Orange, almond and polenta cake

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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Tiramisu

Sam Baldwin: What is “tiramisu”? Jay: You’ll find out. Sam Baldwin: Well, what is it? Jay: You’ll see! Sam Baldwin: Some woman is gonna want me to do it to her and I’m not gonna know what it is!Jay: You’ll love it! Sleepless in Seattle Far from being the traditional Italian dessert you assume it…

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Tarte tatin with rosemary

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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Pannacotta with finger lime

I am something of a pannacotta afficionado, and often choose it for dessert when I eat at Italian restaurants. It is quite simple to make, but it takes a delicate touch to get the gelatine to liquid ratio just right, so that the pannacotta is set but quite wobbly when turned out from its mould,…

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Lime cupcakes

I don’t drown my sorrows..I suffocate them with cupcakes. Anon. Everyone needs a no-fail, go-to, whip-it-up-in-a-flash cupcake recipe, and this is mine. It works every time and is soft and moist and delicious. The lime gives a refreshing tang to counter the sweetness of the cake and icing, and the almond meal has a nice…

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Strawberry and fig pastries – to welcome the new year

We spend January 1st walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives…not looking for flaws, but for potential. Ellen Goodman As usual we spent our New…

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Nutella cheesecake (this is SO not on my health plan)

Chocolate is a serious thing. Deanna Troi (Star Trek:The Next Generation) Those who know me well are aware that since December last year I have been on a medically supervised diet to improve my health and lose weight. Nothing, but nothing in this recipe is on the plan! But, dear readers, an intervention is not required. I was simply wanting…

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Grilled peaches with thick yogurt and lime syrup

“you are ever the only one i want to give all the peaches in my heart to the only one by whom i want them bruised.”  Sanober Khan A ripe peach, headily perfumed and heavy with sweet juice, is one of the delights of summer. I have been thinking over the last few days of friends…

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Ricotta and raspberry tarts

I was going to call this recipe “Rustic ricotta and raspberry tarts” but that seemed a little too alliterative, even to provide an excuse for pastry that did not turn out quite as it should. However, it was very delicious and a perfect vehicle for my latest obsession – home made ricotta. It was a revelation to…

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Figs with honey, yoghurt and toasted almonds

Figs are one of the most beautiful fruits. Unctuously sweet and perfumed, they are also tender and very luxurious. Unless you have a fig tree they are an extravagance as they are so expensive, but for the short season when they are available, as an occasional treat there is nothing better. Give me figs over chocolate…

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