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Sweet & savoury snacks
Rustic Bread Rolls, freshly baked, have a wonderfully crispy crust and chewy, substantial interior. Made with a fuss-free method, the simple no-knead dough is fermented overnight for great flavour. With next to no shaping required, the rolls have an attractive rustic appearance. Wonderful with jam …Read more
Sunflower, Honey and Oat Bread is a beautiful yet simple no-knead loaf. Inside you’ll find a moist, soft crumb lightly sweet with hints of honey, a generous amount of crunchy and earthy sunflower seeds plus optional flax seeds. The crust is baked with an attractive …Read more
Cheesy Scottish Oatcakes are easy to make with simple ingredients. But they’re wickedly good! Adding mature Cheddar cheese to the traditional savoury biscuit or cracker takes them to whole new level. Enjoy as part of a cheeseboard, with spreads and dips or even instead of bread …Read more
Coconut Meringue Slices look impressive and taste delicious. The buttery sponge base topped with coconut-flavoured delicate crispy meringue makes a wonderful teatime treat. Adapted from a Mary Berry recipe, my version is more coconutty and has extra tips for beginner bakers. Disclosure: this post may …Read more
Homemade Croutons are incredibly easy and economical. Traditionally a way to use up stale bread, they’re a wonderfully moreish and crunchy addition to soups and salads. Containing just bread and oil plus any flavourings you want, the only difficulty is not nibbling them all before …Read more
Apricot, Nut & Seed Oat Slice is an easy but lovely, sweet treat. With nutritious oats, fruity dried apricots plus chewy coconut, crunchy peanuts and toasted pumpkin seeds, you make it with an all-in-one method similar to flapjacks. But it’s lighter and less sticky thanks …Read more
Vegetable Masala Omelette is inspired by the masala omelettes of India, often eaten for breakfast at home or on the go. But it can be a tasty, quick and nutritious meal at any time of day. Packed with veggies plus spices like garam masala, turmeric …Read more
Christmas Chocolate Tiffin combines a favourite no-bake sweet treat with traditional festive flavours. Added to the familiar crushed biscuit, fruit, and chocolate goodie are mixed spice, cinnamon, orange zest, cherries, ginger, and dried peel. Topped with a layer of melted chocolate and edible decorations, everyone will …Read more
Christmas baking recipes are some of the most enjoyable treats to cook over the festive season. So I’ve brought together more than 40 of my favourites. From sweet favourites like mince pies and fruit cakes, to savoury sausage rolls and pies with melt-in-the-mouth pastry, homemade …Read more
Homemade Food Christmas Gifts are the most thoughtful presents you can give. You don’t have to spend a lot of money, but friends and family will appreciate the time and love you put in to make something delicious just for them. So, in this post …Read more
Sausage Star Bread with Onions and Cheese looks impressive, tastes wonderful, but is surprisingly easy to make. Perfect for entertaining, especially at Christmas, this tear and share treat is inspired by Italian stuffed sausage breads flavoured with fennel seeds, garlic and herbs. Finished with a …Read more
Savoury biscuits and crackers for cheese or other tasty toppings are surprisingly easy to make at home. Whether you want to avoid nasties like palm oil found in shop-bought, or have artisan-style crackers at a fraction of the cost, it’s wonderful to be able to …Read more
Parmesan and Rosemary Shortbreads are light, melt-in-the-mouth but richly flavoured cheesy biscuits with a hint of fresh herbs. So simple to make, the buttery shortbread rounds are a delicious savoury snack that work brilliantly with cheeseboards, as a nibble with drinks, or as a foodie …Read more
Mince Pie Biscotti are deliciously light and crunchy sweet biscuits, full of Christmas fruit, spice, and nuts. Flavoured with the same mincemeat used to fill traditional mince pies, you won’t believe how easy it is to make these artisan-style biscuits. Perfect eaten alongside a tipple …Read more
Easy cake recipes for all occasions whether you want a sweet treat in a hurry or to impress guests with something simple but delicious. Who doesn’t love a good homemade cake? I certainly do! But I admit I’m not one for time-consuming, elaborate affairs. Luckily, …Read more
Braided Herb Bread, or Plaited Herb Bread, is a deliciously soft no-knead yeasted loaf made with a dough enriched with butter, eggs, and milk. I love it flavoured with chives and rosemary, but you can swap in your favourite aromatic herbs such as thyme or …Read more
Cream of Vegetable Soup is beautifully simple but so tasty. Full of vegetables like carrot, leek, and peas, it’s subtly flavoured with garlic and herbs. Despite the name, like most traditional ‘cream of’ soups, it doesn’t contain cream. Its velvety texture is thanks to a combination …Read more
Spiced Fruit Bread is flavoured with cinnamon, mixed spice, orange zest, and is studded with bursts of juicy, plumped-up dried fruit. Wonderful buttered for breakfast or afternoon tea, I think it’s even better toasted first to bring out the subtle sweetness and rich taste. Made …Read more
Pane Cunzato is usually translated as ‘seasoned’ or ‘dressed’ bread. But this classic Sicilian sandwich with humble roots can be incredibly good. Made using good quality rolls, baguettes, or chunks from a large loaf, the base ingredients are simply olive oil, oregano, and tomatoes. Add …Read more
Semolina Baguettes are inspired by the famous breads of Sicily made with semolina flour. With a flavoursome, chewy crumb and sesame-topped crust, these rolls are perfect with your favourite fillings, or alongside soups and salads. Also excellent filled with the Sicilian classic of tomatoes, oregano, …Read more
Cherry Almond Oat Squares feature a classic flavour pairing in an irresistibly delicious bake with chewy oats and a white chocolate topping. So easy to make with an all-in-one method similar to flapjacks, but with a lighter, non-sticky texture. Disclosure: this post may contain affiliate …Read more
Refried Bean Quesadillas are a crispy, cheesy, melty and delicious delight. And incredibly easy too! Using either canned or made from scratch refried beans (I recommend my quick and spicy homemade version), simply spread some over a tortilla wrap, add plenty of cheese plus vegetable …Read more
Beetroot and Goat Cheese Toasts take a classic combination and turn it into something rather special. Quick to make but delicious and impressive looking, the tangy bubbling grilled cheese is served on toast with rocket, thin slices of earthy beetroot, garlicky Balsamic dressing plus toasted …Read more
Carrot Cake Traybake is a richly flavoured, warmly spicy bake where plenty of grated carrot is joined by coconut, pecans, sultanas, and orange zest. Soft and moist, I love it topped with spiced buttercream (you can swap it for a simple orange icing if preferred) …Read more
Refried Beans or frijoles refritos are so easy to make at home. And super-quick when you start with tinned pinto, borlotti, kidney, or black beans. In this tasty version inspired by the traditional Mexican and Tex-Mex dish of mashed beans, there’s loads of spicy favour …Read more