chicken noodle soup

Soup

Now that we are firmly in soup season, I felt it highly appropriate to share with you some of my favourite soups. Soups are versatile, in that they lend themselves well to an array of preparation methods and ingredients meaning that flavour and types of soups are also vast. Most soup keep extremely well, in fact most soups are better made ahead of time as it gives the flavours time to develop and intensify. Most soups are suitable for batch cooking and then freezing in portions making what is already a cost-effective meal even more so. Below I have shared some of my favourite Autumnal soups that will bring reassuring comfort and a general sense of hygge. Which I believe we all need a little of at this time of year when the skies are grey, the evenings are drawing in and the warmth of summer is behind us.

There is something for everyone from a fridge raid chicken noodle soup to bring quick succour in times of need, deep comfort in the form of smoky bacon soup or potato and leek. For those in a more virtuous spirit why not check out my turmeric, ginger, and butternut squash soup it brings a spiced heat and power punch of nutrients. My Thai noodle broth, as in authentic as it may be, provides a light spitfire noodle broth that will instantly add a little zing to your day.

Click image below for recipe…

Daniel Diver Recipes

Happy New Year 2022

Firstly, Happy New Year! I wish you good health and happiness in 2022. It has been another tough year lockdowns and restrictions and just when you think that it’s over the news breaks that comedy legend Betty White passed away on New Year’s Eve. Rest in Peace Betty.

New Year at least for me always feels like a time of change. I don’t really make resolutions or plans of diets. This year, however, I am going to or at least do my best to approach life more positively. The past couple of years have been trying for lots but as we move into a new year let’s do so with optimism and love.

Here are some recipes I am looking forward to in the coming days and weeks.

Turmeric, Ginger & Butternut Squash Soup

Turmeric, Ginger & Butternut Squash Soup

Harissa Prawns, Spinach & Spaghetti

Harissa prawns spaghetti

Tandoori Chicken

 Take care, stay safe & Happy eating in 2022.

daniel diver

Foyle Pride 2021

In celebration of Foyle Pride 2021. I am sharing one of my favourite breakfast recipes. My super easy & delicious fully loaded scrambled eggs. As the name suggests this is a scrambled egg dish loaded with lots of good thing and it even has its own toast element. I hope if you are celebrating #Pride this weekend that you have a blast. Although the celebrations may be a little different I thoroughly hope you have the most fantastic time.

For more on Foyle pride check it out here: Foyle Pride

Happy & safe pride everyone

Classic White Loaf

We really do love in the age of sourdough, and sourdough is a fantastic bread. It, however, requires so much attention and care. It needs to be fed daily or if refrigerated every few days. I did for the longest time undertake this procedure and after a few months had a good sourdough starter going. Then tragedy struck whilst kneading one day I knocked the glass jar off the counter. That was the end of my sourdough making I am simply not ready to make that commitment again. Instead, I mostly make this classic white loaf which I feel is overlooked. Much like iceberg lettuce I think the classic white loaf is seen as old fashioned and maybe not the thing to be doing, but I love it as I’m sure you will from the first to the last bite.

I hope you give this recipe a go and please leave me a comment and let me know your thoughts. Until next time take care and stay safe everyone.

Chocolate Chip & Pecan Banana Bread

I may be a little late with my banana bread recipe. During lockdown one everybody seemed to be making banana bread, and why not? For one it is a great way of using up bananas and two its delicious. There are very few foods I’m picky about eating, and bananas and avocados are two of them. I can’t stand eating a banana or avocado that has black spots, I do know they are perfectly fine, but I just can’t. So banana bread is just the way of using up those bananas. This particular recipe has a long time in the oven because I want it to get a deep coloured chewy crust. This is purposely cooked this way as it enhances the taste and texture.

CHOCOLATE CHIP & PECAN BANANA BREAD

This banana bread will keep for 3 days if stored in an air tight container or up to 1 week if stored in an air tight container in the refrigerator. To breathe fresh life in the banana bread pop it into the toaster and eat warm.

Chocolate Raspberry cake

Chocolate & Raspberry Chocolate Cake

This chocolate cake is a chocolate lovers dream. A rich tender moist sponge sandwiched together with raspberry jam and covered in a lush shiny chocolate ganache icing. This cake is a particular joy for those who struggle with icing cakes, and I do include myself in that category, due to its easy icing. The icing is just a matter of warming together a little cream and golden syrup and stirring in chopped chocolate and allowing it to melt into the cream and pouring over the cake. Check out the recipe below.