For once in this whole blogging thing I am being super organised as opposed to my usual writing up recipes weeks after they have been eaten. Why? Christmas is coming! I am fully aware we have a full month to Christmas at the time this post is to be published but this recipe would make the perfect thing to take to a Christmas meal, or … Continue reading Dark chocolate truffles aka a stupidly easy way to win friends
As you may have gathered from the limited number of pie recipes on my blog, homemade pastry is really not my strong point. After a food technology lesson when I was about 13 which resulted in pastry that would just not bind together I pledged my allegiance to Jus Roll more or less (except when it comes to baking club and baking with friends). Enter … Continue reading Coconut frangipane lime tarts (and mini tarte tatin)
Happy Hallowe’en everybody! This year I thought I’d share my recipe for gingerbread. Partly because they’re perfect to share at this time of year, or to give out to trick or treaters. Mostly because I have had zombie cookie cutters since I went to the cake and bake show back in March. These biscuits have an absolutely fantastic flavour. Almost makes you want to keep … Continue reading Zombie gingerbread
At the beginning of October the day following the Cosmopolitan blog awards I was lucky enough to get a table at the Co-operative’s Tweet 4 a table. The concept is simple; you tweet @Tweet4atable with the number of people and the time you wish to attend. You get sent a unique code. When your food arrives you have 30 minutes to dine on a free … Continue reading Tweet for a table hosted by the Co-operative @Tweet4atable
Autumn is one of my favourite times for cooking. I have really started to enjoy making the most of all of the seasonal produce, especially since moving to Yorkshire where local produce is fantastic. Even beetroot haters (of which I am one) will adore this cake. The cake is lovely and soft, the beetroot adding a richness – it adds an extra dimension and the … Continue reading Chocolate beetroot cake
Since making pizza (and therefore having dried yeast in my cupboard) I have become more enthusiastic about breadmaking and using yeast as a raising agent. These cinnamon buns are made using what I believe is an enriched dough and are absolutely lovely still warm from the oven with a cup of tea. These would also be a fantastic breakfast or brunchtime treat – leave out … Continue reading Cinnamon Buns (sticky buns)
I have a massive love of the type of biscuit where you can melt stuff in a pan and add it to dry ingredients. It makes baking things so quick and simple. Last week I had to provide baked goods to a cake stall at work (is bringing biscuits to a cake stall possibly not following instructions) and I made these Mars Bar cookies and … Continue reading Mars Bar melt cookies
This chocolate cake recipe is adapted from a recipe that the chocolatier Paul Young developed. I say adapted – I followed his sponge recipe but didn’t make the Mayan spiced syrup. Now, to set the scene I love to bake, and I especially love producing homemade cakes for my friends on their birthdays if the opportunity arises. My good friend Miss B had a birthday … Continue reading Chocolate cakes with cookie and cream icing
So Bettys is something of an institution in Harrogate (and, well the rest of Yorkshire). What can I say? Since moving to Harrogate I have become immensely fond of the place. It does help that one of my flatmates works for Bettys and on occasion brings home free cake. No cake is lovelier than a free Bettys cake. Anyway, last week I went with some … Continue reading A little trip to Bettys
J’s birthday was at the beginning of this month and I am finally getting around to writing about the restaurant we visited, Lust Liquor and Burn. Now, I heard great things about this place from various sources and when I suggested places J might like to eat I was secretly hoping he’d pick this place. Now, I have fairly limited experience of eating Mexican food … Continue reading Lust Liquor and Burn – Manchester
The Bunfight 