Salmon with ginger coriander and lime

Once this post goes live I will be counting down the minutes until one or other of my parents comments on it saying words to the effect of “but you don’t like salmon”. Which is actually pretty true. I eat most things but I’m not a salmon fan by any stretch of the imagination. However, in a bid to continue on our healthy eating streak … Continue reading Salmon with ginger coriander and lime

Vanilla sponge 2 ways – Dr Who cupcakes and Sprinkle Cake

I think when it comes to cake simple is definitely underrated. As it was D’s birthday this I obviously made him a cake. Not one to usually do cake making by halves I also made cupcakes to have at his birthday party. Simple vanilla cake is a big favourite with D (and his friends) so I thought I’d use the opportunity to sing the praises … Continue reading Vanilla sponge 2 ways – Dr Who cupcakes and Sprinkle Cake

Cocktail Night

Sweeping generalisation but most girls love cocktails; now I know there are many men who can sup even the pinkest drink adorned with the biggest umbrella and I applaud them wholeheartedly; however most of my attempts to make homemade cocktails have been with my girl friends. (Occasionally D and I will make noises about making them at home but we rarely get beyond gin and … Continue reading Cocktail Night

Nutella and Hazelnut Rolls

Sometimes, a new take on a tried and tested recipe produces some great results, especially where Nutella is involved. After quite a strenuous day at work on Wednesday all I really wanted to do with my evening was bake and eat Nutella, so I combined both of these wants into Nutella rolls, a recipe that combined the sweet bread dough of cinnamon rolls minus the … Continue reading Nutella and Hazelnut Rolls

Easy sausage meatballs with tomato and rosemary sauce

So while it seems like the rest of social media is denouncing pasta in favour of kale, sweet potato and lots and lots of protein shakes. While I’m all for healthy eating and living well; I do think there is definitely a place for pasta as part of a healthy diet. Pasta is lovely, in moderation if makes your stomach happy and keeps you full … Continue reading Easy sausage meatballs with tomato and rosemary sauce

Harissa roast chicken with pecorino topped salad

Cooking a whole chicken is way more economical that buying lots of packs of chicken portions and generally you can get more from it that you think; especially if you consider making chicken stock from the bones. That said, having the same roast chicken recipe and serving it the same way could potentially get a bit dull so its nice to have variations on a … Continue reading Harissa roast chicken with pecorino topped salad

Tortellini, rosemary and goats cheese soup

I always associate soups with Autumn and winter weather. I just cannot fathom the idea of eating something like leek and tomato soup on a warm day. However this soup has a light fresh flavour and takes about 20 minutes so you won’t be sweating over a hot stove for too long. The tortellini make this a hearty meal – so this is perfect after … Continue reading Tortellini, rosemary and goats cheese soup

Crab, courgette and tomato gnocchi

Everyone has food they eat when they’re alone. Something the people they live with dislike but the person in question not so secretly adores. For me one of those things is seafood and another is bread and cheese. D reviewed a gig in Manchester last week and I took full advantage by cooking crab gnocchi and eating it on the sofa (D is surprisingly strict … Continue reading Crab, courgette and tomato gnocchi

Chocolate orange cookies

So this recipe is a simple adaptation of a cookie recipe I have previously written about making during my formative years. Still, sometimes its nice to add a twist to an old favourite – I use less butter in this version as the dough can be quite sticky with the chocolate not being spread through the dough. Terry’s chocolate orange is something I traditionally associate … Continue reading Chocolate orange cookies

Berry upside down cake

For me the phrase “upside down cake” evokes the memory of a Blue Peter presenter (Anthea Turner I think) making a pineapple topped creation. At the time I was very very little so I can’t say I really remember actually wanting to eat the cake. Anyway, for me the upside down cake is pretty much 70s throwback meets 90s childhood recipe and it appeals to … Continue reading Berry upside down cake