Recipes from a passionate cook & foodie
In the cold months of winter or when I am in need of good old British comfort food when I am feeling a little low there is nothing more wonderful than a sponge pudding. One of my personal favorites is Glayva Orange Pudding, a creation of my mothers who runs Puddy Blog. 3½ oz unrefined golden caster sugar 3½ oz unsalted butter, room temperature 3½ oz self raising flour 2 large eggs 1 blood orange, finely grated zest 1 tsp (or amount to taste) Glayva whisky liqueur (or Grand … [Read more...]
There are some occasions, most especially during cold winters, when only a good line-your-ribs style pudding will do. This one, I admit, is a little bit of a cheats version - the sauce being little more than dulce de leche warmed through. Not traditional, but really wonderful just the same (its also baked) Pudding 175 grams dates (not sugared), stoned and chopped 1 dessert spoon (2 tsp) bicarbonate of soda Boiling water 90 grams unsalted butter 175 grams light muscovado sugar 2 large … [Read more...]
There is a certain point in winter when I start to crave pies - and fish pie is a real favourite of mine. When I was a child these pies generally were topped with fluffy mashed potato and decorated with grated cheese, toasted breadcrumbs (for a lovely crunch and golden colour) and slices of beef tomatoes. A nice twist to this traditional version is to replace the mashed potato with a lovely potato pastry - this pie was a real success yesterday! As we were entertaining we opted to decorate … [Read more...]
I have to say that the vast majority of food programmes of late seem to do little else but rehash the same recipes over and over again with very few changes. Whilst there is a lot of be said for keeping some of our traditional recipes "as is", there is also a need to create new and inspiring versions of the old classics too. One of my favourite comfort foods as a child was Yorkshire Meat and Potato pie as cooked by my dear old Grandmother - and always served with copious amounts of cabbage and … [Read more...]
Living abroad sometimes I feel the need for some home comforts - such as a nice simple cottage or shepherds pie. But I like to spice things up now and again, and being me, cannot resist putting my own slant on things. This spicy tomato cottage pie arose out of one of those "experiments" and I am pleased to say it was a triumph! My Grandmothers Cottage Pie, bless her, was one of the blandest things I have ever tasted. Her pies (rhubarb, apple or egg custards) were her speciality. But she was … [Read more...]
When my mother was young the joint of meat was not cooked in a roasting tin, but placed directly onto the oven runner with a roasting tray underneath so that the juices could drop into the tin. The Yorkshire pudding was poured into this dish just before the rest of the meal was ready and cooked until brown on the outside, but still soft on the inside. It was served as a starter so that children were quite full before the main course. They each had a quarter of a large pudding with onion gravy. … [Read more...]
Watch this video with TV host Anton Du Beke to learn all about bacon from cuts to cooking and get some delicious recipes. It’s hard to imagine the Traditional breakfast without bacon; whether it’s part of a full English, or piled between two slices of bread for a butty, it is undeniably delicious. However bacon is much more versatile than you may think. With a range of different cuts and cures available, it can liven up an assortment of meals. This year’s Bacon Connoisseurs’ Week, … [Read more...]
Yorkshire Teacakes. I remember these from when I was young. They would always be available, stored in a large wooden breadbin. I´d have one on a morning with a cup of tea (Yorkshire of course), it would be spread thickly with butter and my Mum would always joke if I´d like a bit of teacake with my butter (as opposed to the other way round). We had a visiter once who asked if he could have one of those fruit breadcakes! To which was retorted "Dun't tha knaw t' difference a'tween … [Read more...]
A few years ago my mother and I were trying to think of a twist on the traditional christmas cake - during the process this is something we played with - using dried tropical fruits finely chopped in place of some of the more traditional fruits. It was a moderate success. This year we tried again, and have improved the recipe marginally. Each time it gets a little better - but here is the current recipe. One point of note, and I stress this to everyone who is making a traditional christmas … [Read more...]
Feeling the cold this winter? Are you like thousands of Brits and completely snowed in? If so, then this is most certainly a recipe for you! I love a lamb hotpot when the winters start to really set in. Of course my family have always traditionally served this with Yorkshire Pudding, but these days I find it far too heavy and tend not to combine the two. It is lovely with a great chunk of homemade bread. Incidentally this is also my first entry written with Windows Live Writer. I will let you … [Read more...]