I love slightly unusual cakes – my pistachio and walnut crumbly cake and gingerbread cake with blood orange syrup are two examples of my leaning towards not-too-sweet, spiced, no-icing cakes that are better suited to grown-ups than the under eights in your household. And this cake is another in that category. There is texture from…
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In my part of the world flour has become a scarce commodity, and to scratch my baking itch I decided to make a recipe that used buckwheat flour, all that was available for me to buy this week. I found a few recipes and eventually made an amalgam of my own, using as as a…
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When times are tough we often turn to familiar things that give us comfort and peace. It could be listening to music or walking on the beach at sunset; reading or meditating or praying. For me, cooking is always a haven; I can be creative and nurturing and useful at the same time. All across…
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When did the lemons learn the same creed as the sun? Pablo Neruda The concept of this recipe, which is a staple in America, but not well known at all in my part of the world, is genius. Two of the most delicious things in the world – shortbread and lemon curd – brought together…
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I used to think raspberry and cream cheese were best combined in a summery cheesecake, but in these muffins, served for brunch on a grey, wintry morning they were perfect companions. I have a number of muffin recipes that I love to bake – blueberry and lemon and pine nut are firm favourites, but this…
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Stephen Harris, food writer for the London Telegraph, and owner and chef at The Sportsman, an award winning pub-turned-restaurant in Kent, wrote a wonderful article about the origins of tarte Tatin. In the article he says that. “the first time I came across this dish it was given its full name: tarte renversée des demoiselles…
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Sweet and moist, with a creamy icing redolent of citrus, these little cakes are beautiful morsels of deliciousness. The cake batter is really easy to prepare – no creaming of butter and sugar – just all in together in a food processor and it’s done. There are a host of end-of-year parties and events happening…
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This recipe is based on one by Yotam Ottonlenghi, the famous Israeli-British chef, restaurant owner, and food writer, who has made vegetables made interesting a feature of his cooking and describes his food goal as drama in the mouth. I changed the quantity of both olive oil and water in the original recipe, as my attempts…
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When I was a teenager I had a disastrous first experience making doughnuts. The dough was gluey, the oil not hot enough, and the result so hideous they were inedible. It was years before I had the courage to try deep frying again, and only recently that I started experimenting with doughnuts. This recipe is…
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A great fig should look like it’s just about to burst its skin. When squeezed lightly it should give a little and not spring back. It must be almost unctuously sweet, soft and wet. Yotam Ottolenghi I was rewarded for a chilly early morning visit to the markets this weekend with a bounty of fresh…
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Simple food 