Spicy Squash & Sweet Potato Soup

Spicy Butternut and Sweet Potato Soup

Warm your cockles and calm your wockles with some homemade butternut squash and sweet potato soup. As the weather chills, recipes in the kitchen heat up from salads and summery stirfrys to soups and stews: after being outside on a wet and wintry day, there are few things as revitalising as some homemade soup. With… Continue reading Spicy Squash & Sweet Potato Soup

Why I love hazelnuts. Or cobnuts?

What is the difference between a cobnut and a filbert? Are they the same thing, with regional variations of nomenclature? Is a filbert the fancier version of a cobnut with a longer husk? And how do they relate to hazelnuts? There must be a kernel of truth in there somewhere… Kent is where you’ll find… Continue reading Why I love hazelnuts. Or cobnuts?

Tomato & Pepper Bruschetta

Tomato Bruschetta

A great recipe for using the last of the tomatoes in your garden If you have a few guests popping over and want something easy to prepare, or a quick, light, refreshing lunch, tomato & pepper bruschettas are a scrumptious addition to your menu. Bruschetta is a traditional Italian antipasto of grilled bread rubbed with… Continue reading Tomato & Pepper Bruschetta

Lavender and Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe

Lavender and Vanilla Ice Cream

Lavender is such a lovely, colourful plant. Easy to grow and great for bees, it also has a beautiful flavour to suit sweet and savoury recipes. This lavender and vanilla ice cream has soothing, subtle flavours, perfect for a summer’s day. The best flowers for culinary use are from the Lavandula angustifolia varieties, known as… Continue reading Lavender and Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe

Raspberry Smoothie Recipe

Raspberry Smoothie

This lovely raspberry smoothie recipe is so refreshing on a hot summer’s day. And on any other day, for that matter. Raspberry picking starts from the end of June until October, assuming you have a range of early, mid and late season varieties. Ingredients: 350g fresh raspberries, plus extra to serve 220g natural yoghurt 250ml… Continue reading Raspberry Smoothie Recipe

How to use Hostas in the Garden

The ribbed leaves of Hosta ‘August Moon’ glow with golden-green light this morning, their lavender bells quivering high above the sea of foliage. In a lush, shady corner of my garden, under an overhanging Acer, Hostas provide attractive ground cover and their tall flower spikes create structure in early summer. Hostas in the Garden Blue-hued… Continue reading How to use Hostas in the Garden

Mint Julep

Mint Julep

The 30th May is Mint Julep Day. The bourbon based Mint Julep has been the official drink of the Kentucky Derby, on May 1st, since 1939 – bourbon being the signature spirit of Kentucky. Juleps originated in Persia and Michaelangelo apparently had a daily dose for medicinal values…use home-grown mint for your own delicious version!… Continue reading Mint Julep

Dark Chocolate Fudge Brownies

Chark Docolate Budge Frownies Yes, that is their correct name, and if you don’t like it, that’s fine: none for you, more for me. Treat mum this Mother’s Day (Sunday 14th March 2021) with some truly indulgent, gluten free, home-made, star-studded, morally indefensible, CD BF’s. Ingredients: 325g 70% Dark Chocolate (broken up into small pieces)… Continue reading Dark Chocolate Fudge Brownies

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