A First Visit To Bourton On The Water

 I love a road trip in the UK so recently we had a few days in Oxford, somewhere I've blogged about a few times before. I've even shared a travel guide so if you want any tips or recommendations for the beautiful city of Oxford make sure you check that out. Whilst we were there we decided to venture to Bourton-on-the-Water early one morning for the first time and I absolutely loved it. Bourton-on-the-Water is known as the Venice of the Cotswolds & it's become one of the most famous places in this beautiful area and I can totally see why. It's such a picturesque village full of charming stone bridges, a light flowing river and an abundance of cosy cottages, shops and cafes. It of course gets very busy so we got there for around 10am which I'm very glad about as it meant we got to see it all when it was nice and quiet and we could really take it in.We started our morning with a visit to Bakery on the Water. This was already quite full by the time we arrived but luckily we managed to grab a seat so we could enjoy some breakfast and coffee. The coffee was lovely and the pastries were delicious! I had a rough idea of some places I wanted to go to while we were there but it was actually really nice to just walk around and see what we found on the way. There are some lovely homeware shops full of trinkets and quirky items and you'll also find some old fashioned sweet shops which are always a must if you have a sweet tooth. After some time shopping and exploring we headed to Smith's for lunch. I've lost count of the amount of times I've seen this restaurant recommended online so it was one of our priorities this trip. They don't open until 12pm so we got there just after opening and it was already filling up so be prepared to queue for a seat if you visit. It's so so worth it though. They're known for their burgers and it was genuinely the best burger I've ever had in my life! We decided to get a few things to share this time so we went for the Bearnaise Bad Boy which was a smashed burger topped with Bearnaise Mayo, pickled shallots, parmesan, truffle shoestring fries, smoked cheddar and bacon. I'm desperate to recreate it at home but I already know it just won't compare. We also shared their classic fries and mac & cheese which were both delicious too. This will 100% be the first place we visit next time!By the afternoon Bourton-on-the-Water was really filling up so I'm glad we ticked most things off our list that morning. We had spotted the Motor Museum and Model Village that morning but we've held off on those until next time. After grabbing another coffee for the journey back to Oxford, we took a small detour to Daylesford Farm Shop which was by far the fanciest farm shop I've ever been too. Definitely the most expensive too. All of the homeware bits were gorgeous and there's just so much to see as you walk round, it's all set out really well. We grabbed a few cinnamon buns (which were amazing) for the next day and some fancy dog treats for Bear & Paddington before driving back to Oxford through some of the other Cotswold villages like Stow-on-the-Wold.I absolutely loved our first visit to Bourton-on-the-Water and can't wait to return one day. There were so many other cafes, restaurants and shops still left for us to explore and I'd love to stay in the village next time as a base point and travel out to some of the other Cotswolds areas. Let me know if you have any recommendations for anything Cotswolds related, I'm already starting to plan the next trip!

Keep upto date with me via - Twitter, Instagram

Bath Travel Guide

 It's been quite a while since I last wrote a travel guide but I thought it was about time I share my tips and ideas for the beautiful city of Bath. We've been 4 times now which may seem excessive but it's almost becoming tradition to visit around our anniversary now which is what we did just a few months ago. It's become a bit like London for me now in that sometimes you just find a place that you connect with and have lots of happy memories so why wouldn't we want to keep going back? As we've been quite a lot, here are some of my recommendations which I hope will help if you'd like to visit in future.

Where to Stay

Let's start with the hotel I'd personally recommend whilst in bath, Hotel Indigo. We've stayed here every trip so far because it's just a really nice hotel. The interiors are gorgeous, as soon as you walk into reception you're hit with the scent of basically a spa and the whole check in area is just lovely. The rooms are all designed so uniquely and I love seeing what kind of room we end up with each time. It's in a great location, literally round the corner from Bath Abbey and an array of restaurants and shops and it's directly across from a car park and just down the road from the train station so ideal however you're travelling. It can be pricey depending on time of year but I'd recommend regularly checking in the run upto your trip as prices do come down and you can easily rebook at the cheaper price. Another hotel I see recommended a lot is The Abbey Hotel which is in a similar area and there's also several Premier Inns dotted in and around the centre if you're looking for a more budget friendly option. 

What to See/Do

Bath Abbey

The most obvious attraction I'm sure but one I do really recommend. It's such a focal point of the centre of Bath. It's really special inside and I love having a chilled walk around mid afternoon taking in all of the information and sights. I'm not religious but it's quite nice sitting and listening too when there is something going on inside. It's around £8 per person to visit.

The Royal Crescent

Another of the main attractions in Bath, the Circus and Royal Crescent. It's such a lovely area, especially in the summer as there are benches dotted around and a huge patch of grass so you can sit and enjoy the sun. If you're a Bridgerton fan you'll spot a few places from the show here including the home of the Featheringtons.

Victoria Falls Adventure Golf

Just down from the Royal Crescent, you can find Victoria Falls Adventure Golf. We love a game of mini golf and we've been coming back to this for the last few summers. It's an 18 hole course so can take a little while, especially when it's busy but take your time and have fun! I'd recommend booking in advance if you can.

Toppings & Company Book Shop

If you're a book lover, you must visit Toppings & Company! It is the most incredible book shop and we visit pretty much everyday when we're there. You'll find every book you could imagine here, there are several floors and you can even get free hot drinks so you can sit and read whilst you're there. Just love it.

Roman Baths

This feels like something you have to do in Bath at one point or another. We did this during our first trip in 2022 and I'm sure we'll go again one day. It's full of history and they have some really cool interactive ways of showing you what life was like once. You can go through at your own pace so I'd recommend freeing up 1-2 hours in your day for it. It's around £28 per person to visit.

Independent Shops

Whilst you can find most of your favourite chain shops in Bath, it's also full of lovely, independent businesses and it's always great to support them isn't it. The homeware shops in particular are brilliant and there are a few I always make sure I return to when we're there. Vinegar Hill and Sam Wilson Studio are two I recommend for all things decor.

Food

Mrs Potts Chocolate Shop

The absolute #1 recommendation when it comes to food. Mrs Potts is a chocolate cafe where you can get all manner of decadent cakes, brownies, cookies, milkshakes and so much more. The Matilda cake is pure chocolate heaven but honestly everything we've ever tried there has been delicious. This is a must for us every single trip!

Bertinet Bakery

I love pastry. Especially croissants and pain au chocolate which Bertinet Bakery do incredibly well. We found this place on a whim but it's become another staple for us now. Their pastries are so buttery and flaky and they also do some incredible babkas in a variety of flavours aswell as mini loaf cakes, cookies and even things like mince pies at christmas.

Joya

If there is one restaurant you must try whilst in Bath, it's Joya. An Italian Steakhouse with a menu full of choice, from things like Steak which you can opt to cook yourself on a hot stone, to a range of gorgeous pasta and risotto and they also do some amazing desserts - we particularly love the Tiramisu. The service is always great too and if it's a special occasion they'll often throw in free prosecco or do something to help you celebrate which is such a bonus.

Bandook

Another must of ours, usually on the last night as it always feels like such a special way to end each trip - Bandook. An Indian restaurant which I genuinely couldn't recommend enough. We like to get a variety of small plates, we particularly love the Samosa Chaat, Pocket Kebab & Kerala Chicken but they have a huge menu to choose from so you're spoilt for choice. The cocktails/mocktails are beautiful too!

A few other places worth a mention, Dough for delicious pizza, Bakervee for NYC style cookies and Rosarios for coffee!

Travel

When you're in Bath, most things are really walkable and as it's such a picturesque city it's a perfect way to take everything in, aswell as lots of photo opportunities. That being said I always recommend the Big Bus Tours when they're available in a city as they're such a great way of getting your bearings and are a convenient hop on/hop off option. You can usually get 48 hour tickets so no need to cram everything into one day either. There's even a boat tour you can do too but we've yet to tick that off our list. In terms of travelling into Bath, it all depends on where you're coming from but if driving, there's convenient parking dotted around the city centre and the train station is less than 10 minutes walk away from the centre.So, that wraps up my Bath travel guide. Just some of my tips and highlights of a beautiful city that I already can't wait to go back to again one day! Whenever you go, whether the peak of Summer or the during the Christmas period, there's something for everyone and so much to discover.

Have you visited Bath?

Keep upto date with me via - Twitter, Instagram

Our Recent Trip To Cambridge

 A few months ago now George and I went to Cambridge for the first time and as it was such a lovely trip, I really wanted to write about it on here. Even though I rarely blog nowadays I still love looking back on old posts, especially our travel ones so why not share our Cambridge trip too? Even if just for me at least but maybe it will also give you some ideas too.We love a UK break, it's the main trips we do as there are so many beautiful places in the UK and it just works out a bit easier for us with the dogs now. Cambridge had been on our list for a while and this Spring seemed a perfect time. We were blessed with good weather while we were there which only made it even better and pretty much as soon as we left, I was thinking about when we'd return!

First things first, the hotel. I've really struggled in the past to find hotels in Cambridge that either didn't cost loads or just weren't the best location wise but by the time planning for this trip came around, a brand new Premier Inn had opened right in the centre. It's the Corn Exchange/Lion Yard hotel. This hotel was pretty much perfect. It was affordable, absolutely ideal location wise, had everything you need and I loved the check in process as you don't even need to speak to anyone, it can all be done via a touch screen. We'd definitely stay there again. We stayed for 3 nights but didn't arrive til around 7pm on the first night so even though we got a quick walk around in, it was basically 2 full days in the end which really, was a great amount of time. On the Monday, our first proper day, we started with breakfast at Dishoom. We had breakfast at Dishoom in London last year and it was incredible so I've been desperate to go again. The Dishoom in Cambridge is a Permit Room so more of a bar-cafe rather than just a restaurant so the menu was a little smaller but that was no problem, we both still found something delicious. I'd love to return in the evening next time. 

We walked round some of the lovely streets nearby afterwards and found Heffers Bookshop. I'm sure you know by now I love a bookshop and this was really interesting inside, the layout was so unique. We then headed down to Bould Brothers Coffee which I've only seen rave reviews about and now I totally understand why. We ended up returning everyday as it was so good. It's just across from The Round Church too which has a few benches dotted around so it was really lovely sitting there in the sun sipping our coffees. I recommend the mocha if you go!After a spot of shopping we headed for lunch at Aromi. You can sit in or get food to go so we went for one of their huge pizza slices so we could find a place to enjoy it in the sun. The classic Margarita slice was delicious but did take absolutely ages to cool down! We grabbed some ice cream from Jack's Gelato afterwards which is pretty much next door to Aromi and that was amazing. The baked vanilla flavour in particular! Around here you'll find The Corpus Clock and King's College so it's a nice spot for sightseeing too.The rest of the day was pretty chill, we took some time to cool down in the hotel and read our books before heading out for a meal that evening. We chose Flat Iron as we love a steak and it's not something we have loads at home. This was a beautiful meal, the steak was cooked perfectly, the chips were so nice and crisp, the mac & cheese lovely and cheesy and the drinks were super refreshing.Our next full day started with breakfast at Bill's. We both went for the pancakes which were so filling and the perfect start to the day and the hash browns on the side, wow, they were perfect.

We then tried to find some of the Dinky Doors that are dotted around Cambridge which are highly detailed mini sculptures. There's an official website where you can get a map to help you find them all but we just spotted them randomly while walking around. We only found 2 in the end but both are so unique. I think it's such a cool idea.That afternoon we finally properly browsed the market which is right in the centre of Cambridge and grabbed some lunch. You'll find all sorts of food stalls here so there's something for everyone aswell as stalls selling homemade bits and bobs, a sweet stall and more. The juices from one stall in particular were lovely and refreshing on a warm day.The rest of the day consisted of more book shopping, yet more coffee from Bould Brothers and some bakery hopping. I have to recommend the ricotta chocolate cake from Aromi which I mentioned earlier, absolutely delicious and I think about it most days. That evening we went for our final meal of the trip and enjoyed some mocktails then it was time to pack to head home the next day. We really loved our first trip to Cambridge and I can easily see it becoming another place we want to return to again and again. I'm already thinking of things we can do next time.

Have you ever been to Cambridge for a city break?

Keep upto date with me via - Twitter, Instagram

My Top London Bakery Recommendations

 It's no secret if you've been reading my blog over the years or even following me on Instagram, that I love London. It is probably my all time favourite city & luckily we tend to go at least once a year so we're always finding new places to explore. One thing we love is discovering new bakeries and when we went earlier this year we decided to do a little bakery crawl. We included some places we wanted to revisit but also tried a few new ones which had been on our list for a while so I thought I'd share them with you!

Gail's Bakery

We did actually start off at Gail's Bakery for breakfast as it was close to our hotel. These are dotted around London so you're pretty much always near one and I always enjoy going to them when we're in London. Their cinnamon buns in particular are to die for but I also recommend their blueberry muffins, banana & pecan cake & flourless chocolate cake in particular! They also do simple pastries like croissants & pain au chocolates really well, so buttery and flaky, just everything you could possibly want them to taste like.

Bageriet Bakery

This had been at the top of my list for SO long! Bageriet Bakery is a swedish Bakery tucked away on Rose Street near Covent Garden & it is an absolute hidden gem. It's really cosy inside with limited seating and their bakes are all sort of dotted around the room in a really cool way. We were spoilt for choice but the main thing I wanted to try was the Sockerkringlor, a sugared brioche pretzel. I have no words for how delicious this was, I instantly regretted not buying more & I've thought about it a lot since. Soft, fluffy, the perfect sweetness, spectacular give me 14 of them. We also got a Notgrotta which is a shortbread cave filled with hazelnut chocolate & this was also incredible. They had one filled with jam too which I'm really keen to get next time. 

Buns From Home

Literally across the road from Bageriet Bakery, you'll find Buns From Home. Another bakery you'll find on most corners of London, I can't believe how long it took us to try them. Buns From Home specialise in hand rolled laminated buns & they have an array of flavours. Not only will you find their classic cinnamon bun but they also have pistachio, almond, hazelnut, cardamom and more aswell as a range of dessert filled buns! We got the chocolate custard filled bun which was delicious, surprisingly not too sweet but definitely filling. The pastry was lovely too. I really want to try their cheesecake bun one time as that looks amazing!

Barnaby Bars

Just around the corner from Buns From Home, we found Barnaby Bars, a relatively new bakery specialising in handmade chocolate bars. We got 3 to try, if I remember correctly they were TipTap which is peanut butter, salted caramel & peanut crunch, Cinema which is popcorn & toffee and finally Dollar which is a millionaire shortcake. The TipTap bar was like a fancy snickers and you can't go wrong with a millionaires shortbread. The chocolate on the bars wasn't too thick and none of the bars were overly sweet, I'd definitely try more flavours in future.

Crumbs & Doilies

I'd spotted Crumbs & Doilies on Instagram so many times so I was desperate to try their bakes. Based in Kingly Court, they sell a range of baked goods like cookies, brownies, cupcakes & more. We were going specifically to try their cookies but I regret not getting a cupcake too as they looked so good! Their New York cookies are thick, chunky & gooey and they have a range of flavours to choose from like Bueno, Biscoff, Cookies & Cream, Strawberry Shortcake, just to name a few. I got the Birthday Cake cookie & OMG it was divine. It was still a little warm so they clearly regularly have bakes fresh out of the oven as we were definitely there later in the day. The white chocolate chips & caramelised white chocolate were a little melty & the rainbow sprinkles weren't super crunchy so it was perfect in every way. Can't wait to go back!

Bread Ahead

Last but not least, there had to be a doughnut bakery on this list! We're big doughnut fans in this house and whilst our ultimate fave is Doh'hut in Leeds (who do actually have a shop in Spitalfields Market too!) Bread Ahead is one we've been going to since our earlier trips to London years ago. Based in Borough Market they seem to constantly be coming up with new variations of fillings & toppings and it's always hard to choose what to go for. This time we went for the blackcurrant cheesecake and it tasted exactly how it should, lovely and creamy cheesecake filling with a not too tart blackcurrant coulis drizzled on top. Be prepared to queue at Borough Market for these but they're definitely worth it.So that's the bakeries we managed to tick off our list during our last visit to London. I definitely want to do another bakery crawl next year as there are just so many more on our list. If you have any recommendations, please let me know as I'm always after new places to visit!

Keep upto date with me via - Twitter, Instagram

What's New In My Etsy Shop - Bear's Brownies and More!

 Last October I launched my own business, Bear's Brownies and More. I don't know about anyone else but lockdown and 2020 in general made me re-assess everything and I knew that going forward I needed a change. I've always loved baking and over the last few years in particular it's become a real saviour of mine and brownies were the thing I found myself making over and over. After lots of research, practise and trial runs, I decided to start selling my own homemade brownies and it's gone better than I could have ever predicted. Whilst I'm still such a new business with a lot to learn, I'm beyond proud of myself and everything I've achieved so far and it's not often I feel like that. I've finally found something that works for me and I can't see myself doing anything else now! As I mentioned in my goals for 2021 post last month, I'm aiming for 150 sales this year but I'm already at 95 which is just mental so who knows we might even get more than that? Each week I doubt myself and worry that the sales will stop but so far so good! I don't want to just talk about this all the time on my blog as I know not everyone will be interested but yesterday we launched our new brownies for Easter so I thought now was a good time to share them with you just in case you don't follow me anywhere else and also because I'm really proud of them!

Creme Egg Brownies
First up we had to have Creme Egg brownies in the shop didn't we? I love a Creme Egg & always find myself with a little stash long after Easter as I don't want them to end! These are our classic chocolate brownies with an oozy Creme Egg in the centre. Available in boxes of 4 or 8. We also have a mixed Easter Egg assortment box which includes 4 Creme Egg brownies & 4 Caramel Egg Brownies.

Caramel Egg Brownies
So as I've just said, Caramel Egg Brownies! God, I think I love these as much as Creme Eggs. If you like our salted caramel brownies, these are for you! These are also our classic chocolate brownie with a Caramel Egg centre. Absolute heaven. Available in boxes of 4 or 8 or as I've just mentioned, we have an Easter Egg assortment box which is a fun way to try out both of them!

Mini Egg Brownies
Who doesn't love Mini Eggs?! Our fudgy chocolate brownies filled with chunks of the brand new Cadbury Mini Eggs bar & topped with Mini Eggs. These just somehow take on the flavour of the mini eggs and the brownie itself has become even more delicious! Available in boxes of 4 or 8. Also available as part of our 2 flavour mixed box.

Malteser Bunny Brownies
Finally, our Malteser brownies are back! These were really popular at Christmas so as soon as I spotted the mini Malteser Bunnies I knew we had to bring them back this Easter. These are fudgy chocolate brownies swirled with Malteser Spread, drizzled with white chocolate and topped with a mini Malteser Bunny. Available in boxes of 4 or 8 or as part of our 2 flavour mixed box.All of our Easter brownies and our Easter Egg assortment box will be available until April so are only here for a limited amount of time. Whilst I'm so excited about all of these, we do still have all of our original flavours too. There's Salted Caramel, After Eight, Bourbon Biscuit, Biscoff, Mint Aero & Milkybar. We have a 2 flavour assortment box which allows you to choose 2 of any of the flavours & you'll receive 4 of each. We even have a biscuit box assortment too which includes our Biscoff Brownies & our Bourbon brownies. 

All of our brownies last at least a week (though usually far longer) and are individually wrapped for freshness. Each flavour is delicious as it is or you could warm them up in the oven or microwave too. 

Thank you SO much to anyone who has ordered or supported us in anyway since we opened last year. It's the best thing I've ever done and I can't wait keep launching more flavours.

What's your favourite Easter chocolate?

Follow Me - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest & Bloglovin!

3 Of The Best Chinese Meals You Can Try Cooking At Home*

 AD - This post is in collaboration with KMC Seasoning

Here on Food and Other Loves, we love our Chinese food! This cuisine always delivers on a variety of flavours and is a perfect treat when relaxing after a long day or a celebrating a special occasion. While you can't go wrong with a trip to the takeaway or a local Chinese restaurant, one of the best things about Chinese food is the fact that you can challenge yourself to re-create the dishes in the comfort of your own home. There are so many Chinese meals that you can choose from so whatever you or your family fancy, chances are you will find an option to suit.Chinese salt and pepper seasoning has become increasingly popular in the last few years, especially in Northern cities of the United Kingdom. This type of seasoning adds a bit of a kick to any cuisine and is popular with both local takeaways and homemade cooking. One of the most popular brands of salt and pepper seasoning is KMC seasoning. What started as an experiment in one man's home has turned into a foodie's dream. The seasoning combines a range of household ingredients, such as chilli, garlic and ginger, to create a simple solution for increasing flavour - all while making sure it remains healthy and nutritional.

KMC Seasoning have kindly provided us with this blog post where they have detailed three of the best Chinese meals that you can try cooking yourself at home. For a bit of extra taste and spice, all these dishes go well with salt and pepper seasoning!

Salt and Pepper Chips
We're going to start with one of the most popular items on any Chinese takeaway menu... salt and pepper chips! This dish always goes down a treat, especially for people who enjoy foods with a bit of a moderate to hot spice, and it's definitely an excellent recommendation for a hangover cure! At KMC Seasoning, we're regularly contacted by takeaways and restaurants who wish to use our seasoning to add a bit of extra taste and spice. To help you make your own meal at home, we've created our very own salt and pepper chips recipe. You really can't go wrong with it and it's probably one of the easiest Chinese fakeaways that you can make! First of all, you need to decide the type of potato-based chips that you prefer. It doesn't matter whether you choose traditional chips, skinny fries or wedges. Start by cooking the chips in the oven as specified by the manufacturer's packaging. You'll also want to sprinkle on a generous amount of KMC salt and pepper seasoning, and mix in with your fingers so that the chips are nicely seasoned. Make sure to turn the chips part way during cooking and if needed, add a little more seasoning. While the chips cook, chop a red chilli pepper, green pepper, red pepper, small onion and 3 spring onions into fine pieces. Fry these ingredients in a pan on a medium heat until they appear golden brown. When the chips are cooked, add them into the pan along with another dose of seasoning and toss the ingredients together. Congratulations, you've made your own salt and pepper chips!

Sweet and Sour Chicken
Next up on the list is an absolute favourite of ours and a regular choice when it comes to dining out! Sweet and sour chicken is a Chinese dish that offers a range of flavours such as crispy and tangy taste. Start your homemade preparation by slicing a selection of chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. You can then coat the chicken in ingredients which may include corn-starch, egg whites and salt. When the chicken is fried to the level of crispiness that you more prefer, you can begin to focus on the delicious sweet and sour sauce. The sauce is often made up of pineapple juice, salt, vinegar, brown sugar and ketchup. To round off the meal, you may wish to add in some pineapple chunks and chopped bell peppers. This dish is best served with fried rice and a portion of chips.

Chow Mein
If you ever mention Chinese cuisine to someone, one of the first things they will most likely think of is a noodle dish. Noodle-based meals are a very prominent part of what Asian cuisine typically offers. One of the most popular Chinese noodle dishes that you can enjoy is, of course, the classic chow mein. Chow mein meals always guarantee an explosion of tasty flavours and it can be a really healthy option. The perfect chow mein will usually feature a choice of meat, a vibrant selection of vegetables, any type of noodles and a savoury sauce. There isn't quite a standard way of making a chow mein. You have the option of picking and choosing ingredients as you see fit, as long as it still technically makes a chow mein meal! The process of cooking a chow mein dish involves using the stir fry technique which is relatively simple to master. You start by cutting your meat, which could be anything from chicken, pork, beef or even seafood. Cook the meat in a frying pan with a little bit of oil until you are happy that it has browned enough. You can then begin to add your vegetables, which can be prepared by yourself or by using a ready-made mix pack. Once the vegetables have mixed in nicely with the meat, add in your stir fry sauce. Again, you can either choose to make the sauce yourself or use a ready-made sauce from a popular brand such as Blue Dragon. Stir in the ingredients fully and process to add in your noodles, which could be any of ramen, instant or egg noodles. If required, add a small amount of water, and continue stirring and tossing the ingredients on a low heat. When you're happy that everything has mixed in fully, it's time to serve and tuck in!

Follow Me - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest & Bloglovin!

My Yummy & Comforting Sausage Rolls Recipe

 I actually made these sausage rolls way back in April during the first lockdown when baking became a real saviour for me (well it still is to be honest). Who'd have thought 7 months later we'd be in a second lockdown and going through the same thing? I've been filling my time exactly the same as before, baking - this time for Bear's Brownies & More too, reading and blogging and I thought it was about time I now share the recipe for these delicious sausage rolls. Don't get me wrong, nothing beats a ready made one sometimes does it? but if you want something you can actually whip up in very little time at home with minimal ingredients then this recipe is for you. These are so tasty when just out of the oven but can also be chilled and eaten over a few days if you'd prefer. As you can see they're absolutely huge so it may take a little while to get through them all!
 Ingredients:
1 onion, finely diced
6 pork sausages, skin removed (I used Tesco finest pork sausage)
1 tbsp English mustard
2 rashers of bacon, finely chopped
1 sheet of ready rolled puff pastry
1 egg, beaten

Method:
1. Pre-heat your oven to 200 degrees (180 fan) and line a large baking tray with baking paper
2. Heat a little oil or frylight in a frying pan over a medium heat then add your diced onion
3. Leave your onion to soften. When soft, transfer to a bowl and leave to cool
4. Add the sausage meat, mustard and diced bacon to the onion and mix together
5. Unroll your puff pastry and cut in half lengthways to make 2 long strips
6. Halve the sausage mix and lay each half along one side of the pastry strips in a thin sausage shape
7. Tightly roll the meat in the pastry, joining together underneath. Press lightly with a fork to seal the join
8. Beat 1 egg then brush the pastry, this will give it a golden colour as it bakes
9. Cut each strip into 4 rolls (you could cut into 8 for small sausage rolls)
10. Space out the sausage rolls on your prepared baking tray then bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes until golden and crispThese grew far more than I expected them to in the oven and they are pretty filling but sometimes that's just what you need isn't it? Something hearty and warming, especially on a chilly day! These make a fab lunch or if you choose to make smaller sausage rolls, they'd be fab to keep in the fridge for snacking!

Let me know if you make these! I can't wait to make them again soon.

Follow Me - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest & Bloglovin!

My 2020 Food & Drink Christmas Gift Guide*

 AD - This post contains gifted items. Gifted items will be marked *

It's time for my final gift guide of 2020! So far this week I've shared my ideas for both the men and women in your lives and today I'm talking about the presents everyone loves, especially at Christmas time, food and drink. I don't know about anyone else but I am always happy to unwrap something foodie related and each year there just seems to be more and more available. I've rounded up some of the best food and drink gifts out there this Christmas so I hope it gives you some ideas!

Cranes Cider Gift Set*
I'm not really a beer drinker so for me Cider is something I pick up quite often anyway so I feel like I can safely say Cranes offer some of the best flavoured ciders out there. Cranes Ciders are crafted in Cambridge by co-founders (and twin brothers) Ben and Dan Ritsema. They've created a range of ciders that contain only natural ingredients which means they contain 30% fewer calories and over 40% less sugar than most cider brands. There has been absolutely no compromise on flavour though! The great thing is they're all suitable for vegans too and they're gluten-free. This Christmas, Cranes have a Cider gift set which includes their full range of fruit ciders - Blueberries & Apples, Cranberries & Limes, Raspberries & Pomegranates and also a branded pint glass for £16.99. Each flavour is incredibly refreshing and the perfect drink to open on a Saturday night! This is available from Amazon and the official Cranes website so grab it while you can!

Two Brooks Alcoholic Sparkling Water*
Another drink option this Christmas is Two Brooks, a new brand of alcoholic sparkling water. Two Brooks are a family-owned British start-up by brother and sister Fabio and Francesca Bruni. They've created a refreshing take on some classic drinks and there are currently 3 flavours available to choose from. Passion Star is similar to the popular Porn Star Martini with a bright, fresh flavour. Mango Hi-Ball has the full bodied flavour of fresh mango with a smooth yet crisp finish. Finally, the Lime Cooler balances subtle citrus with zesty lime, rounded off with mint which reminds me very much of a mojito! Two Brooks are gluten-free, 100% natural, only 80 calories and vegan too so a great choice this Christmas for everyone to enjoy! If you're tempted, each flavour is available on the official Two Brooks website.

Ohelo Travel Cup*
I've been really enjoying getting out for some long Autumnal walks with Bear recently and I'm sure that will continue into Winter but as it's SO cold out at the minute, travel cups are very much needed! Ohelo, a family run business, launched towards the end of 2019 and they design and make high quality reusable water bottles and travel cups that are tougher, safer and prettier than most out in the shops already. Ohelo have a huge range of travel cups and bottles but the one I wanted to mention is the Pink Blossom Reusable Coffee Cup. How pretty is it?! Not only does it look beautiful but it's also has a 100% leakproof sip lid and it keeps liquids either cold for 12 hours or hot for 6 hours, never lukewarm which is very important! What I love about Ohelo is that 5% of their profits go to sustainable charities and their packaging is 100% plastic free and already recycled so aswell as supporting a new brand, you're also doing some good elsewhere too! The Pink Blossom Tumbler comes in 3 other colours and is £30 and you can also find lots of other cups and bottles to choose from on their website.

Guylian Dark Raspberry Bars*
For the chocolate lovers (who isn't one?) Guylian have not long since released a new Dark Raspberry bar which makes a perfect stocking filler this Christmas! We all know and love Guylian for their Praline Sea Shells but they actually have far more to enjoy too. The Dark 72% Raspberry Bars actually contain 4 smaller individually wrapped bars in each packet which is great for enjoying just a little at a time. With easy resealable packaging, they're sure to stay fresh ready to enjoy whenever you fancy. Guylian chocolate bars are made using 100% sustainable cocoa out of respect for nature and the cocoa farmers which only makes them even more of a winner in my eyes. Guylian can be found in all supermarkets so be sure to add some to your trolley in your next shop!

Cocktail/Coffee Stirrers
The next thing I wanted to mention I actually spotted whilst browsing Etsy recently and it's these amazing cocktail stirrers! These candy sticks have been flavoured with an authentic taste of various alcoholic drinks which instantly enhance the flavour of your cocktail once added. They're currently £5.49 and each stick can last upto 3 cocktails and there are 7 flavours to choose from - Pink Gin, Raspberry Prosecco, Passionfruit Martini, Parma Violet Gin, Blood Orange Gin, Cotton Candy Gin and finally, Elderflower Gin. If you're after some non-alcoholic gifts this Christmas though, they also have coffee stirrers too. These are only £4.99 and available in 4 flavours - Amaretto, Caramel, Hazelnut and Vanilla. I just think all of these make such a unique stocking filler! I want some for myself. 

The Naked Marshmallow Co Gourmet Marshmallow Toasting Set £19
If you know someone with a super sweet tooth, The Naked Marshmallow Co are who you need to be checking out. They have a range of different marshmallow toasting kits which include various flavours of gourmet marshmallow, a non-toxic gel burner (can be used multiple times), bamboo skewers and a printed guide of how to toast the perfect marshmallow. This could be such a fun idea for the weekend or something to enjoy over the festive period, especially if it's going to be a quiet one. I can see myself getting a few things like this in for over Christmas as a little date night at home. There are a range of different marshmallow kits to choose from but the classic includes two flavours of gourmet marshmallow and you can choose from Vanilla Bean, Candy Floss, Strawberry Cream, Choc Orange and Salted Caramel. How amazing do they all sound? This particular kit is £19 and available from The Naked Marshmallow Co website and NotOnTheHighStreet.

Bear's Brownies & More Homemade Brownies
And last but not least, I had to mention Bear's Brownies & More didn't I? I launched my own brownie business in October and I'm so happy with how well it's gone and so proud that I finally took that step and at least tried and it seems to have payed off. At Bear's Brownies & More, we have a range of delicious brownies that would all make wonderful gifts this Christmas. We have 6 flavours to choose from including our festive range - Chocolate Orange, After Eight, Malteser Reindeer, Salted Caramel, Bourbon Biscuit and Biscoff. Available in boxes of 4 or 8 (or you could add 4 of two flavours and make your own 8 box) via my Esty shop, these are just what you need if you know someone who loves a brownie or two. Each batch of brownies lasts around a week so they're the perfect treat to order in the run up to Christmas. Ooh, almost forgot to mention that we have 10% off until Monday too! There's never been a better time to order.

So there we have it, my final gift guide of 2020! I really hope these have given you some inspiration for Christmas shopping this year or even just given you an idea of something you could treat yourself to, it's been a rough year, you deserve it!

Have you started (or completed) your Christmas shopping?

Follow Me - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest & Bloglovin!