I sometimes find it hard to believe that I have been living here in Seattle for over 2 years! I think I have assimilated well. I probably speak more like an American-when I go to the grocery store, I say cart instead of trolley for one! I celebrate American holidays, and have forgotten all about those countless European bank holidays 😉 I eat American – now that I know where to find all the great local produce, there is little I miss – with exception of Irish cheese and dairy. Continue Reading…
The winter chill has truly set in. Cold frosty mornings and short dark evenings are the order of the day. This baked apple dessert is a great winter warmer. It’s quick and easy to make, and all those aromatic spices will give your kitchen a lovely Christmasy aroma. I cannot believe I just said the word Christmas and it’s only November! This is a real feel good dessert however, cheap and easy to make, and dare I say it, healthy. If you want to make it a bit more decadent and bold, serve with a nice home-made custard or vanilla ice-cream. Continue Reading…
Sometimes I feel like a little homemade treat, and these biscuits always hit the spot. Sable biscuits take a bit of time to make, but are definitely worth the effort. They are feather light, buttery and perfectly crisp. I use this recipe a lot and you can create so many different biscuit flavours and shapes with it. I sometimes cover sables with lemon curd and a swirl of meringue on top, sort of a miniature lemon meringue biscuit. I also used them in this recipe to create mini banoffee pies. On this occasion, I cut them in different shapes and dipped them in melted chocolate with a light sprinkling of toasted nuts and desiccated coconut. If this recipe seems like just a bit too much work, check out my friend Caitriona’s review of a small Irish company, Kooky Dough, that produce readymade cookie dough, which might just save you in a biscuit emergency. Continue Reading…
You may have noticed I got a new camera! So hopefully my photos will begin to look a little better. I got a bit carried away with this one and went rooting through my cupboards trying to find Middle Eastern style props. Hope it looks suitably exotic and makes you think of far off places as opposed to Dublin 16. Baklava is basically lots of thin filo pastry layered with chopped nuts and spices, then drenched with honey syrup. It’s crunchy, nutty and it’s a really nice alternative dessert . I like it served with creamy vanilla ice-cream and a strong dark bitter coffee. I based this recipe on Rachel Allen’s recipe but made a few tweaks. I have eaten some great baklava in my time, but I’ve also had some really sickly sweet versions that would melt your teeth. So I was interested in making one for myself. This recipe worked out really well and though it seems complicated, it’s not at all and it’s actually kind of therapeutic to make. Continue Reading…
You can find some of my favorite gluten-free recipes in my eBook available from Amazon.
I'm Vicky and Stasty is my simple and tasty food recipe blog. I love to cook and I love to talk about food, so this blog is really my ramblings and thoughts about cooking and eating. Some of the recipes are my own and some are ones that I found on the net or picked up from my favorite cookbooks. I cook everything in our little kitchen in beautiful Washington. I am aided and abetted by my I.T guru/tantrum-trouble-shooter/editor and chief-taster otherwise known as the OH or Nelius.