Classic Aviation

23-03-2018 Local Black Bookaviation, cocktail, gin, recipeLeave a comment

A classic Aviation is my go-to spring cocktail.

Citrus-sy and delicately floral, it’s tart without being too sharp, sweet without being sickly and easy to whip up at a moment’s notice.

The perfect cocktail for bloom season – or any Friday celebration throughout the year!

It’s one of the simplest cocktail known to man.

There’s only a handful of ingredients and they keep forever, so you can always have them in the cupboard just in case.

That, a simple shaker and a few minutes and you’re good to go, making the Aviation a great cocktail to make whether for one, two or a group and in any environment.

I’m thinking picnic party in a meadow… Who’s joining?

Classic Aviation Cocktail // Simple Spring Cocktail // Cake + Whisky

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Have you ever tried an Aviation cocktail? What’s your favourite classic cocktail?

More cocktails:

Fairy tale cocktails at St James Bar

A British cocktail masterclass at Hixter Bankside

Festive Old Fashioned

Tahini Brownie

06-03-2018 Local Black Bookbrownie, cake, chocolate, recipe, tahini, vegetarianLeave a comment

I’m not sure what it is, but it seems more and more of my internet friends are falling victims of strange and spectacular baking nightmares.

Things burn, don’t raise, turn out to be weird colours… and it’s happened so much in the past few weeks I’m starting to worry it’s not just a coincidence!

No way that’ll stop be from baking though – I absolutely need both the process and the resulting cake to face the very stressful period of change I’m currently into! – so I more than ever rely on tried-and-tested, fool- (and catastrophy-) proof recipe.

On top of that list comes brownies.

SO easy to make (no fuss whatsoever), SO delicious (moist and dense and chocolatey and everything a good brownie should be).

I’ve been using the base recipe for years (about 10 of them!) and it’s simply perfect.

And, as it turns out, even better with added tahini to create those dreamy squares of tahini brownie goodness!

Because it tastes best the day after it’s baked, this tahini brownie is the ultimate make-ahead treat…

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And, if you don’t look too closely, you might even say it’s a fantastic square meal!

Pin for later:

More foolproof cake recipes:

Banana bread (V, Vg & DF options)

Simple lemon cake (V)

Cranberry oatmeal cake (V)

The best carrot cake (V)

Banana Bread

19-02-2018 Local Black Bookbanana bread, cake, recipeLeave a comment

You know what I like more than the smell of a cake baking in my oven?

Very few things, to be honest.

Unless said cake is not only delicious, but also the ultimate way to turn a bunch of over-ripe bananas into the sweetest treat.

Which is why banana bread is the most genius cake recipe there is.

Yesterday, after having spent the vast majority of the afternoon laying on the sofa in a desperate attempt to try and digest the feast of a lunch we had at St John’s, I spotted said bunch of sad-looking, brown, not very appeeling bananas in the fruit basket, begging to be made into banana bread.

How could I say no?

Banana loaf is seriously one of the easiest things to bake.

It’s very adaptable -as long as you have bananas, you’re good, quite healthy as far as cake go, packs in a lot of fruit and good-for-you things, yet it make for such an indulgent breakfast/snack/pudding.

I’m not sure why it is, but it seems like bananas are somewhat magic when it comes to baking and allow for quite a lot of substitutions/omissions, which is great if you have food allergies or preferences.

Or very bare cupboards.

No eggs? No problem (maybe add a bit more mashed banana if your batter’s too dense).

No dairy – it works perfectly fine with margarine too.

Want to reduce the sugar? Go ahead.

Switch the baking flour for a gluten-free one? Since banana bread is quite dense, it doesn’t really matter.

Want to make it extra indulgent? Nothing’s easier! Simply add chocolate chips or crushed nuts to the batter, swirl some Nutella through, serve with a nutty or caramely ice cream… There are so many options!

So few ingredients, so many possibilities… Just bananas!

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Pin for later

More easy pudding recipe

Simple lemon cake (V)

The best (frosting-free) carrot cake (V)

Easy bread & butter pudding (V)

Vegan chocolate mousse (VE)

Simple Lemon Cake

08-02-2018 Local Black Bookbaking, cake, lemon, lemon cake, recipe1 Comment

When I was in high school, I was a serial baker.

I was the kind of student who put a lot of pressure onto herself and that required a lot of exausting mental work. So I needed to find a way to give myself a break and relax, and baking was just that.

Ensued as many as 6 types of cakes a week being baked, which was really quite a lot for a family of 5 to go through. Thankfully, my siblings’ classmates and mine were always willing to land a hand on the eating front.

From that baking frenzy, I kept the unshakable feeling that cake makes many bad things better, as well as a handful of ‘best in show’ recipes, amongst which this simple lemon cake one.

A simple lemon cake is a baking classic- and this recipe is perfect on all fronts.

Pressed for time? It literally takes minutes to whip up and can happily be made the day before. Plus there’s no need for syrups or any fussing about.

Don’t have any fancy equipment or ingredients / not in the mood for a lot of washing up? All it takes is basic ingredients, one bowl and one baking tin.

Not very comfortable with baking projects? It’s basically impossible to ruin (you could even put all the ingredients in a blender).

Scared it’ll be dry and/or boring? Do you really think I’d still be making this recipe after all those years if it wasn’t the most incredible simple lemon cake ever?

I’m talking big on zesty flavours, moist and absolutely perfect both with a cuppa for afternoon tea or a spoonful of Greek yoghurt for breakfast and brunch!

So, if life gives you lemon… make lemon cake!

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Pin for later:

More easy (and delicious!) baking projects

The best carrot cake

Cranberry oatmeal cake

The best bread & butter pudding

Vegan Moroccan Tagine

31-01-2018 Local Black Bookhealthy, moroccan, recipe, stew, tagine, vegan, vegetablesLeave a comment

As January comes to an end, so do all the bullshit diets.

So long Dry-nuary, vegan-uary and the rest of them, and all they accompanying hashtags.

You won’t be missed.

You know what doesn’t come to an end though?

The possibility to cook a fantastic meal that just happen to be vegan.

Because accidental vegan food is actually the best, and that all year round.

Packed full of veggies and vitamins, budget, time and freezer friendly, light, tasty… the list of benefits never ends!

This colourful vegan moroccan tagine is all that and then some.

Warming, filling and just so cosy, it’s the ideal dish to meal-prep on a rainy Sunday to cheer you up for the whole week ahead!

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More accidentally vegan recipes

Indian-spiced lentil soup

Spicy Xi’an-style noodles

Winter pistou soup

Tomato & coconut pasta

PB & J porridge

PB & J Porridge (VE, GF)

16-01-2018 Local Black Bookbreakfast, GF, PB & J, peanut butter, porridge, recipe, veganLeave a comment

Breakfast food is the way to my heart.

Eggs any way, bread (all the bread!), full English, porridge… I love it all!

But, I love my bed even more.

That means that if I’m going to actually eat breakfast, it has to be super easy/quick to make because I’m not going to swap sleeping time for cooking time.

Which is the case for this PB & J porridge.

Creamy, nutty, filling, satisfying, accidentally vegan (!!) and suuuuuuuper quick to make, it’s the breakfast of dreams.

100% my jam!

PB & J Porridge (VE, GF) ● Vegan breakfast recipe ● Cake + Whisky [amd-zlrecipe-recipe:53]

More breakfast recipes

Curried spinach baked eggs (V, GF)

The best bread & butter pudding (V)

Sticky date porridge (VE, GF)

How to make eggs Benedict

Lazy fish tacos

11-01-2018 Local Black Bookeasy, fish, recipe, tacos2 Comments

When they find out how obsessed I am with all things food, some people assume I spend the vast majority of my time in my kitchen, cooking up a strom and making everything from scratch.

People who do know me know that’s not quite the case and I’m actually the laziest of cooks.

The kind that finds cheat’s tricks to whip up something delicious in no time and with minimal effort so she can maximise her Netflix marathon session time.

And these lazy fish tacos fit the lazy bill just right.

Rich, zingy, fresh, ‘Mehicoooo’ flavours, ready to be wrapped into soft, warm corn taco wraps in next-to-no time.

What makes them so easy, you ask?

Two words: Fish. Fingers.

The perfect recipe for when it feels like a long week but it’s only Monday afternoon.

Or Netflix finally releases Friends and you have great weekend plans to re-re-re-binge it all…

Taco’bout a winner dinner recipe!

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More lazy easy dinner recipes

Curried spinach baked eggs (V)

Tray-roast salad (GF & V option)

Indian-spiced lentil soup (Ve)

Curried cauliflower cheese soup V

04-01-2018 Local Black Bookcauliflower, recipe, soup, vegetarian2 Comments

After having spent 2 weeks at my parents eating foie gras for breakfast, lunch and dinner (without even exagerating), I was looking forward to going back to my regular soup-filled routine.

So about 3 minutes after my groceries where delivered this week, I was in my kitchen chopping away.

This cauliflower cheese soup was one of those wonderful accidents that happen when you’re trying to make the most of your ingredients.

After separating the cauliflower florets for another dish, I was left with the stalks. For some reason, I decided to boil them in some water, then blended them with curry powder and a cheeky bit of grated cheddar and it turned out GREAT!

It tastes absolutely delicious (I mean, it’s basically cauliflower cheese in soup form!) and, because it’s a zero waste sort of recipe, it’s also great for the environment and your wallet.

It’s a well-known fact that free food is the best food. And that little number is a great example of how incredible scraps can be.

Fragrant, gently spiced, indulgent-sounding but incredibly light – it’s soooooo gouda!

Curried cauliflower cheese soup (V) ● Cake + Whisky [amd-zlrecipe-recipe:51]

More soup recipes

Indian spiced lentil soup VE

My favourite squash soup VE

Winter pistou soup (VE alternative)

Thai coconut chicken noodle soup

Curried spinach baked eggs (V)

16-12-2017 Local Black Bookbaked eggs, breakfast, recipe, spinach2 Comments

My favourite recipes have a few things in common:

They look intricate but are actually deceptively easy to put together.
They require few ingredients, and preferably some I already have in the fridge/cupboard.
They feel indulgent but are actually good for you.

Such recipes are good to have around any time of the year, but especially so during the festive period.

When you’re already running around like a headless chicken, desperatey trying to get a present for everyone on your list, wrapping them all and writing Christmas cards whilst managing a busier-than-usual calendar, feeding oneself with good, nutrient-rich food often steps back in favour of a mince pie-based diet.

And yet I have hope these curried spinach baked eggs will bring some nutrition back onto the pre-Christmas table.

But truth be told, they are egg-celent any time of the year – and the day!

Quick & easy to make, they make for a filling lunch, a light dinner or an brunch dish.

And, they’re absolutely egg-straordinary if you’re trying to knock a (festive or not) hangover out of the park!

The recipe below serves two, so multiply as required according to the number of over-worked elves/colleagues/family members you need to feed!

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A very simple, very special dish – recipes don’t get much more egg-straordinary than that!

More festive yet healthy recipes

Festive Brussel sprout slaw (V, GF)

My favourite squash soup (VE, GF)

Christmas orange salad (VE, GF)

Festive Old Fashioned Cocktail

15-12-2017 Local Black BookChristmas, cocktail, old fashioned, recipe, whiskey, whisky1 Comment

The old fashioned is the classic whisky cocktail.

And you know me, there’s nothing I like more than putting a twist on a classic…

Especially when said twist happens to be a festive one.

I mean, there’s a very limited period of time when people (my boyfriend) won’t judge me for adding cinnamon and cranberry to any food/drink that gets near me. And I fully intend to make the absolute most of it.

The perfect festive mix of sweet cranberry syrup, zesty orange and warming cinnamon, this festive old fashioned remains true to its classic roots, but with a little cheer-y lift.

The perfect berry & bright tipple to go alongside a spot of tree decorating and Bublé singalong.

But you know the drill – don’t drink and drive, ‘elf and safety etc…

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More (easy but life-changing) recipes to make this Christmas

Mulled-wine inspired Christmas martini (VE)

Turkey + cranberry sausage rolls

Christmas orange salad (VE)

Festive Brussel sprout slaw (V)

Cake and Whisky

Life in London and other almost-grown-up tales

Menu

recipe

Classic Aviation

Have you ever tried an Aviation cocktail? What’s your favourite classic cocktail?

More cocktails:

Tahini Brownie

Pin for later:

More foolproof cake recipes:

Banana Bread

Pin for later

More easy pudding recipe

Simple Lemon Cake

Pin for later:

More easy (and delicious!) baking projects

Vegan Moroccan Tagine

More accidentally vegan recipes

PB & J Porridge (VE, GF)

More breakfast recipes

Lazy fish tacos

More lazy easy dinner recipes

Curried cauliflower cheese soup V

More soup recipes

Curried spinach baked eggs (V)

More festive yet healthy recipes

Festive Old Fashioned Cocktail

More (easy but life-changing) recipes to make this Christmas