Join in with the Great British Bake Off

GBBO seems to have gripped the nation again and taken over my Wednesday night. Again. It's given me the baking bug and I've been back in the kitchen after a bit of time away. Whenever I put aside the time to rustle something up, I always wish I make more of an effort. I love looking on the internet and seeing what type of recipes are out there. As well as my 50+ cookbooks... But sometimes I just go back to some of my favourites.

The Apple cider cake above is always a crowd pleaser. It has a great sweet taste and the added cider makes it so light and fluffy which is what you're always looking out for in a cake. If you fancy something a little bit more fruity then this coconut and lime loaf will be a winner. Taken from one of my favourite cookbook author Levi Roots,  the extra lime glaze helps to give it a bit more of a zing - which is always a good thing!

Not all baking treats are for those who have a sweet tooth. These savoury breakfast bars are great to make on a sunday and have throughout the week - much healthier than grabbing a bacon butty at the train station. They're substantial and really filling so won't make you reach for the biscuit barrel before lunchtime.

Finally if you want to make a showstopper then this ultimate chocolate cake is the one to attempt. The lashings of white and chocolate milk buttons paired with creamy milk chocolate fingers, makes it a chocoholic's dream. Set aside a good few hours over a lazy weekend for this one as it's no mean feat. But when the outcome is the below, you really don't mind putting the hard graft in!

Let me know some of your favourite bakes to make as I'm always on the look out for some new ideas! And some new blogs to drool over! If you run out of time to make your own creations, head to the Biscuiteer's discount page to to enter a completion - it ends on 23rd September.

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The top 5 places to eat in Prague

Nase Maso
This was somewhere that was recommended to us by the guide on our beer tour and we were taken here to sample the hotdog joint next door. It has a couple of tables to eat at indoors but we got a takeaway. Make sure you book a table if you want to eat in. You can pick any piece of meat from the butchers and they will cook it for you there and then, or you can choose something from the menu. We opted for a meat loaf rather than the burger as it was a traditional dish. The chunky meat loaf came with a spicy homemade mustard and juicy pickles inside homemade ciabatta style bread. It travelled really well back to our hotel and despite the fact it was a little lukewarm by the time we got home, it was delicious! I'd definitely recommend paying them a trip if you fancy a quick lunch. GET THE HOTDOGS!

Cafe Savoy
Designed to be reminiscent of the First Czechoslovakian Republic, this ornate, lavish restaurant is certainly a sight to behold. With a beautiful Neo-Renaissance ceiling dating back to 1893, it really does feel like you've taken a step back into yesteryear. I'd read that they were famous for their breakfasts and the desserts so I managed to persuade my friends that we should swing by one morning. My best friend picked a winner with an incredible french toast topped with lashings of syrup and a generous scattering of fresh fruit. It was a sight for sore eyes. Then she got greedy and ordered an indulgent hot chocolate that was pure melted hot chocolate. We defiantly all stared at her green with envy as she tucked in! The warm, homemade bread was absolutely delicious and really helps to kick the continental breakfast up a gear. It's well worth visiting just for the atmosphere and the French toast. It's not expensive but it's not cheap for Prague. Still it's cheaper than London!

Cafe Imperial
Another suggestion from our beer tour, this restaurant was actually located about 200 yards from our hotel. What a find! Owned by the Czech version of Gordon Ramsey, it's located below a hotel. Decked out in the style of an old Czechoslovakian cafe, it was absolutely stunning so it's definitely one to dress up for. Deciding to sample as much of the local cuisine I could, I opted for the tender rabbit drenched in a tangy mustard sauce and served alongside traditional dumplings. The meat melted in your mouth and the unusual dumplings were a joy to eat. My friend got the veal schnitzel which I'd recommend too.

Cestr
Knowing that the boys were steak fans, I decided to book in a trip to a decent steak restaurant. Cestr is well known for numerous cuts of beef so it's definitely one for hardcore meat eaters. But you will also find fish on the menu too. I pumped for the steak tarter as I had read that it was extremely highly regarded as one of the best to try in the city. I'm glad I went for it but I think it might be an aquired taste so not sure I would eat it again. We all went for the set menu which included a starter, second course with a side and a main course with a side. It was incredibly good value but far too much food! The portions are huge and I would suggest just to have a main and a side because it can get painful! Steak eaters will be in their element here. Just make sure you book a table as it gets very busy.

Cukrkavalimonada 
A bit of mouthful but this cute little cafe near the John Lennon Wall is a great place to stop for a quick lunchtime bite to eat. The homemade pasta with lashings of pesto was fantastic.The prices were very reasonable and the portions were generous which is what you need when you have a long day of walking ahead of you! I've heard they have a good breakfast offering too.

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Exploring Europe: Prague, Czech Republic

Back to my travel posts! The first place we visited on our Eastern Europe two week trip was Prague. Ten years ago (?!?!) my boyfriend and I had decided on Prague for our first ever holiday. But due to our student lifestyle it was half the price to spend a week all-inclusive on the Costa Brava. God bless those package holidays when you earn £30 a week in retail... So obviously we never made it. When we started planning this trip, it was top of our list and we scheduled in three nights and began the research.

We chose three nights so that we could spend one day mooching around and take things easy. The rest of the holiday was going to be so jam-packed. On the first day we hit the sight seeing a little too hard and ended up clocking up about 20km which obviously did lots for our poor feet! On first impressions, Prague was stunning. As the holiday went on and we explored more areas, it only ever got prettier. I would say it is probably one of the prettiest places I've visited ever, not just on the holiday. I adored the beautiful pastel buildings, the history seeping from the pores of the architecture and beautiful terracotta roofs.

Three nights was the perfect amount of time to spend in the city and I feel now that I've done it all. I would go back but I don't feel the NEED to go back. But for a girls holiday, it would be the perfect break away. There's so many quaint streets to get lost down, incredible food to enjoy, great beer to sip and lots of sights to take in.

Although I loved Prague, the insane amount of tourists completely threw me. It was quite overwhelming at times, especially trying to navigate through Prague Castle and across Charles Bridge. But we did go during high season so it was kinda to be expected. My top tip is to start your sightseeing early to try and beat the crowds and spend the later part of the day enjoying the endless beer.

Keep an eye out for my guides on what to do and where to eat in the city coming soon!

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Recipe: milk chocolate and pistachio fudge

Sometimes you fancy a sweet treat but you don't always want to slave over a hot oven. This is where Nigella's chocolate and pistachio fudge comes into play. It's probably not what you would call a traditional fudge but it hits the spot and is so simple to make. Wing Yip got in touch and sent me over some of their condensed coconut milk to sample so what better way to give it a whirl!

Ingredients
300g of good quality milk chocolate, chopped
30g unsalted butter
1 can of Wing Yip condensed coconut milk*
200g pistachio nuts, shelled

Method
1.  Put the chopped chocolate, butter and condensed milk in a large saucepan and milk into a smooth mixture.

2. I prefer to put my nuts in whole. But you can put the pistachio nuts in a plastic sandwich bag and smash into little pieces using a rolling pin.

3. Put the nuts in the chocolate mixture and stir well.

4. Pour into a dish of your choosing, leave to cool and then pop in a fridge to set.

5. Once it has set, cut into little pieces and tuck in! Keep in mind, it's very addictive! You might be a little bit better at making them more uniformed than me...

As always do tweet me to let me know if you make it - and send me some in the post please! Happy baking!

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Restaurant review: Yo! Sushi, St Paul's, London

Yo Sushi is one of those chains that I seem to see everywhere and always make a mental note to visit but alas I never do. So when they got in touch to see if I wanted to review their special Yo! Festival, I jumped at the chance. And now wish I'd tried it sooner! I have definitely been missing out...

Yo! Festival is running until 23rd September and is offering an extra 46 blue dishes at a special price of £2.80, Monday to Friday. What a bargain eh? There's such an incredible range of things to try and it's not only sushi either. Both hot and cold dishes are included in the deal.

So what did we manage to put away? A LOT!

To kick things off we ordered a couple of hot dishes including a delicious soft duck gyoza with an incredible plum sauce - I took to unconventionally dipping my sushi in - and the crisp katsu chicken curry drizzled with a sweet tonkatsu sauce. So far so good! Then we went wild and got a bit greedy picking off the dishes from the conveyor belt. The novelty didn't wear off all evening.

Personal favourites included the fried battered octopus balls with a generous sprinkling of flavoursome fish flakes, enormously addictive salmon chahan filled with crunchy vegetables and chilli powder,  a very filling avocado and salmon hand roll with a sprinkling of sesame seeds and the hoisin duck roll with that plum sauce sent from the heavens above.

The staff were incrediably attentive and we never once felt rushed. The location of St Pauls was amazing - nothing quite like dining next to that impressive cathedral. Finally, the food tasted so fresh given the fact it goes around the belt a fair few times. My boyfriend and I both agreed that we will most definitely book in another trip soon!

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Exploring Prague: Brews and Views tour with Eating Prague

Prague is famous the world over for its beer so when I was offered the chance to try Eating Prague Brews and Views tour, I was very excited to see what they had in mind. Brews and Views is a brand new 3.5 hour tour celebrating the country's proud history of beer and local food specialities. Partnering with international beer expert Evan Rail, the company has made it their mission to introduce visitors to the hidden Prague.

Starting off at the wonderful Letna beer garden, we all admired the stunning view over the city as we learnt about the history of Czech beer. After we finished the first drink, we headed down the step to start exploring the city. Our guide was absolutely fantastic - so knowledgable and so friendly. It makes things so much more interesting when you're listening to someone so passionate about what they're talking about. I don't want to spoilt to much about the tour in case you go on it yourself but I will give you my highlights. And insist that you most definitely book it if you ever find yourself in Prague! One tip I will offer is, make sure you go hungry as there's a lot of food to be enjoyed!

The food. Oh the food. We stopped off to try a hotdog at Nase Maso - right next to their butchers shop. Oh my word, it was so delicious that we went back a second time after the tour. Try their meat loaf too!

My favourite bar was T-Anker. Located on top of the Kotva communist department store, it's totally hidden away. But once you get the lift to the top, you're greeted with some of my favourite views of the city. With outside tables, it's a great place to whittle away a few hours enjoying the atmosphere.

As a Brit, I'm pretty fussy about my scotch egg but my taste buds were won over in Prague. Maso a Kobliha has a shabby chic cafe vibe but is owned by a famous chef named Paul Day. The scotch eggs were perfectly cooked inside juicy sausage meat and encrusted in crispy bread crumbs. I really wish I didn't have to share them! The beer was pretty tasty too and complimented the food well.

Thanks for such an amazing few hours guys!

Tours run Tuesday to Saturday and kick things off at 2.30pm before ending at around 6pm. Tickets cost €65.

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OOTD: Red dress

Outfit:
Red sleeveless dress: Tu at Sainsbury's (similar)
Leather espadrilles: H&M (similar)
Yellow and blue canvas watch: Timex* (similar)

Happy Friday! I just don't know where this week has gone, it's been so busy that I feel like I haven't had a chance to breathe. I feel so out of sorts and not quite sure where my head it at. With On Blackheath music festival planned for the weekend, its not going to slow down any time soon. But we sleep when we're dead eh?

A little throwback to my four days in Prague with this outfit post. I really can't believe I've been back nearly a month. It's funny how quickly you settle back into a routine! This was taken at Prague Castle as we wandered down Golden Lanes. A cute collection of wonky multi-coloured houses with lovely little shops inside - I ended up buying a Christmas decoration. In August. I think I ended up wearing this dress about 3/4 times during my two week break. It's just so easy to throw on and thanks to the thin material, drys out very quickly if the heavens open. In fact, I haven't really stopped wearing it at home while it's been sunny either! Keep an eye out for an abundance of Prague posts coming soon as I slowly make my way through photos - it was a beautiful city!

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Recipe: The ultimate chocolate cake

Hobbycraft got in touch and told me they had a challenge for me to undertake. I'd seen these gravity defying cakes all over Instagram so was very excited to try and attempt one for myself. I used a Nigella recipe for the chocolate cake and decided to go for a mixture of white and milk chocolate for the decoration. It didn't come out as neat as I had wanted but I like to think it has a bit of rustic charm! The kit was quite fiddly and it takes a lot of patience to make it work - definitely set aside a few hours for the decorating. In hindsight, maybe white chocolate was not the best shout because I used milk chocolate to stick them to the pole and it showed up. But the end result looks so cool and it's such a showstopper so it's well worth the time and effort.

Ingredients
200g plain flour
200g caster sugar
1 tsp of baking power
1/2 tsp of bicarbonate of soda
40g cocoa powder
175g baking margarine
2 large eggs
150ml sour cream

Icing
75g unsalted butter
175g at least 60% dark chocolate
300g icing sugar
1 tbsp golden syrup
125ml sour cream
1 tsp vanilla extract

Topping
2 bags of white chocolate buttons
1 bag of chocolate buttons
1-2 pack of white chocolate fingers
1-2 pack of chocolate fingers

Method
1. Line and grease two round cake tins with butter and baking parchment. Preheat your oven to 180 degrees.

2. Put all the cake ingredients into a food processor and pulse into a thick batter.

3. Divide the batter evenly into the two cake dishes. Pop in the oven and cook for around 10 minutes before covering with tin foil and cook for a further 15 minutes,

4. Once you have checked it is cooked, take it out and let it cool down.

5. Meanwhile, make the icing. Melt the chocolate and butter in a pan on a low heat. Once melted, leave to one side to slightly cool down.

6. Sieve the icing sugar into a large bowl.

7.  Add the golden syrup, vanilla extract and sour cream to the chocolate mixture. Pour the mixture into the icing sugar and whisk until smooth.

8. Once the cake has cooled down, follow the instructions on the gravity defying packet. Once it has been put together, cover the entire cake with icing.

9. Using alternative fingers, cover the edging with chocolate fingers before topping it with the white chocolate buttons. Using both the different colours. Keep one of the empty packets.

10. Using the leftover icing, carefully dot some on the back of the button before sticking to the tube, making it look like they're falling down.

11. Using the icing, smear a line around the top of the empty sweet packet and secure to the top of the tube so it's slightly covering the line of chocolate buttons. Hold tight for a while so it sticks.

12. Stick in the fridge for a bit if you want to help harden the icing. Then tuck in!

I would love to know if you attempt this so please do tweet me. Happy baking!

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