"JUST LIKE THE CHIPPY" SWEETCORN SOUP

If I go to any Chinese restaurant or down to the chippy and I'm looking for a soup as a starter there is only one option; chicken and sweetcorn soup. It such a unique soup to the cuisine and one that I had never tried to recreate at home. That was until this week when I gave this meat free version a whirl and I was so surprised at how quick and simple it was to create this classic dish. What's even better is that its tastes so much fresher than the potentially MSG laden versions you can find in more dodgy food outlets.

LITTLE LEMON BISCUITS FROM THE LAND OF LULLINESS

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

MARVELLOUS MIDDLE EASTERN FILO ROLLS

My Kitchen Rules Australia is really giving me some food inspiration. First with the beetroot hummus I made a few weeks ago and last week I veggiefied another recipe to make these middle eastern spiced Quorn mince filo rolls. I finally got to use my pot of baharat spices that I've had for ages as well so it was win win all round. These crispy sesame seed sprinkled filo rolls are also stuffed with salty feta, soft sultanas, fresh spinach leaves and crunchy sunflower seeds . They were quite the yummy and I can see why they were marked so highly on the show!

THE RETURN OF THE COCO-OATY BARS

Many months ago I made these delicious oaty bars as an alternative to my Fab And Fabulous Flapjacks. I decided to revisit them this weekend as, after all my tray bake tales recently I was feeling a bit caked out. Last time I made them with strawberry jam however, this time round I had a jar of lime and mint curd from Scarlett and Mustard and it complimented the coconut mixed in with the butter, flour, oats, sugar so well that I had to revamp the recipe and share it with you all. These bad boys have gone up another level and you are going to love them!

MATTY'S TRAYBAKE TALES PART 6: APPLE, ALMOND AND CINNAMON MASH UP

My next tray bake tale takes inspiration from the bakewell tart by using flaked almonds and almond extract to create a delicious moist sponge that has a little surprise hidden inside. A layer of cinnamon coated apples is baked inside the cake that adds an extra dimension to the more traditional plain tray bake sponge. This hybrid of an apple pie and the bakewell tart is another baked treat that you can add to your repertoire of tray bakes that you will keep coming back to time and time again. Served warm with a dollop of ice cream, well that's perfection!

CLASSICS REVISITED: CAULIFLOWER CHEESE

I haven't revisited a classic recipe for a while but a few weeks ago I made this gorgeous cauliflower cheese from scratch and I just had to share the recipe with you. My previous cauliflower cheese recipe was an easy peasy version for those of you who are maybe in a rush or not confident to make it from scratch. This one shows you how to make a delicious sauce using butter, flour, milk, Dijon mustard and cheddar cheese. It's surprisingly easy actually and is even better when you add in some bashed up bread sticks, herbs and onions to the mix.

MATTY'S TRAYBAKE TALES PART 5: COFFEE AND WALNUT

It's time for Part 5 of my selection of classic tray bakes and this one is definitely one of the nations favorites. It's the coffee and walnut tray bake! A combination that has been wowing people for years, you really can't beat this iconic pairing of flavors. I have added my own little twist though by decorating the top of my tray bake with some crushed chocolate coated coffee beans as opposed to the more traditional walnut halves. They add an amazing chocolaty crunch to the cake making it the perfect afternoon pick me up

THE RETURN OF THE TUMMY WARMING TOMATO SOUP

OK I'll admit it, sometimes a tin of Heinz cream of tomato soup is all you need to sort yourself out if you're a bit chilly or got a touch of man flu. It's lazy but it's so so good! If you have time however you can make this delicious homemade version using tomatoes, celery, onions roasted in garlic, honey and herbs and blitzed into a sensationally smooth souptastic treat. I can't promise you it's better than its tinned brother but it will clear away those cobwebs in no time. With this revamped recipe, I can promise you that for sure!

SIMPLY CHAPATI

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

CHEESY CARROT AND TURNIP

Here is a spruced up side for you to really give your Sunday roast a lift this weekend. We have all had our mashed carrot and swede but it can be ever so dull to have week after week. So, spin it on it's head by chucking some delicious Chedder cheese, grated nutmeg, butter and milk into the mix along with your softened carrot and turnip, mash it all together and then bake. Sounds simple but it really does make a difference. Why not give it a go and really surprise yourself and your guests with a fabulous twist on a Great British classic!

MATTY'S TRAYBAKE TALES PART 4: TRIPLE CHOCOLATE

Here comes part 4 of my tray bake tales and it may just be the one you have all been waiting for. It's the chocolate tray bake and this one is a proper chocoholic's delight. If you whip up this recipe then you will have a gorgeous chocolate sponge that's sticky and gooey with a smooth milk chocolate icing spread all over the top. Just in case there wasn't enough chocolate already for you, the whole shebang is finished off with a couple of crumbled flake chocolate sprinkled on top to make this a proper triple chocolate treat.

BRILLIANTLY BRIGHT BEETROOT HUMMUS

Having been watching and enjoying the latest series of My Kitchen Rules Australia in the UK over the last two weeks, I was bowled over by a particularly gorgeous looking beetroot hummus that was made by one of the couples during their instant restaurant. I wanted to try it and so this weekend I had a look at some recipes for beetroot hummus and came up with this take on this delicious dip that not only looks so brilliantly bright and vibrant but tastes like nothing I've ever had before as well. It's so delicious!

SUPER SLOW COOKED ROGAN JOSH

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

TASTY THAI CRAB CAKES

My Thai butter bean patties were a right little tasty treat. Not only are they super delicious but they are also super versatile. So much so that with a few little tweaks I transformed them into some Thai fish cakes. I've still kept the butter beans in them, they work  really well with the shredded crab meat and mashed potatoes. Add in the rest of your ingredients including a smidge of lemon, rice wine vinegar, fresh herbs and a glug of fish sauce to really ramp up the eastern vibe. Be prepared to get your hands on some crackin' crab cakes. 

MATTY'S TRAYBAKE TALES PART 3: GORGEOUS GINGER CAKE

A year ago I made a beautiful cake which I christened  my "Jamaican Me Crazy" cake. It went down a storm with my friends and family so when it came to thinking of my third tray bake tale it made sense to transform it into my next terrific all in one treat. Made with dark black treacle and muscovado sugar, this cake has a delightfully sticky sponge which is flavored with the warmth of all spice, mixed spice and little nuggets of finely chopped stem ginger, not just in the cake but scattered over the ginger syrup icing as well. It really is a simple but gorgeous bake.

TASTY THAI BUTTER BEAN PATTIES

When it comes to Thai food in the UK you can often get lumbered with red and green curries. As nice as they are, it's nice to try something different sometimes. When I whipped up these butter bean patties I wasn't expecting them to be Thai inspired but on first bite, those flavors of lemon, coriander, chili and sesame all work together to give them a distinctive taste of the east. The great thing about them is that other than boiling some potatoes, all you really need to do is chuck everything in a bowl and mix together and then roll the mixture of polenta for some added crunch. Simples!

SMOKIN' SWEETCORN SOUP

It's time for another soup recipe now and this one uses the smoky flavors chipotle along with sweetcorn to create a kind of tex-mex vibe to this gorgeous soup which also blends sweet potato, pepper and veggie bacon to make a truly vegetarian treat. Fresh coriander (stalks and all), cumin seeds and garlic work alongside a hint of cayenne pepper thrown in for a bit of heat to produce a cuddle in a bowl that if you play your cards right, you can have on the table in just under 30 minutes. Quick, simple and tasty, what's not love!

BANGIN' BANG BANG SALAD

"Bang Bang" is a traditional Chinese dish which refers to the noise made by the bashing of the chicken normally served with the dish with a wooden mallet in order to flatten it and make it easier to shred and scatter over the top of the accompaniments. The chicken is then normally served with a satay like peanut sauce and that is where the inspiration for this salad has come from. As this is a veggie salad there is obviously no chicken, just lots of fresh raw vegetables dressed in that delicious nutty sauce, perfect as a side dish at your next summer BBQ.

PER TUTTI MANCHESTER (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

I'm up in Manchester a lot for concerts and gigs and normally I have an idea about where I'm going to eat before each visit. This week however I traveled up sans schedule and stumbled across Per Tutti as I got off the train at Deansgate. I didn't know anything about the place or what I was in for so with zero expectations I headed through the door ready for some food.

MATTY'S TRAYBAKE TALES PART 2: LEMON DRIZZLE

My second tray bake tale is another classic, the lemon drizzle cake. This delicious citrus treat is another super easy bake to whip up any day of the week and one that is bound to whack a smile on everyone's face! This recipe differs slightly from my other tray bake tales as it includes the addition of a sugar and lemon juice mixture that is brushed over the cake when it's removed from the oven which is then soaked up by the sponge to create a super sharp, moist tray bake that's is an essential for anyone's baking repertoire.