Shepherd’s pie jackets – new recipe

While I wait for my dream kitchen to be installed, I dream of nice meals I used to cook. Sometimes I spend ages preparing ingredients and cooking a meal, but often our favourite meals are the ones that just seem to come together out of nowhere, and these shepherd’s pie jackets are  no exception. As […]

It’s chocolate time: #WeShouldCocoa USA theme roundup

I have discovered that hosting a food blogger’s roundup – especially one with a chocolate theme – is dangerous. Each time a new link has been added to my blog I’ve received an email to tell me about another delicious recipe that I need to try, and I have immediately wanted to make each and […]

Happy birthday dear blog, celebrating with spiced apple and rum cake (new recipe)

Hey, it’s my blog’s birthday: three years ago today I started It’s not easy being greedy with this introductory post, and I am still here. I think I have only missed one week of blogging, so you poor sods my dear readers have been hearing from me loads. Aren’t you the lucky ones? (don’t answer […]

Chocolate rolo caramel cheesecake – #WeShouldCocoa USA entry

This month I have been hosting #WeShouldCocoa for Choclette (ever a more appropriate name?) over at Tin & Thyme. I actually chose the theme of USA with this recipe in mind, and made it at the start of the month, but I have only just got around to writing about it. I first saw the […]

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 […]

Cacio e Pepe in parmesan baskets – new recipe

Cheese and pepper – two of Andrew’s favourite things. We discovered this simple classic Roman dish when we were on holiday there in July. I had ordered pasta carbonara from the waiter at Roma Sparita restaurant, who refused to serve me it, insisting that instead both Andrew and I try their classic Cacio e Pepe, […]

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 […]

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 […]