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!

It’s the 10th of the month which means it’s time for another quick 10 on 10 photo round-up. This month I’m sharing a little photo story of what we got up to when one of our favourite Aussie expats came to stay with us. With just a couple of days together, we were determined to squeeze in as much Stamford food, wine and fun as possible.

We have no time to waste, so after picking up dear Lucy up from the station we headed straight to the Rutland Vineyard. It’s one of our favourite local places and if you come to visit us, chances are you’ll end up here too. Rather than commit to just one wine, we all opted for tasting flights. Fun fact: David and I actually picked the grapes for the red wine back in 2023, the first grapes harvested from these vines since Roman times!

Back at the ranch, Lucy was reunited with her second son, Teddy Roosevelt. Lucy and I actually “met” on Instagram after bonding over our boys, who were born just a month apart. Teddy was absolutely thrilled to have one of his aunties back. He never forgets!

After a wander around town, it was time for pizza at Pizza da Mario. With sunshine, pizza and an Aperol Spritz enjoyed al fresco in the town square, it almost felt like we’d been transported to Italy.

We took the scenic route via the Meadows, soaking up the warm evening sunshine. Stamford was made for golden hour and is an absolute dream for photographers. The light was pure chef’s kiss!

Next stop was another Stamford favourite, The George. This beautiful coaching inn has been welcoming travellers for almost 1,000 years and is packed with character. It was unusually quiet when we popped in, so we practically had the whole bar to ourselves. Cheers to that!

Fuelled by the promise of cinnamon buns, we kicked off the following morning with breakfast at Cakes and Co. We took Lucy’s husband, Dan, when he visited last year and he’s been talking about their CinABUNs ever since so Lucy had high expectations. Happily, they didn’t disappoint. Lucy chose the OG CinABUN, I went for caramel and hazelnut, while David opted for the Serrano ham and zesty Pesto toasted bun. Safe to say it was bun-derful. Ha, see what I did there!

After a quick stroll around the fabulous Friday market and a little sit down at home, it was time for our next foodie stop: Rennet and Rind, home to the best artisan cheese in town. On Fridays and Saturdays they put tables outside, making it the perfect spot for a cheese board, a glass of excellent (and very reasonably priced) wine and a spot of people watching. We couldn’t go past the cheese and charcuterie tower and it disappeared remarkably quickly.

After all that cheese and wine, Lucy and I headed off for our next treat: matching manicures! Getting an appointment at Natalie Dams Beauty is like trying to get an audience with the Pope, so I couldn’t believe I’d managed to book us both in. We were so busy chatting that we completely forgot to take a photo in the salon but here’s the end result. When life gives you lemons, get a manicure!

We rounded off the weekend with cocktails and small plates at The Slanted Door. The food and service are always spot on and this visit was no exception. The cocktails were delicious and those bao buns were every bit as good as they looked.

I think Lucy and my love of matching outfits finally rubbed off on David because this is how we headed out on Lucy’s last evening. The light was perfect, so we waited patiently for a kind stranger to take our photo. Sadly, we picked someone with a slightly wobbly hand, although full marks for composition! Blurry or not, I absolutely love this picture. It’s perfectly imperfect, a bit like us really.

With full hearts, full bellies and lots of happy memories, we dropped Lucy back to her parents the following day. It was one of those weekends that flew by far too quickly, filled with good food, great wine and even better company. Here’s hoping it won’t be too long before we’re showing one of our favourite Aussie around Stamford all over again.

Where’s the first place you’d take visitors to your hometown? And which stop on our foodie tour would you head to first?

July is a big birthday month in our house so it was packed with celebrations, time with friends and of course, a considerable amount of cake (no one was complaining!) There were a few weekends away thrown into the mix too, along with plenty of good food, good friends and good times. So pop the kettle on, get comfy, and let’s take a little look back at the month that was.

Baking: Nigella’s Buttermilk Birthday Cake – it’s birthday season after all.

Making: This Showstopping Biscuit Birthday Cake for David’s birthday. He made the same one for me… But in pink!

Cooking: Emily English’s Sardine Bolognese – don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!

Eating: Out more than usual.

Drinking: Iced coffees and gin and tonics but not at the same time.

Turning: 55. But I still feel 5.5 on the inside.

Getting: A cameo message from Roy, the lead singer of Scouting for Girls for my birthday! Squee!

Posting: This recipe for Apple, Rhubarb and Shortbread Crumble. It’s so good!

Sharing: My tips for the Ultimate Madrid Tapas Crawl. Ah, take me back!

Hosting: Our dear friend Lucy from Australia.

Giving: Lucy the complete Stamford Foodie tour.

Playing: Matchy matchy in our Strawberry Shortcake pyjamas!

Enjoying: The lovely weather.

Spending: Quality time with friends and family.

Trying: Out some of Walthamstow’s best breweries on the Blackhorse Beer Mile.

Celebrating: So many birthdays – let’s hear it for the July peeps!

Finding: It hard to believe that my bebe Teddy Roosevelt is 7! He loved his healthy homemade dog cake.

Taking: Teddy to the beach – he loves it.

Growing: My own herbs. I feel such a sense of achievement!

Receiving: Some really fabulous foodie gifts for our birthdays including this hamper of Cornish delights!

Watching: The world cup and The Lincoln Lawyer.

Hoping: England do better next time! Sigh.

Listening: To G Flip – it’s my current workout soundtrack.

Going: To the gym more regularly – it’s becoming a happy and healthy habit.

Loving: This elite charcuterie tower from our local cheesemonger – Rennet and Rind.

Liking: Mine and Lucy’s matching manicures.

Disliking: Hot flushes!

Feeling: Sorry for Teddy who spent his birthday week with a hotspot on his paw and wearing this donut collar!

Joining: Sherry and friends for this month’s edition of In My Kitchen.

Looking: Forward to August and everything it has in store.

How was your July? What’s the best thing you ate this month? Tell me everything in the comments.

Crackle and crunch, it’s the first of the month! Can you believe we’re already into the second half of the year? Because I definitely can’t! As it’s the first of the month, I’m joining Sherry and friends for the monthly edition of In My Kitchen. So, before I get stuck into all the awesomeness of August, come with me on a whistle-stop tour of what went down in my kitchen in July, otherwise known around here as birthday month.

David and I have a tradition where we make each other a birthday cake every year. I actually bake all the cakes and then David decorates mine and I decorate his. This year I made him a biscuit cake and loved it so much (and had so many biscuits left over) that I asked for the same birthday cake in pink!

I always use Nigella’s recipe for Buttermilk Birthday Cake and it never lets me down – it’s such a moist sponge and holds it’s shape so well. We shared the cake (including biscuits) with friends and neighbours and it went down a right treat. I even shared all my tips on how to make this showstopping cake in a blog post!

It was Teddy’s birthday too and don’t worry, he didn’t miss out on the cake action. Keeping with tradition, he had his own healthy homemade dog cake.

I finally shared the recipe for my Apple, Rhubarb and Shortbread Crumble – using biscuits for the crumble topping really is a game changer!

I continue to cook my way through my Emily English cookbooks. This Cottage Cheese Pizza toast has been on high rotation.

I also made Em’s tuna cucumber bites as a slightly healthier addition to a grazing platter. They were so quick, easy and really tasty. It might be the first time I’ve made them but it won’t be the last.

Our friends went away for the weekend to Herefordshire which is apparently the cherry capital of England. They very kindly gave us this big bowl of cherries and they were absolutely delicious! Cherries are my fave!

The same neighbours gifted me these planters full of herbs for my birthday – what a great gift! I just hope I can keep them alive! For those of you following along at home, my counter top herbs are still alive – just about!

We got so many lovely foodie gifts for our birthdays. Our lovely friend/dog sitter sent us this Cornish hamper – everything was yummy and delicious, especially the scones.

But that wasn’t the only Cornish hamper we received! Other friends went on holiday to Cornwall and put together this beautiful birthday hamper of Cornish deliciousness – it was so thoughtful and generous.

My friend Jazz who I’ve been friends with since I was 3 got me this shimmer syrup which you can add to your (non) alcoholic drinks.

I am very much in my iced coffee era so we invested in a couple more Nespresso glasses. They’re the perfect size and really solid!

I made a few additions to my Country Traditionals collection this month. I had been coveting this water carafe/vase for ages and my birthday seemed like the perfect excuse to bring it home. Friends gave me this soap dispenser for my birthday – I love it so much!

So that’s a wrap on July! It was a month full of birthdays, good food, great gifts and plenty of reasons to celebrate. I’m looking forward to seeing what August has in store, both in and out of the kitchen.

How was your July? What have you been cooking, baking or eating lately? And do your family and friends have a designated birthday month like we do?!

Madrid is one of my favourite cities and one of the best things about the Spanish capital is the food. From bustling neighbourhood taverns to cosy wine bars, there’s no shortage of places to enjoy a few tapas and a drink.

To save you the hard work – you’re welcome! – we spent our trip eating our way around the city to find the tapas bars we’d happily return to again and again. Whether you’re planning to tackle them all in one evening or spread them over a few days like we did, here’s our favourite Madrid tapas crawl.

All six tapas bars are within easy walking distance of each other, on or around Cava Baja, making it easy to recreate this tapas crawl for yourself. Save the map below for your trip!

On this tapas crawl you’ll visit:

• El Mini Bar – For creative tapas and quirky décor
• Casa Revuelta – For Madrid’s iconic fried cod
• Taberna La Concha – For vermouth and classic tapas
• La Perejila – For vintage charm and comforting tapas
• Casa Lucas – For inventive tapas
• Taberna Tempranillo – For Spanish wines

El MiniBar

For creative tapas and quirky decor

Find it on Google Maps

This cosy little bar serves tapas that are just as eclectic as the décor. The tables are topped with Perspex and filled with old receipts and handwritten notes from previous diners, giving the place a fun, quirky feel.

We arrive early and just manage to grab a table but it doesn’t stay quiet for long. This place is incredibly popular and fills up fast, so I’d definitely recommend booking ahead if you can.

We order the crispy boar rolls with portobello mushroom sauce and the house speciality – grilled goat’s cheese with tomato jam and coriander oil. It is an unforgettable combination of sweet, savoury and creamy flavours and without a doubt one of our favourite dishes of the whole trip.

Casa Revuelta

For Madrid’s iconic fried cod

Find it on Google Maps

Just off Plaza Mayor, Casa Revuelta is a Madrid institution, famous for its bacalao rebozado (battered salt cod) which many locals and visitors consider to be the best in the city. It’s the house speciality and because they’re constantly frying fresh batches, it’s always served piping hot.

The bar itself is wonderfully no-frills – standing room only, a Spanish blackboard menu and bullfighting on the TV. It’s exactly the sort of place you’d probably walk straight past if you didn’t know about it but that’s all part of its charm.

A portion of the famous battered cod and a small draught beer (caña) will set you back around €7, which feels like incredible value. In for a penny, in for a pound (or should that be euro?), we can’t resist trying the croquetas too. They arrive piping hot with gloriously creamy centres and are every bit as delicious as the cod.

Taberna La Concha

For vermouth and classic tapas

Find it on Google Maps

This classic Madrid tavern is famous for its vermouth and is well worth a stop on any tapas crawl . While you’re deciding what tapas to order, treat yourself to a Manuela – the house cocktail named after the owner’s daughter. Made with house-made vermouth, served over ice, spritzed with gin and topped with Campari, it’s absolutely delicious!

The tapas menu is written up on a board and there’s something for everyone. We order the homemade meatballs in rich tomato sauce and the smoked cod on toast. Both are spot on and excuse the pun… really raise the bar.

La Perejila

For vintage charm and tradtional tapas

Find it on Google Maps

La Perejila is a cosy little spot serving classic tapas, hearty mains and a great selection of drinks in a compact space packed full of vintage charm. The eclectic décor is a feast for the eyes with quirky treasures and hidden details everywhere you look. To be honest, it’s worth visiting for the décor alone, but thankfully the food is just as memorable.

We order the Lunares (chorizo cooked in white wine), the Perejilas (the house meatballs) and the Peineta (an empanada), washing it all down with glasses of vermouth and Tinto de verano (red wine and lemonade) – my new favourite drink! It is classic Madrid comfort food at its very best.

Before you leave, don’t miss the vintage shop next door. It’s a real Aladdin’s cave, packed with everything from clothes and jewellery to quirky homewares, knick-knacks and unique gifts. Even if you’re not planning to buy anything, it’s well worth a browse.

Casa Lucas

For inventive tapas

Find it on Google Maps

Small but perfectly formed, Casa Lucas combines exposed brick walls, colourful artwork and some seriously good tapas. We arrive just as the doors open and are lucky to grab a couple of seats at the bar. Within minutes the place is packed, so I’d definitely recommend booking ahead if you don’t want to miss out.

The menu puts a creative twist on classic tapas. We love the tuna tataki – sashimi-style tuna served with spring onion, soy sauce and mashed apple – while the duck foie with port sauce and caramelised fruit is a real standout and one of the highlights of our Madrid food adventure. With its relaxed atmosphere, friendly service and inventive menu, it’s easy to see why Casa Lucas is so popular. This is one tapas bar we’d happily return to again and again.

Taberna Tempranillo

For Spanish wine lovers

Find it on Google Maps

If wine is your thing, you’ll love El Tempranillo. This stylish wine bar has an impressive selection of bottles from almost every wine-producing region in Spain, all stacked floor to ceiling in a chic but cosy space with exposed stone walls, rustic beams and towering wine racks.

It’s not just the wine list that’s impressive. The tapas are every bit as tempting with plenty of dishes to pair perfectly with your chosen tipple.

We opt for the garlic prawns along with a couple of pinchos and I’m pleased to report that the food is every bit as good as the wine. Simple, flavour-packed dishes, excellent wines and a relaxed atmosphere make this a bar well worth adding to your Madrid tapas crawl. We enjoy it so much, we go back for a second visit before we fly home.

Tips For Your Madrid Tapas Crawl

Ready to retrace our steps? Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your own Madrid tapas crawl. You can tackle it all in one go if you’ve got the stamina or spread it over a few days like we did.

• Go hungry. It’s tempting to order everything that catches your eye, but you’ll enjoy the crawl much more if you stick to one or two dishes at each stop. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself by the final bar!
• Ask for the house speciality. Every bar has a signature dish and it’s usually famous for a reason. If you’re not sure what to order, just ask.
• Book ahead where you can. Some of the smaller bars fill up quickly, especially in the evening. A reservation means you can relax and enjoy the crawl without hunting for a table.
• Don’t over-plan it. Leave time to linger over a glass of wine or vermouth if you’re having a good time. Some of our favourite moments were the ones we hadn’t planned.
• Mix up your drinks. Madrid isn’t just about beer. Try a glass of vermouth, a local wine or a caña (a small draught beer) depending on the bar.
• Share everything. Tapas are made for sharing, so order a few dishes for the table. You’ll get to try far more of the menu.
• Start early. We found arriving when places opened gave us the best chance of getting a table, especially at the smaller bars.
• Wear comfortable shoes. The bars are close enough to walk between, and wandering the streets between stops is all part of the fun.

Whether you’re a vermouth lover, a wine enthusiast or just someone who enjoys good food, this tapas crawl is a fabulous way to experience Madrid. Cheers!

Now tell me, if you could only visit one of these tapas bars, which would you choose? Do you have a favourite Madrid bar or restaurant that I should try next time?

This apple and rhubarb crumble is one of those desserts that looks like you’ve made a big effort when in reality it’s incredibly low-stress. It’s become a bit of a go-to in my kitchen especially when I want something comforting, easy, and guaranteed to go down well.

This season, my rhubarb dealers (AKA friends and neighbours) have been very generous, so I’ve been making this simple, delicious crumble on repeat. It’s especially good for entertaining because you can prep the filling ahead of time, then just top with shortbread crumble and bake before serving.

You’ll notice that I haven’t added Thermomix instructions for this recipe and that’s because it’s that easy, you don’t need any fancy equipment, just a rolling pin, bowl and a spoon!

I’ve been making this for friends and neighbours and it’s it’s gone down a treat. I love the idea of serving it in ramekins because you know I’m an only child and how I feel about sharing, LOL, but if you’re feeling more generous than me, you can absolutely make one big crumble to share.

So tell me, what’s your favourite crumble filling? Would you go for individual ramekins or one big sharing dish?

Ingredients

400g rhubarb, cut into 3cm pieces

2-3 large apples, peeled and chopped into 2 cm chunks

90g caster sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

30g unsalted butter, melted

8 shortbread fingers (approx 160g)

Ice cream or custard to serve

How to

1. Preheat oven to 180C.
2. Put the chopped rhubarb and apple into an ovenproof dish. Sprinkle over the sugar, add the vanilla and toss everything together. Bake for 15 minutes, until the fruit has just started to soften.
3. Meanwhile, make the crumble topping. Put the shortbread fingers into a ziplock bag and bash them with a rolling pin until crushed, leaving a few chunky pieces for extra crunch.
4. Transfer the crushed shortbread to a bowl, add the melted butter and stir until evenly coated.
5. Divide the fruit mixture between 4 ramekins, sprinkle over the shortbread crumble and bake for 10-15 minutes until golden and crisp.
6. Remove from the oven and allow to stand for 5-10 minutes before serving with ice cream or custard.

Tip: If your rhubarb is particularly thick or very tart, it may need an extra 5 minutes in the oven before adding the topping.

If you love biscuits and you love cake – this biscuit birthday cake is for you! Not only is it quick and easy to make, it’s a real showstopper!

We’re not big on birthday presents in our house but we are big on birthday cakes. Making each other a cake has become something of a tradition. Usually we each choose a cake from the Australian Women’s Weekly Childrens’ Birthday Cake Book. Growing up in the UK we never got to enjoy these cakes as kids, so I decided we’ll enjoy them as adults instead.

The only problem was that this year neither of us found a cake that ‘grabbed’ us. I’d seen a few of these biscuit birthday cakes on social media and decided to have a crack at that instead.

It was a wise choice because this cake was a huge hit! In fact it was so easy to put together, so delicious to eat and I had so many biscuits left over that I asked David to recreate the cake (in pink) of course, for my birthday!

Adorned with all our favourite biscuits, this cake had a real retro feel – especially the iced gems and party rings! Fun fact, my mum used to give her dog Calvin a party ring after dinner every night and he had the whitest dog teeth I’ve ever seen!

Anyway I digress, you can of course, use any biscuits you like on this cake, and if a rectangle shape doesn’t suit you, make a round one instead. Whichever shape you use though, be sure to make a paper template of the top of your cake so you can plan where you are going to position the biscuits.

If you were making this cake, what biscuits would you use?

Must-Know Tips

Bake the cakes in advance. Once completely cool, wrap them well and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost before decorating.

Crumb coat the cakes the day before. Adding the crumb coat (or “dirty icing”) the night (or at least a few hours) before gives it time to firm up in the fridge, making the final layer of buttercream much easier to apply.

If you’re colouring your buttercream, only add the gel food colouring to the second batch. Use the first batch as plain buttercream for the crumb coat, then colour the second batch ready for decorating.

Plan your biscuit layout. Draw around the top of your cake on paper and arrange the biscuits first, so you know exactly where everything will go before you start decorating.

Making Ahead? If you’re making the cake ahead, stop after covering it with buttercream and refrigerate it. Arrange and add the biscuits just before serving.

Storing leftovers: After the candles have been blown out, it’s best to keep the cake in the fridge, especially if the weather’s warm. I recommend removing the biscuits first and setting them aside, then popping them back on just before serving so they stay nice and crisp.

You will need:

EQUIPMENT

You will also need:

2 x 26cm x 30cm cake tins (or use one tin and bake the cakes one after the other)

1 large tray or cake board

piping bag and nozzle (optional)

palette knife

Ingredients

FOR THE CAKE

2 batches of Buttermilk Birthday Cake

FOR THE FILLING AND BUTTERCREAM

100g strawberry jam

2 batches of buttercream (1 for crumb coat, 1 for decorating)

FOR THE DECORATIONS

4 Party Rings

4 Jammie Dodgers

4 Custard Creams

2 white chocolate Tim Tams

sprinkles and food colouring (optional)

Preparing the Cake

1. Make two quantities of my Buttermilk Birthday Cake. I recommend using this recipe because it’s sturdy enough to hold its shape under the buttercream and biscuits while still being lovely and soft to eat.
2. Prepare one batch of buttercream. I love making mine in the Thermomix, but if you don’t have one, don’t worry. Just use the same ingredients and beat everything together with an electric hand mixer or stand mixer until smooth and fluffy.
3. Place a sheet of baking paper over the top of the cake and lightly draw around it to make a template for planning your biscuit layout later. Set aside.
4. Place five blobs of buttercream on your tray or board – one in each corner and one in the centre. This acts as the ‘glue’ to stop the cake from sliding around. Put the first sponge on top.
5. Spread the jam generously over the cake, leaving a border of about 1 cm around the edge.
6. If you have a piping bag, pipe the buttercream evenly over the jam. If not, don’t worry. Simply spread the buttercream over the bottom of the second sponge, then turn it right side up and place it on top of the jam-covered cake.
7. Now it’s time to give the cake a crumb coat. Using a palette knife, spread a thin layer of buttercream over the top and sides of the cake to seal in any loose crumbs. Scrape away any excess buttercream with the palette knife. Don’t worry about making it perfect at this stage – the crumb coat is just there to seal in any loose crumbs. Pop into the fridge for at least 30 minutes or preferably overnight.

Decorating the Cake

1. Before you start decorating, arrange your biscuits on your paper template so you know exactly where you’d like them to go.
2. Prepare a second batch of buttercream. If you’d like coloured buttercream, add a few drops of gel food colouring and mix until you reach your desired shade.
3. Remove the cake from the fridge. Spread the second batch of buttercream over the top and sides of the cake using a palette knife. For a smoother finish, dip your palette knife into hot water, wipe it dry and smooth the buttercream. Repeat as needed.
4. If you’re making the cake ahead, stop here and refrigerate it. Add the biscuits just before serving so they stay nice and crisp.
5. Starting with the largest biscuits, gently press them into the buttercream around the edge of the cake. Fill the gaps with the smaller biscuits, working your way in until you’re happy with the design. If you’d like to add sprinkles, now’s the time!
6. Once you’ve finished decorating, it’s time to celebrate, add the candles, sing loudly and enjoy every slice!

It’s the 10th, so it’s time for another 10 on 10! Every month I put together a photo post based around a different theme. This month, we’re heading to Madrid. I’m calling our first day ‘Classic Madrid at a relaxed pace’ – no rushing, no museum marathons, just plenty of opportunities for coffee, sightseeing and people-watching.

But first… coffee. And baked goods. We head to one of my favourite spots in Madrid, Santa Eulalia Patisserie. I’m pleased to report that the coffee and pastries are just as good as I remember. The pretty street and charming frontage are worth the visit alone and after a leisurely breakfast, we’re ready to face the day.

Our first stop is Gran Via – the heartbeat of Madrid. Stretching for 1.3km, it’s lined with flagship stores, theatres and stunning early 20th-century architecture. It’s also where we’re staying – Hotel Emperador is slap, bang in the middle of the action. We were lucky enough to receive a complimentary upgrade to a balcony room and this was the view!

Next, we walk to the junction with Calle de Alcalá to admire the Edificio Metrópolis, one of Madrid’s most recognisable landmarks. Although its official address is on Calle de Alcalá, many people see it as the visual gateway to Gran Vía. With its black slate dome and gilded details, it’s certainly impressive.

From there, it’s on to Puerta del Sol, Madrid’s central square which always has a real buzz. Somehow we manage to miss both the famous Kilometre Zero marker and the Bear and the Strawberry Tree statue, but we don’t miss the imposing statue of King Carlos III. Although it looks centuries old, the bronze monument was only unveiled in 1993.

We stroll through Plaza Mayor and look… Another horsey statue! This one is of King Philip III who ordered the construction of the square in the early 17th century. I love the architecture here but it the vibe is a little too touristy for my liking. Even so, it’s a great place to pause for a spot of people-watching and browse the little shops tucked beneath the arcades.

We stop in at Mercado de San Miguel and it’s already packed despite still being early in the day. I don’t remember it being this busy on my last visit. Like many of the shops and restaurants nearby, it’s undeniably touristy. The variety of food is huge but so are the prices, so think of a visit here as sightseeing with food. We admired the wine… but decided it was a little too early to start sampling it!

Onwards to the Basilica of San Francisco el Grande, one of Madrid’s most historic churches. It’s famous for having one of the largest domes in Christendom and is home to an impressive collection of Spanish art, making it both an important place of worship and a cultural landmark.

Next stop: the Royal Palace of Madrid. With 3,418 rooms, it’s the largest royal palace in Europe and one of the largest in the world. Although the Spanish royal family no longer lives here, it’s still used for state ceremonies and official events.

Directly opposite stands Almudena Cathedral. Its mix of architectural styles makes it quite different from many of Europe’s grand cathedrals, and together with the Royal Palace, it creates one of Madrid’s most impressive views.

Not bad for a morning’s sightseeing! We’d managed to tick off some of Madrid’s biggest landmarks, enjoy coffee and baked goods, wander at our own pace and still have plenty of time left to head back to the hotel, grab a late lunch and spend the afternoon by the pool. That’s my kind of city break!

Have you been to Madrid? What’s the one place you’d recommend not missing? And are you a sightseeing kind of person, or would you be ordering that glass of wine at Mercado de San Miguel?

June was quite a ride! In between a trip away, some lovely highlights and a few difficult moments, it was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. I’m a bit late with this taking stock but working on the premise, better late than never, here’s a quick look back at the month that was.

Making: Lots of salads – it’s certainly been the weather for it.

Baking: These Banana Choc Chip Cookies – they are so quick and easy.

Eating: My way around Madrid.

Drinking: Tinto de Verano aka red wine and lemonade, it’s the taste of summer.

Hosting: Good friends, it’s been a busy month at our B and B!

Sharing: The recipe for this Ultimate Biscoff Banana Bread. It’s irresistibly good!

Jetting: Off to Madrid.

Enjoying: QPT – Quality Pool Time.

Touring: The Bernebau Stadium – so interesting.

Trying: All the delicious tapas that Madrid has to offer.

Feeling: Broken hearted at the sudden loss of my fur brother Calvin. It was such a shock.

Crying: Over the OG best boi. Losing Calvin feels like losing the last link to my mum.

Hoping: My mum was there to meet him on the other side.

Melting: In the heatwave.

Dreaming: Of air conditioning.

Suffering: With toothache – it’s the worst!

Going: Back to work for exam season.

Watching: Clarkson’s Farm and Off Campus (again!)

Reading: Off Campus.

Listening: To the Off Campus soundtrack – can you see a theme here?!

Marvelling: At the dancing in Matthew Bourne’s Car Man.

Seeing: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert at the theatre – it was as joyful as I remembered.

Laughing: At Amandaland – it’s hilarious!

Waking: Up early to beat the heat for walkies.

Loving: The 2 dog life – Wookie came back for a vacation.

Liking: My latest mani – I’m set for summer.

Disliking: The heatwaves – I’m just not built for hot weather!

Joining: Sherry and friends for this month’s edition of In My Kitchen.

Getting: My hair did – I love my hairdresser so much.

Looking: Forward to July – it’s birthday month in our house.

Now I’ve told you all about my June, I’d love to hear about yours. What was your June highlight and what are you looking forward to in July?

I can’t quite believe we’re already in July aka Birthday Month in our house. Before I get stuck into all the cake and celebrations, I’m joining Sherry and friends for In My Kitchen, the monthly round up where we take a look back at what went down in our kitchens during the previous month. June in my kitchen looked a bit like this…

Well, we spent the first week of the month in Madrid and had an amazing time. Due to new border controls, we couldn’t bring back any meat or dairy products – insert sad face – so we settled for some turron which is kind of like nougat and traditionally made with almonds, honey, sugar and egg whites. It’s absolutely delicious! We sampled so many varieties in the store but miraculously we haven’t even opened this yet.

We also bought back these crisps. Truth be told, we had no idea what flavour they were when we bought them (my Spanish isn’t that good and there was no internet signal in the store,) I just wanted to buy crisps with David Beckham on. It turns out they’re ‘country’ flavour and taste kind of herby and similar to ranch. They’re certainly different!

We had an impromptu night with the neighbours and I made my trademark platter with our favourite Em the Nutritionist’s dips, the butter bean jalapeno hummus and the protein pea dip – as Em would say, so good!

I finally pressed publish on my Ultimate Biscoff Banana Bread. Everyone goes bananas for it!

Sticking with the banana theme, I also shared the recipe for these Banana Choc Chip Cookies which are super easy and require just one old banana! It turns out that bananas are quite a divisive fruit!

Princess Wookie was back for another little vacation. I keep telling her mum that having Wookie to stay is a gift in itself but she persists in bringing bonus gifts – this time it was delicious honey and Greek salad seasoning from Crete!

Wookie’s mum also bought us these fancy dates which I cannot wait to try. I think they will be right up my eat streeet.

Apparently 28th June is National Picky Bits Day and I’m here for it! As it happens we were invited to our neighbours’ barbecue so I took my all time favourite picky bits, the pesto twists! They always please a crowd and feed a crowd and this occasion was no exception. I remembered to take a pic just in time before they all disappeared! Side note – 4 years in and I still think English puff pastry is weird.

In other kitchen news, we had an ant invasion which was most unsavoury. I’ve been keeping them at bay with bay leaves (ha, see what I did there?) and have deep cleaned everything in the kitchen with a vinegar solution so fingers crossed they get the hint. In happier news, I extended my window sill herb collection and got these cute herb pots. If the herbs are all still alive next month, it will be something of a miracle – I think like us, they’re suffering in the heat. If you have tips for me, I’m all ears!

Lastly, we finally got around to putting up the print we bought in Madrid. It’s by Brooklyn-born Maggie Cowles, who specialises in “food memory” scenes – table settings and chopped ingredients that tell a story – and it feels like the perfect memento of all the incredible food we ate in Madrid. Don’t mind all the reflections in this pic…

So that’s a wrap on In My Kitchen for this month. What have you been cooking, baking or enjoying lately? What are your go-to picky bits? And have you ever tasted Turron? Tell me everything in the comments!

Linking up with Sherry for In My Kitchen