Recipes & tips for filling bottomless pits
While I was up in Newcastle with the in-laws over the Christmas holidays I was let loose for an afternoon of child-free shopping in town. Did I head for the sales? No, I actively avoided the sweaty scrum of the clothes shops and made a bee-line for artisan food shop mmm… who I’ve been following for [...]
Trying to get young children to sit at a table and eat properly is a daily challenge. Sam my four year old is a pretty good eater. I put it down to his going to daycare nursery from 11 months and sitting around a table with his peers and tucking into a good meal every [...]
I had some cranberries left over from my chutney making sesh, so I decided to make some festive and fruity cupcakes. Their texture is kind of a hybrid between muffins and scones – and after Matthew took them into the Fire Training HQ they were declared ‘Scoffins’ – so that is their name forever more! [...]
My trio of Christmas preserves is finally complete! The last instalment is a chutney to liven up a plate of cold meats or transform a cheese sarnie into something a little bit special. Cranberries are such a jolly looking fruit, the various shades of red make a stunning little festive display. I’ve not been organised [...]
I’ve had the Miele DG 1450 Steam Oven on trial at home in my kitchen for the past month in a test to see how useful it’d be to a family cook. I’ve used a plug-in Tefal steamer before, plus a basket on top of a pan of boiling water, so I was looking forward [...]
The reward for being a judge for Tesco Real Food‘s Christmas Cupcake Decorating competition was to attend a masterclass with top cake guru Mich Turner MBE of The Little Venice Cake Company. Matthew kindly took the day off to look after the boys so I could swan off to the glam Make Lounge in Islington, [...]
When Sam started Reception in September, nothing prepared me for the level of organisation you need as a parent. It’s like some kind of mental agility test on a daily basis. Today you need to remember to dress your child in blue, next Wednesday they must dress as a nursery rhyme character, this Friday can [...]
Having waited long enough to hoard a few more empty jars after my last marmalade-making episode somewhat depleted my stocks, I’ve now embarked on producing some festive-themed jam to add to my home-made Christmas present stash. My family are being treated to a trio of festive preserves this year. I made Pink Grapefruit and Cranberry [...]
I had my university friends over for dinner at the weekend – it was originally meant to be festive drinks in town, but I suggested a cosy dinner at my place would avoid the seasonal mayhem and expense of central London. I then got mildly freaked out that I’d not cooked for a dinner party [...]
Cold snap or is this the way winter manifests itself these days? Whatever it is, the UK loves to grind to a standstill the minute a flake of snow appears. Well really I mean London, coz hardened Northerners are quite used to getting a foot or two of snow without whinging about it on Radio [...]
