parmigiano reggiano crusted salmon with mozzarella, basil and tomato salad.

Beautiful Parmigiano Reggiano PDO cheese, an Italian inspired caprese salad and lightly seasoned salmon make this Italian style dish ideal for enjoying on these long Summer evenings. Enjoy with a cold glass of crisp Pinot Grigio to balance out the classic salty flavours of the cheese, aroma of basil and sweetness of the plump Vittoria tomatoes. 

Exclusively produced in the Northern Italian provinces of Parma, Modena Reggio Emilia, as well as parts of Mantua and Bologna, Parmigiano Reggiano PDO is a much coveted cheese. It hails from the plains, hills and mountains between the rivers Po and Reno, where the long and natural maturation makes for its distinctive fruity, nutty and yet salty taste with the crystallised texture. Cheese masters and inspectors actually say that cheese must pass “two summers”, as the transformations that determine the changes and flavour in Parmigiano Reggiano PDO are more intense in summer because of the heat.

The Parmigiano Reggiano crusted salmon recipe is simple, and would be lovely paired with potatoes, roast vegetables and your choice of salad alike. Here of course it had to be with mozzarella, basil and tomato salad, for that fresh flavour of Italy.

highfield hotel & restaurant, keswick, lake district.

With striking views of Keswick, Derwent Water, Borrowdale and Newlands valley and the Northern Lakes, Highfield Hotel sits along The Heads within walking distance of the town centre. Built in 1885, the old Victorian house now showcases three floors of beautifully decorated rooms in unique finishes. There are delightful twin rooms right through to elegant king size beds and roll top baths, including second floor rooms within the West and East turrets of the building.

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. 

earl grey g&t cockail.

They always do say you turn into your parents eventually. My mum and I both love a pot of Earl Grey when we go for afternoon tea, and we're partial to the odd gin and tonic too. Taking inspiration from the classic way to drink Earl Grey tea with lemon, I've added a cheeky kick in the form of gin to create this afternoon tea style cocktail. Of course served in your best china... Pinkies up!

easy banana bread with chocolate spread.

If you haven't made banana bread yet, you've probably seen slices scattered all over your social media. I've no idea how every household has ended up with so many surplus bananas, but when life gives you bananas, I guess you make banana bread. It's a super easy recipe too, where you can use any leftover spread to dot into the mix, as well as any extra nuts to scatter over the top. For this, I made a classic easy banana bread recipe, then using some leftover chocolate spread and some flaked almonds from the back of the cupboard. Adapt fillings and topping as you wish, but always enjoy with your favourite tea or coffee.

salted caramel apple puff pastries.

Say it with salted caramel this Valentine's Day. Treat loved ones to this indulgent puff pastry dessert featuring caramelised Pink Lady® apples as the star of the show. Whether for a breakfast in bed with a hot cup of tea, a decadent dessert to finish a romantic dinner or a sumptuous sweet for a girls' night in, this recipe ticks all the boxes. Buttery puff pastry, sweet apples and dusting of icing sugar, finish with thick double cream to contrast against the deliciously crunchy textures. 

Plus, it's super quick to put together. What's not to fall in love with?

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. 

vegan tacos with homemade mushroom & bean mince.

A delicious homemade veggie mince recipe that is both vegetarian and vegan! In this case, I've added some subtle spice to create a chilli style mince, perfect for tasty tacos. But the results are so versatile! The recipe is also perfect for dairy free diners who also may avoid soya or eggs in the supermarket bought varieties.

Using my trusty new Veggie Bullet, I was so pleased that shredding up healthy mushrooms and borlotti beans was such an easy way to create a mince-like base for so many meals. With around 20 calories in 200g of mushrooms too, the cheap ingredient means you can create a really low fat, low price meat substitute which is packed with nutrients too. Will you be giving it a try for #MeatfreeMonday?

bohns best burgers, nottingham.

Found in the heart of Hockley, Bohns Best Burgers is an independent joint serving up a rhapsody of creations between brioche buns. The clue is in the name though, could these really be the best burgers in Nottingham? It's true, I'm always on the look out for the best burgers in the East Midlands (shout out to Leicester's Crafty and Hide in Derby) but could these be the hit that Hockley needs? I think so.

violife: what is vegan cheese and what recipes can I make?

Have you ever tried vegan cheese? As someone who would consider themselves flexitarian, and an advocate of Veganuary, I've tried my fair share of both classic cheeses and dairy free options. It can be a really mixed bag, or mixed cheeseboard as it were, with some vegan cheeses melting better than others, some great in sauces and some you'd be happy to enjoy in a sandwich or as part of a plant based platter. Violife pride themselves on being 100% vegan and preservative free, with many products also free from soya and gluten.

Their dairy free delights don't just stop at cheese either, they range from chocolate spread to Camembert and sandwich slices to butters - perfect for planning vegan recipes! I've personally tried the Epic Mature in cheese sauces for veggie lasagne and enjoyed the smoky slices in a sarnie, but I was most interested in taking Le Rond for a test run...