It’s not a commonly known fact that Marks and Spencer introduced the chicken kiev to the UK. It was the first chilled ‘ready meal’ available back in the days when dinner was usually made from scratch in every home. There’s something about it that brings back memories of childhood and for me, my Mum working…
Big Build – Introduction
You may notice this isn’t a blog about cooking! We are about to embark on a very large home extension so thought I’d do a blog about our experience in case anyone else is mad enough to try it. We bought our four bedroom bungalow in Staines in the summer of 2016. It’s a multi-generational…
Recipe – Plum, Apple and Almond Cake
I do love plum season…! We used to live in a house with a Victoria Plum tree and the fruits we got from it were amazing. They do so well in baking and making sauces, we should use them more really. This is a lovely tray-bake cake which uses apple sauce for moisture and less…
Recipe – Almond Macaroons
None of your posh French macarons here, this is one of my favourite traditional British bakers shop biscuits (or are they cakes?!). Crispy on the outside and chewy in the middle, they are divine! The recipe is very simple and your children could easily help. For 10, you will need: 175g golden caster sugar 125g…
Recipe – Gluten Free Swiss Roll
Another old-school favourite cake of mine I’ve had a go at creating a gluten free recipe for. It’s incredibly easy, I promise! You will need: 120g golden caster sugar 130g gluten free plain flour 4 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon baking powder Half a jar of strawberry jam Icing sugar to decorate Pre-heat…
Recipe – Student Special Chicken Curry
It’s that time of year! I’ve done a few Student Special recipes, inspired by my son Niclas who went to university this year. Check this out alongside my other Student Special recipes which I’ll be doing over the next month. All recipes feed 3-4, so can feed groups or the main can be chilled for…
Recipe – Student Special Chicken Supreme
My oldest son Niclas started university this week and during our conversations about his cooking ability he told me about a couple of really great recipes perfect for students – and parents worried their kids aren’t going to eat! Check this out alongside my other Student Special recipes which I’ll be doing over the next…
Recipe – Gluten Free Arctic Roll
My very good friend Dean is wheat intolerant (he’s intolerant about many other things but that’s another story!) I recently asked him if there was anything he genuinely missed and hadn’t found a good gluten free version of. His response? Arctic Roll – that staple of 1970s and 80s dessert tables. I absolutely love Arctic…
Recipe – Peach Tarte Tatin
Thanks to my very generous wife, I was lucky enough to eat at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay for my 40th birthday (I know, I don’t look it!). Their signature dessert is the Tarte Tatin, a heavenly upside-down apple tart dripping in caramelised loveliness. My wife and I instantly fell in love with it! I’ve tried a…
Recipe – Chilli & Red Pepper Chutney
I do love the chilli pepper. So many different types with so many different flavours and heat intensities. My crop this year hasn’t been great – the heat has kept away the bees that pollenate the flowers. But I did have a good crop from a Tornado Chilli plant so thought I’d turn them into…
