Author Archives: Becky

Amongst my collection of recipes there are several favourites that have stood the test of time – Fork Biscuits being one of them. It’s a recipe originating in the 1930’s from the Cordon Bleu kitchen and is one of our most popular on Youtube and as a download on the website. I’m not a fanContinue reading “The old ones are the best?”

Whilst many of us are not fans of social media, there are times when it provides us with unexpected memories. This week I came across a Facebook page dedicated to a school I attended for sixth form. My itinerant childhood (due to my fathers’ job) meant that I went to three junior schools and twoContinue reading “School memories.”

Yesterday the Cake Friday brigade enjoyed the last of our mince pies. I always make and freeze them raw, then thaw and cook as needed. But last year I found a tray lurking in the freezer at Easter.. that won’t happen again! Now, at Epiphany, I’m thinking about Galette des Rois today – on the website as EpiphanyContinue reading “To Epiphany And Beyond!”

I hope you have had a lovely Christmas with family and friends perhaps. We managed to get the whole family together on Boxing day and enjoyed our traditional turkey with all our favourite trimmings – chestnut stuffing, special sprouts etc but it was the pigs-in-blankets that caused quite a stir. Two of our group hadContinue reading “Happy New Year!”

We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year… and I’m singing while I type. Seriously though, wherever you are and whoever you’re with, we hope you have a lovely time. Those who are unwell, we wish you a speedy return to good health. I’m about to look at our favourite recipes soContinue reading “Christmas Greetings!”

Lots of us get to this point in December with Christmas just around the corner and have a moment of panic. There feels like a mountain to climb with gifts still to buy and wrap, food shopping still to be completed and a degree of uncertainty as to who exactly will turn up and when!Continue reading “Don’t panic!”

For our first Christmas living in Italy there would be eleven of us, including two excited nephews who had never flown before. Finding a turkey became quite a challenge until an ex-pat resident volunteered to order one for us, but it would have to be two smaller ones as Italians prefer salmon so don’t breedContinue reading “Panettone?”

This week we watched the final of The Great British Bakeoff. I’m always amazed that anyone should apply for the competition – working at great speed on recipes that are often unknown, under the gaze of Paul Hollywood – why? Personal satisfaction of course and a huge sense of achievement . Keeping the results aContinue reading “GBBO.”

Our family have always enjoyed pasta – not least because of our time spent living in Italy. With great admiration I watched “balcony Bill’s” wife making it freshly each day for his lunch. We enjoyed taglioline al salmone and linguine alle scampi at La Scogliera, our favourite local restaurant, and I had lessons with GiovannaContinue reading “La Pasta!”

When the departmental computer was wheeled into my FT room in Hemel Hempstead, my heart sank. It was on a trolley and was parked in front of the washing machine and tumble drier – most inconveniently. I was less than impressed as this heralded the introduction of a new curriculum where practical cookery took secondContinue reading “Tech problems…”