A Girl & her Appetite

A Girl & her Appetite A blog that shares my love of cooking & finding exciting new culinary & drink experiences both near & far!

17/06/2026

National Picnic Week & the sunshine returning this weekend is the perfect excuse to make an Italian Stuffed Picnic Loaf. ☀️🧺

A crusty boule loaf, hollowed out and packed with layers of delicious fillings, then wrapped, weighted and left overnight. Trust me, it tastes even better the next day once all those flavours have had time to mingle!

One of my favourite things about a stuffed picnic loaf is how customisable it is. Italian-inspired, ploughman's, veggie-loaded... the possibilities are endless.

What fillings would be in your dream picnic loaf? 🥖

15/06/2026

Last week's weather was so miserable that only one thing would do... soup!

I spotted this Creamy Red Pepper & Chickpea Soup recipe from and it was exactly what I needed – warming, packed with goodness, high in protein and incredibly easy to make. The addition of cottage cheese gives it a lovely creamy texture without feeling heavy, and the harissa adds just the right amount of heat.

It's safe to say this one has earned a place in my regular recipe rotation!

Serves 4 (approx. 400 kcal & 30g protein)

1 jar roasted red peppers, drained
1 red onion, roughly chopped
A handful of cherry tomatoes
1 tsp harissa paste
1 tin chickpeas, drained
300g passata
1 chicken stock cube
About 600ml boiling water
100g cottage cheese

Method:
✨ Sauté the onion, tomatoes and harissa in a little oil with a pinch of salt for 3-4 minutes until fragrant.
✨ Add the peppers, chickpeas, passata, stock cube and boiling water. Simmer for 10-15 minutes.
✨ Allow to cool slightly, then blend until smooth.
✨ Add the cottage cheese and blend again until silky smooth.
✨ Season to taste and loosen with extra stock if needed.

The perfect bowl of comfort when summer seems to have forgotten its summer!

Happy World Gin Day!Over the years I've discovered some fantastic places to enjoy a simple G&T or a unique gin cocktail....
13/06/2026

Happy World Gin Day!

Over the years I've discovered some fantastic places to enjoy a simple G&T or a unique gin cocktail. From quirky themed bars and hidden cocktail dens to Disneyland, these are a few of my favourite spots to sip something juniper-filled.

🍸 Gin & Juice, Bristol
🍸 The Mad Hatter, Oxford
🍸 Cahoots, London
🍸 Schofield's, Manchester
🍸 Regal View Lounge, Disneyland Paris
🍸 Mr Fogg's, London
🍸 Gin City Cruise, Bristol
🍸 Skyline Bar, Disneyland Paris

Whether you're after a perfectly poured G&T, an inventive gin cocktail, or just a memorable setting, every one of these has delivered something special.

Now for the important question... where's your best bar recommendation?

11/06/2026

AD | A very exciting parcel arrived from the wonderful team at V Rum!

Crafted right here in Hampshire, carefully sources raw ingredients, before putting them through the 5 stage distillation process. Founded by husband-and-wife team Carl and Nicole Churchill, their focus on quality, sustainability and great British rum shines through in every bottle.

This beautiful gift box contains one of the last original bottles, making it even more special. Alongside a gorgeous branded glass and even branded ice mold! 

I can't wait to get mixing and put this amazing local rum to good use in a few cocktails. What would you make first – a Daiquiri, Mojito, Rum Punch, or something a little more adventurous?

08/06/2026

Soho Food Feast might just be the best school summer fete ever!

A dream line-up of Soho restaurants come together each year for for a weekend of incredible food, great drinks and a brilliant cause. Rain and train issues weren't stopping us from getting there!

We ate our way around the festival, trying:

🩷 Pulled lamb & slaw bun
🩷 Beef shortrib & fries and fried chicken sarnies .social
🩷 Loaded deli game crisps
🩷 BBQ Shan meatball (soo good) 🏆🏆🏆
🩷 Beef chop 🏆
🩷 Pork belly & rice .stop.soho
🩷 Lamb skewers 🏆🏆
🩷 Ham & mozzarella calzone
🩷 Pork belly bao
🩷 Lamington .restaurant 🏆
🩷 Cannelloni
🩷 Eton mess 🏆🏆

A fantastic day celebrating London's food scene and discovering some amazing dishes along the way.

Which one would you have gone for first?

National Fish & Chips Day 🐟🍟Some classics never go out of style, and fish and chips has to be one of Britain's greatest ...
05/06/2026

National Fish & Chips Day 🐟🍟

Some classics never go out of style, and fish and chips has to be one of Britain's greatest comfort foods!

To celebrate, I tried a local chippie I'd not visited yet and kept things traditional with cod, chips, plenty of salt and vinegar, and a pot of curry sauce for dipping. Crispy batter, flaky fish, fluffy chips and that unmistakable chip shop flavour that just hits the spot every time.

Now for the important question: what's your go-to chip shop order? Are you team curry sauce, mushy peas, gravy, or something else entirely? 🍽️

Cheers to Gin a Day May!For Day 31 of , I’m finishing with a super fun one from a recent work trip, a Cherry Blossom gi...
31/05/2026

Cheers to Gin a Day May!

For Day 31 of , I’m finishing with a super fun one from a recent work trip, a Cherry Blossom gin cocktail .

Made with gin, alongside Cointreau, cranberry, lime and cherry, it was such a great balance of bright, fruity flavours. The candy floss topping added that extra bit of flair and definitely turned a few heads at the bar!

It felt like a fitting way to wrap up another year of fantastic prompts for Gin a Day May. A big thank you to for hosting, and to everyone who takes part — I’ve loved seeing the creativity, discovering new gins, and feeling part of such a great community again this year. Cheers to next year already!

Day 21 of – Martini & with it also being International Tea Day, I had to do a little twist on the classic with Matcha ...
21/05/2026

Day 21 of – Martini & with it also being International Tea Day, I had to do a little twist on the classic with Matcha Martinis!

I’m not really a fan of a traditional martini, much preferring something sweet or sour, so this felt like the perfect colourful compromise. Earthy matcha, bright lemon and a silky foam top make this a fun alternative if, like me, a standard martini isn’t quite your thing.

To make 2 Matcha Sour Martinis:

💚 1/2 tsp matcha powder
💚 2 tbsp hot water
💚 4 oz gin (a more neutral gin works best)
💚 2 oz lemon juice
💚 4 oz sugar syrup
💚 2 egg whites (60g)

Whisk the matcha powder with the hot water until smooth with no clumps. Add to a cocktail shaker with the remaining ingredients and dry shake vigorously. Add ice and shake again until chilled. Strain into martini glasses, making sure to spoon out all that lovely foam on top.

Definitely not your standard martini, but a fun one for tea lovers and cocktail lovers alike.

A really fun day at the Watercress Festival yesterday — a food-filled day that makes you fall in love with local produce...
18/05/2026

A really fun day at the Watercress Festival yesterday — a food-filled day that makes you fall in love with local produce all over again. Sunshine, brilliant atmosphere, and so many Hampshire gems in one place.

We kicked things off in the best (and slightly unusual) way… hopping on the Watercress steam line train into Alresford — essentially the most scenic park & ride I’ve ever done — before a very necessary stop at for a pastry and coffee fuel-up.

Then it was straight into wandering the stalls, tasting our way around everything from small producers to proper local legends. Loved learning more about Louis Pommery English sparkling wine with Will Perkins, and catching a brilliant demo from Luke Emmess (MasterChef Professionals finalist), who made a watercress sorbet dish that absolutely worked!

Of course, I didn’t leave empty-handed… wild boar & garlic sausages, venison bacon, Isle of Wight tomatoes, chutneys, sauces, Mud Pies for the freezer, and a selection of sourdoughs!

A proper celebration of seasonal food, local producers, and Hampshire at its best.

Now the only question is… what to cook first?

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