Author Archives: Becky

We had fun making our latest video. The recipe was very flexible and quite an economical one, so should have been straightforward. Our cats had a different view! They are very inquisitive and like to be involved in whatever’s going on, so quite often they are “encouraged” to go out to play while we’re filming.Continue reading “Two cats in the yard…”

Not a commonly used term in the UK, but such a useful addition to a kitchen. I don’t have one, but certainly would like one. It’s an overhead cupboard which extends down to the worktop surface to house appliances. My favourite style has a roll-top desk type of door and means that gadgets are hiddenContinue reading “Appliance garage.”

Last weekend we undertook a very short trip to visit friends in the frozen north to celebrate a significant birthday (not mine!) It was lovely to catch up with lots of old friends and acquaintances whilst enjoying delicious food. The event was held in a prestigious hotel in Cheshire, somewhere new to me, but allContinue reading “Tea please.”

As a person who enjoys the long, balmy days of summer I find winter quite a challenge, and January in particular. It always seems a bit of an anticlimax after the busyness of Christmas, but this week we saw a glimpse of sunshine so I managed to while away several minutes in the garden. WhatContinue reading “January.”

…. buy and air fryer? Having bought one as a Christmas gift for a young friend, I had the chance to try it out this week. The accompanying recipe book was excellent, full of imaginative ideas, so I decided to have a go with hassleback potatoes. Admittedly mine were larger than recommended and so tookContinue reading “Will she/won’t she….”

Earlier this week I heard Jamie Oliver speaking about school meals on the radio 4 Today programme, as their guest editor. It took me right back to my school days when we took our dinner money in on Monday mornings, the dinner register was ticked so we’d be sure to get our meal each day.Continue reading “Lunch or dinner?”

Busy days – I had a list but it’s all gone to pot after some unexpected late changes. The mince pies are thawed and ready to cook when the gammon joint goes in the oven. The veggies are prepped and the desserts are made. All the presents are wrapped so we just need the guests.Continue reading “Christmas eve….”

It was such a treat this week to be offered a mince pie which had been made by a total novice. I knew he was going to have a go and had bought the ingredients – flour, butter, sugar and eggs so clearly he was going to make dessert pastry. Without a food processor heContinue reading “Tasty morsels.”

Do you remember how there was a shortage of flour at the beginning of the pandemic? Producers couldn’t keep up with the demand as everyone began baking, with little else to do! At that point I also noticed that ready-made pastry was taken out of circulation, only some types reappearing sporadically over the last sixContinue reading “Just desserts.”

In my first year at Secondary school Mrs.Norton, the needlework teacher, required me to make a pinafore from black and white gingham then decorate it with a coloured cross stitch border. The edges had to be turned twice and neatened with catch stitch. Phew.. my mother took over and finished that bit. Mrs.Norton was soContinue reading “Economics”