A few utensils I used last night

all that remains of the best apple cake I've ever eaten...thanks to my lovely friend Helen

Violet vegetable..

This lovely home grown organic purple cauliflower was brought all the way from Plymouth to Nottingham just for me to see it...Photo opportunity...

Sourdough in Yorkshire

cinnamon balls

passover baking....traditional recipe for the Jewish festival of passover. This used to be my Dad's job but it has passed on to me since he died 10 years ago. I love the fact that I am responsible for coming up with the baked goods for the family, it makes me smile :-)

...and then the asparagus tart

first the asparagus....

mocha and macchiato in the spring sunshine

morning cuppa

fresh figs ready to bake

 

over ripe bananas

well, I had to make some banana and vanilla muffins last night. I say had to because wasting food is just not an option and there were two overly black spotted bananas sitting on my fruit bowl. So, to the task at hand......enhanced very much by the company and chat of my friend who had just shared a roast chicken and beetroot salad with me....half an hour later-there were 10 large golden muffins on the cooling rack...now to give them away so that I am not tempted to eat them all

handmade chocolate

pieces of handmade dark chocolate from a farmers' market in Hebden Bridge....smoked paprika and orange; lavender and seasalt; mixed nuts are amongst the flavours of this very special handmade chocolate sold in simple white or manilla envelopes

smoked paprika chocolate

somewhat bunged up...

finding myself feeling a tad rundown over the last few days and so haven't been cooking due to lack of appetite. Full of cold now and so I have been dosing myself up with echinacea and elderberry, manuka honey and my home made hot toddy-garlic, ginger, chilli, lemon and honey. Just cover with hot water and leave to steep for a few minutes then stir and fill the cup. Anything I am eating is garlic and chilli infused-last night was chicken madras with extra chilli and the night before was a thai noodle broth. Not sure what I am having tonight but it will definitely have a kick to it...

cumin seed bread

baking with seeds

recently been reminded of how much I like using seeds and spices in baking, the nutritional benefits make it even more satisfying. Fennel seeds to aid digestion, cumin is rich in iron and can boost liver function to help to detoxify the body...a good friend offered me some freshly baked cumin seed bread this very morning. The idea of it was so appealing and then the smell- warm, earthy and welcoming. Then came the first bite-wonderful soft texture and the crispness of the crust combined with the right amount of cumin seed and a dash of honey...fantastic