The Walnut Tree and Spiced Runner Bean Pickle At the bottom of the garden at our holiday home in France, nearly touching the old stone wall, is a walnut tree; I’d like to say it was the “old walnut tree”, in the manner of the Old Quince Tree that we also have in the same…
Barbecue
A Random Great British Bake Off Technical Challenge: Ciabatta Bread
A Random Great British Bake Off Technical Challenge: Ciabatta Bread Over the last few weeks, I have attempted to make the technical challenge from the Great British Bake Off every week, but with the onset of a late Indian summer and friends and family visiting over the last few weeks, that project has been unavoidably dropped by the…
Sel la Vie Tomatoes and Twice Baked Potato, Cheese and Bacon Gratin
Sel la Vie Tomatoes and Twice Baked Potato, Cheese and Bacon Gratin This last week has been a glorious late summer holiday, with my daughter visiting, and the weather in SW France being positively balmy with temperatures in the late 20’s and clear azure skies, it’s been like the late birthday gift you never expected, and…
September Thrifty & Organic Meal Plan: Spiced Plums, Pulled Beef & Hidden Veggie Cheese Muffins
September Thrifty & Organic Meal Plan: Spiced Plums, Pulled Beef and Hidden Veggie Cheese Muffins Core Ingredients for September: Beef, Carrots, Leeks, Shallots, Oats and Plums Meal Plan and Recipes for September: Pulled BBQ Beef Brisket Wraps (for a “back to school” midweek or weekend supper) Carrot, Leek and Oat Cheese Muffins (for breakfast on…
Hot Chocolate Fudge Sundae
This is my slightly adapted recipe for Hot Chocolate Fudge Sundae as taken from her book, Summer Collection, which still remains one of my very favourite cookbooks. Delia has the ability to bring the unusual and unique to the table but with simple, easy to follow instructions which makes all of her recipes appear achievable…..and…
The Moose is Loose! Newfoundland Toutons with Butter & Maple Syrup Butter
The Moose is Loose! Newfoundland Toutons with Butter & Maple Syrup Butter I love bread, and I also love butter and maple syrup as well as pancakes, so when all of these ingredients come together in a fabulous breakfast, brunch or snack dish, I am a very happy and well-fed bunny! Regular readers of Lavender…
Cheese, Chillies & Wine: Baked Camembert in a Box with Chilli Pepper Jelly (Recipe)
Cheese, Chillies & Wine: Baked Camembert in a Box with Chilli Pepper Jelly Autumn is nipping at my heels as I write this……I can smell it in the air and the mornings and evenings are definitely cooler with gentle mists creeping into the village. There’s the perfumed scent of apple wood fires, from my immediate neighbour…
Roasted Graffiti Aubergines & Sweet Peppers in Chilli Oil with Halloumi & Sourdough Toasts
Roasted Graffiti Aubergines & Sweet Peppers in Chilli Oil with Halloumi & Sourdough Toasts My love of cooking (and baking) stems from many sources – watching both grandmothers and my mum bake and cook, enjoying special meals out as a family when I was little, as well as shopping and seeing new and exciting ingredients. So,…
August Thrifty & Organic Meal Planner: An American Style “Pot Luck” Summer Supper
August Thrifty & Organic Meal Planner: An American Style “Pot Luck” Summer Supper Core Ingredients for August: Minced Beef, Courgettes, Red Peppers, Onions, Pasta and Raspberries Meal Plan and Recipes for August: Hidden Veg Baked Meatball Subs (Sandwiches) Amish Style Macaroni Salad Raspberry & Almond Crisp “Pot Luck Supper” “A potluck is a gathering of…
It’s always Pimm’s O’Clock! Raspberry & Elderflower Pimm’s Cocktail
It’s always Pimm’s O’Clock! Raspberry & Elderflower Pimm’s Cocktail Let’s just set the scene……..a hot English summer’s day, leather on willow, floral tea “frocks”, stripy deck chairs, lazy days in the garden, the chink of ice on glass, full-blown roses and scented lavender, the buzz of bees, Wimbledon, strawberries and cream, old straw hats and…
Gluten-Free Veggie Snack: Courgette & Feta Cheese Fritters with Chilli Mint Yogurt Dip
Gluten-Free Veggie Snack: Courgette & Feta Cheese Fritters with Chilli Mint Yogurt Dip Once upon a time, in what seems like another lifetime, I ran a restaurant in Cyprus. We used to cook traditional Greek and Turkish Cypriot cuisine as well as weekly specials for the ex-pats such as fish and chips on Friday, Sunday…
Thrifty & Organic Meal Planner for July: Peas, Roast Fennel, Cheese Pie and Cherry Cake
Thrifty & Organic Meal Planner for July: Peas, Roast Fennel, Cheese Pie and Cherry Cake Core ingredients for July: Cheese, Spinach, Peas, Tomatoes, Fennel and Cherries Menu Plan and Recipes for July: Pea and Mint Pesto Roast Fennel, Tomatoes and Onions Cheese, Spinach and Dill Filo Pie Fresh Cherry Loaf Cake Welcome to July’s Thrifty…
The Top Ten Burger Recipes for Father’s Day! PLUS, Suffolk Gold Double Cheese Burger
The Top Ten Burger Recipes for Father’s Day! PLUS, Suffolk Gold Double Cheese Burger Whenever we go across to The Star Country Inn for a family meal out, in North Yorkshire, dad and I start to discuss which burgers we will have before we even get there! We are both fully paid up burger aficionados and…
“Arabian Nights” Tabbouleh Salad Recipe for the NEW App Uniform Foodies
“Arabian Nights” Tabbouleh Salad Recipe for the NEW App Uniform Foodies No, I am not dating, and I already have a man in my life who used to be in uniform – that’s my dad who used to be in the Royal Navy, so let me explain the title of today’s post. I am part…
June Thrifty & Organic Meal Planner: Salmon, Watercress & Strawberry Delights!
June Thrifty & Organic Meal Planner: Salmon, Watercress & Strawberry Delights! Welcome to June’s Thrifty and Organic Meal Planner; this month I have created three simple recipes that won’t break the bank or take up too much time in the kitchen; and, one of the component parts of the salmon recipe, the watercress and spring…