Lemon and Poppy Seed Cakes

This recipe originally started off as a loaf cake. It was super moist and delicious, but I have to admit it was a monster of a cake and never looked as good as it tasted. So I thought I’d downsize and see if I could keep the recipe as zesty and moist, but prettier and daintier than before.

I made these cakes for a little persons 3rd birthday party, Ezra. We visited Laura and her family for his birthday and spent a wonderful day playing in the garden – we set up our own mini Olympics, played in the paddling pool and swung on the swings, and of course we ate lots of lovely cake! Laura made a wonderful birthday cake in the shape of a ladybird (Ezra’s favourite) and I brought along these little lemon and poppy seed cakes.

I chose to decorate some with poppy seeds (for the adults) and fun brightly coloured sprinkles for Phoebe and Ezra. Another cute idea would be to top them with candied lemon peel. You can also change the consistency of the icing to taste.

I like to think these are the perfect summer cake and would look great at any picnic or garden party, so with just a few weeks of sunshine left, I recommend you get out and make these this weekend: you won’t regret it.

[Healthy Version] Fish and Chips with Mushy Peas and Tartar Sauce

There are some meals, that will always be nostalgic, they will always be comforting, and remind us of happy times. Fish and chips for me, is one of those meals and for two reasons.

Firstly, it reminds me of countless holidays to Cornwall and day trips to the coast – without a doubt, we would end the day watching the sunset tucking into fish and chips on the beach.

It also reminds me of my Nan. Every Friday when we were little her and my Grandad would come round for dinner: one week she would cook, the other we would get fish and chips from the local chippy!

Are ALL happy memories linked to food?

But let’s face it there is enough grease in the average portion of fish and chips to give you heart disease just by looking at them! Ok...maybe that’s an exaggeration. And, if it so concerns you, cod is one of the most overfished fish stocks in the North Sea! So, it’s probably not ideal to be eating too much of it. Instead, for this recipe why not pick something like pollack or coley, both of which are from the cod family! You can check out other Sustainable Tips at the Hugh’s Fish Fight Website.

Now, when most recipes are given a makeover they just leave out all the good bits...you can probably tell my fish won’t be covered in batter, but I’ve also whipped up healthier versions of creamy tartar sauce, and mushy peas, so you can have your fish and chips with all of the trimmings.

I promise you this recipe will be much lighter on your lips and on your hips, and taste delicious, even without all of the grease. I'm particularly proud of the super silky tartar sauce that really packs a punch.

It’s just a shame that you can’t eat this on the beach...

Pizza East, Shoreditch

Ground beef pizza, Pizza East

Just a few weeks ago I visted a lovely curry house down Brick Lane in East London. Last week I have been checking out the food and drink in Shoreditch! I've not even started working/studying in London yet and already I'm getting out and about.


I ended up in Shoreditch as I was thrown in at the deep end on an evening out with Jon's work colleagues! He has been working at a local council for just over 6 months and he finally thought it was time to unleash me on to his work friends! I like to think I'm quite an acquired taste - my sense of humour is terrible and I never know when to stop talking, but hey...my friends love me so why wouldn't his?!


We met up with them first of all at a sports bar in Shoreditch - but not any sports bar, Bar Kick. It's an international bar that sells a wide variety of international beers, has a row of table football tables which you can reserve along with tables in either their bar area, or their food section. We didn't stop for a bite to eat as we had reservations at Pizza East but the grub looked like perfect American style sports food - I saw nachos, burgers, and amazing looking hot dog but the menu suggested there was so much more on offer! Perhaps we will have to return soon to give it a review.


We did however sample quite a bit of their drinks menu. I had a couple of cocktails including a Caipirinha made with cachaça and an El Mexican a blackberry and tequila cocktail -yummy! The bar staff weren't bad either...


Afterwards we moved on to Pizza East, the real star of the evening.