Gin Ginnery, Gin Ginnery, Gin, Gin Gery! I’ve always been a bit sceptical about buying food from a ‘club’; never sure of quality, animal welfare standards (red tractor do their best, but I refuse to buy barn reared chickens) and provenance. I’m also wary of promotions that flit across my social media feeds but gin was required, so I bit the bullet and took up … Continue reading Gin Ginnery, Gin Ginnery, Gin, Gin Gery!
This time of year sees the arrival of stone fruits – peaches, nectarines, plums, Mirabelles (if you can track them down in Scotland), greengages and my favourite – apricots! Fond memories of a holiday in France, plucking the slightly fuzzy fruit from an esplanaded tree outside our gîte; bees buzzing lazily around the lavender, the air heavy with perfume from blowsy roses. Looking like flushed … Continue reading Lazy Days and Sunshine … Oh and Apricots!
When we first planted the garden, I had a rather fine gooseberry bush, well two actually – one red and one green. That was until BOGG (Big Ol’ Grumpy Git) built a bonfire on top of them! It took until last year to get around to planting up another couple of bushes. Now I’m sure that I had two varieties – again one red and … Continue reading Gooseberries – A Tart Fruit in Need of Some Lovin’
Osso Buco – Hollow Bones I’m sure we all have our own ‘labels’ for various things – Aldi and Lidl in our house are referred to as Random Tat or, sometimes Tandom Rat; but what do you call your hunt for bargains? Every supermarket seems to use yellow stickers for their reduced goods, so BOGG (Big Ol’ Grumpy Git) knows exactly where I’m going when … Continue reading Yellow Stickering We Will Go – In Other Words – Hunting for a Bargain!
Baking with a Buggered Back – Apple and Mincemeat Tart It’s been a wee while (well more than a wee while) since I’ve posted a recipe and I feel guilty about it. It’s not as if I haven’t been baking or cooking as you can see from my Instagram account. I know, I must try harder (this was a regular comment on several subjects when … Continue reading Baking with a Buggered Back – Apple and Mincemeat Tart
As the 6th June is World Gin Day, I thought (somewhat foolishly) I’d make some rose gin from the heady blooms that sway gently in the breeze around my door. As the sun hits the flowers, it warms the petals and the scent from them is intoxicating. Because of the cold weather earlier in the year, the season started late, which means my gin … Continue reading A Labour of Love – Rose Gin for World Gin Day
Proust’s Favourite Little Cakes – Madeleines Like Proust, The Daught loves madeleines. These little temptresses seem to be shrouded in mystery as to who, where and when they were first made. Could it have been Madeleine Paulmier, possibly a cook in the 18th century for Stanislaus I, Duke of Lorraine, or perhaps a cook named Madeleine who is said to have offered little cakes in the shape … Continue reading Proust’s Favourite Little Cakes – Madeleines
Sunday Afternoon Baking – Banana Fudge Cookies It’s Sunday afternoon. I like to bake on a Sunday, so as BOGG (Big Ol’ Grumpy Git) wandered through the family room, I asked him what sort of cookie he’d like, as I flicked through a lapful of cookery books. “Soft and Chewy!” was the reply as he walked from the room. With a couple of manky bananas … Continue reading Sunday Afternoon Baking – Banana Fudge Cookies
‘Tis the Season It’s that time of year where Panic, Manic and Chaos tend to be unwelcome visitors to anyone’s home, including mine. I don’t know about you, my dear readers, but I pile on the pressure by opening up our home to friends and neighbours on Christmas Eve. Nothing fancy, just booze and nibbles, but it means that come Christmas Day I can only … Continue reading ‘Tis the Season
Bramble On I’m still picking these thorny blighters with the added danger of drowsy wasps buzzing around the fruit and my head. I say drowsy, but they could be drunk on the rotting windfalls. BOGG (Big Ol’ Grumpy Git aka the Husband) almost stuck his fingers into a hollow apple that had over twelve of the angry buggers inside! That would have been a … Continue reading On a Bramble Roll – The Bramble Glut Part lll
In the Kitchen with @BakersBunny 