January gets a bad press. More so this year in the UK when our hopes for seeing the back of the pandemic with the end of 2020 were destroyed with the government announcement of a new lockdown. Just a few… Read More ›
Bread
Apricot and Cranberry Hot Cross Buns
Easter this year is going to be very different. No big family get-togethers, no local Easter Egg trails and no televised Easter Sunday church services. This Easter’s gatherings will be more virtual than actual. COVID-19 has touched every part of… Read More ›
Granary and Rye Loaf
To mis-quote an old saying, it’s not possible for all of the people to like you all of the time but it’s still very difficult not to take things to heart when easily resolvable situations escalate. I recently found myself… Read More ›
Five Grain Bread made with ancient grains – and the gluten debate
Unless you can produce a certificate that says you are coeliac very few people are going to take you seriously if you say you follow a gluten-free diet. It has become one of ‘those’ diets. Gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo, raw food,… Read More ›
Pecan, Chocolate and Cinnamon Buns
As Christmas foods were traditionally those that were far too expensive or indulgent to eat on a regular basis they tend to include a lot of dried fruits, nuts and spices. I’m lucky because I love all the typical British… Read More ›
Watercress and Cheese Soda Bread. And simple things…
It’s easy to get caught up in a cycle of wanting more: more money, a bigger house, a more expensive car, “better” clothes, handbags and shoes. I learnt a lesson I’ll never forget when I was 18, inter-railing around Europe… Read More ›
Dark Chocolate and Apricot Buns – add a cross and they’re good for Easter too!
As it gets closer to Easter I find myself more and more inclined to both eat and bake buns. In the UK, like many other places, we have hot cross buns at Easter: spiced buns with a pastry cross on top… Read More ›
Five Seed Bread
I have been using wholemeal spelt flour for this loaf (well, if you ignore the first time I made this and accidentally used self raising instead) but it would work just as well with strong wheat flour. The spelt gives… Read More ›
Panettone Pudding – use up your Christmas leftovers
It is just possible that you still have Panettone leftover from Christmas. If you do, like me, and are fed up with eating it (it could happen!) and are wondering what exactly to do with it, this is a great… Read More ›
Cranberry and Dark Chocolate Buns
It’s only a few days until the clocks go back again and although we have had very mild weather so far, the changing light is as much of a sign of the changing season as the incredible colours of the… Read More ›