Here in the states most people call scones, ‘biscuits’, which I find confusing because biscuits are cookies to me! I’ve also noticed that biscuits (scones) are usually savory here and served with chicken and meat. Continue Reading…
February is fast becoming one of those months where I have a lot to celebrate. My blog turned two on the first of February. When I started Stasty two years ago, I had no idea where it would take me. Continue Reading…
As the evenings are getting that bit darker and pumpkins have started appearing in the supermarket, it got me thinking about Halloween and trick-or-treating. I love jellies and sweets, but sometimes you have to wonder what actually goes into these colourful jems- emulsifiers, weird E numbers, and lots of other unpronouncables. So, I decided to make some of my own home-made jellies. At least that way I would know exactly what I am eating. Continue Reading…
This is one man of a Manhattan with home-made brandied cherries. It looks and tastes deliciously sophisticated. I love cherries, but I hate those sickly sweet red ones, that they give you in cheap cocktails. They just taste of sugar and have a really weird texture. I sometimes wonder if they’re even cherries… So for this recipe, I decided to soak some fresh cherries in brandy, cinnamon, and orange zest to create the most fantastic cocktail cherry. Continue Reading…
When we were in America we picked up a rather large bottle of Woodford Reserve Bourbon…..which can only mean one thing, ‘Old Fashioned’ time. This cocktail is probably one of the oldest in the book, but definitely one of my favourites. Continue Reading…
The one thing that I always make sure of at Christmas is to have lots of cream. It’s the perfect time to treat myself and indulge in some delicious Avonmore Irish cream. I have it with mince pies, add it to soups, use it in sauces….cream and Christmas go hand in hand. Panna cotta is one of my favourite desserts so I decided to practice a nice festive version that I can make for Christmas day. This is a slightly different version to my usual panna cotta and I took some inspiration from both Jamie Oliver and The Hairy Bikers. It is a very lightly spiced panna cotta with all the flavours of the festive season, cinnamon, all spice and ginger. I complimented this with a cranberry, brandy and orange compote. This dish looks great served in little espresso cups and is a lighter alternative to Christmas pudding but just as decadent for the holiday season. Continue Reading…
