I recently spent a long week in Marrakech to celebrate my significant other’s special birthday. For a short break in January, just a 3.5hr flight from Gatwick and boasting temperatures of 20 degrees, it was the ideal destination. The city is renowned for its rich culture, history, and of course delicious cuisine. The food in Marrakech is a blend of traditional Moroccan flavours, with a touch of Berber and Andalusian influences and during our stay we sampled some of the best that Marrakech has to offer.

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Air fryers have become increasingly popular over the last few years with no sign of their popularity waning. With more models on the market, from budget to high tech, and plenty of recipes available online and on social media, the trend is at an all-time high. After receiving one for Christmas and being a full-time foodie, I am now fully immersed into the ‘air fryer universe’ and excited to try new dishes.

How do they work?

The great thing about air fryers is that they use an alternative method to deep frying which is a much healthier option, you can simply use a single tablespoon of oil or a low-calorie spray. Hot air is blasted round the basket/tray instead of frying yet still manages to produce the crispiness and crunch that we crave.

Why use them?

Air fryers are super energy efficient, cooking dishes in record time and using less electricity than a standard oven. They may be a pricey initial investment but are worth the energy saving in the long run. They are best suited to a small family or couple, otherwise it may take multiple cooks and would be better to use an oven all in one go for larger households.

Which model?

As you can imagine there are many air fryer options out there and it’s important to choose the right one. They’re available in different cooking capacities and 1 or 2 baskets, make sure to choose one that will be big enough to feed your household or the type of dishes you want to achieve.

Some models offer multi functionality with oven-styles that have rotisserie accessories, or a multi-cooker including a slow cooker or dehydrator. It’s worth reviewing a few different models to see which best fits your needs.

It’s also worth checking that the baskets are removable and also dishwasher safe, to help ensure you can keep your air fryer as clean as possible.

Some top air fryer brands:

ninjakitchen.co.uk/ninja-catalog/ninja-air-fryers/
towerhousewares.co.uk/pages/air-fryers
daewooelectricals.com/air-fryers-c24

What can I cook?

From the ultimate favourite crispy chips to gooey chocolate chip cookies, the air fryer really does it all. My favourite cooks so far have been homestyle fries, super crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, and chicken wings – crispy skin yet moist in the middle. Anything from eggs for breakfast to one pot cooks for dinner will work a treat. If you’re in need of some inspiration there’s a plethora of delicious recipes from home chefs on TikTok or try any of your favourite foodie websites.

A lot of recipes take a little bit of trial and error with temperature and time to make sure you get the best end result, with the air fryer being a different type of cook to a traditional oven.

Air fryer recipe inspiration:

tiktok.com/@johngs?lang=en
tiktok.com/@airfryergirluk?lang=en
bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/air-fryer-recipes
delish.com/cooking/g4711/air-fryer-recipes/?

Hints & tips

A great way to ensure that you get the crunchy or crispy end product is by coating it with some corn flour – this works best on potatoes and meat. Make sure to flip or toss your food often to help achieve an even cook. You can use parchment paper or filters to add to the tray/basket to avoid any mess or extra clean up.
Happy air frying! Don’t forget to share your recipes and dishes with us on our socials @jellybeanagency

As we find ourselves in deepest darkest January with the parties and fun of Christmas and New Year a distant memory it may seem there’s not much to get excited about. However, one thing I do look forward to in the depths of winter is cracking out my beloved slow cooker and whipping up my favourite winter warmers.

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No time for an intro, you know the drill by now…32 teams in the World Cup, 31 national dishes roundly excoriated by yours truly.

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Despite what my family say, you’re never too old for an advent calendar. And it seems that many companies agree with me on this, whether it be M&S and their cosmetic advent calendar or the many flavoured gin advent calendars. It now seems to be fact that we grown-ups should also enjoy daily gifts in the run up to Christmas! As such, here is my list of the top ten foodie advent calendars to keep your eyes peeled for, or put on your own wish-list.

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As a lover of both football and eating stuff I thought I’d have a stab at twinning my dual passions by examining the national dishes of each of the 32 teams involved in the forthcoming World Cup. What follows will hopefully surprise, delight, disgust and anger you in equal measure. Much like watching the home nations in action.

Let’s kick off by looking at groups A&B…

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As Hallowe’en, Bonfire Night and (dare we utter) Christmas roll around once again and the summer heatwave feels like a distant memory, classic winter warmers are popping up all over the place. Roast season has well and truly returned, and soup, casserole, and pie inspiration seem to be saturating social media feeds.

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Note to self: when you book a last minute, spontaneous trip to Paris with your vegan friend, make sure you do your foodie research.

If you didn’t know before (which I certainly didn’t), France isn’t the most ‘up to date’ when it comes to vegan and vegetarian options. Practically every menu in traditional Parisian restaurants offers meat-only dishes, with minimal vegetarian choices and zero vegan options – making it impossible for a carnivore and a vegan to eat together *sobs*.

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We’re encountering some of the hottest weather this country has ever seen, and I for one, am LOVING IT. However, as we’ve reached record-breaking temperatures in the UK this summer, we need to maintain a sensible body temperature, stay hydrated, and ensure we don’t go gaga with the heat.

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I don’t know about you, but this weather’s got me thinking about ice-cream…

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The issue of food waste has been high on the agenda for some years now.

Back in 2016, ‘wonky veg’ became a headline news item as consumers realised how much perfectly edible produce was being turned down by supermarkets because of tough size and appearance standards.

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As we approach summer and barbecue weather, refreshing salads are becoming more enticing, so I wanted to share some of my favourite summer salads, that don’t take too long and are fresh & full of goodness. I try to predominately eat a vegetarian diet, so these recipes are vegetarian, but they can be adapted to suit vegans and meat eaters – just substitute dairy with vegan alternatives or add your preferred choice of meat! Remember, the more colourful the bowl, the better!

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It’s no secret that the beans enjoy a tipple or two and with World Cocktail Day upon us (13^th May) and summer hot on its heels, we’ve reflected on our top picks, the memories that come with them and where you could enjoy one too.

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Did you know? It is estimated that up to 20% of adults and children in the UK have a food hypersensitivity*. Food Allergy Awareness Week is an initiative created by FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education) to raise awareness of different food allergies and improve public understanding of what can be a life-threatening condition. Founded in 1991 by a mother whose daughter had recently been diagnosed with a milk and egg allergy, FARE began its Food Allergy Awareness Week in 1998.

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We’ve bean celebrating National Jellybean Day!
(And you could win £150 Dine Out Voucher)

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