THE SWAN BANKSIDE (MATTY B RECOMMENDS)

I couldn't think of any better way for a foodie to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death then having a spot of lunch at The Swan on London's Bankside. Practically attached to the famous Shakespeare's Globe theatre, this bar/restaurant caught our eye as we strolled along the length of the Thames last week with it's tasty looking menu proudly on display by the main entrance. That night when we got back to our hotel we booked a table for two at 2pm the next day. Would the food taste as good as it sounded in writing? I couldn't wait to find out!

Firstly, points for The Swan's team calling us two hours before to confirm our reservation. A lot of places rely solely on online bookings nowadays so it was great to get a bit of human acknowledgement of our booking. When we arrived at The Swan on a sunny bank holiday Monday afternoon we were greeted with warm smiles and taken straight up to our table even though we had arrived early. It looked like nothing was going to be a problem for this friendly team.

The dining area upstairs is a absolute delight! The whole far side of this area is practically window offering gorgeous panoramic views of the Thames, St Paul's cathedral and other famous landmarks and on a gorgeous day like this one it was a stunning sight. The windows give the whole dining room a great sense of space and light pours into the room making it so warm and inviting. The decor had modern elements such as the exposed bulb lighting whilst wooden elements to the furniture and in the flooring hark back to Tudor design. Both styles meld together very seamlessly without being gimmicky.

We had decided on having a spot of lunch today washed down with a refreshing glass of cloudy lemonade but it appeared a lot of the other diners had come for the popular "Midsummer's Night Dream" afternoon tea. It looked a treat; three tiers of delicate sandwiches, scones and a top tier of some gorgeous little cakes and shot glasses of some moussey looking things washed down with pots of loose leaf tea, prosecco or a "love potion". The tea is served in some beautiful looking Midsummer's Night Dream tea sets which I'd quite like to own myself. I've got my eye on this for the next time we visit.

I suppose by saying there will be a next time I've given away that I'd like to come back. Well, it's hard for me to disguise this fact as the food was stunning. Our first starter was the tomato gazpacho which was delicious. A fabulous cold soup perfect for a warm day like today. You could taste the freshness of the tomatoes in every drop. Add to it some pesto, a drizzle of oil and crunchy croutons and you'll find it difficult not too scoop up every last drop and you'll find it difficult not to scoop up every last drop with the freshly cut bread served up from the centre of the dining room.

Our other starter was also fitting for a spring afternoon, a fried duck egg served surrounded by a delicate arrangement of broad beans, spring onion, pea shoots and sliced baby radishes and finished with a drizzle of oil. Not only was the plate visually outstanding (so much that I didn't want to touch it, it was so beautiful) but once you cut into that vibrant yellow yolk and allow the golden insides to ooze out all over the tender veg then the dish really comes alive. Loved the little crispy bits of egg white too, just how I like a fried egg! It was that good I didn't want it too end!

But end it did. It's OK though as it was replaced with a beautiful beef Wellington. I prefer my steak rare but I know this isn't quite possible with a Wellington but the plump steak served inside the perfect pastry as still gorgeous and cut like butter. The jus though! That Madeira and red wine jus was the best "gravy" I have ever had. It was packed with such a deep intense meaty flavor (slightly oxtail like) that was so good I could of quite happily poured it straight into my mouth. The carrots and buttery cabbage, as scrumptious as they were on their own didn't stand a chance as they were dunked head first into this immense sauce. Out of this world!

Our other main was another vegetarian stunner of roast halloumi, English asparagus and Jersey royals. Love a Jersey royal and these bad boys were so buttery and soft. The asparagus was tender with a bit of a bite too them and the halloumi was perfectly cooked and minus the squeak that dodgy halloumi can have. Large circular pieces of charred onions added another layer of flavor to the dish alongside the "mystery" sauce. The sauce isn't highlighted on the menu so we had no idea what was in it but it was fabulous and I'd love to know what it was. As well as tasting stunning, it is also a right looker on the plate. Perfection all round.

Did we go on for pudding? With food this good it would of been rude not too! First off the block was an old favorite of ours, the bakewell tart. I love baking a bakewell tart but I love eating them more and this version did not disappoint. The pastry was crisp and buttery and topped with a layer of fruity jam. The frangipagne body of the tart was soft and moist and melted in the mouth. Served alongside it was a spoon of Devon cream that took me right back to childhood memories of holidays in the south west with it's intense creamy smoothness. The definition of a Great British bake on a plate.

Finally, along came this lemon and almond cake served with pistachio ice cream and lemon curd. Kind of a "textures of lemon" dish in a way. The slices of lemon set on top of the cake were super sour and very sherbet like. The cake was so moist it practically oozed lemon as my spoon glided through it. The pistachio ice cream was smooth and creamy whilst the little nibs of nut and biscuit crumb give the plate another texture to explore. I thought they were a bit stingy with the curd but once I tasted it I understood why. The little blobs practically punched you in the face with their intense flavor. For lemon lovers this is paradise on a plate.

What an amazing lunch this was. I was more than happy to pay the bill which came sat inside a book of Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida. Such a cute way to add a final piece of theatre to the meal. I can't recommend The Swan enough. The literary history mixed with the stunning views and location, warm and friendly staff together with the fabulously presented traditional dishes all combine together to create a dining experience that the Bard would be proud of. Whether your coming for afternoon tea, lunch or dinner you will leave with a full belly and a big smile on your face. To go or not to go? The answer is most definitely a resounding YES!

Find out more about The Swan head on over to their website. Do yourself a favor and book a table today!

SIMPLE SLIMMERS VEGGIE STEAK AND MUSHROOM STROGANOFF

With my summer holiday booked it is now time to get working on that beach body. This is a nightmare for a foodie like me but it's OK! You can still have your favorite dishes if you just make a few little changes. This recipe for my vegetarian take on a beef stroganoff is automatically better for you as it uses Quorn rather than beef and the main calorie adding culprit, the cream is replaced with creme fraiche. Adding some peppers in to bump up the flavors is all you need to turn this classic dish into a guilt free feast!

THE OREO AND FLAKE CHOCOLATE MAYO CAKE

Yes, you read that right, chocolate mayo cake! Don't run away and take a minute to think about it. Mayonnaise is essentially oil and eggs and therefore by adding it into a cake you are merely replacing some of the fat and egg content that would be standard in any cake recipe. Trust me when I say that if you hadn't been told it had mayonnaise in it you would never know; you would be more transfixed on the fudgy chocolate sponge, chocolate glaze and the Oreo and Flake's used to decorate this chocoholic's dream!

COMFORTING CHEESY PASTA BAKE

I do love a good cheesy pasta bake. It's one of those things I love to make when I just want some proper home cooked comfort food in my belly. It's also such an easy meal to whip up once you know how. Start by just prepping everything, cook up some pasta, fry up some tasty veg and make a gorgeous tomato sauce, simmer, bung everything together, slather with cheese and then bake. OK, so it sounds like a lot of steps but trust me it's a walk in the park and when you taste the results you're going to be transported to a very happy place I promise!

BOOZY FRUIT AND NUT CINNAMON ROLLS

A friend of mine travels over to America a lot and we would always chat about all yummy stateside food she would enjoy when she was over there. One thing that came up was the cinnamon roll. They are big business over in the States but you don't really see them around here much, well not in Liverpool anyway. To cheer myself up stuck with the rain back home, I devised a recipe for some raisin and pecan packed rolls, spiked with a hint of Amaretto. A little of booze is always a good pick me up when your feeling a bit blue isn't it?

LA BARANTINE EDINBURGH (MATTYB RECCOMMENDS)

With so many tea and cake shops, bakeries and cafe competing with other it is hard to really stand out from the crowd especially when you have opened up in a foodie hotspot such as Edinburgh. Place an Eiffel tower in your window decorated with macarons on the other hand and you are onto a winner! La Barantine's beautiful looking French display is what caught my eye as we wandered around Edinburgh's Grassmarket area one delightfully sunny Wednesday afternoon. So much so that when it came to thinking about somewhere to grab a quick nibble and a pot of tea to refresh our tired little legs, I purposely went back there to go and check them out. The big question was this; is the display just for show or do the goods in there deliver as well?

HASSLE FREE HASSELBACKS

Hasselback potatoes have been on the food scene for a while now yet I hadn't tried them up until this weekend. I thought that they looked a lot of hassle so didn't really see the point in them but that was until I tried some. Imagine the love child of a jacket potato with the potato topping of a hot pot and you can imagine what you're dealing with. Crispy little slices of potato all held together on a soft buttery potato base. Season them with dried herbs and chili flakes and you have a really easy way to pimp up your Sunday roast.

CLASSIC VICTORIA SPONGE

When it comes to classic bakes, it doesn't really get anymore classic than the Victoria sponge. Named after Queen Victoria, this bake consisting of two sponge cakes sandwiched together with jam and cream can be found on most afternoon tea menus across the land. It's one of the most simplest recipes out there but it takes practice to really perfect. Once you do, then you have the perfect cake recipe in your back pocket that you can whip out at short notice when there is an urgent need for cake.

LOVECRUMBS EDINBURGH (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

After a long day of sightseeing in Edinburgh it was time for us to hunt out a spot of lunch and what could be better than a spot of afternoon tea. Close to our hotel we had spotted Lovecrumbs, a delightful looking cake shop and decided to pop in for a little nibble. It was still quite busy when we walked into Lovecrumbs at around 3pm. Located on West Port, close to the Grassmarket area of the city centre, it seems to be attracting quite an eclectic crowd of young and old, students, families, tourists and locals.

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.

THE RETURN OF THE BRILLIANT BANANA BREAKFAST BARS

Bananas are one of the most versatile fruits you can have in your kitchen. Great in cakes, tarts and
puddings and as part of my fabulous breakfast bars which I posted up last year. When they went online, they were an instant hit due to their simplicity. Its one of the easiest recipes ever, great for when you want to whip up a delicious homemade treat with a minimal effort. Whats even better is that they are void of eggs, sugar, syrup and treacle so they are much more waistline friendly than your more traditional flapjacky oaty bar. The natural sugars in the banana and dried fruits are all you need to make this a brilliant grab-on-the-go treat!

THE RETURN OF THE FAB AND FAST FLAPJACKS

One of my favorite things to make when I first got into baking were these fab and fast flapjacks. Even the most novice of bakers can have a good crack at them. It was one of the first recipes I ever posted on the blog and realizing I hadn't made any in quite a long time and with lots of oats sitting around my kitchen I thought it was time to revisit this classic recipe and give it a little bit of a facelift. I've refined the recipe slightly but it's still those same gooey flapjacks with that gorgeous crisp crust and naughty layer of chocolate spread of the top.

RED HOT BUFFALO CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS

If  I had to eat one type of meat for the rest of my life it would have to be chicken. It's my go too meaty treat (particularly when I'm a bit worse of wear after a night on the cider!). It's so versatile and can be turned into many a delicious dish, such as these finger licking buffalo chicken drumsticks. These chicken drumsticks are coated in some seasoned flour and then deep fried so that they are super crispy before getting tossed around in a buffalo sauce which can be as spicy as you like (although for me, the hotter the better!).

"SPRING IS HERE" RABBIT STEW

So Spring has arrived! A new season is a good time to new and exciting things and that is what crossed my mind when I came across a whole rabbit in my local butchers the other day. I'd never eaten rabbit before but I thought it was time to throw caution to the wind and give it a go. I'm pleased I did, it was delicious. If your a fan of chicken, turkey or lamb then you are going to love it too especially after you have slow cooked it for a couple of hours in a vegetable filled broth of herbs and cider and finished off with a touch of cream.

BOOZY HOT CROSS BUN LOAF

So Easter has been and gone for another year. I know Easter is a religious festival but for a foodie like me, one of the most exciting aspects of the holiday is the traditional Easter food, my favorite being the hot cross bun. This year, after baking a rather awful first batch of buns on Good Friday I decided to mix it up and came up with a new take on this classic by turning it into a fruit loaf, adding some Amaretto soaked sultanas just for a little naughty adult twist and finishing it off with that symbolic cross.

BUSABA LIVERPOOL (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

Another restaurant opened in the old Stockton's building in Liverpool City centre last week and it's the one I was most looking forward to trying. I love Asian food so the prospect of a new Thai restaurant in the city was to exciting to resist and so, a couple of days after its official opening, three of us popped on over to Busaba on Hanover Street to see if our expectations could be matched.

ROOKWOOD BAR AND 'CUE LIVERPOOL (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

There are many new ventures in Liverpool claiming to offer great authentic BBQ food but not many of them are offering this for £15 for two courses with a bottle of beer! At the time of writing, this is what Rookwood Bar and 'Cue currently have on offer for midweek diners and with such an enticing offer on the table it was a bit of no brainer that we would have to go and try it out! 

SMOKY CHEESE AND ONION SPUDS

The humble baked potato (or jacket potato as we called them round here) is a staple for many a mealtime up and down the land. However, they can be ever so boring so if there was a way you could jazz them up, you'd be up for that wouldn't you? Well how about these special spuds which are baked, have their insides scooped out and whizzed around with some cheese, spring onions, soured cream and mustard before being stuffed back into the skin and baked again until they are creamy, cheesy, moist and delicious.

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!

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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!).

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!

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.

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.

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!).

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.