array of other delicious herbs, veg and sweet potato (and a splash of red wine for good luck!).

Tuesday, 16 February 2016

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. 

Monday, 15 February 2016

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.

Tuesday, 9 February 2016

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!

Monday, 8 February 2016

"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!

Monday, 1 February 2016

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.

Friday, 29 January 2016

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!

Wednesday, 27 January 2016

"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!

Saturday, 23 January 2016

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.

Tuesday, 19 January 2016

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!).

Monday, 18 January 2016

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.

Tuesday, 12 January 2016

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!

Monday, 11 January 2016

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.

Saturday, 9 January 2016

"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.

Tuesday, 5 January 2016

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.

Monday, 4 January 2016

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.

Sunday, 3 January 2016

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.

Saturday, 2 January 2016

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!

Friday, 1 January 2016

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.

Tuesday, 8 December 2015

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!!!

Sunday, 6 December 2015

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! 

Saturday, 5 December 2015

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! 

Wednesday, 2 December 2015

"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! 

Monday, 30 November 2015

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!

Thursday, 19 November 2015

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!

Wednesday, 18 November 2015

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:

Tuesday, 17 November 2015

"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!

Sunday, 15 November 2015

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.

Saturday, 14 November 2015

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!

Monday, 9 November 2015

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.

Saturday, 7 November 2015

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.

Tuesday, 3 November 2015

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!

Monday, 2 November 2015

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. 

Sunday, 1 November 2015

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.

Tuesday, 27 October 2015

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.

Monday, 26 October 2015

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!

Sunday, 18 October 2015

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.

Saturday, 17 October 2015

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.

Tuesday, 13 October 2015

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.

Saturday, 10 October 2015

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?

Saturday, 3 October 2015

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.