GBBO week 5 – sticky gingerbread

For this week’s Bake Off, spices were on the menu, with ginger as the signature bake. The last time I made a ginger cake it was Parkin for fireworks night last year, and it was frankly a bit of a disaster. But I still fancied the idea of a sticky gingerbread that gets stodgier the […]

GBBO week 4 – raspberry blancmange

Who knew that blancmange could be so delicious? Actually I had a sneaking suspicion it was delicious as I remember being fond of it when young: a blancmange rabbit surrounded by green jelly ‘grass’ – surely the stuff of every seventies / eighties child’s diet? But this raspberry blancmange, recipe courtesy of Prue Leith, is […]

Cookbook Challenge – Rick Stein: Mexican inspired beef tortilla wraps

I recently made a delicious recipe from Rick Stein’s The Road to Mexico, called ‘chargrilled beef tacos with spring onions and guacamole’. I call them Mexican inspired beef tortillas. As usual according to the rules of the Cookbook Challenge, I followed the recipe exactly, despite having doubts about it, because I might learn a new […]

GBBO week 3 – double chocolate and cinnamon Chelsea buns

Bread week is never one of my favourites on the Great British Bake Off, as I always have trouble getting my dough to rise when I make anything which has yeast in it. But greed prevailed, and I got a craving for chocolate Chelsea buns (replacing that boring dried fruit with chocolate), so came up […]

Another week of meal planning, and lots of potatoes

We have a busy week coming up, both for me at work (where I’ll be in the office on Thursday as well, despite usually working from home on Thursdays), and for us at home, as Andrew’s parents are coming to visit and take on the childcare duties whilst Granny Annie takes a well deserved holiday. […]

GBBO week 2 – pumpkin spice latte traybake

I have never, ever, ever had a pumpkin spice latte. My coffee of choice is a flat white, or a skinny latte with caramel syrup if I need a sugar boost along with my caffeine (quite often, as it goes). But, I am sure I am not the only person who has heard of this […]

Classic French onion soup – new recipe (vegan, gluten free)

Just a few ingredients to make this classic French onion soup, which is wholesome, hearty and accidentally (for us, as we don’t follow either diet) both vegan and gluten free. French onion soup is barely a recipe really – just onions sautéed in a little oil for a long time, stirred frequently, and then topped […]

Cookbook Challenge – Jamie Oliver: pork and mash gratin

Jamie Oliver’s pork and mash gratin is a fantastic quick and easy recipe, using just five ingredients. We really enjoyed this tasty meal. I am sure I have mentioned before that I really like Jamie Oliver’s books and TV shows, and even Andrew (who normally gets irritated by him) enjoyed Jamie’s ‘5 ingredients’ series. In […]

Vietnamese caramel pork with quick-pickled veg – new recipe

Vietnamese caramel pork with quick-pickled vegetables as an accompaniment – here’s my latest recipe for you to try. I love, love, love Vietnamese food. It’s fresh, healthy, tasty and quick and easy to make. Plus if you live in London like I do, there are plenty of Vietnamese restaurants where you can go to enjoy […]

Wild garlic pesto (new Froothie UK recipe)

I first came across wild garlic a couple of years ago, when Andrew’s aunt in Somerset pointed it out to me in a forest. I quickly became addicted to the stuff, liking it even more because it’s only available for a relatively short season from April to June. Like asparagus, Jersey royals and British strawberries, […]