Category Archives: Uncategorized

We’re all familiar with pork pies from Melton Mowbray, pasties from Cornwall, cheese from Stilton and the famous puddings from Bakewell and Yorkshire. This week I was challenged by our local radio host to investigate the unfamiliar Felixstowe tart. Now, in the depths of my memory there was just a slight feeling that I’d heardContinue reading “What’s in a name?”

Here in our easterly part of Britain we haven’t had any significant rainfall for weeks. The grass looks like straw, plants are wilting and the rain barrels are emptying with that precious water only being used for the neediest plants. By the shed we have our tomato plants – quite a lot of them asContinue reading “Rain please!”

If you’ve watched the video, you’ll hear me mention that I found this being made in the restaurant of a Swiss motorway service station. Now I’m not sure whether we’d find food being cooked freshly at a service station on a British motorway, so this has stayed in my mind as being quite a find!Continue reading “Spaghettata”

Having grown up in a household where gardening was one of the most important pastimes I soon learned of the importance of watering tomatoes regularly and burying newspapers under the runner beans to hold moisture for the roots. Flower names became embedded in my brain and I’ve always had to have a camellia somewhere inContinue reading “Dig!”

This week we picked the first of our homegrown tomatoes. It’s always a treat to be given the first one, straight from the plant, still warm with a flavour that can never be matched by one bought in a shop. We’ve been having pea shoots for several weeks along with the mixed leaves that growContinue reading “Salad days.”

If you follow my exploits on Facebook you’ll know that last week we had a very relaxing holiday on a narrow boat, slowly making our way from March to Ely. By car that journey would be completed in minutes, but by boat it’s more than a days’ sailing. Setting off on the river Nene, weContinue reading “The slow boat.”

It was interesting to parcel up boxes of cake to send around the country and as I expected, some arrived sooner than others. Because of the time they sat waiting in sorting offices, those with high sugar contents fared the best – chocolate brownie is the most reliable cake to send. Any box which wentContinue reading “Results!”

For many years I’ve sent cake to friends all over Britain when I felt they needed it. It’s a bit like a hug in a box if they are having a tough time, maybe because of illness, or just because….. Now, I am very interested in the time it takes to arrive at it’s destinationContinue reading “The cake-mail challenge!”

The unpredictable nature of our weather means that, having enjoyed several lovely days of warmth and sunshine, we awake to a blustery morning which feels decidedly cooler. On our travels yesterday we came across several street parties – how lucky those people have been. Anyone planning outdoor celebrations today and tomorrow will need umbrellas. InContinue reading “Flaming June!”

If you’re still pondering what to make and in a quandary about the sort of cake to take to the picnic, I’ve got an idea to share… How about making the basic Victoria Sandwich mixture and cooking it in a rectangular tin, suitably greased and lined of course……? When it’s cooked and cold, transfer itContinue reading “Visual impact.”