Although it’s been raining non-stop for the last few days we have had some beautiful autumn sunshine over the last few weeks and the colours in the garden and on my usual run/walk are amazing. Here’s a recipe for Blueberry and Banana cake Blueberry and Banana cake 100g butter (softened) 50g caster sugar 2 large … More Blueberry and banana cake – and some autumn colour
I hope all of you are doing OK during the lockdown, wherever you are. We feel so lucky to be able to spend time in our garden, where the plants are really moving on. There is lots of blossom….. beautiful tulips and the acer looks lovely clothed in bright green spring leaves The broad beans … More Plum and orange cake – and virtual birthdays
It’s difficult to comprehend what’s been going on with the world in the what, three weeks since my last post? We are in lockdown, staying at home as much as possible. I have learnt to use various new (to me) forms of social media so that we can stay in touch with family and friends. … More Raspberry and coconut cake – and unsettling times
I haven’t posted for ages. I’d like to pretend it was because I was doing too much other interesting stuff, but I just got out of the habit….. of writing, not baking, obviously. So here’s a garden update and a new recipe. The weather has been decidedly odd this year, but I guess this unpredictability … More Chocolate, pistachio and courgette cake (gluten and dairy free) – and a funny summer for the garden
I love sourdough bread, but thought for a long time that making it would be an incredibly arduous process that I would never fit in around work etc. I also worried that I wouldn’t be able to keep the sourdough starter alive, or that it would grow and grow take over the whole kitchen. How … More Gluten free rhubarb and almond cake – and experimenting with sourdough
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
A couple of years ago I rediscovered my love of swimming. I used to swim a lot as a child – we had swimming lessons at our local pool on a Saturday morning and my brother and I spent hours in the (very cold) sea every year when we had our family holidays in Wales … More Gluten free carrot cake – and open water swimming #50in50
Yep, it’s definitely autumn. The leaves are turning red, orange, yellow and gold, and there’s quite definitely a chill in the air in the mornings. We are so lucky here with day length in the summer, when we barely see any darkness, but the nights are now drawing in quite quickly. The garden is a … More Blackberry, lime and elderflower cake
One of my many bad habits is studying the contents of other people’s shopping trolleys in the supermarket. I’m always intrigued by what other people eat. I don’t know if anyone else does this – perhaps it’s just me and everyone else has better things to do with their time? At this time of year … More Rhubarb and almond cake – and a garden update
I can’t believe quite how quickly this year is passing – it’s already 11th June. The weather seems to think it is April with lots of heavy showers although it’s a bit warmer I guess. At least the rain is good for the garden, this weekend we’ve managed to get some of the plants I’ve … More Chocolate brownies – and why reduce the sugar?
This week we have had the excitement of eating the first of this year’s veg from the garden – beetroot leaves and lettuce, in a big salad with chicken and bacon, served with Jersey Royals. There’s been quite a lot going on in the garden: the bamboo wigwams have been erected for the beans and … More Jumbled crumble
We have had a bird box on one of our trees for quite a few years now – and over the last few seasons it has been used by blue tits. It’s been a great pleasure to see the parents going in and out of the box with nest materials, then start to hear the chicks … More Making a bee box
sweet enough bakes 