Gourmet chicken, cranberry & brie burger.

After having made this a few nights ago, I couldn't stop thinking about how (if I do say so myself) utterly delicious it is, and feeling more and more as though I have to share the method of creating it with the world. Well, at least anyone who reads this post. It's something about the succulently savoury breaded chicken breast paired with the sweet cranberry sauce and gorgeously creamy brie that ensures I finish every last mouthful every time I make it. Plus the addition of crunchy salad leaves and a beautiful chunk of crusty, rustic ciabatta loaf finishes the whole thing off perfectly, as well as adding another textural element to the burger. 

Easy-peasy cinnamon rolls.

I firmly maintain that in the winter anything remotely cinnamon-related always goes down a treat and succeeds in satisfying your appetite and making you feel all warm and cosy inside. So what could be better on a cold winter evening (I like to think you're sitting by the fire enjoying a novel and a cup of Early Grey) than having a fresh, warm cinnamon roll on the table next to you?

Yoghurt & marmalade loaf cake.

Wow, I definitely seem to be in the baking mood (to the apparent delight of my loved ones and stomach, and horror of my rapidly expanding waistline). This is one of my most favourite loaf cakes, mainly due to it being criminally moist yet supremely fresh due to the tangy sweet orange flavour permeating the soft sponge. 

Nigella's rocky road.

Ok, so it may be featured in my beloved recipe book Nigella Christmas, and I will be the first to admit that it is, sadly, no longer Christmas, but I am of the firm belief (and I hope that the domestic goddess herself would agree with me here) that rocky road is so gorgeously chocolatey and rich that it would be a crime not to consume it all year round. That, coupled with the fact that it is so simple even your half-blind arthritic grandma could whip it up no sweat, means this is a firm chocolatey favourite that I revisit religiously throughout the year. 

Gorgonzola gnocchi.

Living in a house full of vegetarians definitely has its pros and cons. The cons are pretty obvious - namely that I can't eat meat - thus ruling out some of my most favourite foods, like sausages, meaty pizzas, and all varieties of roast dinners. Which sucks. Hence my need to concentrate on the pros in order to cheer up both myself and my stomach. There are the obvious pros - better for animals, vegetarian alternatives to meat being cheaper and lower in calories, and, my personal favourite, allowing you to stumble upon ridiculously tasty, filling, and wholesome vegetarian-friendly dishes, like this blue cheese and spinach gnocchi, guaranteed to simultaneously satisfy and impress both vegetarians and non vegetarians alike.

James Martin's raspberry & white chocolate cupcake mix.

I was innocently shopping in Tesco this afternoon and, before I knew where I was, found myself in the bakery isle drooling over cake ingredients. I maintain it can happen to anyone. Anecdotes aside, I came across something so fantastic and chic that I had to blog about it - James Martin, renowned English chef especially brilliant at all things sweet, and rather handsome to boot, has brought out his own range of cupcake and bread mixes, a delectable and fabulously presented line entitled James Martin's Bakery. Exciting stuff. 

Fire & Stone, Westfields.

What to say about this place? I love, love, love Italian food - cheeses, sauces, dough, basil, what's not to love? - but if I were really pushed for a favourite I would have to say that pizza is their finest achievement as a nation. In fact, it's one of my most beloved things ever; I am notorious for getting bored with foods easily and moving on to greener pastures, but not so with pizza. Not matter what time of day, month, year, give me a pizza and I will kiss you right on the mouth. 

Dollar Grills & Martinis, Farringdon.

Dollar Grills & Martinis is pure luxurious fun. As a venue it excites the moment you walk through the door, and continues to excite until the moment you leave - the dim lighting, the plush booths, the open plan kitchen, the old black and white movies playing, all combine to ensure that your dining experience is a pretty unforgettable one. 

Modello Bar & Kitchen, Watford.

This is one of those rare finds; a place that simply oozes sophistication from the moment you step through the big glass doors, yet provides ample choice of food and drink to suit all appetites and palates, and all for a very reasonable price (not to mention the copious amount of deals they offer).