Pumpkin spice choc chip cookies

These cookies are potentially the best cookies that autumn has ever seen. I mean they tick all the boxes for me; something warm and gooey out the oven that I can have with a hot drink – tick. Something flavoured with all the best flavours of the season – tick. Oh and chocolate too? TICK TICK TICK. So you can understand why I’m excited to be sharing these cookies with you. They’re so lovely and cosy, spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg and with a little lovely hint of pumpkin in there too.

Nut free after school balls

If there’s one thing I know, it’s that turning up at the school gates without a suitable snack in hand is tantamount to treason when you’re six years old and you’ve just finished a busy day of doing all the things at school. Like many schools these days, Azaria’s school is nut free, and given that she has usually demanded (in a nice way) and devoured (in a messy way) whatever I bring before we’ve even got out of the playground, these balls are the perfect thing to stave off hunger until dinner time and power her through on the walk home from school. Of course when I bring one for her I have to bring one for the boys too, so I end up making quite a lot of these each week, and that’s before I even get a look in!

Sweet potato mousse

I love a dessert with a hidden ingredient; and sweet potato is one of the best in my opinion. Its natural sweetness really lends itself to sweet recipes, and the texture of it when it’s all cooked and gooey is just so perfect. I am a big chocolate mousse fan, but realised recently that I’d only made it with avocado or banana before and never really experimented beyond that. Well I was missing a trick, so I’m here so that you don’t!

All you need for this delicious little treat is four ingredients, and it’s incredibly easy to whip up too. It really does make for the perfect little weeknight dessert.

Spiderweb rice cakes

This one is another one of my Halloween recipes that maybe shouldn’t actually be even called a ‘recipe’ but hey, we’re here now so let’s go with it. Chocolate rice cakes are extremely popular with my kids but this spiderwebs are taking them to an even higher level in my opinion. When I first made these Buddy nicknamed them ‘Spiderman rice cakes’ and now always asks for them because he thinks they might give him special powers.

Rice cake pumpkins

Now that I have kids who are old enough to be into Halloween, we in the Hollingsworth household celebrate in a big way. My children are obsessed and I get it, I mean when else would you ever get to knock on strangers doors, in fancy dress, collecting enough sweets to keep you going until Christmas? And if you’re wondering, no I am not the mum who knocks on all the doors beforehand handing them a healthy treat for them to give back to my kids. Halloween is one of those times I just turn a blind eye and let them go for it. It’s called balance, right?

Spooky green smoothie

Smoothies are something I’ve loved for years and years, and especially in more recent times I find myself making them more and more as way of having something quick, easy and tasty with loads of fruit, veggies, fibre, healthy fats and basically all the good stuff. I’ve started adding in protein powder too as I’m quite conscious that I need to pack in protein wherever I can, and this is such a good way to do it.

Halloween bark

Now anyone who has known me for a while knows that I love a good bark. They are so easy to make, look so pretty and make amazing gifts or table centrepieces at celebrations. Or just scoff it all in one go, you do you of course! I love how gorgeous the chocolate swirls make it and although I’ve added in some festive sprinkles, it looks just as pretty without them.

You can even add in a little colouring (think matcha or turmeric) to the white chocolate to make it look even more spooky! You can really go wild with it and add in all sorts of spooky treats on top!

Air fryer granola

Granola is probably my desert island item; I’ve always loved putting it on yogurt and fruit bowls, on top of smoothies, or simply eating it on the rocks out of the jar. When we went away this summer we were staying in self catering accommodation, so four bags of granola made their way across the pond with me in my suitcase. I also love giving it away as presents too, it makes the nicest gift, especially if you have a Kilner style jar to pop it in.

Unicorn yogurt bark

I got big into yogurt bark recently and wanted to create something pretty and fun that looked cute so that kids would love it just as much as adults.

I’m not a fan of food colourings (I know when Buddy’s had them at a kids party or something because he’s even more bonkers than usual) but there are some seriously amazing natural colourings out there if you know what to look for.

My favourite easy poke bowls

We are big poke fans in our house; it’s one of my favourite places to eat out with the kids as they can build their own bowl with things like rice, edamame, carrot and sweet corn and make themselves a way healthier meal than they would have done at 99% of restaurants with a kids menu.