Perfect accompaniment for Sunday dinner

Sunday dinner used to be a big tradition in my family growing up. We'd set the table in the dining room with tablecloth, candles and the nice china, and my mom would whip up a great dinner, complete with dessert. Best table manners were expected, and I apparently was always the first one sent from the table for not behaving. (No surprise there!)

I don't always make a special Sunday dinner for me and Mr A, but lately the turn of the weather from summer towards autumn has given me a hankering for a few hours spent at the stove on a Sunday afternoon. Recently I cooked a roast chicken dinner, and a request from Mr A for yorkshire puddings sent me scouring the internet when I couldn't find my trusty recipe written on a scrap of paper.

Lo and behold, I ended up making yorkies that were far superior to anything I had previously baked! Thank you, BBC. I heart you forever for this, and Saturday Kitchen.

Best Yorkshire Puddings

from BBC Good Food

Ingredients:

40g plain flour

4 eggs

200ml milk

sunflower oil , for pudding tins

Heat oven to 230C/fan 210C/gas 8. Drizzle a little oil evenly into 2 x 4-hole Yorkshire pudding tins or a 12-hole non-stick muffin tin and place in the oven to heat up.

Mix flour and eggs until smooth. Gradually add the milk and whisk until all flour is incorporated (no lumps). Season with salt and pepper. Remove the hot pan from the oven. Carefully and evenly pour the batter into the moulds. Put tins back in oven and bake 20-25 mins (don't open oven door) until puffed up and golden brown. Serve immediately with loads of gravy. Can be cooled & frozen for up to 1 month.

Guy's

I love Guy's. It's one of my favourite restaurants in Glasgow. Why? The chef/owner, Guy Cowan has been there every time I've eaten there over the past few years. He's either in the kitchen or hanging out checking on the place. He walks around the dining room and asks you how your meal was. The food is always good, so usually he gets a "Mmmmhmmm!" as I greedily scarf my meal. It's small and romantic, but suitable for celebrations too. As I said to Mr A yesterday, it reminds me a little of somewhere you'd go to in New Orleans- decor wise, food wise, and friendly wise.

Mr A ordered the spicy tuna sushi roll (£9.95) for his starter- it easily could have served us both- it was a massive 10 large pieces. The amazingly fresh, sashimi-grade tuna was nestled next to and a pickled vegetable which I wasn't able to identify, other than it was home pickled and yummy. I had the smoked salmon plate (£10.25) silky slices of salmon from Aberdeen served with capers, fresh lemon, and a couple pieces of wholegrain baguette. Both were so yummy and large we could have shared one easily.

For our mains Mr A had one of the three special raviolis available- spinach and ricotta in a cream sauce (£12.50). Oooh decadent. I opted for the spaghetti with porcini sauce (£12)- being in a mushroomy kind of mood. The spaghetti was perfectly al dente and was such a pleasure to bite into- it had reached pasta nirvana. Mr A's raviolis were delicious as well, but he seemed to prefer mine! I was reminded of a comment from an acquaintance from Naples, who managed one of the better italian restaurants in town. I asked him once where his favourite place was for pasta and he said, "Guys."

Even though we were pretty stuffed by the time we scoffed the lot, I demanded dessert. The famous fruit crumble had been enjoyed by me a couple of times before, but maybe I got a bad piece this time, because it was lacking a lot of the fruit that had made it so special in the past. It was mostly apple and pear- not much pineapple, peach or cranberry- still yummy but not the tropical sensation I remembered. Mr A had the sticky toffee pudding which is practically the national dessert of Britain- and it was properly sticky and served with plenty of toffee sauce and vanilla ice cream.

Guy's is a fab place for a special meal- whether you're celebrating a special occasion or 'just because'. As we left Guy nodded to us from his small group in the bar, for once I could say properly, "Thanks, it was lovely... see you again."

Guy's Restaurant and Bar

24 Candleriggs

Merchant City

Glasgow

G1 1TD

Bircher Muesli Recipe

Ok first recipe post folks! This has become my healthy, easy, go to breakfast lately. It has heart healthy oats to fill you up and keep you going until late in the morning, calcium and good bacteria for your gut from the yogurt, at least two of your recommended 5 a day, and some protein, fibre and good minerals from the nuts. Make it the night before to let the oats absorb all the juice and flavour, makes your morning routine even easier too! The great thing about this recipe is you can adapt it to your heart's desire- add cinnamon, vanilla, use whatever fruit you have on hand or is in season. I've used bags of frozen berries will real success- the fruit melts overnight & infuses the mixture with the juice! Yummy.

Bircher Muesli

Makes approx 4 servings

1 cup rolled oats

1 cup plain, non-fat (can use fat free if you want) yogurt

1 large apple, grated

1-2C (to taste) fresh fruit, chopped if necessary. I've used fresh or frozen berries, chopped pears and apples, dried apricots all with success!

One handful nuts (almonds or pecans are good but feel free to experiment) chopped

A drizzle of honey, to taste

Mix ingredients in a large bowl or Tupperware, leave overnight. You can add a few tablespoons of orange juice or apple juice in the morning if it looks too dry.

Divide into bowls, drizzle with more yogurt or honey if desired to serve. I've eaten it over three or four days with no ill effects.

Would love to hear your feedback or adaptations with this recipe! Hope you enjoy it as much as I have!