I made pumpkin and date scones for afternoon tea with last night's leftover roast pumpkin. It's exam time in our house, so I have been practising my debriefing skills over cups of tea and homemade treats in an effort to stimulate conversation. I pureed the pumpkin, skin and all, to include in these scones. It doesn't really matter what type of ... Read More
baking
Chocolate Chip and Peanut Cookies
I'm not sure where the recipe for these chocolate chip and peanut cookies comes from. I've been making them since I was a kid, and the recipe is very neatly handwritten in my first ever recipe collection book. I have a boy at home recovering from surgery, and this week I am making all the things that he loves, to entice him to eat. He needs the ... Read More
Pear, Date and Seed Loaf
I've been making this pear, date and seed loaf since the kids were little. It's great for lunch boxes, morning tea, cake stalls and picnics, as it transports well. The loaf is delicious toasted the next day with either cashew cream or butter smeared on top. Feel free to play around with different ingredients. The loaf works well with all sorts of ... Read More
Spelt Buttermilk Scones with Cashew Cream
Spelt buttermilk scones with jam and cream are my absolute favourite for a tea-time treat. My dear friend Domenica makes the most delicious scones, served with strawberry jam and freshly whipped cream. I confess, I usually leave with a tummy ache because I can never stop at just one scone! I love to bake with wholemeal spelt flour, and I thought ... Read More
Fig, Cardamom and Orange Brownies
Fig, orange and cardamom brownies are a sophisticated version of a much loved Bill Granger 'healthier chocolate brownie' recipe that I've been making since the kids were little. I love the texture of the dried figs and the crunchy pumpkin seeds, while the ground cardamom and orange zest deliver a beautiful aroma. The brownies don't ... Read More
Spiced Pear and Almond Cake
Spiced pear and almond cake is a lovely cake to serve for afternoon tea, warm out of the oven with a dollop of cream or Greek yoghurt. Pears are one of the oldest temperate fruits on earth. The pear (pyrus communis) was valued for both its flavour and texture in ancient times. It's believed to have originated in the Caucasus Mountains between the ... Read More
Cheesy Thyme Bread Puddings
These cheesy thyme bread puddings are made up of stale bread and leftover cheese. Did you know that bread is one of the most commonly discarded household items? I often make breadcrumbs and croutons and freeze them. However, occasionally there is a neglected baguette that is simply too hard to turn into breadcrumbs. But, if you soak the bread for ... Read More
Weetbix Slice with Dates
This Weetbix slice with dates reminds me of a simple lumberjack cake (without the apples). No no-one in our house likes to eat the broken up Weetbix remaining in the bottom of the cereal box, and so, this slice makes use of the the crushed remnants, with lots of other good things thrown in. L. M. Montgomery, author of 'Anne of Green Gables,' ... Read More
Brown Sugar Shortbread with Walnuts and Rosemary
Brown sugar shortbread with walnuts and rosemary is a spin on traditional shortbread. Rosemary and orange zest give the shortbread an aromatic quality, while the walnuts add another layer of texture. I also love the grainy texture of wholemeal spelt flour, so I use it as often as I can when I'm baking. I'm always looking for ways to ... Read More
Chocolate Hazelnut Meringue Biscuits
These chocolate hazelnut meringue biscuits were inspired by Nigella Lawson's forgotten cookies in her cookbook, At My Table: A Celebration of Home Cooking. Since we've been bunkering down at home, our family has had a special occasion dinner every Sunday. We all dress up, set the dining room table with candles, flowers and linen napkins. Everyone ... Read More