SKIPPY® Peanut Butter, Bacon and Banana French Toast Elvis Sandwich

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Post in collaboration with SKIPPY® Peanut Butter

Celebrate the 4th of July with SKIPPY® Peanut Butter. The iconic Elvis Sandwich of peanut butter, banana and bacon is taken to a whole new level of awesomeness when it's dipped in egg and fried to become the SKIPPY® Peanut Butter, Bacon and Banana French Toast Elvis Sandwich.  #SKIPPY4July 

Q. Are you ready to celebrate American Independence Day in the UK with the USA’s famous SKIPPY® Peanut Butter?

A. Uh-huh-huh 

The King's love of a peanut butter, banana and bacon sandwich had become somewhat of an urban legend. Almost to the point where Elvis is as famous for apparently creating it as he is for creating Rock & Roll! How to improve upon such a culinary classic?! Firstly make sure that the Peanut Butter is SKIPPY® and secondly dip the sandwich in beaten egg before frying it so you have an Elvis Peanut Butter, Bacon and Banana French Toast Sandwich. An Independence Day snack fit for the king! 

Black owned food businesses in Aberdeen/shire

Black owned food and hospitality businesses in Aberdeen/shire. 

Please share this post, like their facebook pages and instagram accounts, amplify their voices and eat their food.

This list is not exhaustive - please suggest others to add.

Food, Caterers, Restaurants

• Eatablesfc - Nigerian/African food eatablesfc.com
• FHA Kitchen - authentic African cuisines www.fhakitchen.com
• My Kitchen - Afropean catering
• JollofNinja - West African Cuisine www.instagram.com/jollofninja
• Healthy African Flavours - www.keephealthyafricandiet.com
• Finger - Dips
• Tasty T's Cuisine - West African food tastyt.co.uk
• The COLOR Kitchen Aberdeen
• The Falls of Feugh Restaurant www.thefallsoffeugh.com
• Bon Appelit Cuisine - West-African dishes 
• Chives Catering
• JP Soul Food 

Produce

• Succulento - Nigerian inspired sauces, ketchups and condiments succulento.co.uk
• Olyke Foods - olykefoods.com
• Triple Effects Treats - sweets & treats
• The artisan grower

Cakes

• Perez Cakes
• O'Caykx - award winning cake makers www.ocaykx.com
• Dimbim Speciality Cakes
• Oge Shote - cakes, cupcakes and cake pops 
• One ate three Cakes 
• Tino's Delightz tinosdelightz.com

Events

• Fruity Imagination - artistic fruit/veg carvings and displays
• Higher Calling Flowers & Events Ltd
• Style in Detail UK, EVENT HIRE www.styleindetail.co.uk
• Mamre Party Central

Quick Cucumber Pickles

These super speedy crunchy cucumber pickles are perfect for cutting through rich fatty BBQ meats but you can serve them with literally anything from a sandwich to a charcuterie board. Add some crunch to your plate with this salty, sweet and sour preserve.

My son first made a batch of these pickles for a BBQ get together that we had before he left home to go to Uni last September. They were a big hit then and now that he's back home with us (13 weeks and counting...) he's been making more and I love them so much I'm now making them myself. They are our take on the Damn Fast Awesome Pickles recipe from the epic Grillstock BBQ book. Perfect for cutting through rich fatty BBQ meats but you can serve them with literally anything from a fish finger sandwich to a charcuterie board. 

Microwave Rhubarb Curd

Looking for ways to use up a seasonal glut of rhubarb? When you've had enough rhubarb crumble it's time for Rhubarb Curd. The sharpness of the rhubarb works perfectly as a smooth buttery curd. Enjoy it on toast, scones, meringues, as a sponge cake filling in desserts and more. 

Rhubarb. Rhubarb. Rhubarb. I love the stuff. Literally can't get enough of it. When it's on a menu for desert I can't see past it. For many years I had a small clump in my garden but it never really did very much and only produced a handful of stems, barely enough for an annual crumble. Then we moved it to a different spot and now it flourishes. Another of my loves is curd. For years I thought it only came in lemon however there are a whole range of recipes out there for many more exotic flavours. Here's my Rhubarb version.

Shop Local and Home Delivery in Aberdeen/shire during Covid 19 lockdown

16th June 2020 - Stay Loyal Stay Local

After 13 weeks of constant updates, I've just made my final weekly amendments to this listing and won't be updating it further moving forward. 

Many of you have told me how useful it has been but as we ease into a 'new normal' and places reopen it's now served it's initial signposting purpose. However as the supermarket shelves are once again full, do keep in mind who/where was able to feed you when the usual supply chain broke down. Please continue this local support and direct connection with talented food and drink producers and retailers going forward. #StayLoyalStayLocal

We're in the midst of strange times at the moment and one of the things that has become apparent is how well local producers and food businesses across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire have stepped up to the mark to offer delivery and collection services.

To try and help folk track down what's available in the area I created a post on my Facebook  page with a list of local businesses selling and delivering groceries etc  This grew arms and legs and escalated in size and sale very quickly. Facebook only allows you to tag up to 50 pages in a post so I had to include lots of unclickable links. My initial list was based on geography and as the situation developed and lockdown commenced it became apparent that may not be the best classification and that the facebook post despite being seen by thousands and shared by hundreds was somewhat unwieldy.

Cue this new blog post where I've compiled an updated list by category of foodstuff of where in Aberdeen/shire you can shop local for your groceries and/or have them delivered. This list is for groceries only not take away or cakes/sweets etc (with the exception of afternoon teas as folk keep messaging me about that) In current circumstances this list is ever changing and is by no means comprehensive. There will be errors, there will be omissions and for that I can only apologies. I'm doing this entirely off my own bat just to try and support local businesses and help both them and those of us who are doing the right thing by social distancing, isolating or shielding.

Slow Cooked Scotch Beef Chilli Con Carne

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Post in collaboration with The Scotch Kitchen

Cook once, eat twice with slow cooked scotch beef chilli con carne. This one pot dish can be made in a slow cooker, oven or on top of the stove - the longer you cook it the better it will be. Once you've tried Scotch beef shin you'll never go back to mince in your chilli con carne. 

Whilst we find ourselves having to stay home I'm delighted to continue to work with The Scotch Kitchen to bring you a Scotch Beef recipe that you can cook once and eat twice (or more!) and/or pop in the freezer. Rather than use mince to make chilli I opted for beef shin which brings a whole new dynamic of flavour and unctuousness to the dish. Once you've tried it you'll never go back to mince in your chilli con carne. 

Scottish Tattie Scones

Leftover mashed potato becomes something truly amazing when you turn it into Scottish Tattie Scones. This super quick and easy recipe - a full Scottish breakfast staple - is the perfect way to love food, hate waste and use up leftover mash. 

Love food hate waste? NEVER throw out leftover mashed potatoes. Homemade tattie scones are the best! Ideal for breakfast, brunch, brinner, constant lockdown snacking... Lots have been being made in this household in recent weeks. I'll even confess to making extra mash for the sole purpose of having leftovers. I'm going to need winched out of the house once this situation is over. The 'recipe' is actually really simple. To be honest I don't even follow one any more. There are already a couple of variations of it on my blog which I'll link to below but flour, tatties and butter made into a dough and fried will work. I've also been going freestyle on the shape. Prior to these unprecedented times I always made triangles but I'm currently using a scone cutter for circular ones. I may even break out some fancy cookie cutters and make star shaped, unicorn or dinosaur versions.

Cheese and Red Pepper Scones

Classic cheese scones with a piquant twist. These cheese and red pepper scones are ideal with a cuppa or as an accompaniment for soup. A melt in the mouth savoury treat. Warm cheese scones and cold butter - is there anything better?

These scones have been made many times by my daughter Iona and were a big hit at my Kitchen Table for Maggie's fundraiser last year. They are based on a recipe she made as part of her Nat 5 Practical Cookery course. Sadly because of covid-19 she won't have the opportunity to sit either the written or practical exam for this, but during lockdown she's been putting her cookery and baking skills to very good use. Each time she's made a batch of these scones and I've shared them on my Instagram stories I receive DM's asking for the recipe so it's about time I got it up on the blog.

Oh so cute Oatcake and Cheese Easter Chicks

Biscuits and cheese with a seasonal twist. These chirpy Easter chicks are the perfect healthy snack to combat chocolate egg overload. Cute Easter eats that are fun for all the family - it's time to play with your food! 

I really can't call this a recipe. I guess at the most it counts as a serving suggestion. What it really is however is TOO CUTE. And at the moment we all need a bit of cuteness and fun in our lives. Whilst Easter is for many all about the chocolate, for those of us with a more savoury tooth recent years have seen the emergence of Cheester eggs. But which came first - the cheese chicken or the cheese egg?

InterContinental Edinburgh - The George, Printing Press Bar & Kitchen - Review

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Review post in collaboration with InterContinental Edinburgh The George

InterContinental Edinburgh The George Hotel combines luxury, history, modern comforts and great Scottish food and drink. Located in the heart of Edinburgh's New Town encompassing The Printing Press Bar & Kitchen and Burr & Co. coffee shop. The staff are the real jewel in the crown of The George delivering outstanding hospitality from the moment you step through the doors.

Edinburgh is choc-a-block with gorgeous buildings and InterContinental The George Hotel is no exception. At its heart are five listed Georgian townhouses, originally built in 1775 as homes for Edinburgh’s most prosperous citizens, but since 1881 have been welcoming hotel guests. As such it was a real treat to follow in the footsteps of so many visitors to Edinburgh over the years and stay in one of the sumptuous suites at the front of the hotel overlooking the fluttering flags and the hussle and bussle of George Street. 

SKIPPY® Peanut Butter Breakfast Muffins

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Post in collaboration with SKIPPY® Peanut Butter

Celebrate Peanut Butter Lover's Day on 1st March with SKIPPY® Peanut Butter Breakfast Muffins. Packed full of protein they are the perfect way to start your day. Bite sized, super quick and easy to make and great fun for kids to help with in the kitchen.  Ideal for a grab-and-go breakfast, mid-morning snack or afternoon treat.

1st March 2020 is officially a day for Peanut Butter Lovers, a full 24 hours to celebrate one of the world’s most popular spreads. As a huge fan of peanut butter this is one themed day I can most definitely get behind. For the ultimate ‘peanutty’ enjoyment, America’s original SKIPPY® Peanut Butter has a heritage which spans more than 80 years, is enjoyed by millions stateside and is now on UK supermarket shelves. 

Are you team smooth or team crunchy? I'm crunchy all the way! 

SKIPPY® Peanut Butter offers both with Extra Smooth ground especially fine so it melts in the mouth or Extra Crunchy which contains large peanut pieces in a deliciously creamy mix.

All you need to know about Aberdeen Restaurant Week February 2020

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Post in collaboration with Aberdeen Inspired

I'm delighted to again be partnering with Aberdeen Inspired as an official ambassador for the February 2020 Aberdeen Restaurant Week. I think that it's a fantastic initiative for the city and it has been great to see both restaurants and diners taking the opportunity to embrace it wholeheartedly during the two weeks that it ran in both 2018 and 2019. February see's its fifth incarnation which takes place from Monday 24 February until Sunday 1 March 2020. 

What is Aberdeen Restaurant Week? 

The idea of Restaurant Week was born in New York City in 1992 and has since spread throughout the world arriving in Aberdeen in 2018. It's a week long event where restaurants offer unique fixed price menus, so customers can try many different types of food that may normally be out of their price range or comfort zone.

When does it take place? 

Monday 24th February until Sunday 1st March 2020.