And just like that, here we are in 2021. Let’s hope it is an improvement on 2020! I never stick to my new year resolutions but still make them nevertheless. Hopefully I will stick to this one: bake more cakes and update this blog more often. I wonder how many people have baked a banana … More Banana and apple cake – and Happy New Year
I’ve promised some book recommendations to a couple of my friends who have absolutely loved The Salt Path which I mentioned in this post. So here you are ladies – firstly, All Among the Barley by Melissa Harrison is an amazing read. Set in East Anglia in 1933, it is incredibly atmospheric and very, very … More Apple, ginger and cranberry cake – and some book recommendations…
It has been a lovely easter weekend in Edinburgh – warm enough for us to sit out in t-shirts……. I spent some time with ‘She is Fierce: Brave, Bold and Beautiful Poems by Women’ – an anthology collated by Ana Sampson. It contains poems by very diverse poets, ancient and modern, names I know and … More Apple fruity tea loaf – and spring in the garden
The weather this autumn has been very mild so far – so much so that the autumn colour lasted much longer than usual. Up until a couple of weeks ago these beauties were still blooming in the garden… The dahlias are over now – we have left some in the garden, well covered in the … More Apple and chilli jelly – and autumn colour
One of my aims for #50in50 was to spend more time with friends and I recently spent a weekend with a group of girls I have known for many years. We spent a day walking – fortified by a large number of snacks – and although the weather forecast for the weekend was terrible, we … More Apple and Blackberry Loaf – youth hostels, ballet and a mighty fine pie
Mr McGregor and I are just home after a wonderful weekend staying with friends in Lancashire. Our friend John owns a magic beer-making contraption known as a Grainfather, and needed to brew his Christmas Ale. Mr McGregor was a very willing helper in this endeavour and was delighted to donate his own hops. A very happy … More Apple muffins – and all things woolly at Yarndale #50in50
Since Mr McGregor doesn’t actually read my blog (he just eats the cakes), I feel free to admit that I have recently bought quite a few new books. Looking at them now, they are all by women and mostly involve nature writing. Reading more books written by women wasn’t originally on my #50in50 list, but … More Blackberry and apple muffins – and exploring women’s writing #50in50
So far, being 50 has been lots of fun….. I can highly recommend it. This weekend I had two treats. My lovely friend Wendy had a arranged a surprise trip to the brilliant Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh on Saturday lunchtime for ‘A Play, a Pie and a Pint’. What a great idea – a decent … More Apple and date cake – and birthday treats #50in50
Lately, I’ve been putting spelt flour into my home-made bread. Much as I would love to have the time to make my bread by hand – and to live in a house which is warm enough for it to rise consistently – I have a breadmaker which is quick and very reliable. Spelt (Triticum spelta; … More Spelt, apple and cinnamon cake
While we were in Nottingham the other week I took the opportunity to visit the little town of Southwell. While it has some nice shops, which of course I had to check out, it also has a lovely Minster church. As a child I went there for specific school or Girl Guide events, but I … More Gluten free apple and almond cake – and the original Bramley apple
It seemed like a good day to harvest our cooking apples today – there are high winds forecast for early next week and I didn’t want to end up gathering them up from the ground once they are bashed and bruised. We haven’t got as many as usual this year, but instead they are all … More Easy apple cake
I’m not a particular fan of eating oranges. I can never really be bothered with all that peeling and all that pith. And all the juiciness and stickiness play havoc with the keyboard…. But they do taste absolutely amazing at half time during a game of sport when pre-sliced (by someone else, obviously). For some … More Orange and apple cake – and half time oranges
sweet enough bakes 