In the Kitchen

Gluten free chocolate chip pumpkin cookies

How to Make: Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies recipe

It’s that time of the year again! The leaves have changed their colour, the weather is cooler and pumpkin spice is everywhere. Lattes, cakes, cocktails…name it! Of course, it was only natural to bring you a cookie version of your favourite autumn drink too. Whether you want to celebrate the autumn season or are after some Thanksgiving dessert ideas, I have the best pumpkin chocolate chip cookies recipe for you. Trust me, you’re going to want to make them ASAP!

Bursting with flavour, these gluten free chocolate chip pumpkin cookies are fluffy, soft and absolutely delicious. My easy pumpkin chocolate chip cookie recipe combines basic pantry ingredients with warm spices. The best thing? It only requires a few minutes in the oven so you’ll be done in no time. Plus, the warm smell of baked spiced pumpkin cookies will stay in your kitchen for days!

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Chocolate Guinness cake slice

How to Make: Chocolate Guinness cake recipe

It’s no secret that one of my favourite things to do is to bake (apart from travelling, of course). With St Patrick’s Day around the corner, I thought it was only appropriate to bring the Irish spirit to my kitchen in the form of a cake. And what’s more Irish than Guinness beer?

This dark chocolate Guinness cake recipe is a mix of Nigella Lawson’s original recipe and Garrett McCord’s lovely additions of dark brown sugar and cream cheese topping. I’ve changed it a little bit by using double cream and lemon juice for a tangier flavour. This highlights the richness of the cocoa and beery sponge perfectly, making it the best Guinness cake recipe possible. This cake is dark, moist, delicious and easy to bake and it’s perfect for fighting the afternoon munchies!

If you’re looking for the ultimate pint of Guinness in the shape of a cake, you’ve come to the right place…

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Sliced easy banana bread with chocolate chips on a chopping board

How to make: Banana bread with chocolate chips recipe

This easy chocolate chip banana bread recipe has been a weekend ritual for the last few months and it’s safe to say I’m still as addicted to it as I was on the first day. I can’t take any credit here, sadly, as this is also one of Sam’s mum’s great bakes (who else?). But I thought I’d share what, in my humble opinion, might just be the best banana bread recipe!

Made with wholemeal flour (just opt for gluten-free flour to make it a gluten-free banana bread) and with a delicious nutty caramel flavour, this homemade banana loaf is fluffy and stays moist for days. It makes for pretty tasty comfort food that goes perfectly with a cuppa. Trust me, your friends and family will love this chocolate chip banana bread (if you’re willing to share, that is!).  The best bit? You can also experiment with fillings such as walnuts or different chocolate chips for a fun twist with extra flavour! Because sometimes all you need is a good (thick) slice of banana bread, right?

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Homemade protein bars with oats

How to Make: Homemade protein bars with oats and cinnamon recipe

After several posts of incredibly delicious brunch and out-of-this-world Dutch apple pie, it seemed only fair I brought you a healthy recipe. Judging by all of my food posts, you’re probably well aware that I’m a sweet tooth kind of girl. Although I’ve recently rekindled my love for pilates and improved my daily exercise routine and diet considerably, truth is I often find myself craving sweet treats after a workout. Maintaining a healthy diet can be tricky – especially when it comes to choosing snacks that will keep us both satisfied and healthy. Let me just say that the temptation is real.

Protein bars seem to do the trick and help you get through to the end of the day. However, I’ve found that store bought protein bars aren’t only pricey, but they tend to be calorific and quite surprisingly, aren’t always that nutritious. They often come packed with processed and unnatural ingredients including sugars, additives and preservatives which isn’t what your body needs to be happy. Therefore, I’ve decided to share my newfound love – these easy and healthy homemade protein bars! They’re tasty, filling and have no added sugar as their rich sweetness comes from the natural sugars found in dates. And the best bit? These are no-bake protein bars so require no baking at all! Can this get any better?

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Turkey satay salad above

How to Make: Healthy satay turkey salad recipe

Contrary to popular belief, cooking restaurant-like dishes isn’t actually that difficult. A lot of brilliant recipes don’t require long hours in the kitchen and can easily be made at home with just a handful of delightful ingredients.

Fortunately, Sam and I have always been pretty good with cooking at home, no matter the season. With the bursts of sunshine that comes with spring and summer, I find myself no longer gravitating towards heavy comfort food but being more active (gym, anyone?) and choosing healthier options to incorporate into my diet. Hence why this satay turkey salad has become my go-to weeknight recipe!

Nothing screams protein and peanut butter like satay chicken, am I right? Or in this case, turkey, as it adds an even healthier and delicious kick to this traditional Indonesian dish. This easy satay turkey salad is light, crisp, really simple and uses fresh ingredients that make it perfect for warm days.

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Cutting lemon drizzle cake

How to Make: Easy lemon drizzle cake recipe

Autumn calls for warm cakes and hot cups of tea. And I cannot tell you how ready I am for it! I finally have an excuse to take my jumpers and oversized scarfs out of the bottom of my wardrobe. Truth is, even though I enjoyed the superb sunny weather we’ve had in the UK for the last couple of months, I must admit I certainly missed the cool breeze and autumnal crisp air. And of course the crunchy leaves, pumpkin spice lattes, nice smelling candles and warm comfort food!

Halloween may be around the corner but there is nothing scary about this cake. Following Sam’s mum’s award-winning recipe, I recently treated myself to a super easy to bake lemon drizzle cake. This light and effortless recipe is incredibly easy to follow, requires only a handful of ingredients and serves up to 10 slices. Served either warm or at room temperature, it’s moist, rich in taste and perfect to have with a hot cuppa. You can thank me later…

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Chocolate and raspberry brownies

How to Make: Gooey chocolate brownie recipe

Do you like chocolate brownies? Let me rephrase that, who doesn’t love brownies? I know, I know, there are some people out there that are not particularly fond of chocolatey treats. Luckily, I am not one of them and when it comes to brownies, I just can’t say no. They are not precisely the lightest of bites, but hey! Think about it as your reward for eating clean throughout the whole week.

As an avid sweet treat lover and a big fan of Sam’s sister’s mouth-watering brownies, I thought I’d share the following recipe with you, which she is a pro at. This is such an easy dessert to make and this gooey chocolate brownie recipe serves 12 chunky brownies, perfect for sharing them with loved ones and friends (if you don’t end up eating them all in one go, like we nearly did).

Enjoy!

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