I’m not sure about you, but pasta is a huge part of my diet. You’re probably thinking my Italian roots have something to do with that, and as much as this may be true, there’s also a convenience aspect with pasta that can’t be beaten. There are few other foods you can whip up so quickly that will result in a delicious, healthy, filling meal at such a low cost. Some of you may disagree with that last point, and if you buy jars of ready-prepared pasta sauces, you’re unlikely to be singing the praises of pasta as an economical way for you and your family to eat. But this can change with a few simple ingredients and a mere 10 minutes of your time.

I’ve been asked to post this recipe by friends, family and readers of Wine and Olives for quite some time, but I’ve always dismissed it as it almost seems too simple. But that’s part of the beauty of it. My recipe for tomato and basil pasta sauce, using By Sainsbury’s Tomato Passata as the base product, is the definition of a kitchen hero. Once you know how to make this sauce, you’ll never buy a jar of sauce again.

This sauce works great with pasta or as a base sauce for you to get creative. Whether you like chicken, prawns, tuna or would like to use it to make bolognese, this sauce is truly versatile. However you decide to personalise this sauce, I’m pretty sure once you’ve tried it, you won’t be going back to buying jars again.

A Marks & Spencer Dine in for Two for £10 meal. There is a preconception that when you write about food every meal involves hours of preparation, followed by even more time cooking. Whilst at times this is true, there are occasions when I want to come home and have something that I can put in the oven, and enjoy my wine by the fire, rather than juggling four different pots on the boil.

This weekend, taking recent events into account, we really couldn’t think of a better excuse than to let Marks & Spencer do the work for us. The highlight was this delicious Chocolate and Raspberry Truffle Bake. This mouth-watering dessert was incredibly moreish – the gooey chocolate and raspberry was the perfect balance of sweet and sharp. The rest of the meal was equally tasty, but this pudding most definitely stood out.

As long as Marks & Spencer continues doing this wonderful dinner deal, I will keep having to look for excuses to have a Saturday night in.

Upon arriving, and after negotiating the Stansted Express, we piled into a taxi, where I was given an impromptu tour of the streets of London. As we made our way towards Mayfair, I was astounded by just how busy it was. Professional looking people charged through the streets, cappuccino in hand, ripe for any sort of networking opportunity. I however was more than ready to find my hotel, and more importantly seek out some lunch.
Our hotel, The Millennium Mayfair exceeded all expectations. Generally, hearing the words ‘free upgrade’ can only have positive connotations. In relation to our beautiful room this was certainly the case. A quick brush and spruce up later we hit the streets of London in search of some good honest lunch time fare. With the lack of Lebanese cuisine in Edinburgh, I decided this would be a trip of firsts, resulting in me opting for a selection of delicious mezze at the wonderful Messina. We opted to share stuffed vine leaves, bread and hummus and pitta breads stuffed with minced lamb. It was a delicious start to our trip.

Known for our meandering along the streets of Edinburgh, we applied the same principles to London, walking all the way from Mayfair to Covent Garden for our evening meal at Carluccio’s Italian restaurant. We shared a typical antipasto, with Parma ham, grilled vegetables and mozzarella, which didn’t disappoint. I followed with spaghetti and clams, whilst Rob opted for the risotto with chicken and asparagus. I loved my pasta dish, which was subtly flavoured with garlic and chilli. The risotto however was overloaded with cheese, detracting from the flavour of the current seasons asparagus. We ended the evening with a selection of homemade ice creams, which were authentic and beautifully flavoured, accompanied by a glass of Vin Santo and homemade biscotti. Overall the experience was good, and for £65, I was impressed in terms of value for money, considering we were in a city renowned for its expense.

Not content with all we had just eaten, we could not avoid the entrancing window at Paul’s Patisserie. The window was a veritable mix of every pastry imaginable, and with purse in hand, poised to make my selection, I realised that my status as a greedy guts had been firmly rooted. Consumed later on that evening, I would go as far as to say that it was the best cake I have ever eaten. This prompted a return the following day for a fresh baguette stuffed with ham, olives, cheese and salad. Again the freshness and quality were second to none, and I left one happy customer.

I had merely uttered the words, “London isn’t quite as expensive as I thought”, when we stumbled across the super trendy nightspot Sketch, where a French martini, albeit the best one I have ever drank, was just shy of £12. Needless to say my purse wasn’t quite heavy enough to last the pace, so I took my jealous self off to a more modest watering hole.

The high standard of the food in London set the tone for everything else, and as a girl who loves culture, interiors, fashion and of course food, I found myself in a city that offered this in abundance. My attachment to Edinburgh is so strong that I failed to see the appeal of living in the hustle and bustle of our capital city, however, I could see why so many people want to make it happen in ‘the big smoke’. I enjoyed London, and being able to finally say I have been there is a welcome alternative to the usual look of disbelief from seasoned London goers, who find it difficult to understand why I haven’t penetrated their bubble. I wait, in anticipation of a return to the red part of our united flag.