Latest - Plum Compot
This is an easy way to use up plums, and the plums do not have to be perfect – just cut away the bad parts. It is really lovely to have as…
Melissa tea
Written by Ma Sharp - 2nd July 2022
Melissa Officinalis, also known as lemon balm, has a natural appeal to me as a herb due to our shared name! I found it growing wild in our garden..
Pears Poached in Lavender and Wine
Written by Ma Sharp - 25th June 2022
In June lavender becomes abundant in our garden. If you have a warm sunny spot then do plant some in your garden, if you haven’t already! It…
Banana Energy Smoothie
Written by Ma Sharp - 12th June 2022
This is my variant of a smoothie, which is intended to not only give you an energy boost, but also be thirst-quenching, so not too thick. I…
Corn tortillas
Written by Ma Sharp - 28th May 2022
When I was a child, the world was not yet the international hotpot that it now is. Sure, I grew up with parents from different countries…
Cooking with lavender
Written by Ma Sharp - 3rd April 2022
I’m back to cooking with lavender. Lavender is a wonderful flower with a beautiful colour and powerful scent. It is also an edible flower…
Veg au vin
Written by Ma Sharp - 19th March 2022
In general I am loathe to vegetarian dishes that use ‘meat substitutes’. But recently I considered whether one could make a reasonable…
Beetroot Pate
Written by Ma Sharp - 19th February 2022
I once thought I would try to buy a vegetarian pate. It was not a success… Frankly I’m not sure which of the ingredients caused the calamity…
Variations on Stout Cookies
Written by Ma Sharp - 13th February 2022
I recently baked a bread that needed some stout. I thought it would be fun to see if I could bake something else with the rest of the stout…
Annual Freezer Stocktake
Written by Ma Sharp - 7th January 2022
Every year in early January, when it is hopefully cold outside, I do our annual freezer stocktake and defrost our large freezer, which is…
Curly Kale and Pomegranate Salad
Written by Ma Sharp - 22nd December 2021
Tear the curly kale into suitably small bite-sized pieces and place in serving bowl. Separate the pomegranate seeds from the bitter pith and...
Quick tomato and pasta to beat a cold
Written by Ma Sharp - 10th December 2021
This recipe was made to deal with the sudden and urgent need for some dinner on a day where someone seemed on the verge of coming down with…
Baked Potatoes
Written by Ma Sharp - 19th November 2021
When the weather outside gets cooler, I love turning to easy comfort foods such as baked potatoes. My preferred method for baking them means…
Ham and pumpkin sandwich
Written by Ma Sharp - 17th November 2021
Personally I get a lot of feel-good energy from eating plenty of vegetables, but I do try to also cater to the carnivores of the house. And…
Magical Vanilla Sugar
Written by Ma Sharp - 3rd November 2021
I still remember the jar in my childhood kitchen cupboard that contained the vanilla sugar. I always found it somehow magical – it felt like…
Baking during the work week
Written by Ma Sharp - 27th October 2021
I love freshly baked bread – the smell, the taste and the texture too. This used to be an exclusive treat for weekends and days off, since I…
Pumpkin Spice Latte
Written by Ma Sharp - 24th October 2021
The weather really makes me feel we have moved into the cold part of autumn. We now have a cold and bitter wind, making the temperature feel…
Time for warming soups
Written by Ma Sharp - 2nd October 2021
Waking up on a grey autumnal Saturday morning, with my youngest still having a cold, and the rest of us trying to avoid it, it seemed like…
Millions of Peaches!
Written by Ma Sharp - 20th August 2021
This was a year where our peach tree delivered! Given how sensitive peaches are to the local variable climate, it really fills me with joy...
Time for baking the Christmas Cake
Written by Ma Sharp - 17th August 2021
While Christmas seems such a long way away during the summer it is nonetheless high time for baking the Christmas cake. This is a...
