Simple tomato sauce for pasta – new recipe

A really simple tomato sauce with pasta is a pretty wonderful thing. But as is so often the case, ‘simple’ is not necessarily ‘easy’. But in this case, you are in luck, as this sauce is both, although it does require 40 minutes on a low simmer to get the flavours working. This recipe is […]

Three ingredient easy cheesy pasta for kids – new recipe

I say this three ingredient easy cheesy pasta is for kids, but it’s very tasty so perfectly suitable for adults too. The pasta has a rich cheese sauce made directly in the saucepan you have cooked your pasta in, meaning less washing up … always a bonus in my house. What are the three ingredients? […]

Ravagni olive oil and wine tasting in Tuscany – review

In September 2019, we went to Tuscany for a week with ioan and some of his little friends (and their parents, of course). It was a wonderful holiday, and warrants a blog post in itself (give me time, I am still trying to get myself back into the swing of things blog-wise), but I wanted […]

Stuzzi in Harrogate – review

When Andrew and I recently took Ioan to Harrogate for his cousin Ellis’s first birthday celebrations, we took the opportunity of the grandparents being there to go out for dinner, WITHOUT THE BABY! Andrew’s sister and her fiancé have lived in Harrogate for many years, and know some of the best places to eat. They […]

Week 1 2016 – playing with my new toy: a KitchenAid Cook Processor

Andrew bought me a KitchenAid Cook Processor for Christmas, another almond cream beauty to add to my KitchenAid collection. I’d never heard of it before, but the Cook Processor is essentially an all in one preparation and cooking gadget with pre-programmed options to allow even a kitchen novice (ie Andrew) to cook a slap up […]

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, […]

Week 33 – homemade pasta and chocolate spread tasting

We’ve had a busy week working on our kitchen project this week: what that means is I have been picking out my dream kitchen and appliances, and Andrew has continually reminded me of our limited budget. As I keep telling him, if he thinks I cook well now, imagine how amazing our dinners will be when […]

Weeks 28 & 29 – birthday in Rome, with Anthony Bourdain’s favourite restaurant

My meal planning hasn’t really been particularly noteworthy over the last two weeks as we have been away for a birthday trip to Rome, and Andrew has also been away for a few days in Wales to continue his birthday celebrations (will they ever end?!). I am just about to leave the house to meet […]