Dessert

Pavlova

How do you like your eggs is a pretty common question, but how do you like your Pavlova is an equally interesting question. Some people like them crunchy on the outside and chewy in the middle. Other people like them brittle and crisp all the way through. I like mine with a marshmallow soft centre and a delicate crispy crust. I think your answer will strongly depend on the type of …

Treats

Peanut Butter Toffee Popcorn Poppers

Popcorn is such a great snack, but sometimes I almost forget about. It’s so simple and takes just a few minutes to make, plus you get that lovely popcorn aroma in your kitchen. Popcorn is a great carrier of flavour, and with a few ingredients you can transform it into something wonderful. Whether it is sweet or savoury, there are so many ways to enhance and flavour popcorn. I love …

Treats

Jellies

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 …

Dessert

Chocolate Cointreau Cake

 This is the second time I made this particular cake, and I am always surprised how decadent and chocolaty it is. The ground almonds and Cointreau make this a very rich cake. One thin slice with a cup of coffee is perfect, which means this cake goes a long way. It is a great cake for entertaining or for birthday parties. It has such an intense flavour and you definitely …

Starter

Tomato and Ricotta Tarts

Now that the days are closing in and that last bit of sun is squinting through the trees, it’s time to get ready for some hearty soups and stews.  But  just before I get the big heavy pots and casserole dishes out, I thought I would make one last, light, and simple tomato tart. The tomatoes at the end of summer are always intensely sweet, as if they’ve soaked up …

Treats

Apricot, Almond and Plum Crumbles

Plums are at their very best right now, juicy and bursting with flavour. My Dad has a plum tree in his garden with a small crop of plums this year. Trouble is, they were all very high up in the top branches. The other problem is that the wasps had gotten to most of them before we had. Undeterred, we got a ladder and poking stick (an old brush handle) …