Black Forest is one of my favourite flavours. Chocolate, cherries. What’s not to love. Now I know you can get cherries from most shops, especially at Christmas and liqueur soaked cherries would be perfect for this recipe but I got a jar from Lidl last Christmas and it is them that inspired me to make … [Read more…]
With Christmas fast-approaching it’s time to think about what to buy for everyone. One person in particular is generally treated to the same gift every year, however. While we stereotypically give dad socks for 25th December, maybe it’s time to start thinking of alternatives that will make him smile. If you’re trying to come up … [Read more…]
As it is November now, I can officially mention the ‘C’ word. Who am I kidding? I have been dreaming of Christmas since the end of August and I have winter scented candles all year round. I love looking for quirky country gifts at Christmas-both for myself and for other people and, if that means … [Read more…]
A couple of years ago, I wrote a post entitles 10 things you said you wouldn’t do with your children but do. Maybe your first child is a trial run, maybe you learn your lesson. I think I have done things differently with G. So here are my top five things I did with Boo … [Read more…]
Easter makes me think of chocolate and the colour yellow. It must be the Spring element. So for your Easter cake, how about combining chocolate with yellow? I think it would look lovely as your table centre piece on Easter Sunday. I love custard in baking-just think vanilla slice but with sponge rather than pastry. … [Read more…]
Tea and coffee is consumed in copious amounts in our house. It couldn’t really be a good farm house kitchen without the kettle being on most of the day. Obviously you need a biscuit with your brew. We wouldn’t be British otherwise would we? So here is my recipe for double chocolate heart biscuits. You … [Read more…]
You know when you go to posh restaurants and they write happy birthday on your plate in chocolate or in nice coffee shops, words like tirimasu are carefully scrolled on your saucer? I’ve always wanted to recreate it at home. To be honest though, I’ve never had the will or the inclination to melt chocolate to the … [Read more…]
A few weeks ago, Mackays sent me some festive jam and marmalade. I made something with the jam a week or so ago so next up was the marmalade. We had a little Christmas party at my mum’s at weekend so I offered to bake a cake. I decided on a chocolate orange cake as … [Read more…]
Easter may traditionally involved making a Simnel Cake but, with a choc-mad toddler (and Hubster), in our house, chocolate was the only option. I went for a chocolate Victoria sponge (all in one method) as I didn’t have much time. Many recipes tell you to mix cocoa powder with a bit of warm water before … [Read more…]
In our house, we don’t do chocolate for Easter. I think Boo gets enough chocolatey eggs off other people eggs off other people and I always got a gift rather than chocolate off my parents. As Boo is a winter baby, outdoor, summer toys always seem pointless as a birthday present when snow is usually … [Read more…]
