Dorset, Somerset &amp; Bristol

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="2000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/Gabriella-English-Snacks.jpeg" alt="Gabriella English" class="wp-image-119449" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/Gabriella-English-Snacks.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/Gabriella-English-Snacks-600x800.jpeg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/Gabriella-English-Snacks-750x1000.jpeg 750w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/Gabriella-English-Snacks-300x400.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/Gabriella-English-Snacks-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/Gabriella-English-Snacks-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



Bristol-based cookery writer, recipe developer and food stylist Gabriella English has the best job: developing, testing – and tasting –&nbsp;great nosh (it&#8217;s a hard life). Now she&#8217;s put together 52 quick and easy snack recipes&nbsp;– arranged by month and one for each week of the year – in her first book <a href="https://kitchenpress.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Seasonal Snacks</a>, published by independent food publisher The Kitchen Press. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1998" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/seasonal-snacks.jpg" alt="seasonal snacks Gabriella English" class="wp-image-119903" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/seasonal-snacks.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/seasonal-snacks-601x800.jpg 601w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/seasonal-snacks-751x1000.jpg 751w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/seasonal-snacks-300x400.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/seasonal-snacks-768x1023.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/seasonal-snacks-1153x1536.jpg 1153w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



Trained at Leith&#8217;s School of Food and Wine, her recipes have appeared in Delicious, Olive Magazine, Sous Chef and Time Inc; this is her first book.



When did you first fall in love with cooking?



Through baking as a child, probably around 8 years old. I remember being completely captivated by mixing ingredients together and seeing them transformed when they came out of the oven. I was briefly obsessed with making meringues. I think I just loved watching the egg whites whip up and turn glossy when the sugar was added. I highly doubt that they were the best meringues, but my family did a good job of pretending they were delicious!&nbsp;



What makes the perfect snack?&nbsp;



It needs to be packed with flavour and contrasting textures. Achieving the right balance of saltiness, sharpness and a hint of sweetness to balance it, with a satisfying crunch, defines the perfect snack!



Sweet or savoury?



Savoury all the way! Particularly anything with cheese, which is my absolute weakness.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1982" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/August.corn-ribs.jpg" alt="August.corn ribs Seasonal snacks by gabriella english " class="wp-image-119909" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/August.corn-ribs.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/August.corn-ribs-605x800.jpg 605w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/August.corn-ribs-757x1000.jpg 757w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/August.corn-ribs-303x400.jpg 303w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/August.corn-ribs-768x1015.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/August.corn-ribs-1162x1536.jpg 1162w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">August: corn ribs</figcaption></figure>



What&#8217;s always in your kitchen cupboard?



Good quality olive oil, capers, chilli flakes, soy sauce, anchovies, and flavour-packed pastes such as harissa, gochujang and miso.



What&#8217;s one ingredient you couldn&#8217;t live without, and why?



Lemons! I get nervous when I’m down to the last few, and there are few meals that I don’t add a squeeze of lemon to. The pop of fresh acidity brings out other flavours so well, and cuts through richer flavours beautifully.&nbsp;



How do you come up with your recipe ideas?



I live in Bristol which has incredible food, so exploring local restaurants, cafés and street food give me endless ideas. However I am also a busy mum, so I’m always trying to think of good ways to incorporate new and exciting flavours and techniques that I’ve discovered into recipes that are approachable and achievable for home cooks who don’t have much time! 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1982" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/July.Grilled-peaches-with-burrata-nduja-and-basil.jpg" alt="July.Grilled peaches with burrata, nduja and basil Seasonal snacks by gabriella english" class="wp-image-119917" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/July.Grilled-peaches-with-burrata-nduja-and-basil.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/July.Grilled-peaches-with-burrata-nduja-and-basil-605x800.jpg 605w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/July.Grilled-peaches-with-burrata-nduja-and-basil-757x1000.jpg 757w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/July.Grilled-peaches-with-burrata-nduja-and-basil-303x400.jpg 303w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/July.Grilled-peaches-with-burrata-nduja-and-basil-768x1015.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/July.Grilled-peaches-with-burrata-nduja-and-basil-1162x1536.jpg 1162w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">July: grilled peaches with burrata, nduja and basil</figcaption></figure>



Have you had any disasters along the way?



Of course! Most recently on one blurry-eyed morning with two small children waiting (impatiently) for breakfast I accidentally added cumin to their porridge rather than cinnamon. Needless to say, they were less than impressed, and it took months for me to convince my toddler to accept porridge again!



If friends turned up unexpectedly, what snack would you make for them?&nbsp;



It would have to be something low effort, with ingredients I am likely to already have in the house. Pea guacamole would be perfect for this, as would the caprese parma ham roll ups. I also like to have a stash of the kimchi, cheddar and sesame pinwheels in the freezer for last minute hosting emergencies.



What&#8217;s your ‘wow’ snack, one that always impresses?



The mushroom and taleggio arancini are slightly more effort, but the outcome is so worth it! To me they are the perfect snack.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1982" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/April.Sesame-crusted-halloumi.jpg" alt="Seasonal snacks by gabriella english" class="wp-image-119911" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/April.Sesame-crusted-halloumi.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/April.Sesame-crusted-halloumi-605x800.jpg 605w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/April.Sesame-crusted-halloumi-757x1000.jpg 757w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/April.Sesame-crusted-halloumi-303x400.jpg 303w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/April.Sesame-crusted-halloumi-768x1015.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/07/April.Sesame-crusted-halloumi-1162x1536.jpg 1162w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">April: sesame crusted halloumi</figcaption></figure>



Your go-to-late-night snack? Your guilty pleasure snack?&nbsp; Your comfort snack?



Cheesy chips for me are the ultimate late night snack. My main guilty pleasure snack are Pringles, I have to resist buying them because they rarely last the journey home. My favourite comfort snack is thickly buttered white toast with slabs of whatever cheese I have in the fridge, ideally topped with any pickles I have – so simple, quick and satisfying.&nbsp;



What snack should everyone learn to make?



Nachos are the ultimate sharing snack, they are such a crowd pleaser and are so versatile.&nbsp;



<a href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/reader-treats/win-a-copy-of-seasonal-snacks-by-gabriella-english-worth-15-weve-three-to-give-away/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WIN a copy of Seasonal Snacks by Gabriella English, published by The Kitchen Press, £15.</a>



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Muddy meets: Bristol-based cookery writer Gabriella English

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