Okay, so the Michelin inspectors haven’t been to visit … you might have guessed that despite the title I haven’t been awarded a Michelin star (I know, really), but I did cook a Michelin-star inspired meal for our friends Eve and Paul a little while ago and I wanted to share the menu with you. I’d only […]
Baking
GBBO week 10 (the final) – classic British cake: Raspberry Eton Mess Victoria Sponge
Although I am sad the Bake Off is over for another year, it’s been hard work baking goodies each week … and then eating them. My stomach is looking decidedly large, and I am hoping that without the obligation to bake each week I’ll be able to shed a few pounds. It has been delicious […]
GBBO week 10 – chocolate: oaty millionaire’s shortbread chocolate tart
Mmmmmm, chocolate. One of my favourite things ever. However, I do often think a good cannot be improved by being baked – why mess with the perfectly portable and convenient bar of chocolate or do any more than pluck your favourites from an open box? Additionally, with Andrew not being a chocolate fan, there doesn’t […]
We Should Cocoa chocolate challenge “USA” – October 2015
When Choclette from Tin and Thyme asked for volunteers to host her monthly We Should Cocoa challenge this month I was very excited to take part and get to discover some fabulous chocolate-y recipes from bloggers. As I have just returned from Las Vegas, I couldn’t resist choosing the theme USA for this month’s challenge, […]
GBBO week 9 – patisserie: cream horns
Cream horns are the kind of thing I used to be given as a treat when I was little – a posh and indulgent cake from the local bakery. Sugar-encrusted puff pastry filled with whipped cream is a simple thing, but done well it’s a thing of beauty. Cream horns in themselves are not complicated: […]
GBBO week 8 – pie: chicken and leek pie
I had never made puff pastry before, but following some recent success with Arlettes (made with reverse puff pastry) I decided to give it a go so that I could make a pie for this week’s Bake Off challenge, and also make some cream horns for next week’s challenge, as I’ll be in Las Vegas […]
GBBO week 6 – frangipane: Chocolate Crunchie Frangipane Tart
Frangipane, frangipane, frangipane. How I want to like you, but I just don’t. The combination of sweetened ground almonds reminds me too much of the detestable marzipan. But as the GBBO alternative challenges this week were a complicated and difficult looking pudding, and a selection of vol-au-vents which I love but my tummy doesn’t need […]
GBBO week 5 – sugar free cake: table sugar free, gluten free, dairy free coconut and pineapple cake
First, before we go any further, let me just be completely clear that this cake contains coconut sugar instead of cane sugar. To me that’s not really sugar-free, although it does comply with the rules of this week’s Bake Off challenge. It may not be table sugar – the white, granulated stuff that we know […]
GBBO week 4 – baked cheesecake: Speculoos biscuit cheesecake (Lotus Biscoff)
Have you ever tried speculoos biscuits? If you have ever been to a little coffee shop on the continent and been served a lightly spiced, caramel biscuit with your coffee then chances are you have tried one. Or maybe you tried to recreate my homemade speculoos biscuits? My point is, if you haven’t tried them […]
GBBO challenge week 3: bread – soda bread and home-churned butter
I cannot start this post without commenting on Paul’s amazing lion bread sculpture. How impressive was that? I did briefly entertain the idea of making a bread sculpture of my own (obviously in the shape of a cat), but sometimes life is too short eh? Baguettes are something I would like to make one day, […]