Pomegranate Molasses, Pistachio and Orange Loaf Cake

If you're lover of all things Middle Eastern cuisine, or equally, you're obsessed (like I am) with Yotam Ottolenghi's cookbook collection then you'll probably already be familiar with the intense sour and syrupy sweetness of pomegranate molasses. 

Peach, Custard & White Chocolate Cake

Whoever invented the traybake cake or sheet cake as Americans like to call them is a GENIUS, they just somehow feel more effortless to whip up than your regular round layer cakes. This cake was an absolute hit in my house, my mum warmed hers up with even more lashings of custard as if there wasn't enough in the cake already - to be fair you can never have enough and with comments like 'they remind a bit of a school pudding, in a good way!' she can confirm this cake does work just as well hot or cold. 

Banana, Chocolate & Oat Scones

I've always been a lover of scones; plain, cheese, fruit...you name it and I'll be right on it. I think people consider them old fashioned nowadays, bit of an old persons treat, perhaps since it's always been a traditional element to an afternoon tea and guaranteed to be in any twee tearoom and national trust cafe up and down the country flocked with those people of a certain age.

Summer Taco Salad

I think most would agree that tacos are preferred over a salad any day of the week, and I bet on restaurant menus everywhere, if both are on a menu, tacos would most likely always win. But, the spin of putting the taco elements into a salad makes this a complete and satisfying meal in itself. 

Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes w. Figs and Hazelnuts {vegan}

This dish feels perfect for welcoming the early Autumn as I think we're well and truly saying goodbye to Summer now, time to get out those coats and woolly jumpers people! Figs have come into season, now through till October, so you'll start to see them popping in at your supermarket. That's what actually gave me the inspiration for this recipe, simply seeing them on the shop shelf just reminded me that it had been ages since the last time I ate a fig so I just had to buy some and think of something tasty to make with it. 

Halloumi and Egg with Broccoli Tabbouleh Salad

Well aren't we just having a great  time with the weather in England at the moment?! Uni is officially over for me (till next year) and what a great way to spend my days of freedom, just basking in as much sun as I can possibly get. This hot weather definitely changes my eating habits, I'm just loving salads currently. Can't get enough of them, and it can only be a good thing because salads are pretty darn good for you. 

Orange and Thyme Sugar Biscuits

I think a large part of being a food blogger means you have to find a love for collecting a range of quirky and increasingly different kitchen wares, particularly plates, cutlery and tins (and have the budget to be able to do so, as a student - that can be a challenge for me, although I have become quite good at spotting charity shop jewels.) For those in the know, food stylists like to refer to it all as food props. I'm starting to generate a rather nice assortment which I try to fit all together like a mad jigsaw puzzle just so that it can all handily fit in my large wicker basket. This basket of props lives under my bed at my uni flat, not the average collection of items you'd expect to find under a student bed, you might say?! 

Blood Orange Breakfast Kheer (Vegan and gluten free)

I just love this time of year when blood oranges are in season, the fact that you can’t buy them all year round makes them seem so much more of a treat and most certainly when a few juicy segments top this indulgent kheer. Though, if you can’t source them, then regular oranges would be fine too or grapefruit for a sharp twist. 

Chocolate Hazelnut and Peanut Butter Bars (Vegan Option)

Right, so valentine's day is just around the corner and what better way to show your loved ones you care than with chocolate?! I don't mean going out and buying any old box of chocolates. I'm talking the homemade kind, in a truly wonderful gooey nutty chocolatey treat (with the box of chocolates thrown on top for good measure) - that's the chocolate hazelnut part of the recipe... ferrero rochers all crumbled up and sprinkled over the bars before baking. Although you'll have to find an alternative for all you vegans. 

Honey Bombs

I'm often attracted to baking things that I have never heard of before and these honey bombs come under that bracket. I think there's something so intriguing about trying new foods and flavors that you've never seen or tasted before! The opportunity as you grow older, comes far and few between but nevertheless, still, it's very exciting when it does happen. 

Chocolate, Clementine and Ginger Buns

It's nearly Christmas break. Woooooo! That means having absolutely no uni work to do (I hope), plenty of lie ins which lead into days spent doing nothing constructive whatsoever. apart from stuffing your face with chocolate and watching endless Christmas movies. Don't you just love this time of year?! 

Orange and Cinnamon Spiced Poppy Seed Porridge

On a cold Autumnal morning, there's nothing quite like waking up to the feeling of clasping a bowlful of porridge to warm your hands and soul, getting you ready for the day ahead. I just love this time of year, when the leaves start falling off the trees and in all manner of colours...they pave the floor in a rainbow of ruby to yellow hues. 

Blueberry Cinnamon Waffle Pudding

With being back to the daily grind of coming home from uni and cooking for myself on the reg means I don't bake desserts and sweet treats as much as I would if I was at home, where I get the luxury of my mum cooking meals for me. Don't get me wrong, I don't find cooking for myself a chore, I doooo still enjoy the rather relaxing nature of coming home after a full day of lectures and just experimenting with foods that I wouldn't normally have at home; like tonight's stuffed squash with quinoa, wheat berries and feta (fyi think I'll most definitely be doing that one as a future blog post, it turned out soooo well!)

Creamy Avocado, Tomato and Pine Nut Courgetti (Vegan)

Spiralizing. Just the word gets so many people excited. The somewhat 'clean eating' trend attracts those health-conscious, carb cutters who want to feel like they're enjoying a big bowlful of pasta or noodles when in fact it's merely just a heap of vegetables. 

Oatmeal, Cinnamon and Sultana Cookies

I do love a good dunkable cookie with a steaming mug of preferred hot beverage and boy do these do the deed! They're quite fat little things, which actually supports them mightily well with their structural integrity in the whole dunking process. 

Plum and Ginger Layer Jars

At this time of year I love nothing more than taking a picnic to a park or field, eating al fresco with good company and enjoying the gloriously sunny weather (when mother nature decides, that is.) 

Crispy Avocado Wedges and Sweet Potato Hummus Flatbreads

You may have noticed I've been able to post a bit more frequently on here now, that can only mean one thing...summer is here! I've moved out of my uni digs in Birmingham and I'm back living at home, it's great to be back in the comfort of my own kitchen once again and get back to regular blogging in between days out and enjoying the lovely sunny warm weather we've been having here in the UK. 

Raspberry, Peaches and Mascarpone Cream Cake

A party without cake is just a meeting. I think Julia Child is very right there, I've never had a birthday without cake.

Polish Vanilla and Raspberry Ripple Custard Slice (Karpatka)

Mille-feuille, the classic french pastry. Just the word puts a shiver down my spine.  I'm no trained pastry chef and I think others would agree with me in saying that this is one of the hardest things to perfect - looks wise! I can never quite master the uniformity aspect, some custard always manages to seep its way out the sides either in cutting or by overfilling!  

Blackberry, Lime and Thyme Cake

So you might think these flavours sound a bit odd together, especially if you've never heard of thyme in a dessert before but it's getting more and more popular to use the herb in all manner of sweet things, hitting the botanical cake trend - nail on the head. It really does work and to those who might think it's a bit 'out-there' I urge you to give it a chance as the flavour is just a subtle hum in the background and not in the slightest bit overpowering.