Banana, Coconut and Blueberry Overnight Oats

Overnight oats appear to be all the rage at the moment, appearing in magazines and Pinterest boards all over the world. I can certainly see why, after my first attempt at making them this week. We all know the great benefits of porridge oats, in terms of cholesterol reduction and an easy way to consume good fibre, but they can get a little boring. As we hit summer, we don't want to be waking up to a steaming bowl of porridge but that doesn't mean we have to miss out. It is the perfect time to jazz up oats and get our summer berry fix, with simple and very quick recipes. I made a banana and blueberry mix but you can be as creative as you like when it comes to what fruit, seeds, nuts or yoghurt you add to your oats. The idea of overnight oats is to allow the yoghurt to soak up the oats overnight, giving a soft but nutty texture, without it being too stodgy. If you mix in a Kilner jar, you can grab out of the fridge in the morning and eat on the go, meaning there is no excuse for skipping breakfast.

Ingredients


30g Porridge Oats1 Banana100g Blueberries100ml Natural Yoghurt1 teaspoon desiccated coconut

Method

Poor a layer of yoghurt at the bottom of a Kilner jar ( or a glass/bowl will do) followed by a layer of oats, then a layer of fruit. Simply repeat until all ingredients are used up. Chill in fridge overnight and rather eat straight our of jar or serve in a bowl. If the oats seem too dry, you may like to add an extra spoon of yoghurt.

Bring on the Cheese

The lights are starting to twinkle, tills are starting to ring and the goose is getting fat, which means just one thing, Bah Humbug time! Only joking, I do love Christmas but preferably in December. For me, too much planning and over thinking spoils what should be simple family time with an extra bit of jazz. One thing I do like to think about early on is all of the party food that inevitably gets eaten. I have lots of Christmas food traditions, some nostalgic and others a little more ' Deb' like. My absolute favourite thing to eat at Christmas is slow cooked ham but that is followed closely by cheese. Cheese and red wine is a combination that is very hard to beat but it is not too kind on the hips so my cheese indulgences are few and far between these days (particularly as I have reluctantly joined a slimming club in the hope that i shift a few pounds so that I can eat lots of cake at ham at Christmas!).

I have long been a fan of my fantastic local cheese experts, The Liverpool Cheese Company and I will definitely be stocking up on their goodies in the run up to Christmas. The team at Liverpool Cheese are so knowledgeable about the produce they sell and the quality never disappoints. I bought cheese school gift vouchers from them for present last year and can heartily recommend this Christmas food gift with a difference.

Image from Liverpool Cheese Company 

As much as I love to support local, I have recently come across The Fine Cheese Company love the products that they have available, with everything from seasonal cheese selections to beautiful serving plates. So, as all of my blog readers cannot travel to Liverpool (although they do have an online shop), this is definitely a cheese company I would recommend*.

The new 'crowd pleaser' selection will do exactly what it says not the tin, give everybody a big cheesy smile for the camera! There are also great packages and gifts for Christmas, including fun stocking fillers such as chocolate bottle openers and salami cigars. For those who are not after christmas cheese hampers or gifts, you can just browse through the hand selected artisan cheese from Britain and further afield. Stilchelton, an organic soft blue cheese from Belvoir and Hafod Welsh organic cheddar are both on my Christmas list.

Bring on the cheese and I may just wash away the bah humbug in me!

Image from The Fine Cheese Company

*I do have an affiliate link with The Fine Cheese company but I only use affiliate links for carefully selected businesses that I honestly like. I have no affiliation to Liverpool Cheese Company, I just think they are great!

Simple Vanilla Ice-Cream

Since buying my ice-cream maker a few years ago I have experimented with lots of fun flavours, with  my strawberry, rhubarb and anise sorbet being the pick of the bunch so far. Whilst it is fun to play with different flavours, sometimes nothing beats a good old fashioned vanilla ice-cream/ With a few simple ingredients you can whip up a testy dessert that is miles better than anything you can buy in the supermarkets. Here's my quick and easy vanilla ice-cream recipe

Image courtesy of Chinogypsie

Ingredients

2 egg yolks (save the whites)
50g caster sugar
1 vanilla pod
500ml double cream
100 ml semi-skimmed milk (you can use whole milk for a richer taste if you like)


Method

1. If you are using an ice-cream maker that requires container to be kept in freezer, ensure that you have popped it into freezer
2. Add sugar, cream, milk and vanilla (scrape the seeds out and then add the pod) to a saucepan and gently heat until sugar has dissolved. Turn off heat and allow to cool slightly.
3. Beat the eggs together and whisk quickly into the cream mixture, once it has cooled slightly.
4. Leave mixture in fridge overnight then remove the vanilla pod and use ice-cream machine as per instructions. Place into tub and pop into freezer for when you are ready to eat.

With the saved egg whites you can make simple sugar cones to serve with your ice-cream. I used this recipe and they turned out pretty well for my first go. I think I used a little too much batter so they were a bit thick but with practise I think I can get them as thin as they should be.

Review: Maray Liverpool

Bare walls √ Unfinished Flooring √ Camping Plates √ Bearded Hipsters √ Snooty Vibes X. Whilst Maray may appear to be just another hangout for Liverpool trendsetters as soon as you walk inside it is clear that it welcomes all. I visited for lunch recently with my daughter and there was certainly no hesitation in the greeting of a toddler that was sure to be running around the table and spilling hummus all over the floor. Similar in layout and design to it's Bold Street neighbours Nolita Cantina, Maray keeps its decor simple and puts all of it's efforts into it's food. That is not to say that the food served in over complicated, the lunch menu is very limited but that is a good thing. Maray advertises itself as being all about falafel, cocktails and small plates, so that is what you would expect when you see the menu. Meat lovers need not worry as there was slow roasted lamb and chicken on the menu, with the evening menu boasting an array of special dishes, such as slow roasted pork belly with chilli jam and a ham, asparagus and pistachio terrine.

Our visit was all about the wraps. You can choose from classic middle eastern offerings of hummus, halloumi, feta and, of course, falafel. All wraps come unopened so you can build it up as you like with the side offerings of salad, olives and chilli sauce. The Lebanese flat bread was excellent, as was the slow roasted lamb and a superb falafel. I am such a big fan of falafel, as is my daughter, and can definitely say this is some of the best I have tasted. The highlight of my meal though, was the fresh jalapeno dip that was served as a side to my wrap. I am a chilli addict and this hit all the right spots. The portions are pretty generous and are very reasonably prices, which always makes me wonder how people choose a generic coffee shop with stodgy panini's and lukewarm soup. Speaking of coffee, Maray have it nailed. The coffee we had to finish off our lunch was very, very good indeed.

Our lunch stop was reasonable quick so I am looking forward to returning to sample the evening menu, with the aubergine risotto sounding particular good and I have heard nothing but great things about their version of the humble fish finger (or goujons as they prefer to be called in the hip places). More importantly, I wan to return to work my way through the imaginative cocktail menu, bring on the gin!

All images taken from Maray Website

Food Gifts for Father's Day

With Father's Day on the horizon, there will be plenty of people rushing around to look for last minute gifts. I am a little cynical about the commercial aspects of Father's Day, Mother's Day and the like, but my emotional side says that an excuse to spoil people can't be that bad. We all know that we should show love to one and other all year round but sometimes life just gets in the way, so a day like Father's Day allows us to stop, think and give well deserved treats! Here are a few of my favourite foodie gifts for Father's Day, that will show a little extravagance without breaking the bank

Say it with Biscuits

The Biscuiteers have a fun collection of biscuit greeting cards on offer this year, like this simple ' I love You ' message or a fun beer glass biscuit. You can personalise your card and there are plenty of options, depending on your budget.

For the Chocolate Lover 

Sticking with a sweet theme, this Father's Day hamper, from Hotel Chocolat, has a variety of treats that is ideal for sharing!

Bring on the Beer

Predictable I know, but a lot of Dad's out there do like a beer or two. Browse through a fine selection of beers from the fantastic Ship in a Bottle, to find the perfect craft beer for you dad.

I'll Have a Wine

If your dad is more of a wine drinker, there is a good selection of wines to suit all budgets, over at Laithwaite's. With monthly subscription offers, this would be a good gift for siblings pooling together to get a larger present.

Bring out the Cheese

Cheese and Wine, aaaahhh cheese and wine. Find the perfect accompaniment for a special bottle of wine over at Liverpool Cheese Company. Visit their Liverpool base, for fabulous 121 service or pop over to throw online shop for a virtual sniff.

Spice it Up

If you are looking forward to a bonding session with your Dad, what better way to do so than over an evening of cooking. This Jerusalem Hamper from Ottolenghi is perfect for introducing something a little different to your celebration dinner.

Everybody Love a New Mug

For a foodie gift that will keep on giving, this Becka Griffin Mug  is a fun gift, for tea and biscuit loving Dads. What's your favourite?

Whatever gift you choose this Father's Day, make sure you add an extra hug on the side and don't forget that foodie gifts are meant for sharing.

Children's books about food

Being a lover of all things culinary meant that my daughter was bound to fall in love with food too. From very early on, we have enjoyed baking together and as she is growing older we are experimenting with new tastes and enjoying time in the kitchen. There are lots of great recipes books out there for children and families, that contain ideas for fun, functional and balanced meal ideas. For now, we are in the experimenting phase and are not too worried about following recipes word for word; it's about making food fun and varied. Our other love is books and I can't wait until we can read food inspired children's books such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or James and the Giant Peach.  There are, however, lots of children's books that have a food theme but are not too serious. Here are our top 5 children's books with food at the heart of the story

Hooray For Bread

We came across this book recently whilst in our local library. Bread is a firm favourite in our household so it was an immediate choice as soon as my daughter spotted the book. Written by children's favourite Alan Ahlberg, the book tells the tale of the journey that one loaf of bread takes throughout the day. Lovingly made my a baker ( which is becoming more and more rare these days), the bread is enjoyed by everybody from baker's wife to the mouse in the kitchen. If you love making bread, eating bread and just generally drooling over bread, this book is ideal and is a great opportunity to introduce your little one to bread making.

Grandpa's Garden

This book will enable children to learn about how food grows and healthier food options.  'Grandpa's Garden' is a beautifully told story, following Billy from early spring to late summer as he helps his grandpa on his vegetable patch. They dig the hard ground, sow rows of seeds, and keep them watered and safe from slugs. When harvest time arrives they can pick all the vegetables and fruit they have grown. Children will be drawn in by the poetry of the language and the warm illustrations, while also catching the excitement of watching things grow! Written by Stella Fry and illustrated by Sheila Moxley, this book is a very popular for Grandparents wanting to pass on their love of gardening to their grandchildren. With great end notes on the vegetable featured in the book and ideas on how you can grow your own, this is a fun way to get to know vegetables and encourage healthy eating.

Herb the Vegetarian Dragon

This Barefoot Books classic, is a favourite amongst parents, children and teachers all over the world. Meet Herb, a dragon who knows how to stay true to his values even in the stickiest of situations. When he is captured by the castle's knights in armour, vegetarian Herb is faced with a difficult decision: will he eat meat in order to save his own life? A fun tale that is great for all children, no matter what their diet. The endnotes include a super quick and easy recipe for some of the spicy salsa that Herb loves so much!

The Beeman

Find out where honey comes from as Grandpa the Beeman teaches the basics of beekeeping to his young grandson. This rhyming story includes endnotes full of essential facts about bees, beekeeping, honey, and the vital part that bees play in the natural world. With a tasty apple and honey muffins recipe at the and of the books, this is another great book to inspire a little home baking.

Happy Harry's Cafe

I think this may be in my top 5 children's books, I just love it. Michael Rosen is brilliant.The book is  good-natured joke about a forgetful bear told with wit and humour. Happy Harry serves great soup at his cafe. It's so good that his friends - Matt the Cat, Jo the Crow, Ryan the Lion and Robin the Robin - all rush to get there before it runs out.But today somethings wrong with Matt - he says the soup's no good. Harry's shocked - until he finds out the soup's no good because Matt has no spoon to eat it with! An old joke is brilliantly brought to life for very young children by Michael Rosen and Richard Holland. "Happy Harry's Cafe" is a great read aloud text with sparklingly stylish illustrations, a cast of charming characters and a delightful "soup song" for the grand finale. Altogether now….The soup is good, the soup is good…..

Rhubarb and Vanilla Jammy Biscuits

My daughter came hopping down the stairs this morning, asking me to make Jammy Dodgers with her. I don't think she has ever had one or even seen one but something tells me my husband put the idea in her head before he trotted of to work. One look out of the window plus a long ' to do' list meant it was a day at home for us, catching up on work, crafting and making jammy dodgers, just to make that list a little longer. I am not a huge fan of jam, although I am obsessed with chocolate ( how many days until Lent is over?) I find most jams too sweet for my liking. I dabble a little bit in making my own jam now and again but generally leave to my local experts, with Grab Your Spoon being a favourite of my daughter. I picked up a jar of rhubarb jam from a school coffee morning a couple of weeks ago, so thought I would give it a whirl on today's biscuits. Mrs K's Kitchen's rhubarb name certainly has the right balance of sweet and tart! I knew my biscuits would not turn out looking the best, I am never very good at fancy presentation but I generally deliver on flavour. These simple shortbread based biscuits are  quick, easy and perfect for getting little hands to help you out.

I followed this recipe from Lavendar and Lovage but replaced the jam with my rhubarb jab, that works well great the Ndali Vanilla I used for the biscuits. I had no daisy cutter but I need to buy one as they look so cute. I used a simple circle cutter and used the top off a bottle for the middle of the top half of the biscuits.

I am guessing there will be a few rainy days over the next few weeks, so why not give these jammy biscuits a whirl for a bit of fruity fun.

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Veal Lasagne

I have been promising to buy a pasta maker for years but, for some reason, I have never got around to hit. Well, that has now changed thanks to a lovely little birthday gift . I can finally make our family pasta from scratch, although how regular that will be remains to be seen! Hopefully it won't be resigned to the kitchen cupboard along with all the other kitchen paraphernalia I excitedly bought but then out of space/enthusiasm/energy for. So far, I am loving practising new variations alongside my little helper.

I'm sure that our pasta is nowhere near as good as it could be but hey, it's fun trying to get it just right. After lots of playing around with different shapes and fillings, our latest dish was a simple lasagne, that doesn't test your skills too much. Lasagne is such a classic dish and will always hit the spot on a cold and dreary evening. Here's my recipe, made with veal.

Ingredients

Fresh lasagne sheets ( I used 9 long, thin sheets)
400g veal mince
1 tin chopped Italian tomatoes
1 white onion, chopped finely
1 carrot, diced
2 tbls olive oil
3 cloves of garlic
Handful of fresh basil
1/2 tsp oregano
100ml white wine
seasoning
250 Milk
25g plain flour
25g butter
40g cheddar cheese
40g Parmesan cheese

Method

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees/Gas Mark 6. Heat the oil in a pan and add the mince, until it starts to brown. Add in the onions, garlic and carrots and cook until softened. Add in the tomatoes, oregano, seasoning and wine. Simmer for 20 minutes then add in the fresh basil.
2. To make the white sauce, melt butter in a pan the stir in the flour. Make sure you mix quickly to avoid lumps. Once the mixture starts to bubble, add in the link bit by bit, so sauce remains smooth. Heat until the sauce starts to thicken then add in the cheddar until it melts.
3. Take your pre-prepared pasta and line a large lasagne dish with one layer. Add in a layer of the meat sauce then another  layer of pasta followed by the remaining meat sauce. Put a final layer of pasta over the meat sauce and top with the white sauce. Grate the parmesan cheese over the top.
4. Cook in oven for 30 minutes, until the top is bubbling and has a light brown finish.

Chocolate and amaretto cake with morello cherry jam

A little bit of indulgence and sparkle was in order, for our December meeting of the Liverpool Clandestine Cake Club, so chocolate and alcohol were screaming out to me. I decided on this simple, but rich chocolate cake with amaretto cream, morello cherry jam and lots of edible glitter.The result was a very enjoyable cake but it was a little drier than I would have liked and a shot more alcohol was needed, so of course I had to make it again. It went down a treat on New Years Eve.

Ingredients

3 Free range eggs

175g Self raising flour

175 Caster sugar

175g Butter

200g Dark chocolate (melted in a bowl over a saucepan )

2 Heaped tbls cocoa powder

4 tbls Milk

100ml Double cream

50ml Amaretto

2-3 heaped tbls Morello cherry jam

Amaretti biscuits

Edible glitter

Method

1. Preheat oven to 200/gas mark 4. Grease 2 8 inch sandwich cake tins.

2. Combine butter and sugar and beat until light and fluffy

3. Add in the eggs, one by one, and mix together

4. Fold in flour and coco powder along with 100g of the chocolate that has been melted in a bowl over boiling water. Add in the milk.

5. Divide the mixture equally between the 2 tins and bake in the oven for 30 minutes. Allow to cool.

6. Whip the cream and the amaretto together until it is just thick enough that it does not fall of whisk easily.

7. Spread the jam on the bottom layer of the cake and then top with the cream. Add the top layer of sponge and drizzle the reaming melted chocolate then crumble the amaretti biscuits straightaway. Top with edible glitter, if you want a bit of post Christmas sparkle.