Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Happy New Year!

From all of us to all of you.  Thanks so much for reading, commenting, cooking and enjoying.  I appreciate it more than you'll ever know.  Have a wonderful 2015!

Ax

Saturday, December 27, 2014

Christmas Dinner Potato Cakes

If your house is anything like mine, you've a fridge full of leftovers from Christmas Dinner and they gaze balefully at you every time you open the fridge door.  And you don't know what to do with them apart from make sandwiches or curry.  I have a suggestion : Christmas Dinner Potato Cakes.  I know it sounds a little bit strange but nearly all of your leftovers can be used here to create a delicious meal.  Just add a crisp green salad or reheated red cabbage and you've created something simple but incredibly tasty with a crisp buttery crust.  Don't forget a healthy dollop of cranberry sauce on the side...


Wednesday, December 24, 2014

On Christmas Eve

It's almost time for Santa and presents and good food.  Today I've spent most of the day cooking, washing up and cleaning while The Hubs was working. Sometimes I'd love to swap roles with him and let him plan what we're going to eat for our big Christmas dinner tomorrow.  But then I sit down for a minute with a cup of coffee and glance over at our tree, filled with memories, and realise that there's nowhere else I'd rather be on Christmas Eve.


Saturday, December 13, 2014

Christmas Gifts : Lovely Things

I'm one of those horribly organised people you all love to hate.  I start thinking about gifts in September, once my birthday is over, and I start squirrelling away stuff as I see.  I know that not everybody is as ridiculously disciplined about buying presents and for most people, half of the fun is going shopping, whether it's in the shops or online from the comfort of your desk at lunchtime or on the sofa in the evening.  I've compiled (if I was a hipster sort, I'd say "curated") a list of lovely things that you or somebody you love might really really like...




Monday, December 8, 2014

Christmas Gifts : Books for Cooks

With two weeks to go until the big day, there's still time to get presents for your loved ones.  If they're like me and fond of a cookbook or two, might I make some recommendations?  Here's five of my favourites and I think they're perfect books for cooks.


Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Sponsored Video : Magic & Sparkle at your M&S

As the song goes, it's the most wonderful time of the year.  It's time for spending time with loved ones, giving and receiving gifts and eating a substantial quantity of food with lots of bubbles to wash it down with.  And where can you find practically everything that you'll need for a Christmas with lots of Magic & Sparkle?  That's right, at your local M&S.  Founded in 1884 by Howard Marks and Thomas Spencer, the first store opened in Leeds as Marks' Penny Bazaar.  95 years later, the first non-UK branch of M&S opened on Mary Street in Dublin 1 in 1979 and you can now find branches in 54 countries across the world, including Lebanon, China and India.  It's a long way from Leeds.