Better baking (cheat)

As mentioned a while ago, I really enjoy baking. However, my last attempt was, what you would call, an epic fail. Therefore, this time I thought it would be best to have a little help. Some might call this cheating, but considering what happened with my blueberry cupcakes, I call it smart.

I decided to make some chocolate cupcakes, courtesy of Green's Dennis the Menace Cake Mix. I've made these cakes many moons ago, and they always turned out beautifully. This time was no different.

You open the box, and twenty minutes later, you have a tray of perfectly cooked cupcakes. Just add the icing and little character motifs, and you're done. Granted, they're not the most attractive cakes in the world, but they taste wonderful. The plate of 12 were demolished almost instantly. Result.

A quality Christmas staple

When I first see the large tins of Quality Street piling up on supermarket shelves, I know Chrsitmas is just around the corner. For me, the Quality Street tin is a quality Christams staple that no household should be without (and we usually end up with a few!).

One of my all time favoutrite smells is that of a freshly opened tin of the famous chocolates. I'd recommend everyone to stick their nose in a brand new tin and have a good ol' sniff. They are also incredibly beautiful to look at, with their multi-coloured, iridescent wrapping. They won't stick around for long, I'm sure, so I'm stashing the Orange Cremes away from the resident chocoholic (my dad) as I speak.

Nb. Quality Street also make excellent poker chips. I see your Green Triangle and raise you two Big Purple Ones.

All the trimmings

Even though the Christmas lunch is not much more than a fancy roast dinner, I look forward to it each and every year. And it has so far never failed to disappoint me (thanks, mum!). On Christmas morning, the smell of the slow roasting turkey difts up the stairs, and I challenge you to tell me a better smell to awaken to.

Of course, the Christmas dinner would not be right without a few essential ingredients. First and foremost, the turkey, followed by the tricolour of winter veg: carrots, parsnips and brussel sprouts (yes, I actually like brussels). Then there is the stuffing (homemade, obvs), pigs in blankets, roast potatoes and gravy. However, no plate would be complete without the obligatory cranberry sauce.

As Christmas is the period of eccessive eating, the infamous lunch lasts several hours. With starter, main, dessert, cheese and coffee courses to plough our way through (as well as copious amounts of alcohol), it's no wonder we all feel the need to roll home at the end of the night.

Definitely not a baker

I love baking. Or rather, I love the idea of baking. When browsing the baking accessories section of the John Lewis website, for some obscure reason I begin to get ridiculously excited. The bowls, measuring jugs, cake cases and cookie cutters fill me with the intense desire to put on my apron and start sifting the flour. I even purchased a Le Creuset baby blue spatula on my last visit to the department store - I just couldn't help myself.

However, I will hold my hands up and admit that although I enjoy baking, I am definitely not a natural baker. On my last baking effort, I attempted a batch of blueberry cupcakes from a recipe I found ages ago in The Sunday Times Style magazine. The pictures shown looked absolutely scrumptious. My cakes, unfortunately, did not.

I couldn't even bring myself to take a photo of my culinary disaster. Not even the effects of Instagram could mask this epic fail.

Free monkey nuts

I think Gourmet Burger Kitchen is my new favourite eating establishment (although I would never say that in front of Nando's or Pizza Express). Until fairly recently, however, I hadn't even heard of GBK. Then one evening at Westfield Stratford City, when my friends and I couldn't even get in the door of the ever-popular Nando's, we stumbled across this hidden restaurant gem.

It's such a simple idea, and simple is usually always best when it comes to food. The burgers, whether beef, chicken or veggie are absolutely divine, the chunky chips are some the best potato pieces I have ever had the pleasure of devouring, and the onion rings are heaven deep-fried. And you get a pot of monkey nuts on the house! What could be better than that?

I love Nando's

This is really just a Nando's appreciation post. The restaurant chain needs no introduction, with over 230 outlets located across the UK. In fact, I have only ever met one person who is not a Nando's fan (even vegetarians like it!). Now that's saying something.

I don't remember my first Nando's experience, but it must have been good because I have returned again and again. When asked to describe Nando's to my dad (who until today, had never set foot inside this fine food establishment), I was challenged to describe it in any way other than upmarket spicy chicken and chips. But that's exactly what it is, and what I love about it.

A new favourite?

After my rant regarding the disappearance of my beloved Pollo Verdure salad from the Pizza Express menu, I have found a possible new favourite. Having being forced to lunch at the pizza chain one Saturday afternoon (due to circumstances out of my control), I was obliged to choose a new dish to try.

I went for the Padana pizza. Usually, I wouldn't go for pizza as they are far too big for me. However, I was taken by the goats' cheese and red and caramelised onion topping on offer. Unsurprisingly, due to my obsession with cheese and onion, it was absolutely delicious. The sweet golden onion chutney contrasts beautifully with the subtle sharpness of the cheese (I'm drooling just thinking about it).

I will admit, if given the choice I would opt for the Pool Verdure in a heartbeat. However, the Padana is now a front runner for dish of choice on my next visit to my favourite pizza restaurant.

NB. The Padana pizza is now in the Pizza Express range available in supermarkets. I know what I'm having for lunch this weekend.

The Pollo Verdure lives on

I challenge you to find me one person who does not love Pizza Express. It has it all: delicious menu, excellent service, and bargain price. That is, until now. Apparently, the restaurant chain has undergone a series of 'subtle' changes to make their customers' experiences just that little bit better. Unfortunately for me, these changes are not so subtle. They have drastically altered their menu, resulting in the conspicuous absence of my favourite dish: the Pollo Verdure salad.

Prior to these changes, my typical Pizza Express experience was a repetitive but beautiful affair. I would know exactly what I was going to order, long before the waiter had placed the menu in my hands. Some may say that I am boring, and should explore the other amazing dishes on offer. However, as the old saying goes, why fix something that isn't broken? Why order a different dish when I know I would enjoy the Pollo Verdure more?

And now, with my dish no longer available, what's a girl to do? The answer is simple: I am going to make my own Pollo Verdure salad. After Googling the recipe to ensure I replicate the dish as closely as possible, I can now enjoy the wonders of those roasted Mediterranean vegetables, crisp rocket and spinach, tender chicken pieces and zingy dressings at home.

I will, no doubt, still venture to Pizza Express on the odd occasion. The dough balls are legendary, and I have yet to find a chocolate fudge cake that is as divine as theirs. But so long as the Pollo Verdure salad remains off the menu, I will be unable to sing the Pizza Express praises like I once did.