gluten free salted caramel brownies.

A classic brownie recipe that I swear by - the only difference with this one is there's a tasty salted caramel twist. This recipe also happens to be accidentally gluten free, as I prefer to use ground almonds over flour; though if you're a a fan of nutty flavours then these will be a winner. Gooey on the inside and a bit of crunch to the outside. Divine!

diy wedding macaron favours.

Whether you're planning a wedding or an invite has dropped through your letterbox, there's no doubt macarons make the perfect homemade present or DIY favour idea. I made these pretty pink and gold macarons for a friends' wedding gift this Spring! So, I thought I'd share the recipe for those looking for little bit of wed-spo (is that a word now?) or maybe even a treat for the hen do.

9 foodie must-dos in costa brava.

Found in Catalonia in the North East of Spain, Costa Brava is a beautiful coastal region that boasts leafy hills, colourful buildings, gorgeous views and an excellent foodie culture. Being by the sea, there are lots of fresh seafood and fish dishes to indulge in. That's not all. Think stunning wine blends, with great pairings, as well as exceptional olive oil and sweets.

I went along as a guest of Jet2holidays to explore what the Catalonia region had to offer. With really reasonable flights from 9 UK destinations, I went from East Midlands to Girona, taking around two hours and costing from about £40pp. It really would make such an easy city break, only using one day holiday to enjoy three full days in the area. But what did I get up to on that long weekend?

the stable, birmingham.

Dorset born, Dorsey bred. At The Stable, they're proud of their pizza and savvy about their cider. Whether it's colourful, innovative pizza toppings or seeking out the latest cider blends, their casual dining atmosphere makes their locations a fun place for large parties, date days or birthday gatherings. 

seasonal tipples (without the guilt).

Guest Post by Ellie Campbell

I am writing this very special post right at the start of the Easter Bank Holiday weekend (by the way, make sure you read this recipe for Easter mini egg and Malteaster bunny brownies on the one in a million chance you get too much chocolate). As it is the first holiday weekend of the year, there is no doubt those of us with an extra day or two off are going to make the most of it.

While I dread to think how busy it will get in supermarkets, I don’t begrudge anyone who was taking part in lent or watching the Kcals post-Xmas having a few indulgences this weekend. You might be thinking of loading up the trolley with your favourite tipples or not passing by the chance to get one of those giant boxes of beer that are slashed in price for weekends like this.

say hello to tiger prawn and chorizo spaghetti with fresh vine tomatoes.

HelloFresh has taken the UK by storm with their fresh, flexible and friendly approach to food. Encouraging seasoned cooks to challenge their tastebuds and newbie foodies to try cooking at home, the ingredients are pre-portioned with recipes cards to make midweek meals and weekend treats as easy as they can be. You simply customise your weekly menu and choose your delivery time to cook your favourite seasonal food from scratch.

When HelloFresh got in touch to try out one of their recipes (believe me, it was a tricky decision) I went for one of my favourite flavour combinations. Smoky chorizo and seafood! Tiger Prawn and Chorizo Spaghetti with Fresh Vine Tomatoes, to be precise.

There's a little story behind this one too. This was inspired by Head Chef Patrick's trips to a little Spanish eatery in Borough Market, where he became best friends with the head chef and started to work in the kitchen at weekends. Like me, his favourite recipes included the beautiful Iberican combination of seafood and chorizo. Who can blame him? In just 25 minutes, here's how you can make it too.

easter mini egg and malteaster bunny brownies.

An indulgent Easter brownie recipe, with melt-in-the-mouth Malteaster bunnies, crunchy Mini Eggs and sweet hits of white chocolate. This is my go-to (accidentally gluten free) brownie recipe, with an April twist. The secret is adding the bunnies to the top of the brownies right at the end, so they slightly melt whilst still keeping that signature crunch. Hoppy Easter!

five dishes I’d love to try... if I was a millionaire.

 

Have you ever dreamed of what you’d buy if you came into big money? Personally, my mind instantly goes to all the crazy expensive food I could try, along with the luxurious service that comes with it. Forget new car or moving house - think of all the incredible food you could afford and not even bother looking at the bill. From flourishes of gold leaf to rare caviar, here are a few of my millionaire must-eats. All I need to do now is buy a lottery ticket…

easter bunny rabbit macarons.

A cute, bunny shaped treat for Easter. I just couldn't resist creating some rabbit shaped macarons for the occasion, filled with moreish Nutella chocolate spread. I actually made these for a bunny mad bride to be last year and have waited until the run up to Easter to share these little sweeties with you. I may just be tempted to make them again myself...

3 sandwich recipes to inspire your lunch and brunch.

 

Classic ham, timeless tuna mayonnaise, beans on toast. All excellent and easy choices, but are you looking for something different come lunch time? I was challenged to create three inspiring sandwich recipes using the delicious Hovis Best of Both, found at Morrisons. A tasty mix of specially white and wholemeal flour, the softy and springy bread is a great source of fibre and Vitamin D, whilst lending itself to both sweet and savoury sandwich recipes. From a posh and chunky fish finger sandwich to a layered up pastrami combination, not forgetting Biscoff French toast, here are a few ideas for some lunchtime variation.

5 easy vegan recipes that I love

 

This year was the first year I tried Veganuary. Not only did it mean we reduced our meat intake for a month, we also found so many new recipes and meal inspiration that we still try weeks later. It was interesting to say the least to try out the dairy free cheese, with varying success. The meat substitutes were much better and I found a new love for oat milk and vegan chocolate However bringing more vegetables to our dishes was the best bit. 

If you're looking to try a month of being vegan, I really recommend The Vegan Kind supermarket and trusty BBC Good Food as well as these Olive Magazine favourites or pick yourself up some bargain vegan recipe books from The Works. Here are a few of my favourite vegan recipes, which all bring out a rainbow of vegetables and pulses, with no meat alternatives in sight. 

creme egg macarons.

Just in time for Easter... Creme Egg macarons! Made with two tone yellow and chocolate macaron shells, I've well and truly jumped on the Cadbury Creme Egg baking recipe train with these tempting treats. They're then filled with a classic Creme Egg buttercream to make an Easter inspired delight.

easter egg macarons.

Happy (almost) Easter! I have made these Easter egg inspired macarons for my friend's birthday. it falls on Easter Sunday so we have decided to do a homemade Easter afternoon tea (I'm sure there will be Instagram pics to follow...) Any excuse to make macarons really! These are good for gluten free gifts as well as people who aren't fans of chocolate. Have a lovely Bank Holiday everyone!

roasted basa in black bean & garlic sauce with udon noodles.

Create an array of authentic Chinese favourites in a flash with the latest stir-fry sauces from Lee Kum Kee. If, like me, you’re strapped for time in the evenings, these simple stir ins are just the ticket for an easy to use packet sauce that packs a punch. 

The classic stir-fry has long been a quick mid-week favourite and this new LKK range can be paired perfectly with a variety of ingredients including: fish, prawns, chicken, beef and vegetables – giving you a mouthwatering meal in minutes. 

Lee Kum Kee has over 130 years’ experience in sauce making and from Kung Pao to Honey & Soy, these sauces are ideal for some Eastern inspiration, at just 85p a packet - think how much you could save on takeaways! Ready to make a fuss-free Chinese banquet? Me too

I’ve created one for the seafood lovers - as well as those with very little time. The frozen basa fillets are easy to throw in the oven with the delicious sauce. You can then add your favourite size noodles - from thick udon to skinny vermicelli - to go alongside some colourful veg. 

eggs en cocotte with salmon and leeks.

I do love a good breakfast. Eggs Florentine, avocado on toast and smoked salmon and scrambled eggs are up there on my priorities. It turns out I'm not alone. British Lion Eggs conducted a little study and found Brits are willing to spend 30% longer preparing breakfast at the weekend than they are during the week. The survey also revealed that the Full English is the nation’s favourite breakfast, with a whopping 42% of people saying they always order it. Also making the top three are classic Eggs Benedict and creamy scrambled eggs with smoked salmon.

A relaxing weekend brunch is a favourite activity of mine and I'm always looking for new breakfast based ideas to add to my morning routine. Lazy baked eggs, one pan huevos rancheros and simple frittatas to name a few. If someone makes it for me, even better. These eggs en cocotte are a French twist on the classic baked eggs, featuring delicious salmon, softened leeks, fresh dill and indulgent double cream. Duvet optional.

avocado pesto, sweetcorn, pepper and roast tomato risotto.

With an avocado and basil pesto stirred through and scattered on top, this deliciously colourful risotto is packed with roast tomatoes and peppers and jewelled with toasted sweetcorn. If you're looking for vegan recipes or are taking part in veganuary, you might be pleased to know it's a totally plant based recipe too. Whether you're looking to introduce more veggies into your diet, try out something new or get involved with meat free Monday, there are lots of ways to get more plant based ingredients into your day-to-day at your local Co-op. 

I'm collaborating with Central England Cooperative throughout January on their healthier, plant-based and low alcohol ranges - and I can't wait to share with you what I find, and what I think. But for now, read on for this tasty vegetarian avocado pesto, sweetcorn, pepper and roast tomato risotto recipe. All of which can be found at your local store - even the ripe avocado, tomato medley and fresh herbs.

homemade vegan sausage rolls.

Bringing together delicious flaky pastry and comforting filling, there's something very welcoming about a homemade sausage roll straight from the oven. Whether you're already vegan or plant based, taking part in Veganuary, trying to cut down your meat consumption or are just curious, you may have tried out a vegan sausage roll this January. Looking for a similar recipe? Here's how to make homemade vegan sausage rolls with just three simple, ready-to-go ingredients.

I love vegetarian sausage rolls anyway and often use the likes of Linda McCartney, Quorn and Good Life in my cooking. For these, I used Fry's vegan sausages as they were most like the kind you get in a classic sausage roll, though Quorn are similar too I could only find vegetarian. You'll find lots of pre-made puff pastry sheets are dairy free too; so you can use Jus Rol as well as many supermarket own offerings for all your pastry needs. They also worked out at around £3 for 6 vegan sausage rolls, with the added convenience that the main two ingredients are from the freezer aisle.

So how did I make these mouthwatering homemade vegan sausage rolls? Scroll on for the super easy recipe...