Author Archives: Becky

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”

By now I’m sure we are all aware of the apparent shortage of eggs. Many flocks have been culled due to Avian flu and the cost of replacing them has risen by 25%. Add to this the problems with grain supplies for their feed and there’s yet another rise in farmers’ costs. While some shopsContinue reading “Eggs!”

We all have them don’t we? Things that annoy us or tastes we don’t enjoy. Let me give you a few of mine – dislikes first; tripe, shellfish, snow, parents who scream at their children. Likes? Sunshine, pale pink roses, fish and chips and, maybe controversially, Marmite. I love the stuff. It’s one of myContinue reading “Likes vs dislikes”

Have you started planning yet? It’s just 6 weeks till Christmas, but doesn’t feel very wintry with hollyhocks and roses still blooming in the sunshine. Whilst I haven’t made any lists yet, we have placed a small order with M&S and I’ve made the first batch of mincemeat, currently upside down on the worktop. IContinue reading “Countdown!”

This week has flown by! It’s been interesting to read your thoughts and experiences of all types of electrical equipment you have bought and found useful – or not. From soup makers to slow cookers, cordless vacuum cleaners and microwaves, we all have different opinions. Many gadgets are given as gifts, with some returned whenContinue reading “The debate continues…”

Many thanks to all of you, both far and near, who joined the discussion about air fryers. It seems many of you have bought these as gifts for young friends with some positive feedback. In order to further my research I called in to our friendly local electrical supply shop where the young assistant wasContinue reading “Air fryers – part 2”