September was a veritable degustation of good things – time spent with good friends and the fam, delicious food and adventures both near and far. And while we’re already well into October (how did that even happen?!), I thought it was high time we took a quick trip down memory lane and looked back at the month that was. So, grab a cuppa and settle in for another round of Taking Stock!

Making: Tiropitakia aka Greek Cheese Pies – can’t stop, won’t stop!

Jetting: Off to Crete for a week of Greek goodness at the start of the month.

Eating: The most delicious Cretan food.

Drinking: Greek wines – our new favourite!

Tasting: Delicious Cretan wine at Manousakis winery.

Exploring: The old towns of Rethymno and Chania.

Staying: At the (nearly) new Hilton Chania Old Town Resort and Spa – such a treat.

Lying: By the pool – take me back!

Reading: Mike Gayle’s On We Go – the perfect feel good holiday read.

Getting: Back into Nordic noir tv – Oh how I missed it.

Watching: The Chestnut Man – so good!

Jeffing: My first 5k since 2020 and back to running with David! Goals!

Walking: At least 10,000 steps every day with Teddy. He’s like my personal trainer.

Packing: In the gym but…

Adding: Some dumbells to my collection so I can work out at home.

Selling: All my too big clothes on Vinted.

Buying: All new (to me) clothes on Vinted – saving money and the planet, one garment at a time!

Linking: Up with Sherry and friends for this month’s In My Kitchen

Hosting: Dear little Wookie – it’s always such a treat.

Catching: Up with my girlfriends in Birmingham.

Enjoying: A quick pit stop in the north east to see the fam and a visit to the beach.

Loving: The Indian summer we’ve been enjoying.

Liking: My cat eye/cute cat nails!

Disliking: The fact that holidays have to come to an end.

Feeling: Ready for autumn and cosy season. Bring it on!

So that’s a wrap on September. How is your October going so far? And how are you feeling about the change of season? Tell me all about it in the comments!

While I’m getting my act together trying to write all my Crete posts, here’s a little picture postcard of our time in Rethymno for this month’s 10 on 10 photo post.

We stayed at the Grande Madonna Suites in the old town, in the heart of the action yet somehow it still felt relaxed and quiet. We had a little balcony and I loved sitting out there in the mornings with a coffee and doing a bit of people watching. There were tourists having a mooch, people cycling off to work and older locals sitting outside their homes, enjoying a coffee and watching the world go by. Honestly, I could have sat there for hours.

Rethymno was our first stop in Crete and, although we only had a couple of days to explore, we managed to pack quite a lot into them.

It’s one of those places where you don’t really need a plan because every time you turn a corner there’s another pretty street, colourful doorway, little shop or somewhere that makes you want to stop and take a photo. See what I mean?

The Venetian Harbour is a Rethymno highlight with its colourful waterfront buildings, bobbing boats and historic lighthouse. By day it’s a lovely spot for a wander and at night there’s a real buzz.

We rarely go to the same bar or restaurant twice but we made an exception for Sella Wine Bar where we went every night because it was just that good. We tried some excellent Greek wines here and the staff were so friendly and knowledgeable. It’s always a good sign when you find somewhere that you immediately want to go back to and Sella definitely fell into that category.

Despite being a self-confessed dog person, I was quite taken with the cats of Rethymno, of which there were many. They seemed to be everywhere, wandering through the streets, lounging about at restaurants (like this one) and generally looking as though they owned the place. Which, let’s face it, they probably do.

The cats of Rethymno have a super power – they can sleep just about anywhere. They can always find a cosy spot to have a literal cat nap, like this little cutie snoozing away with not a care in the world. One thing is for sure, it’s a cat’s life here in Rethymno!

We also stumbled upon a really cool antiques shop with all sorts of treasures. I love discovering places like this when we’re away, even if I have absolutely no idea what half the things are or where I’d put them if I actually bought them!

Talking of treasures, check out these treasures of the edible kind – fresh pastries fresh out of the oven. I undertook a very thorough investigation of Rethymno’s baked goods but that’s a post for another day.

Not all who wander are lost. Sometimes they’re just making new memories in old streets – one glass of Greek wine, pretty harbour view and freshly baked pastry at a time. Rethymno, you were a little bit lovely!

How do you like to explore a new place? Are you a planner or do you prefer to wander and see what you find? And tell me, are you a cat or a dog person?

Rethymno is one of the best preserved medieval towns in Greece situated on the northern coast of the Greek island of Crete, conveniently tucked between Chania and Heraklion. The town is a total delight but the best bit is that you really don’t have to go far to find something to see, do or as (you’ll discover in my other Postcards From Rethymno posts,) eat and drink!

Where We Stayed

Location, location, location! We stayed at Grande Madonna Suites in the heart of the Old Town, which was the perfect base for exploring Rethymno. Everything was pretty much on our doorstep, from the winding little streets to the many tavernas, yet our suite was wonderfully quiet. Convenient and peaceful? Tick!

Our suite had a large bedroom, living room with a fully equipped kitchen, bathroom and best of all, a bijou balcony where we could sit and watch the world go by after a busy day of exploring. Glass of wine optional! The suite was modern, spacious and spotlessly clean and we also loved the courtyard with its spa and loungers which was the perfect spot to kick back and grab some rays.

The hotel is family run by Athina and her family who were so warm and welcoming. Nothing was too much trouble and Athina helped us enormously before we arrived, from sorting our transfers to sharing tips and recommendations and making reservations for us. Five-star service aside, being able to step outside and be straight in the action was exactly what we wanted.

Exploring the Old Town

With both Venetian and Turkish influences, Rethymno’s Old Town is a gorgeous mix of history, architecture and Cretan life. We loved wandering through the narrow, pedestrianised cobbled streets, many of which were bursting with colourful flowers. Every corner seemed to lead to another pretty little alley, hidden courtyard or shop that we just had to have a peek in.

One of the Old Town’s most recognisable landmarks is the Neratze Mosque with its rather magnificent minaret towering above the rooftops. Originally built as a Venetian church, it was converted into a mosque during Ottoman rule and now functions as a municipal music conservatory.

There are plenty of local shops and boutiques selling everything from the usual souvenirs to handmade crafts and locally produced goodies such as olive oil, honey and other Cretan treats. Of course, we had to investigate a few of those! To my great delight, I even stumbled across a Christmas shop where the lady hand-paints all the decorations. Obviously, I couldn’t just walk past!

And when your feet need a little rest, you’re never far from an al fresco bar or taverna. Pull up a chair, order a drink and watch the world go by. Honestly, I could, actually we did, happily spend hours doing exactly that!

All Aboard the Little Red Train

If you fancy seeing a little more of Rethymno without clocking up too many steps, there’s always the Little Red Train! We hopped aboard and it was such a fun way to see more of the city without having to do all the exploring on foot.

The tour takes around half an hour and covers all the sights of the historic centre, complete with an audio guide. This isn’t a hop-on, hop-off situation though as the Little Red Train route is a round trip. Tours run on the hour and an adult fare is €10 per person. Is it an essential Rethymno experience? Probably not. Did we enjoy it? Absolutely!

A Stroll Around the Venetian Harbour

From the Old Town, it’s an easy stroll down to the Venetian Harbour, which is one of the prettiest parts of Rethymno. The harbour is lined with waterfront tavernas, cafes and fish restaurants, making it a lovely spot for a wander, especially when the sun is starting to go down.

Take a walk past the tavernas and colourful fishing boats and look out for the lighthouse. It was built in the 1830s by the Egyptians after Crete was handed over to them by the Turks during Ottoman rule. Today, it’s one of Rethymno’s most recognisable landmarks and makes a pretty backdrop for a photo too.

High on the hill

High on the hill overlooking Rethymno is the 16th-century Fortezza, the city’s impressive Venetian fortress. We didn’t actually venture inside or make the climb to the top but we certainly admired it from ground level! That said it’s arguably one of the best archeological sites in the town and if you do want to explore the fortress, allow about 2 hours to check out it’s bastions, ramparts and underground munition vaults.

Laid Back Exploring

That’s what we loved about Rethymno, there are plenty of things to see and do but you don’t need a jam-packed itinerary to do them. We were perfectly happy wandering around the Old Town, stopping for a beverage, browsing the shops and taking in all the fabulous architecture. It’s the perfect place to slow down and enjoy being on holiday.

Rethymno is pretty, relaxed and incredibly easy to explore, and we loved being able to spend our days wandering without ever feeling like we had to rush from one attraction to the next. And, of course, there was always a taverna, cafe or bar waiting around the next corner!

Have you been to Rethymno? If so, what was your favourite spot? And if you haven’t been, is Crete on your travel wish list? And what ticks your boxes on holiday?

Hello October! Honestly, it feels like a hot minute since we welcomed September but here we are kicking off the 10th month of the year. My favourite thing about the first of the month is joining Sherry and friends for In My Kitchen. Who doesn’t love a sticky beak at what everyone else has been cooking, creating and collecting? (Don’t answer that, it’s a rhetorical question!) So, let’s get to it, shall we?

We jetted off to Crete at the start of the month and had the most wonderful time. Full disclosure though, most of my kitchen highlights this month are Cretan related…

First up are these Tzatziki flavour crisps – I could not resist! They were actually quite delicious and tasted a bit like sour cream and chive flavour. My only regret about buying these was that I didn’t buy more!

I don’t have a sweet tooth, I have sweet teeth and nothing makes me happier than hunting down Haribo overseas. I loved these little vampires and thought they would be fun for Halloween but if you know me and lollies, you’ll know they didn’t last until October, let alone Halloween. Ooops!

While in Crete, we became slightly obsessed with paximidia, Cretan barley rusks. They’re like mega-hard croutons, with the larger ones broken up and served in salads and smaller ones served with dips. I filled our hand luggage with these Cretan delights and can’t wait to create some of those yummy Cretan salads now I’m home.

We also stocked up on olives and the quintessential baklava and Loukoumi (like Turkish delight.) Fun fact, did you know there are about 35 million olive trees in Crete compared to a human population of about 650,000 which equates to about 53 olive trees per person!

We found a wonderful shop in Chania called Votani that had the most amazing selection of herbs, spices, nuts and natural products. I brought some tzatziki herb mix home with me and these delightful olive wood salad servers. Every time I use them, I’ll be reminded of all those delicious Cretan salads.

We really got into Greek wines while we were away – they’re quite hard to find here in the UK but I found some online at Ocado and added to cart quicker than you can say ‘yamas!’

Keeping with the Greek theme, I published the recipe for Tiropitakia (aka Greek cheeese pies) so easy and so yummy. Eating these was like having a little taste of Crete in our kitchen.

I had seen so many delicious creations from this book that I couldn’t wait to check it out for myself. I borrowed it from the library but barely got a chance to look at it before I had to return it – this book is very much in demand. I will have to borrow it again… Until next time Ella!

Well that’s a wrap on this month’s kitchen adventures! Crete definitely made its mark on my kitchen this month, from the Cretan goodies we brought back to the Greek wines and recipes that are keeping the holiday memories alive now we’re home. I’m already looking forward to putting some of our foodie souvenirs to good use.

Do you bring foodie or kitchen souvenirs home when you travel? And what’s the best thing you’ve ever brought home from a holiday?

Packed with three kinds of cheese, these Tiropitakia aka Greek cheese hand pies, are crispy, cheesy and seriously moreish. They’re so easy to make that even I can make them and bonus points, they’re baked, not fried!

It all started when we planned a Greek-themed lunch with our friends to celebrate our upcoming holidays to the Greek islands. I couldn’t decide what to make so of course, I went straight to the source and hit up my friend Valentina, who is Greek and one of the most amazing cooks I know. I asked her what I could make that was yummy, simple and guaranteed to go down well. Valentina suggested these little cheese triangles because in her words, they’re easy and everyone loves them. Let me tell you friends, Valentina wasn’t wrong!

In case you’re wondering, these little pies get their name from tiropita, which is the Greek word for a cheese pie. Tiropitakia is simply the mini version. We saw both big and small versions while we were in Crete and all sorts of shapes too. While we were in Crete, I enjoyed these pies so much so I’m totally stoked that I can now make my own at home. And now you can make them too!

The hero ingredient is, of course, the cheese. Traditionally, tiropita can include Kefalotyri cheese but as it can be hard to track down, I followed Valentina’s advice and used halloumi instead. My version uses feta, ricotta and halloumi, giving the filling a lovely combination of salty, creamy and slightly chewy. Let’s face it, everything tastes better with halloumi!

I used chilled filo to make these triangles and honestly, working with the pastry was surprisingly easy. The trick is to bring the filo to room temperature before you start, cover the sheets with a piece of baking paper and then a damp kitchen towel to stop them from drying out and work quickly once you get going.

If you’re short on time or filo isn’t your thing, you can also make these with puff pastry. It’s definitely not as authentic but it’s certainly quicker and just as delish. Simply cut the puff pastry into strips, add the cheese filling and fold once into triangles or squares before baking until golden and puffed.

Apart from being off-the-charts yum, one of the best things about these little pies is that you can make them ahead of time. If you’re making them the day before, simply assemble the tiropitakia, cover them with cling film and pop them in the fridge ready to bake the next day. You can also freeze them unbaked and cook them straight from frozen whenever you’re ready. No need to defrost, just pop them in the oven and enjoy!

They’re perfect for entertaining because you can make a batch of these babies and they will both please a crowd and feed a crowd! So, if you’re looking for a simple Greek-inspired snack, something for a mezze spread or just an excuse to eat some cheese, these Tiropitakia could be just the ticket!

Do you have a friend like Valentina who always has the perfect recipe up their sleeve? If you were going to a bring-a-plate Greek lunch, what would you make apart from these, of course?!

Makes about 25-30 pies

Ingredients

200g feta cheese, crumbled

200g fresh ricotta

200g halloumi, coarsely grated

2 eggs, beaten

18 sheets filo pastry (I used Marks and Spencers)

150g butter, melted (or extra virgin olive oil)

How to

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C and line a couple of baking trays with baking paper. Allow the filo pastry to come to room temperature. This should take about 10 minutes. Then, lay the pastry out, cover with a piece of baking paper and then a damp tea towel to stop it from drying out.
2. Make the filling. Place the crumbled feta, ricotta and roughly grated halloumi in a large bowl and add the beaten eggs.Gently mix everything together until well combined.
3. Now we’re ready to get our pie on! Take 1 sheet of filo with the longest edge facing you. Brush it with melted butter and lay another sheet on top. Repeat the process until you have 3 sheets layered together, with butter brushed between each sheet.
4. Depending on the width of your filo, cut the pastry into 4 or 5 equal vertical strips, each approximately 8cm wide.Place a tablespoon of the cheese mixture at the base of each strip, leaving a few centimetres of pastry around the filling, and press down lightly. Don’t try to squeeze too much filling into each pie otherwise it will ooze out during cooking!
5. Fold the filo diagonally over the filling to form a triangle, then continue folding the triangle over itself all the way up the strip, keeping the triangle shape as you go. If you have any excess pastry at the end, don’t worry. Just tuck it in and brush with a little extra butter to seal.
6. Continue with the remaining filo and filling. You should get about 25–30 pies. If you want to freeze the tiropitakia, place them on a baking tray in a single layer and freeze until solid. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag or airtight container.
7. To enjoy the tiropitakia now, place the triangles on the prepared baking trays and brush the tops with melted butter. Bake for about 20 minutes, until golden brown and crisp.Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before serving. They’re also delicious served at room temperature.

Note: To cook the tiropitakia from frozen, bake from frozen on sheets, brushing the tops with olive oil or melted butter until golden for 30-45 minutes.

Retiro Park is one of those places in Madrid that you could easily spend a whole day exploring, so rather than joining an organised tour, we decided to try another self-guided VoiceMap tour. This isn’t our first VoiceMap rodeo. We did the Emily in Paris tour in, yes, you guessed it… Paris and the Secrets of the Medieval Jewish Quarter in Palma. A little tip: VoiceMap tours are cheaper when you buy them through the VoiceMap website rather than the app, so it’s worth checking the website before you book.

We really rate the VoiceMap tours and this one was no exception. Taking a Voice Map tour meant we could wander at our own pace, stop whenever we fancied, take photos and admire the views. Along the way, we discovered some fascinating history, a few bizarre stories and some of Retiro’s most famous sights. Come and have a wander around the park with us…

We start our tour of Retiro in front of the famous Museo del Prado beside the statue of Goya, the painter who famously got into trouble with the Spanish Inquisition over La maja desnuda, the saucy nude you can see at his feet. Before things went south, Goya was a painter to the Spanish court and his work, along with that of Titian and El Greco, to name but a few, now graces the walls of this world-famous museum. We don’t have time to go inside though, as we have a whole park to explore!

El Prado means meadow and this area, on the outskirts of Madrid was once a rural retreat for the Spanish court. Philip II came here to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and a few decades later his grandson, Philip IV, turned the area into the magnificent Buen Retiro palace and gardens. The church of San Jerónimo el Real is one of the few surviving remnants of that royal past, although its exterior has had more work done on it than a Hollywood celebrity! The monumental steps were added much later and were built for the ill-fated wedding of Alfonso XIII and Victoria Eugenia of Battenberg. And, in case you’re wondering, yes, she is part of the family that inspired the famous Battenberg cake!

The marriage got off to a rather unfortunate start. On their wedding day in 1906, as the newlyweds were travelling back from the church, an anarchist called Mateo Morral threw a bomb at their carriage. The royal couple escaped unharmed but 24 people were killed and more than 100 wounded. And that was just the beginning of the newlyweds’ misfortunes.

We enter the park through the triumphal arch known as the Gate of Philip IV. Built in 1680 under Charles II and covered in intricate stone carvings, it’s very impressive and leads us straight into the beautiful Parterre Garden.

With its neatly clipped hedges and formal flower beds, the Parterre Garden is an absolute delight. It’s such a lovely spot to wander through and even on a sunny day, there are plenty of shady spots to escape the heat.

It’s here we discover Retiro’s oldest tree, the famous Ahuehuete, thought to have been planted in 1632. The name comes from Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs and this particular type of tree can live for hundreds of years with some examples reaching around 2,000 years old. Despite it’s relative youth, this tree is still the oldest tree in the park, surviving the French occupation of Madrid in the early 1800s when Napoleon’s troops camped out in the grounds and chopped down huge numbers of trees. Legend has it that the Ahuehuete survived because the French used its sturdy branches to support a cannon. Whether the story is true or not, one thing is for sure: the tree survived while much of Retiro was destroyed around it.

This boating lake is the last surviving part of Philip IV’s magnificent pleasure palace and back in the day, it had a small oval island in the middle where concerts and plays were performed while the king and his courtiers watched from their bougie boats. The court also enjoyed recreating naval battles on the lake because apparently watching a play wasn’t quite enough entertainment for a royal afternoon! These days you can take a much more modest boat out on the lake – they’re available to hire from the little jetty. However, be careful, when the lake was dredged for repairs in 2001 they found 50 mobile phones among a cornucopia of sunken treasure including a safe and a gobstopper machine!

Moving on, we arrive at Retiro’s public library, Biblioteca Municipal Eugenio Trias. The older brick part of the building is the former Casa de Fieras or House of Beasts which was once the park’s zoo. It’s a hot day, so we stop for a rest on the beautiful tiled seating completely unaware that this peaceful spot has a rather gruesome past.

When the park was opened to the public in 1868, the zoo came under the management of the city and, from the 1880s, was run by a private contractor, Luis Cabañas. He had a taste for what we would now consider rather horrific entertainment, organising animal fights in which zoo animals were pitted against bulls. One of the zoo’s most famous residents was Pizarro, an elephant who was forced to take part in these fights and even lost a tusk. When she was eventually retired from fighting, Pizarro became a much-loved attraction and was taken to the park’s large pond for her daily bath.

In 1918 the city took back control of the Casa de Fieras and thankfully the animal fights became a thing of the past. The zoo’s conditions, however, remained pretty grim, with animals kept in increasingly cramped conditions.

This was one of the original bear caves, and the poor bears that lived here had hardly any room to move. It’s hard to imagine keeping an animal in such a tiny space. On a slightly more cheerful note, the statue of the goblin playing the flute was added in 1985 and, according to legend, any couple who spots the statue together will be blessed with a long and intense relationship. Well, obviously we had to stop for a photo!

After the Spanish Civil War the collection grew considerably and, by the 1960s, the decision was made to move the animals to a much larger site in Casa de Campo. The new Madrid Zoo opened in 1972 and the Casa de Fieras was finally closed. Thankfully, these days the only wildlife you’re likely to see in Retiro is squirrels, cats, the occasional peacock and plenty of pups out on their daily walk.

We make our way to the Crystal Palace built in 1887 to resemble it’s namesake in London. When it was built it was a marvel of engineering because it was quite a feat to make a curved glass roof. Recently the building has been found to be structurally unsound with some of the glass panels in danger of falling so work is currently underway to restore it to it’s former splendour and glory.

At the edge of the park, you’ll find one of the world’s few public statues dedicated to Lucifer. This is the Ángel Caído, or Fallen Angel, inspired by Lucifer’s fall from grace in John Milton’s Paradise Lost which I studied for A level, by the way! The sculpture was created by Ricardo Bellver in 1878 for the Paris World Fair and was subsequently acquired by the Prado before being donated to Madrid City Council and finding its final resting place here in Retiro.

The rather fabulous pedestal was specially designed for the statue and, if you look closely, you’ll spot the grinning devils lurking around the base. And here’s the really fun bit: the statue is said to stand at exactly 666 metres above sea level. Coincidence? I think not! Madrid itself sits at around 665 metres, making it one of Europe’s highest capital cities, second only to Andorra la Vella.

And that, my friends, brings us to the end of our tour. I loved the fact that this VoiceMap tour gave us all the interesting history and stories without having to stick to someone else’s timetable. I’ve barely scratched the surface here. We discovered so much along the way, from a 400-year-old tree and a famous elephant to a flute-playing goblin and a statue of Lucifer!

If you’re visiting Madrid, I’d definitely recommend putting some time aside to explore Retiro. It’s beautiful, full of history and, as we’ve discovered, has more than its fair share of weird and wonderful stories. And if you fancy discovering it at your own pace, I highly recommend Felicity’s Voice Map tour.

Do you enjoy self-guided tours when you’re travelling, or do you prefer having a guide? And if you have visited Retiro Park, what was your favourite discovery?

Well August flew by in the blink of an eye but you know what it’s like, if I didn’t take stock of it, did it even happen?! Here’s a quick rewind into the month that was.

Making: This One Bowl High Protein Tuna Salad on repeat.

Eating: Jubes – my all time favourite lolly!

Drinking: Iced coffee like it’s going out of fashion.

Coveting: All the lollies in the old fashioned sweet shop!

Getting: Stung by a wasp – for the first time ever. It was not an experience I want to repeat!

Dropping: Off my old bras to the bra bank – helping to raise funds for breast cancer research.

Sharing: All my Madrid tips in these posts.

Reminiscing: On all the things we did with Lucy in this 10 on 10 post.

Running: (although I use the term loosely) outside and loving it.

Checking: Out all the cool cars at this year’s classic car show in town.

Watching: Big Chicken: A Fast Food Conspiracy – food for thought.

Listening: To Scouting For Girls.

Seeing: Scouting for Girls live in Lincoln – oh, what a night!

Reading: Dogs, Boys and Other Things I’ve Cried About by Isabel Klee.

Marvelling: At Isabel’s writing – highly recommend this one!

Buying: And selling so much stuff on Vinted.

Enjoying: Catching up with friends – old and new.

Loving: Having some quality time with my auntie and cousin.

Liking: Having some company for at home workouts.

Disliking: How expensive and inefficient train travel is in the UK .

Dreaming: Of air conditioning.

Wondering: How anyone can deny climate change…

Wearing: My ‘mum’s’ necklace – it has a secret chamber with some of her ashes. It’s so special.

Noticing: How the days are getting shorter.

Getting: Excited about autumn!

Looking: Forward to getting out my autumn decor!

What’s the weather like where you are? And what would be your pick in the old fashioned sweet shop? Now I’ve told you all about my month, I’d love to hear about yours. Tell me everything in the comments!

Munch and crunch, it’s the first of the month! Can you believe it? Because I can’t! I really wish 2026 came with a pause button – it’s flying by too fast. Let’s distract ourselves by having a sticky beak in each other’s kitchens, yes friends, it’s time to link up with Sherry for the September edition of In My Kitchen.

I had grand plans to make the most of daylight saving and get some decent dinner photos but for most of the month it was simply too hot to bother. So, it was very much a lazy-girl month in the kitchen. That said, I did make an effort to work my way through my Emily English cookbooks, and we tried this Snickers Yoghurt Bowl which, yes, you guessed it, tasted just like a Snickers!

I used up some of the left over Medjool dates to make another Emily recipe, these Chicken and Date Koftas (served with garlic yoghurt and butter bean salad) were crazy good. We loved them so much, I went on to make them a couple of times this month!

I finally shared the recipe for this One Bowl High Protein Tuna Salad. Of course, it’s inspired by my kitchen hero, Emily English and it’s been on high repeat here. It is so quick and easy to throw together and it’s so tasty! Plus you only need to use one bowl so almost nothing to wash up! Winning!

n other news, I’ve been meal prepping like a boss. I’ve taken to roasting a chicken once a week, stripping it and using the meat in salads and other dishes during the week. It’s much more economical than buying chicken breasts. To be honest, it’s a wonder I’m still eating chicken after watching that documentary Big Chicken: A Fast Food Conspiracy on Netflix. It almost turned me vegetarian! Have you seen it?

When my friend Lucy from Australia came to stay she brought me some soft jubes. She knows that Jubes are my absolute favourite sweet/lolly in the whole world. Once I have opened a bag of Jubes, I just cannot stop eating them. In fact, I’m surprised these lasted long enough for a photo!

While we’re on the subject of Lucys – did you know that I currently know about 7 Lucys? It’s so confusing! Anyhoo, my cousin Lucy got me these cute dapper dogs from Hotel Chocolat for my birthday. I’m actually impressed that we haven’t tucked into them yet!

Talking of family, Lucy’s mum AKA my auntie got me these super cute dog salt and pepper shakers when she came to stay a while back. They’re from Liberty – a famous luxury department store in London – and they are the most delightful addition to the kitchen.

I also got to catch up with my dear friend, ‘Dish’ just after she returned from her trip home to South Africa and look what she bought me – fresh pecans from her mother’s tree! Now all I need is a nutcracker!

We had a lovely, long Greek-themed lunch with our friends James and Lucy. We’re all off to Greece and its islands over the coming weeks, so we decided to whet our appetites! We had some fabulous food, with plenty of Greek wine to match. I made these Tiropita – Greek Triangle Cheese Pies, chicken koftas and my tzatziki. I can’t wait to make them again and share the recipe.

Someone left me a very sour comment on my lime curd recipe post but you know what they (and when I say they, I mean I,) when life gives you limes make lime curd, so that’s exactly what I did. By golly, it was delicious – it took all my self control not to eat it straight from the jar!

I have enjoyed summer’s long days and the never ending sunshine – the tropical nights, not so much – but I must say I am looking forward to letting loose with the autumn decor. TK Maxx has outdone itself with it’s autumn offerings this year but I was very restrained. I could not resist these cute kitchen hand towels and I had to use them immediately – even if they are Halloween themed and it is only August!

And that my friends, rounds off this little peek into my kitchen this month – some easy but delicious recipes and a concerted effort not to turn the oven on! Are you excited for the change of seasons? And what’s been cooking in your kitchen this month?

After sharing my ultimate Madrid tapas crawl, you could be forgiven for thinking we spent our whole trip eating small plates and drinking wine (not that there’s anything wrong with that!) But dear reader, there was more to our Madrid food adventure than tapas and cocktails. If you haven’t already, don’t miss my Madrid tapas crawl guide, where we ate our way around six brilliant tapas bars.

From speciality coffee and French pastries to epic sandwiches and brunch worth getting excited about, here are the other places we loved.

HanSo Cafe 2

For Asian-inspired brunch and speciality coffee

Find it on Google Maps

I’d been here before on my last visit to Madrid and can’t wait to go back. If you love a good brunch and great coffee, HanSo is definitely worth adding to your list. The brunch is next level with an Asian-European twist and the menu is full of dishes that are a little bit different from your usual brunch fare. It’s hugely popular and always busy so be prepared to wait for a table. Once you’ve found a spot, just order and pay at the counter. I’m pleased to report that the coffee is every bit as good as I remembered.

We actually make two trips here during our stay, once for coffee and once for brunch. For brunch, we both opt for the Hokkaido bread plates. I go for the Bikini, with turkey ham, scrambled egg, cheddar cheese and mayo, while David chooses the Chashu Beef, topped with ramen egg, radish, crispy onions and seaweed flakes. Both are absolutely packed with flavour and seriously good. It’s easy to see why HanSo has become one of our Madrid favourites.

Pez Tortilla

For tortillas, croquetas and craft beer

Find it on Google Maps

I have fond memories of Pez Tortilla from my last trip to Madrid so I was keen to try this outpost of the popular tortilla chain. It’s busy when we arrive but thankfully we manage to bag a table. Everything is ordered and paid for at the counter and there’s a tempting selection of tortillas and croquetas. So, naturally, we try one of each!

The Brie tortilla with truffle and ham is rich and indulgent, particularly when you use some crusty bread to mop up all those delicious juices. The ham croquettes, served two per portion, are crisp on the outside and creamy in the middle and hit the spot perfectly.

Prices are super reasonable and there’s a great drinks selection too, including a tempting range of craft beers. It’s a brilliant spot for a quick and very affordable bite or as we discovered, the perfect pre-tapas stop for our Madrid Tapas Crawl .

Geisha Coffee

For a caffeine fix in the heart of the city

Find it on Google Maps

Location, location, location! Tucked just off one of Madrid’s main tourist drags, Geisha Coffee is a handy little spot for a quick caffeine fix when you’re exploring the city centre. It’s close enough to all the action but just far enough away to escape some of the hustle and bustle.

The staff speak good English, there’s an English menu, you order and pay at the counter and there are several high tables if you fancy stopping for a proper coffee break rather than grabbing one to go. It’s not somewhere I’d make a special trip across the city for, but if you’re in the area and in need of a decent coffee, it’s a very handy pit stop.

Santa Eulalia Boulangerie Patisserie

For artisan pastries, speciality coffee and a historic setting

Find it on Google Maps

I can’t not go back to Santa Eulalia Boulangerie. It was one of the highlights of my last trip to Madrid so I’m keen for David to experience it for himself. This beautiful bakery serves classic French pastries and speciality coffee but there’s more to discover, including a dining room with transparent flooring that reveals the remains of 11th-century Christian wall ruins. How cool is that?

But first, the baked goods! David chooses an almond croissant and I go for the Hojaldre con caramelo, aka caramel puff pastry. Both are excellent, as is the coffee and the service is worth a mention too. It’s table service all the way here which makes the whole experience feel a little more special. If you love good pastries and coffee, definitely add this one to your Madrid list.

Divorare

For epic Italian focaccia sandwiches

Find it on Google Maps

There are now six outposts of this super-popular focaccia sandwich shop across Madrid. The name means devour and that’s exactly what you’ll want to do when you see these sandwiches! The chain prides itself on making its own 48-hour slow-fermented focaccia and stuffing it with generous quantities of imported Italian ingredients.

After our Bernabéu Stadium tour (which I highly recommend, by the way), we head to the Bernabéu Market, a food court on steroids with around 20 food stalls and restaurants, including Divorare. We can’t resist the classic Come a Casa, piled high with Italian mortadella, fresh stracciatella, pistachio pesto and a signature drizzle of honey. The sandwiches are absolutely enormous and one is easily be enough to share. We certainly don’t go hungry!

Be Bahn Mi – Es Vietnam

For fresh Asian flavours

Find it on Google Maps

We find this place quite by accident but what a happy accident it is! We’re looking for a quick lunch before heading to the airport and by this stage, we’re probably made up of about 90% tapas, so some Vietnamese food feels like just the ticket.

The restaurant is light and airy, the service is friendly and the menu is packed with Vietnamese favourites. Disappointingly, I’m far too hot for pho but there’s always a bánh mì! There’s a good selection of rolls to choose from but in the end we go for the char siu and the crispy pork. The bread is fresh and wonderfully crisp, while the fillings are well balanced and plentiful. It’s a lucky find and a welcome change from tapas with fresh Asian flavours and an excellent bánh mì. Definitely one to remember if you’re looking for something a little different in Madrid.

So, there you have it, our favourite foodie finds in Madrid (beyond the tapas bars, of course.) Don’t get me wrong, I’ll never say no to a plate of tapas or a glass of wine but one of the joys of exploring Madrid is discovering all the other places that make the city such a brilliant food destination.

From lazy brunches and speciality coffee to buttery pastries and epic sandwiches, these are the spots we’d happily return to. Hopefully they might inspire your own Madrid food adventure too.

Have you been to Madrid? What’s the one food or coffee spot you’d recommend? And which of these foodie finds would you want to try first?

All food and drink was independently paid for and all opinions are my own

This is one of my all-time favourite salads. It’s full of flavour, packed with goodness and so quick and easy to throw together. Better still, everything gets mixed up in one bowl, so there’s hardly any washing up.

This recipe is from Emily English’s first cookbook, So Good, and it’s so good by name and so good by nature! I’m completely obsessed with Emily’s recipes and this is one I come back to again and again. They’re not diet recipes by any stretch. Emily’s philosophy is all about moderation, mindfulness and enjoying delicious food without unnecessary restrictions.

I’ve been making Emily’s recipes since last September when I decided it was time to get a grip on my health. Since then, we’ve eaten her recipes most days and we’ve both lost weight. I’ve lost almost 30kg.

Recently I caught up with a friend I hadn’t seen for over a year. After we’d spent ages chatting, she finally asked, “So tell me, how did you really lose all that weight? Did you go on the jabs?” My answer? I simply pointed to Emily’s three cookbooks on the shelf. The weight loss has been a lovely bonus but the biggest gift has been feeling so much healthier and happier.

I’ll be honest, this salad is a bit of a fugly one. It’s definitely not winning any beauty contests, but don’t let that put you off. As with all of Emily’s recipes, it’s packed with flavour and incredibly satisfying. Just add everything to a bowl, whisk together the dressing, toss it all together and tuck in. I love the creamy Greek yoghurt, honey and mustard dressing. It’s rich, tangy and, look, no oil!

This recipe isn’t just easy and economical, it’s incredibly versatile too. Feel free to swap the chickpeas for your favourite tinned beans (I personally love cannellini), swap the tuna for your favourite protein and, if you don’t like pickles (how could you not?!) use fresh cucumber instead.

Even with those swaps, this recipe comes in at under 350 calories and around 34g of protein per serving. Now that’s what I call a winner!

What’s your favourite salad? And are you Team Pickle like me or would you swap them for fresh cucumber?

Serves 1 (easily doubled)

Ingredients

1 generous handful of rocket leaves

1/4 red onion, finely chopped

2 tablespoons of drained tinned chickpeas

6 cherry tomatoes, halved

1 large pickle, finely diced

1 tablespoon capers

1 x 125g cans tuna in spring water, drained

1/4 medium avocado, diced

15g feta cheese

FOR THE DRESSING

1 tablespoon natural yoghurt

1 teaspoon American mustard

1 teaspoon honey

juice of 1 lemon

How to

1. Add all the salad ingredients to a large bowl.
2. Plop the yoghurt, mustard, honey and lemon juice on top, season well with salt and pepper, then toss everything together until creamy and well coated.
3. Dive in and enjoy!