Latest - Plum Compot
![A richly red plum compot with a spoon ready to serve a lucky person.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fz4j35np0%2Fproduction%2Fcb6e08545657ea72a8831d76849cfef804a99f2c-4032x3024.jpg%3Fauto%3Dformat&w=1920&q=75)
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..
![A freshly brewing cup of Melissa Officinalis tea with a large sprig filling the tea cup!](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fz4j35np0%2Fproduction%2F949a3043b7c0f1a671d4cb9db12862c59fd06fac-3024x4032.jpg&w=256&q=75)
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…
![A pear poached in lavender and wine and served with forest strawberries and a coconut macaroon.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fz4j35np0%2Fproduction%2F3970f4a9ffbcbfb33a1b021cba3b51cdfda48e9f-4032x3024.jpg&w=384&q=75)
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…
![A banana energy smoothis served in a glass and ready to drink.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fz4j35np0%2Fproduction%2Fab788ea98cbdedc7f813b3baa45afedd5cabb71f-4032x3024.jpg&w=384&q=75)
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…
![A stack of freshly made corn tortillas.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fz4j35np0%2Fproduction%2F21ddf313470464aace0e2d96b4be8f11036ecd4e-4032x3024.jpg&w=384&q=75)
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…
![A lavender biscuit accompanying a cup of coffee. As usual the photographer couldn't wait to take a bite!](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fz4j35np0%2Fproduction%2Fb90f8dd5a98e2d55a8a4966e877509d8afebc8d4-3024x4032.jpg&w=256&q=75)
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…
![The final veg au vin with celeriac sitting on a bed of mashed potatoes.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fz4j35np0%2Fproduction%2F1d7b6d5c43d38c56b146f3c9c6e35773d6f4f7c4-4032x3024.jpg&w=384&q=75)
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…
![Beetroot pate served on bread with a garnish of cress.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fz4j35np0%2Fproduction%2F4698d4c744b220f3028067dbdc63935792b17c0c-4032x3024.jpg&w=384&q=75)
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…
![A stout cookie with a bite taken out and some crumbs. The photographer couldn't wait!](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fz4j35np0%2Fproduction%2Fa651ed9af5dc706d005f58ae67635c53667b6c6f-4032x3024.jpg&w=384&q=75)
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…
![A simple template of a table for a list of items in one's freezer](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fz4j35np0%2Fproduction%2F7b7bd2fb444a880bb32e290401e475c96fbcca3a-920x455.jpg&w=640&q=75)
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...
![A salad containing curly kale, pomegranate, walnuts and oranges.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fz4j35np0%2Fproduction%2F0e3bd1413af9764825dbbd6608660179bea73235-4032x3024.jpg&w=384&q=75)
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…
![The tomato and pasta mixed in a pasta bowl and ready to eat.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fz4j35np0%2Fproduction%2F5ee653cf320e78929cac02e7d1fdecc200c0deea-4032x3024.jpg&w=384&q=75)
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…
![Baking potatoes with a pat of butter in foil. Ready to be wrapped up and placed in the oven.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fz4j35np0%2Fproduction%2F056fe161732e120b738da10a0e6a75af24b889c2-4032x3024.jpg&w=384&q=75)
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…
![A ham and pumpkin sandwich ready to be eaten.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fz4j35np0%2Fproduction%2F1487bcdf77d6237be310209ec5018fe6aeadc750-4032x3024.jpg&w=384&q=75)
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…
![A jar of sugar with a vanilla pod.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fz4j35np0%2Fproduction%2F62ef50d8deeb25f7f63eb2efcccbb24aeed1efa5-3024x4032.jpg&w=256&q=75)
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…
![Three freshly baked loaves of bread sitting on a cooling rack.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fz4j35np0%2Fproduction%2F9c8d90d09c8868c0e2883712c88855e2983f14a9-4032x2926.jpg&w=384&q=75)
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…
![A pumpkin spice latte in a glass, ready to be drunk.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fz4j35np0%2Fproduction%2Fc54bdcb8d8ff9837ef71d91e8af3aa94c4d18599-3024x4032.jpg&w=256&q=75)
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…
![One of my little helpers scraping the seeds from the pumpkin.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fz4j35np0%2Fproduction%2F21861715fe0e27d122b575c0bc776ed32749c55e-4032x3024.jpg&w=384&q=75)
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...
![A freshly baked tart with home grown peaches embedded in frangipane](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fz4j35np0%2Fproduction%2F27721e462d3402331cb0b9ae036c5034ef8dca4f-2016x1512.jpg&w=384&q=75)
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...
![A freshly baked christmas cake waiting for a drink of brandy!](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fz4j35np0%2Fproduction%2F22f814b39d36c6cee6b9b3b104c3d22a96e2d6a6-4032x3024.jpg&w=384&q=75)