Recently speaking at the 20th Anniversary dinner for the Solent Association of WRNS and other Naval women brought back powerful memories. I wonder if military women nowadays realise the battles we fought for them. All those stereotypes, prejudices, sexism and…
The super-simple fruit cake recipe won first prize in the cake competition at the Wales and West Wine, Beer and Food competition. A friend of many years and nationally renowned wine and beer maker, Peter, used a 50-year old sweet…
Very late-night mental meanderings between nephew Toby and I conjured up this title for a project celebrating the courage and determination of refugees. They have already come so far and still have far to go. Toby is part of the…
No, not what you think. No royalty but helping the bees produce more new queens to keep the hives strong and active. The knack is to remove a very young larva about the size of a small grain of rice…
I’m trying to make a selection of strawberry desserts: a tart using a sweet version of the hot water pastry; a cream tea with a super-fresh strawberry “jam”; a classic French compote with Cointreau; the orange and Cointreau ice-cream. …
Feeling that life is worthwhile and means something is key to happiness. Just doing something helps. If I’m feeling miserable, wretched, depressed or distressed, baking is great comfort. Pork pies seem an odd way of dealing with feeling miserable but…
Aunt Hilary decorated another Coronation cake for the weekend’s local neighbourhood lunch. Masses of delicious dishes contributed by all for a long happy session of talk and laughter. I’d cooked a vacuum-packed gammon joint (skin removed but trussed with string)…
Hot water pastry makes less mess for blind bakers but also works with commercial “wheat/gluten-free” flour as I tested this week. Just adding a teaspoon of xanthium gum to the flours and we made individual pork pies and a “baked…
Sound effects. The sous-chef has been away for days at a bee convention. We know he’s getting older, but technology really helps. His hearing aids connect to his mobile phone so I’m talking direct into his ears. On the other…
I am just like that talking tea pot in the film: round and warm and producing lots of hot air – in “Received Pronunciation!” That’s what they say in this clip: I was recording a long podcast with Mark and…
