Spinach & Cheese Quiche

A buttery, flaky crust meets a velvety egg custard packed with fresh sautéed spinach and sharp, nutty cheese.

Ingredients

• 1 Pie Crust: Pre-made or homemade (chilled).
• 5 oz (150g) Fresh Spinach: Roughly chopped.
• 4 Large Eggs: Room temperature for the best emulsion.
• 1.25 cups Heavy Cream: For that signature rich mouthfeel.
• 1.5 cups Shredded Cheese: Gruyère is the gold standard, but sharp White Cheddar or Swiss works beautifully.

Seasonings: 1/2 tsp Salt, 1/4 tsp Black Pepper, and a pinch of Nutmeg (the secret "chef" ingredient).

Instructions

1. The Foundation (Blind Baking)

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Roll out your dough into a 9-inch tart pan or pie dish. Cover the dough with parchment paper, fill with pie weights (or dried beans), and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the weights and bake for another 5 minutes until the base is dry and set. This prevents the dreaded "soggy bottom."

2. Prepare the Greenery

In a dry skillet over medium heat, wilt the spinach until collapsed. Pro Tip: Place the wilted spinach in a clean kitchen towel and squeeze out every drop of excess moisture. If the spinach is wet, the quiche will be watery.

3. The Custard

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, heavy cream, salt, pepper, and nutmeg until smooth. The goal is to incorporate the eggs without creating too many bubbles—we want a dense, silky set, not a fluffy omelet.

4. The Assembly

Spread the squeezed spinach and 1 cup of the cheese evenly over the bottom of your pre-baked crust. Pour the egg mixture slowly over the top. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese on the surface for a golden, bubbly finish.

5. The Slow Bake

Lower the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake for 35–45 minutes. You’re looking for the edges to be set, but the center should still have a slight "jiggle" when shaken.

Peanut Butter & Banana Toast

  Sometimes, the simplest recipes are the most satisfying. Whether you need a quick pre-workout energy boost, a 5-minute breakfast, or a late-night snack, the classic Peanut Butter & Banana Toast never disappoints.

But how do you take it from "basic snack" to "gourmet treat"? It’s all about the toppings and the quality of the bread. Here is my go-to version that hits all the right notes: creamy, crunchy, sweet, and savoury.

Ingredients

• Bread: 2 slices of thick artisanal bread (Sourdough, Whole Wheat, or Brioche work best).
• Peanut Butter: 2-3 tbsp of your favourite peanut butter (I prefer natural creamy, but chunky adds great texture!).
• Banana: 1 ripe banana, sliced.
• Honey or Maple Syrup: A drizzle for sweetness.
• Cinnamon: A pinch to warm up the flavours.
• Optional (but recommended): Chia seeds, flaky sea salt, or crushed walnuts.
  
  

Instructions

Toast to Perfection: Pop your bread in the toaster. You want it golden brown and crispy on the outside, but still soft on the inside.

Spread While Warm: Immediately spread the peanut butter onto the hot toast. This helps the butter melt slightly, making it extra creamy and delicious.

Layer the Fruit: Arrange the banana slices evenly on top of the peanut butter.

The Magic Touch: Drizzle generously with honey or maple syrup.

Garnish: Sprinkle with a dash of cinnamon. For that "pro-blogger" look and taste, add a pinch of flaky sea salt or chia seeds on top.

Serve: Eat immediately while the toast is still warm!

Blueberry Smoothie Bowl

This isn't just a smoothie poured into a bowl. The secret here is the consistency—it should be thick, almost like soft-serve ice cream, so it can hold up a mountain of crunchy toppings. Packed with antioxidants from blueberries and natural sweetness from bananas, this is a breakfast that feels like dessert.

Prep time: 5 minutes

Serves: 1 large bowl

Ingredients

The Smoothie Base:

Frozen Blueberries: 1 generous cup (approx. 150g). Crucial: They must be frozen to get the thick texture.

Frozen Banana: 1 medium, ripe banana. 

Liquid: 1/4 to 1/2 cup (60ml - 120ml) unsweetened almond milk or oat milk. Start with less!

Creaminess Booster (Optional): 2 tablespoons Greek yoghurt OR 1/4 avocado for healthy fats.

Thickener (Optional): 1 tablespoon chia seeds or flax seeds.

The Toppings (The Fun Part!):

1/4 cup crunchy granola

A handful of fresh berries (blueberries, raspberries)

1 tablespoon nut butter (almond or peanut butter), for drizzling

1 teaspoon desiccated coconut or coconut flakes

1 teaspoon seeds (pepitas, sunflower, or hemp hearts)

Instructions

1. Load the Blender. Add your liquid (milk/yoghurt) to the blender first. This helps the blades spin freely. Next, add the frozen banana slices, frozen blueberries, and chia seeds (if using).

2. Blend Low and Slow Start the blender on a low speed to break down the frozen chunks. Increase the speed to high.

3. The "Tamp" Technique (Crucial Step!) You will likely need to stop the blender once or twice to scrape down the sides with a spatula.

If you have a high-powered blender (like a Vitamix or Ninja) with a "tamper" stick: Use the tamper whilst blending to push the frozen fruit down into the blades.

If your mixture is stuck: Add just a tablespoon more liquid at a time. Be careful—if you add too much liquid, you'll end up with soup instead of a bowl!

4. Assemble Once the mixture is thick, creamy, and smooth (it should hold its shape on a spoon), scrape it into your favourite serving bowl.

5. Decorate. This is where you get creative. Arrange your toppings in neat lines or concentric circles for that "Instagram-worthy" look. Drizzle with nut butter right before serving. Enjoy immediately before it melts!

My UK Supermarket Favourites

Where do I get the best ingredients for this bowl?

The Blueberries: For the smoothie base, the basic frozen blueberries from Aldi or Tesco are perfect and budget-friendly. However, for the fresh toppings, I highly recommend looking for Scottish-grown blueberries when they are in season (July-September)—they are incredibly sweet.

The Yoghurt: If you aren't vegan, the secret to an ultra-creamy bowl is thick Greek yoghurt. FAGE Total 5% is my go-to. For a dairy-free option, Alpro Greek Style is surprisingly thick.

The Crunch: A smoothie bowl needs texture! I love Lizi's Low Sugar Granola (available in Sainsbury's/Waitrose) because it doesn't overpower the fruit with sweetness.

Blender Talk

You don’t need a £500 blender, but you do need some power to crush frozen fruit without lots of liquid.

I use a Ninja blender with the "Auto-iQ" technology, and it handles frozen bananas effortlessly.

A NutriBullet (900 series or higher) also works great for single servings.