Category Archives: Uncategorized

October half term is the perfect time to make mincemeat for Christmas as it needs several weeks to develop its flavour. I’m surprised so few people make their own, preferring to buy commercial jars. Recently I had a chat with a lady, whilst shopping in a local supermarket – she’d never made it and dislikesContinue reading “Get ahead!”

The last practical cookery room I worked in was tiny, so every inch of available space had to be utilised. It was designed to accommodate ten pupils and they worked happily cheek-by-jowl creating dishes to take home. Often the window sill became a useful storage area for their food to cool off before wrapping, soContinue reading “QI.”

Here in the east of England we’ve experienced an “Indian Summer” which I think might have now come to an end, but has really helped our growing efforts. The tomato plants went into the new greenhouse a little later than planned during a chilly spell so they were slow to get started. French beans tookContinue reading “Harvest Time.”

Keeping secrets is always a challenge. The most difficult one for me was a long time ago, when a pupil aged 14 asked me if I could keep hers. When she told me her situation I had to explain that this was too big for the two of us to deal with and I’d haveContinue reading “Pork pies?”

None of us like to walk past rows of empty shops, but recently we visited a Cambridgeshire town with so many and I was so shocked. Our little seaside town has been doing well – as shops have become empty they have filled quickly. Even the old Marks & Spencer building now has a newContinue reading “Use it or lose it!”

Recently I’ve sorted out my recipe books, twice. The results have been very noticeable as the shelves are no longer piled high with seldom used books. A large stack went to a charity shop last week, along with fabrics hoarded “just in case…” I’m not a fan of the radical de-cluttering proposed by celebrities butContinue reading “Stuff.”

It’s that time of year – when our young people take the step and move on to further education. For most of them it’s the first time they’ve lived away from home and take on all those responsibilities which parents provide. This week I was delighted to meet an ex-pupil who was so excited toContinue reading “Off they go!”

We couldn’t have chosen a better week for our holiday – gorgeous misty dawns on the Great Ouse and long, hot late summer days. We rented New Moon from Cambridge Narrowboats – it’s the one Gyles Brandreth and Sheila Hancock had for their programme “Great Canal Journeys” and owner Gary explained how the film crewContinue reading “New Moon”

Earlier this year we built a green house which came in kit form, with instructions resembling a Swedish flat-pack piece of furniture! It took us a number of weeks to complete the job as a seriously flat base had to be laid before we could even think about how and where to build the jigsawContinue reading “Hot house.”

The Cake Friday brigade enjoyed a change this week. Since several of them are trying to lose weight I decided that I’d try to do my bit to help…. Usually I make a batch of brownie, that’s 24 pieces of cake, or lots of scones, lemon drizzle wedges or ginger cake. Four little boxes areContinue reading “Fork biscuits again!”