Mix and munch it’s the first of the month which means it’s time to link up with Sherry and friends for this month’s edition of In My Kitchen. I know it’s the first of April but forget about the fool, it’s all about the food here. The clocks have changed, the sun has shone so there is much to be cheerful about in my kitchen. Wish I could say the same for the world at large. Wah!

We had our neighbours over for dinner and started with the quintessential picky bits. Of course I included a dip from my guru Em the Nutritionist. This is a Protein Power Pea and Bean Dip and it’s green not mean. Packed with peas, cannellini beans and cottage cheese, it gives pesto vibes. Also a shout out to the Marks and Spencer mini beef en croutes – they exceeded all my expectations.

I made these Mini Biscoff Cheesecakes and if I say so myself they were crazy good. I can’t wait to share the recipe with you. They’re perfect for entertaining because you can make the different components and assemble them in advance or just before serving.

Talking of Biscoff, I also made some Biscoff Banana Bread. I tried and tested this recipe multiple times and am super happy with the final version. I just need to get around to blogging the recipe.

I shared the recipe for one of our favourite lunchtime staples – these cottage cheese toasts. Packed with protein, full of yum and they can be thrown together in minutes.

I pulled a rabbit out of my hat for this year’s Easter recipe (excuse the pun!) If a biscuit and a brownie had a food baby, it would be these Fudgy Brownie Thumbprint Cookies. They’re dairy free, ridiculously easy to make and egg-stremely moreish. Ha! See what I did there?!

Talking of Easter, I secured the goods and finally got my paws on some of the M and S red velvet hot cross buns. I quite enjoyed them but because they have an oozy white chocolate filling, they can only be eaten cold – most un-hot cross bun like! They were fun to try but I don’t think I’d buy them again.

I’m still loving all Em the Nutritionist’s recipes and we are still eating Em’s recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. New to us were these Apple Crumble Overnight Oats – soooo good!

We had a couple of couples over for drinks and nibbles and I invited them to bring themselves and a plate. They totally outdid themselves – one neighbour bought some homemade guiness bread – still warm from the oven no less – and the other bought this dish of roast potatoes drizzled with a homemade white miso mayo and topped with caviar. The latter was a dish from the Great British Menu and soooo good!

I’ve been coveting some of these ramekin/dip bowls from my favourite shop, Country Traditionals for ages and our recent entertaining was the perfect excuse to purchase some. Of course, I filled them with Em the Nutritionist dips – the Protein Power Pea and Bean Dip (again) and our personal favourite, the Butter Bean Jalapeno Hummus. Also there’s my basil plant that I’m trying not to kill. Stay tuned for a basil update next month…

And lastly, in my kitchen not foodie but furry, my mum’s dog Calvin who came to visit. I don’t know what he and Teddy were doing here but I’m guessing that they’re waiting for some cheese. Both these bois have highly refined cheese radars!

So that’s what’s been cooking in my kitchen! Tell me what’s been happening in yours. I’m all (Easter bunny) ears!

These fudgy Easter Brownie Thumbprint Cookies are the perfect Easter treat – rich, chocolatey and incredibly easy to make. If you are some bunny that likes brownies then you’re going to love these cookies!

Easter has really caught up on me this year. When I checked my calendar I realised I didn’t have any Easter recipes ready for the blog yet which made this little bunny very sad.

I really wanted to make something with Biscoff spread because a) Biscoff is my current obsession and b) I was inspired by one of those new Cadbury’s Biscoff eggs that a friend gave me. I contemplated making my own Biscoff egg but I put it in the too hard Easter basket.

Then I came across a recipe the idea of chocolate brownie cookies and they ticked all the boxes – quick, easy and made mostly with pantry ingredients. Even better, the cookie dough is naturally dairy free which makes them super versatile depending on how you fill them.

They cookies are incredibly simple to make and although I usually mix my cookie dough in the Thermomix, all you really need to whip up a batch of these babies is a bowl and a spoon.

One of my favourite things about this recipe is that you can freeze the cookie dough balls so you can enjoy some now and some for later.

Talking of later, while I’m calling these Easter cookies, they’re definitely not just for Easter. You can fill the thumbprint with Biscoff, Nutella, peanut butter, jam or any spread you love. Top them with a chocolate egg for Easter or leave them plain for an everyday treat.

Yes friends, these cookies are for life, not just for Easter.

Are you ready for Easter? What would you fill your brownie thumbprint cookies with? Biscoff, Nutella, peanut butter or something else?

Makes 18 cookies

Ingredients

70g cocoa powder

200g brown sugar

70ml vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

2 large eggs

180g self raising flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

50g icing sugar

TO DECORATE

Chocolate spread, Biscoff spread or Peanut Butter

36 mini eggs

How to – Traditional

1. Sieve the cocoa into a large bowl, add the sugar and then whisk in the oil, vanilla essence and eggs.
2. Use a wooden spoon to stir in the flour, baking powder and salt until all the dry ingredients are combined and you have a nice, soft dough.
3. Wrap the dough in cling film and pop it into the fridge to chill for at least 30 minutes.
4. While the dough is chilling, preheat the oven to 160C and line two baking trays with baking paper.
5. When the dough is ready, roll into balls (each one weighing approximately 35g.) The dough is quite chocolatey, so if you can, wear some food preparation gloves! If you want, you can freeze the dough balls at this stage but don’t forget to defrost them before cooking.
6. Sieve the icing sugar onto a plate and gently roll each ball in the sugar to coat. Divide the balls between the two baking trays, leaving space between them to expand while cooking. Gently press a dent in the middle of each ball with your thumb.
7. Bake for 12 minutes. When the cookies come out of the oven and while they’re still hot, use the end of a wooden spoon to make the holes deeper and wider.
8. Leave the cookies on the trays and let them cool completely.
9. When the cookies are cool, spoon a little chocolate spread, Biscoff spread or peanut butter into each cookie and top them off with a couple of mini eggs.

How to – Thermomix

1. Place the cocoa and sugar in TM bowl and mix for 3 seconds on speed 5.
2. Add the oil, vanilla essence and eggs. Mix for 10 seconds on speed 4. Scrape down sides of bowl.
3. Add the flour, baking powder and salt and mix for 10 seconds on speed 4. Check that the dry ingredients are all mixed through. Scrape down sides of bowl.
4. Scrape the cookie dough out onto a board and wrap it in cling film and pop it into the fridge to chill for at least 30 minutes.
5. While the dough is chilling, preheat the oven to 160C and line two baking trays with baking paper.
6. When the dough is ready, roll into balls (each one weighing approximately 35g.) The dough is quite chocolatey, so if you can, wear some food preparation gloves! If you want, you can freeze the dough balls at this stage but don’t forget to defrost them before cooking.
7. Sieve the icing sugar onto a plate and gently roll each ball in the sugar to coat. Divide the balls between the two baking trays, leaving space between them to expand while cooking. Gently press a dent in the middle of each ball with your thumb.
8. Bake for 12 minutes. When the cookies come out of the oven and while they’re still hot, use the end of a wooden spoon to make the holes deeper and wider.
9. Leave the cookies on the trays and let them cool completely.
10. When the cookies are cool, spoon a little chocolate spread, Biscoff spread or peanut butter into each cookie and top them off with a couple of mini eggs.

Postcards from Paris is my ongoing love letter to the places we discover and don’t want to leave. On our fourth trip to Paris, we explored wine bars properly in our holiday hood – the 6th arrondissement. These are the bars that are definitely worth stopping for and sipping in.

We stayed in the 6th and were surrounded by top notch wine bars so it was more of a case of so many bars and so little time not the other way round. That said, we made some excellent choices and as Edith Piaf would say je ne regrette rien.

Pepites Caviste et Bar a Vin

Find it on Google Maps

This wine shop by day, wine bar by night couldn’t have been better located for us as it was literally a couple of doors away from our hotel. We popped in for a pre-dinner drink and instantly knew that we’d chosen well.

There’s a great selection of wines by the glass, staff were genuinely friendly and we even got to meet the resident dog which automatically earns bonus points in my book.

As we arrived relatively early on in the evening, drinks were served at the bar but the wine cave downstairs is hugely popular, very intimate and can get very busy. We had neither the stomach space for small plates nor did we have room in our luggage for extra bottles (a recurring Paris problem, LOL!) but the selection here is excellent. If you’re feeling indecisive or just want a recommendation, the staff are more than happy to help you choose.

Ambassade de Bourgogne

Find it on Google Maps

This wine bar and shop is dedicated entirely to wine from the Burgandy region and it’s a real find. In fact, it’s the only wine bar outside Burgandy to specialise exclusively in Burgandy wines – and that alone makes it worth a visit.

Inside, the vibe is relaxed, intimate and refreshingly unpretentious. It’s a small space so it fills up quickly but that just adds to the charm. Staff are friendly, very knowledgeable and happy to help whether you’re ordering a single glass or picking out a bottle to take home.

It’s not just the staff that make this place feel welcoming – there’s a really friendly, sociable feel to the place and it didn’t take long before we were chatting wine and travel with wine lovers from around the world.

Food wise, the small but perfectly formed menu focuses on classic Burgandy fare, plus charcuterie and cheese boards, the latter can be matched to the colour of your wine. The food is simple, well done and the perfect partner to your wine. Add this one to your itinerary – you’ll be pleased you did!

Rouge ou Blanc Caviste & Bar à Vin

Find it on Google Maps

We pop in here for some after dinner drinks upon the recommendation of the staff at Ambassade de Bourgogne – trust me, when they vouch for a place, you know it’s going to be good.

The bar is the perfect mix of chic, modern and cosy, with warm lighting, elegant decor, high tables and wine bottles lining the walls. Our host is friendly and happy to offer recommendations.

The wine selection here is excellent with a focus on natural and organic wines. There’s a good selection available by the glass including the “mystery” wine which David can’t resist and to everyone’s surprise he guesses the region correctly, it’s Burgandy! Clearly, he is becoming a bit of an expert.

Whether you’re a wine buff or you’re just looking for a good glass, these three spots in the 6th arrondissement each have their own charm and they all have very fine wines – there’s something here for every palate. Here’s to good wine and good times!

Red or white – what would be your choice? Have you got any other Paris wine bars to add to the list?

As always all food and drinks were independently paid for and all opinions are my own.

If you like regular cheese on toast, you’ll love this healthier, high-protein version. It’s quick, easy and absolutely delicious.

I completely missed the viral cottage cheese toast trend on both Instagram and TikTok but I did eventually get on board thanks to Em the Nutritionist. Apparently cottage cheese toast has become so popular that cottage cheese sales have increased by 65% since 2021. Growing up, I remember cottage cheese being something you only really ate if you were on a diet but in the 2020s it’s definitely got superfood status.

We’ve been eating these toasts since I started my healthy eating efforts last September and they’re just just the ticket whether you’re looking for a quick snack, a light lunch or a lazy dinner. They’re satisfying, packed with protein, full of flavour and proof that healthy food can be simple and delicious.

I’ve stayed pretty true to Em’s original recipe, with one small tweak. Instead of fresh chilli, I use jarred jalapeños simply because they’re easier to handle and always in my fridge. If spice isn’t your thing, marinated red peppers and sweeter fresh (like red and yellow) peppers work beautifully too.

We always have a stash of frozen bread in the freezer and using frozen bread then toasting it actually increases the “resistant starch.” This helps reduce the bread’s glycemic index, slows blood sugar spikes, and acts as fibre for gut health. Plus, freezing bread keeps it fresh for months, so it’s a win-win! Of course, fresh bread goes great in this recipe too!

For best results, lightly toast the bread first (especially if using frozen) before topping it with the cottage cheese mix, then cut the cheese-topped toast in half before putting it in the air fryer. It makes it so much easier to serve and ensures that perfect melty texture.

These cottage cheese toasts may look simple but they deliver big flavour. The cheddar gives you that proper cheese-on-toast satisfaction, the jalapeños add a kick and the herbs bring freshness and balance. Baking or air-frying creates a melty, pizza-like texture that’s honestly hard to beat.

Each portion packs around 18g of protein, making this a filling, high-protein meal or snack that still feels indulgent. This recipe is proof that healthy cheese on toast really can taste amazing. More (cottage) cheese, please!

Are you team spicy or team mild? What’s your favourite toastie combo?

Serves 2 generously

Ingredients

2 large (or 3-4 small) slices sourdough bread

4 heaped tablespoons cottage cheese (full or low fat)

50g cheddar, grated

1/2 small red onion, finely chopped

1/2 green capsicum, finely chopped

1 tablespoon fresh coriander or parsley, finely chopped

1 teaspoon of sliced jalapenos from a jar, chopped (add more or less depending on your heat tolerance)

How to

1. Mix all the ingredients together in a medium bowl and season to taste with salt and pepper.
2. Lightly toast the bread, if desired – this is especially good if you’re using frozen bread.
3. Generously place the topping on to the bread slices and carefully cut in half.
4. Airfry at 200C for 8 minutes or pop into the oven at 200C for 10-12 minutes.

Honestly, I don’t know where the time goes – here I am writing a wrap up of February in the middle of March! Say what?! In light of my tardiness, I seriously considered skipping Taking Stock for this month but after all these years, I can’t help but think if I didn’t take stock, did it even happen? February was short but sweet and looked something like this…

Baking: These yumbolicious Pantry Raid Cookies.

Combining: My love of decluttering and baking in one delicious recipe!

Making: Even more of Em the Nutritionist’s recipes – so healthy and so yum!

Eating: My way around Paris.

Drinking: Black coffee and red wine, it’s been the weather for it!

Testing: Out this year’s Hot Cross Bun offerings. These extremely cheesy ones are a solid 8 out of 10.

Coveting: The M and S Red Velvet Hot Cross Buns. If I find them, I promise to report back!

Watching: Heated Rivalry again… And again.

Reading: My way through Rachel Reid’s Game Changer series.

Listening: To Scouting For Girls.

Laughing: At live comedy in Birmingham’s Glee Club.

Enjoying: Live jazz music in Paris. I feel like a real culture vulture!

Celebrating: Our 19th wedding anniversary in Paris – where does the time go?!

Catching: The Eurostar – it’s definitely my favourite mode of transport.

Spending: A fab few days in the city of love.

Knowing: That Paris is always a good idea.

Finding: Some of Paris’ most wonderful wine bars but that’s a post for another day!

Tasting: Cheese and paired wines at the Secret Wine Door. I highly recommend!

Buying: Salt and pepper grinders. I feel positively grown up!

Selling: Things I no longer love nor need on Vinted. It’s very addictive!

Marvelling: At this month’s manicure.

Sharing: My top tips for visiting the Acropolis.

Posting: The recipe for this Easy BBQ Sweetcorn Crunch Salad – it’s a real family favourite!

Running: For the first time in about five years, albeit for a couple of minutes!

Having: A fab day in London with the girls celebrating my friend’s birthday.

Enjoying: A delicious afternoon tea .

Working: Two different part time jobs this month – variety really is the spice of life.

Breathing: A sigh of relief after getting the all clear on my thyroid check up.

Feeling: Grateful but anxious.

Disliking: The state of the world right now. The planet’s biorhythms are off!

Liking: Being able to fit into some of my old clothes again.

Loving: The Heated Rivalry Girls Night In I had with my friend. So much fun! Of course, we ate tuna melts.

Looking: Forward to Spring!

Did your February also fly by in the blink of an eye? Tell me all about it in the comments.

We met in a November and went on our very first adventure together to Paris for Valentine’s Day, so it feels only right that we’d return all these years later to celebrate our 19th wedding anniversary – almost 21 years on! Of course, we’ve been back to Paris a few times in between, and I think every visit just makes us fall a little bit more in love with the city.

This time around, we mix things up and stay on the Left Bank in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, in the 6th arrondissement. It’s such a great area, full of gorgeous little cafés, bars, and restaurants, and incredibly easy to get around either on foot or by public transport. We stay in a signature room at Hôtel Artus, and love both the space and the quirky décor. It feels stylish without trying too hard – how very Paris!

One of the things I love most about Paris is just how walkable it is. You can easily stroll from one side of the city to the other in about an hour. We make our way to the Eiffel Tower and briefly toy with the idea of going up… but between the surprisingly wild weather (blue sky, freezing wind) and our lack of forward planning when it comes to tickets, we decide against it so this selfie will have to do!

The Eiffel Tower is really just a waypoint because our actual destination is the Secret Wine Door for a wine and cheese tasting and it’s quite the experience. We taste five wines paired with matching cheeses, guided by our wonderful host, Erwan. Along the way, we learn loads about French wine and pick up a few insights into French life in general. Two hours absolutely fly by and it’s time very well spent.

On our very first trip to Paris together, we took a boat cruise and loved it so much that we can’t resist doing it again. We actually tried to book one when we were here in May, but everything was sold out. One of the perks of visiting Paris in February is that it’s noticeably quieter (at least by Paris standards). Cruising up and down the Seine for about an hour is such a lovely way to see the city from a different perspective – gliding past landmarks like the Institut de France, which is home to some of France’s most prestigious academies and looks especially majestic from the water.

Is a visit to Paris even a visit to Paris if you don’t see Notre Dame?! After the devastating fire in 2019, it’s been wonderful to see the cathedral carefully restored, and it has now reopened to visitors – it’s still as busy as ever. Even after more than 850 years, it remains one of Paris’s most iconic and popular landmarks.

We walk through the Louvre, which is always busy no matter what the season. Even if you’re not heading inside, just wandering through the courtyards and soaking up the atmosphere is an experience in itself – the place has a real buzz.

We take a wander through the Jardin des Tuileries. The gardens have been part of Paris life since the 1500s and I can imagine they’d be absolutely spectacular in the sunshine. The weather doesn’t dampen our enthusiasm though and this statue ends up being my favourite.

From there, we stroll up the Champs-Élysées and make our way to the Arc de Triomphe, which never fails to impress. In fact, we have a photo of the two of us from our first trip in this exact spot!

Here it is for old time’s sake! Look at us, we were just bebes!

Even if shopping isn’t really your thing, Galeries Lafayette Haussmann is absolutely worth a visit. If nothing else, go to admire the incredible dome (or coupole). Built in 1893, this architectural masterpiece rises 33 metres above the designer labels below and is genuinely breathtaking. If you’re feeling brave (I’m not,) there’s also the Glasswalk – a 9-metre glass walkway suspended 16 metres in the air. It’s free, but you do need to book ahead.

We then head up to the rooftop terrace on the 8th floor (also free, no ticket required) for one of the best panoramic views in Paris. From up there, it feels like a roll call of iconic Paris landmarks with sweeping views of the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and Sacré-Cœur – what a treat. I bet this would be incredible at sunset.

We can’t leave without a wander through the souvenir and gift department on the 6th floor. Like everything else in the store, it’s stylish and well curated – full of chic Parisian souvenirs, sweets, and treats. It’s definitely a step up from your average souvenir shop, with prices to match but not wildly so. Bonus points too for the bathrooms: clean, decent, and free (the latter is such a rarity in Paris!)

There’s something special about revisiting familiar places – from world-famous landmarks to quiet garden walks and rooftop views – Paris feels familiar yet full of surprises. Revisiting places we’ve loved for years and seeing them through the lens of a different trip and a different season makes our anniversary stay feel especially memorable. One thing is certain, Paris is always a good idea!

Have you ever returned to a place that meant something special to you and did it feel different the second (or third) time around? If you were planning a trip to Paris, what would be at the top of your list?

February was short and sweet and now here we are marching into March. Yes friends, mix and munch, it’s the first of the month which means it’s time to catch up with Sherry and friends for this month’s edition of In My Kitchen. Let’s get to it!

I decided to unlock the next level of adulting and finally invest in a proper salt and pepper mill and I haven’t looked back. I love them and as you can see, my obsession with all kitchen things blue continues!

Overnight oats are one of our favourite breakfasts. I’d been upcycling and serving our breakfast delights in repurposed Bonne Maman jam jars which worked fine except the oats got stuck in the grooves. I invested in some jars fit for purpose and the perfect size – I couldn’t be happier.

My dear friend Jasmine who’s been my great mate since we were three, sent me these delightful marshmallows at Christmas. I fully intended to make my own smores but I was really trying to eat well and while I come from the school of eating a little of what you fancy is good for you, I thought the chocolate might be excessive. Even naked the marshmallows were divine – I have no regrets!

I shared my cousin Katie’s famous (at least in our family) Easy BBQ Sweetcorn Crunchy Corn Salad – it’s so easy and so delicious. You can literally throw it together in minutes!

I usually test a recipe and then take ages to post it but I had to make an exception with these Pantry Raid Cookies. I made a few batches because I had some ingredients to use up and they were 11 out of 10 delicious. A recipe this good needs to be shared, so share it I did!

We had a wonderful anniversary getaway to Paris where we enjoyed some great coffee, some of which was served with gavottes. These super light biscuits are like a crepe in biscuit form and are utterly delicious. The biscuits come wrapped – 2 per pack making them the perfect treat to enjoy with a cuppa. I bought the regular and chocolate varieties because of course, I had to try them all! My only regret is I wish I’d bought more!

As we’d enjoyed so many meals out in Paris, we decided to stay in for Valentine’s. In the morning, I made our favourite high protein brunch of smoked salmon, (mostly egg white) scrambled egg, cherry tomatoes, spinach, avocado and sourdough – which hits almost 30g protein per plate. I always say, “now imagine how much this would cost if you had it in a cafe.” Ha! My heart plates really came into their own this Valentine’s!

I couldn’t be faffed with making a special dinner so instead I delegated to Mr Marks and Mr Spencer who were offering a choice of starters, mains, sides, dessert and a bottle of wine for £25 – that’s about $50 AUD. I literally couldn’t buy the ingredients and make it for that money! We started with these dim sum and ponzu dipping sauce – they were almost too pretty to eat. Side note – I cannot wait for daylight savings. I am so over dinner in the dark photos!

For mains, we had salmon and prawn en croutes with green veg and to finish these super cute cheesecakes with chocolate hearts.

Talking of Marks and Spencer, I unearthed our M and S snowmen bao from the freezer – we’d bought them at Christmas and popped them in the deep freeze for posterity. They were almost too cute to eat but eat them we did!

I was so happy to find that my friend L loves Heated Rivalry as much as me… So much so that I decided to host a ‘reheat’ (as in a rewatch) of the whole series. Of course, I made tuna melts (IYKYK) but a high protein Em the Nutritionist version. I think Ilya would approve! PS. Excuse the mess!

I am still cooking my way through Em the Nutritionist’s cookbooks and our latest new favourite recipes is this immunity boosting harissa red pepper soup. It’s going to be a regular feature on our meal plan which is just as well because my parmesan toast needs some work!

Even if I never looked at a calendar, I would know Easter was coming because the hot cross buns are out in the shops in full swing. I’m coveting the Marks and Spencer red velvet hot cross buns but they were out of stock last time I looked so the extremely cheesy variety were the first buns of the season! I can confirm they were 8 out of 10 delicious!

So that’s what’s been going on in my kitchen, I’d love to hear what’s been happening in yours! Tell me everything in the comments!

Linking up with Sherry for In My Kitchen

Upcycle left over pantry ingredients to make these deliciously chewy cookies full of yum. Pantry raiding has never tasted so good!

This recipe is inspired by a bit of spring cleaning in my cupboards and it combines two of my favourite things – baking and decluttering so this recipe is a win-win if you ask me.

The beauty of this recipe is how versatile it is. You can throw in any seeds, oats, nuts and dried fruits you have lurking in the pantry. Every batch might have slightly different ingredients but the end result will always be delicious. You can even use leftover chocolate if you have any… although there’s no such thing in our house so I use chocolate chips instead.

Talking of decluttering, I’ve been going mad for it this year. We’ve had a massive clear-out and I’ve become borderline obsessed with Vinted which for my non-UK friends is an online marketplace where you can sell second hand clothes and accessories. I find decluttering so therapeutic whether it’s in a bedroom wardrobe or a messy kitchen cupboard! And yes, I’m sad to say all my kitchen cupboards are messy!

Anyway, back to the cookies… One of my favourite things about them is that they’re so make-ahead friendly. Once the dough is prepped and rolled, you can pop the cookies in the fridge for a few hours or even overnight, and then bake them whenever you’re ready. Fresh cookies on demand? Yes please!

They’re super easy to make with a mixer or the Thermomix, but whatever you do, make sure you brown the butter on the stove. I know it’s an extra step (and an extra item of washing up), but it’s so worth it. It adds the most incredible rich, caramel flavour – think minimum effort for maximum yum!

These cookies are the perfect excuse to clear out your pantry and feel smug about not letting anything go to waste. A little spring clean… but let’s make it delicious.

Have you been on a decluttering kick lately – pantry, wardrobe, or both? What random ingredients would you throw into these cookies if you were raiding your cupboards?

Makes 18 large cookies

Ingredients

150g butter

150g brown sugar

100g caster sugar

1 large egg, beaten

255g plain flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

3/4 teaspoon sea salt flakes

100g chocolate chips (milk, dark or white or a combo)

50g seeds, oats or nuts, roughly chopped

50g dried fruit

How to – Traditional

1. First brown the butter. Melt the butter in a small pan over a medium high heat, stirring occasionally until it starts to foam, turn golden and smell nutty. Tip into a large bowl and set aside to cool for 20 minutes.
2. In a separate bowl, use a fork to mix the flour, baking powder, bicarb and salt and set aside.
3. When the butter has cooled, add the sugars to it and beat with an electric mixer for about 2 minutes. The mixture should be nice and smooth.
4. Add the egg and mix for another 2 minutes until well combined.
5. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until just combined.
6. Add the chocolate, nuts and dried fruit and fold in until evenly distributed.
7. Line a baking tray with baking paper and scoop heaped tablespoons of dough on to it. Pop the tray in the fridge for at least 2 hours or even overnight.
8. When you’re ready to bake, preheat oven to 180C, line 2 large baking trays with baking paper and arrange the dough balls on the trays leaving space between each to allow for spreading. Bake for 12-15 minutes – swapping the trays around in the oven halfway through – until golden and just set.
9. Cool the cookies on the trays for 10 minutes and then transfer to a rack to cool completely.

How to – Thermomix

1. Add the flour, baking powder, bicarb and salt to the TM bowl. Mix for 5 seconds on speed 5. Transfer to a medium sized bowl and set aside. Don’t worry about washing the TM bowl.
2. Now brown the butter. Melt the butter in a small pan over a medium high heat, stirring occasionally until it starts to foam, turn golden and smell nutty. Tip into the thermomix bowl and set aside to cool for 20 minutes.
3. When the butter has cooled, add the sugars and mix for 20 seconds on speed 4. The mixture should be nice and smooth.
4. Add the egg and mix for another 20 seconds on speed 4.
5. Add the flour mixture to the TM bowl and mix for another 20 seconds on speed 4. Scrape down sides of bowl and mix for another 10 seconds on speed 4 until just combined.
6. Add the chocolate, nuts and dried fruit and mix for 15 seconds on reverse speed 3 or until evenly distributed.
7. Line a baking tray with baking paper and scoop heaped tablespoons of dough on to it. Pop the tray in the fridge for at least 2 hours or even overnight.
8. When you’re ready to bake, preheat oven to 180C, line 2 large baking trays with baking paper and arrange the dough balls on the trays leaving space between each to allow for spreading. Bake for 12-15 minutes – swapping the trays around in the oven halfway through – until golden and just set.
9. Cool the cookies on the trays for 10 minutes and then transfer to a rack to cool completely.

This is one of those salads you’ll want to make again and again. It’s crunchy, zesty, a little bit spicy and very nicey! I give it bonus points for using mostly pantry staples – it’s perfect for BBQs, weeknights, or just because you feel like a really good salad.

Truth be told, this is my cousin Katie’s salad. OK, we’re not strictly cousins – she’s my cousin’s wife but this salad is very much family-famous and strictly delicious. The hero ingredient is a pack of Love Corn which is a brand of yummy, crunchy roasted corn kernel snacks.

It’s Katie’s signature salad, and she’s become quite well known for it (at least in our family!) It’s quick and easy to make, uses mostly pantry ingredients, and goes with just about everything.

Like so many of the best recipes, it’s hard to quantify the ingredients exactly especially when it comes to the lime and Tabasco but this is a very forgiving salad so feel free to tweak the quantities to suit your taste. Add more lime if you like it zesty, more Tabasco if you like it spicy, and adjust the onion and crunch to your taste.

The only catch is that once you’ve added the crispy onions and crunchy corn, it doesn’t keep well. But honestly, that’s never been a problem… it’s so good it rarely lasts long enough to store anyway!

Do you prefer your corn salads zesty or spicy, or like this salad, both? What would you serve this with – BBQ, tacos, or something else?

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 x 340g tin sweetcorm

1 red onion, finely chopped

1/2 teaspoon salt

juice of 1 lime

1/4- 1/2 teaspoon tabasco (add more if you think spicy is nicey)

1 x 115g pack of BBQ crunchy corn

2 tablespoons fried onions

How to

1. Toss all the sweetcorn, salt, lime and tabasco together to combine.
2. Stir through the crunchy corn just before serving.
3. Top with the crispy onions and serve!

If you do just one thing in Athens, make it a visit to the Acropolis. You don’t need to be a history buff to be blown away by it’s incredible architecture, ancient monuments, and epic panoramic views of the city. Attracting around 3 million visitors every year, it’s no wonder this iconic site is a must-see. I’ve been, I’ve explored, and now I’m sharing my top tips so you can get the most out of your visit.

TIP! The best time of year to visit is in the shoulder season, April, May and October. Summer is peak season and can get extremely hot, the Acropolis will close in cases of extreme heat to protect visitors.

TIP! Buy your ticket in advance to save time and guarantee your spot. Ideally, purchase tickets from the official site or if tickets are sold out, try a third party vendor like Get Your Guide – they’re a bit pricier but they do include an audio tour of Plaka AKA Athens Old Town.

TIP! If you can, book an 8am entry – you’ll beat both the heat and the crowds. Between 10 am and 2pm is the busiest window and then it quietens down again later in the day.

TIP! Plan to get there about 30 minutes early, even at 8am, lines can get long! Your ticket is good from 15 minutes before to 15 minutes after your chosen entry time, so you’ve got a little wiggle room.

TIP! If you don’t feel like paying extra for a tour, take a free audio tour of the site, we loved this one by Rick Steves. It lasts about an hour and really brings the history of the sites to life and adds so much context to what you see.

TIP! The popular combo ticket that used to be available for the Acropolis, Acropolis Museum and other archaeological sites are no longer available. You will need to buy ticket separate tickets for the Acropolis site and the Acropolis Museum.

TIP! Allow anything from 1-3 hours for your visit depending on how much you want to see and how interested in history you are.

TIP! Bring some water, (it’s the only drink that’s allowed) and eat before you go as no food is permitted on site.

TIP! Wear comfortable shoes – the ground is uneven and pack sunscreen as there is very little shade. There are toilets just beyond the entrance gates and some at the far end of the site. Remember to put the loo paper in the bin!

TIP! Make sure you phone is fully charged (or bring a battery pack,) you don’t want to miss out on these photo opportunities.

Visiting the Acropolis is an unforgettable experience, full of history, incredible architecture, and stunning views of Athens. I hope with these tips, you’ll be able to explore like a pro and really make the most of your visit.

Have you been to the Acropolis before? Got any tips to add? And if you haven’t been, is it on your travel list?

All admission fees were independently paid for and all opinions are my own.