The daffodils are out. It’s almost Easter. And the clocks have gone forward. I can almost smell the bbq’s in my street warming up.

So I thought now would be as good a time as any to share some of my ‘food and drink favourites’. It’s a real mix of things I’ve been loving for a while and the things I can wait to eat more of. A couple of recipes and some of my favourite go-to store-bought treats.I love reading other people’s favourites list so thought I’d give this a go. Hope you enjoy it!

M&S Marmite Hot Crossed Buns

I shared these on my stories on Instagram and it provoked, as expected, the ‘marmite debate’. My friend Charlie is a huge Marmite fan, however, was disappointed by them. I couldn’t get enough and ate two in one sitting. So I would suggest you speak as you find and give them a go. Because I thought they were bloody lovely.

Chocolate & Guinness Cupcakes

This is a little bit of a shameless plug, but I really would encourage you to try this recipe. We’ve made them a few times but this was the best combination. They are so easy to make and honestly, the softest cupcake you will ever eat. The mix would also be great as a loaf cake or round cake, too.

The Milk Machine

This is quite specific to our area, but I know these are popping up all around the UK. Our local dairy has put one of these refillable machines in town (follow them on Instagram @ cwtshllaeth) You can either go for regular milk or flavoured. We’ve only ever gone for the regular so I can’t say about the others. We now have two bottles that we can refill and it tastes great, you really can notice the difference between this and the supermarket stuff. It makes the best porridge so Charlotte and I are huge fans.

Taco Bowls

I bought these bowls as I have been trying to create an amazing meal that I used to get in a pub when I worked in Swansea. It was this crisp tortilla, filled with everything Mexican. So I bought these moulds and have been using them almost daily for lunch, filling them with iceberg lettuce, grilled fish or meat and loads of lovely toppings. They make a much better alternative for a wrap for lunch, in my opinion.

M&S Burger Sauce

I’m not being flashy by saying a few of my favourites are from M&S. It is simply because, in my local M&S, you have to go up to Tesco using the lift if you have a pram. And I sometimes, cannot be bothered to do this. So end up feeling a little extra and buying my essentials in M&S. This one, however, is thoroughly worth it. I haven’t had McDonald’s for over a year, but from what I can remember, this is the closest match to the Big Mac sauce that I have found.

The Treehouse Beetroot Brownie

I have never tried making a beetroot brownie, but whenever I do, they just blow my mind. And this one is truly spectacular. So when they’re this good, I sort of have an opinion that I’ll leave well alone and leave it to the experts. So if you’re local to Aberystwyth, I would certainly give these a go.

Baked Boursin Pasta

I saw this on TikTok, then Instagram and ever since, I think we’ve had it once a week. Charlotte absolutely loves it too. It’s super simple and tastes great, doesn’t cost a fortune and is even better the day after. If you have Instagram, I’ve made a quick video on how I did mine, but there are plenty of videos around showing all sorts of variations, including feta, herb Roule and vegan cheese.

Breadsticks

This isn’t brand or item-specific. It just seems to be that as a family, we are consuming a lot of breadsticks. Charlotte goes potty for them (they also make quite good throwing material if she’s not in the mood). I think she likes them the most when she’s teething and they’ll be a low mess snack when we start venturing out on picnics. Dipped in hummus or a little bit of whipped soft cheese, they’re ideal.

Kiss the Hippo Coffee

I’ve been using my Nespresso machine since Charlotte was born and I’m painfully aware that the capsules are not ideal. Before Charlotte, I was really enjoying my V60 coffee, however, the machine is ideal for a quick fix. I did a bit of research on the nicest eco-friendly capsule and arrived at Kiss the Hippo. I wanted a coffee that didn’t compromise on taste and I love the way it makes the kitchen smell in the morning. I’ve signed up for a post subscription and there are always deals around, so I would definitely recommend checking them out if you are a Nespresso fan too.

Robinsons Crushed Lime & Mint Cordial

This is basically virgin mojito in a bottle. Pour this over ice and add fizzy water and it’s divine. I’m assuming it would be lovely with rum added, but I’ve hardly drunk in the last few weeks, simply as Charlotte has been teething and there’s no way I’m dealing with that after a glass of wine! So if you’re also not on the pop at the moment, this is a lovely alternative.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my first addition of foodie favourites. I regularly post about what I’m reading and watching as I mix that up a lot more, so if you fancy a read, check out my January and February favourites.

Let me know in the comments what your foodie favourites are for the coming months and if you enjoyed this. I’m hoping to do more so I’ll write a list and see how it goes.

Thanks for reading

Isy xx