Author Archives: Becky

In all of our house moves we’ve never inherited a greenhouse. There have been sheds of varying shapes and sizes but not a greenhouse. This week we finished the big build and have our very own at last. The base was completed several weeks ago but the giant Meccano pack was quite a challenge, notContinue reading “Job done!”

Hints of red, pink and green – not garnets, rubies or emeralds, but rhubarb! Our single crown of rhubarb has gone crazy this year and produced more stems than ever before. Maybe it sensed the demise of the asparagus. We had eight crowns of that and only one produced anything this year so they haveContinue reading “More crowns…”

This week I was astonished when a complete stranger ranted vehemently at me about the Coronation. Her biggest gripe seemed to be about the cost, allegedly some £250 million which she claimed could be put into the economy. Well, excuse me, but that’s exactly what’s happening. The hospitality and tourism industry are predicted to getContinue reading “Controversy Reigns!”

When I was teaching I chose not to have a Facebook page of my own, preferring to use my husband’s, signing each post with my customary Bx. Nowadays I have two pages, my personal one and one for Becky Bakes. Several times a week “Memories” come up, often cake or garden related, with textiles andContinue reading “Memories…”

This week my attention was first drawn by an article about slow-cookers. It’s a piece of equipment I use quite often and there are three recipes on the website, our favourite being the braised lamb dish. There was a suggestion that might revolutionise the way we use the slow-cooker so my interest was piqued. ItContinue reading “Food news.”

Have you noticed that one of our UK supermarket chains has changed the packaging of their minced beef? It’s now vacuum packed into a brick-type shape and looks more like the ground beef found in the USA. Now, I have no problem with this and used some last week for my slow cooked bolognaise sauceContinue reading “Lots to beef about!”

Wherever you are and whoever you are with, I’d like to wish everyone a very happy Easter x

Several years ago (certainly pre-pandemic) I was lucky enough to meet Prue Leith. She’d been speaking at the Felixstowe Book Festival and promoting her latest book. Afterwards there was an opportunity to buy the book and have it signed, with photos too. In the course of our surprisingly extended chat I briefly described my careerContinue reading “Dame Prue.”

Many years ago we lived in a house with an enormous apricot tree in the garden. It provided spectacular shade to some of the bedrooms but also bore the most delicious fruit. We enjoyed them fresh from the tree, gave lots away and made jam too. There was also a cherry tree, ignored by theContinue reading “Sun vs shade”

Our weather this week has ranged from balmy sunshine to rain, sleet, snow and ice, with the daffodils and camellias taking quite a battering. With the impending arrival of the greenhouse I felt compelled to seize the best day to clear the area where it’s going to sit. This has been a herb bed andContinue reading “Seize the day…”