ENGLISH MUM

The fields around this area are, at various times of the year, the most beautiful, glowing yellow with all the oilseed rape.  Driving anywhere in the car, it will only be a matter of minutes before someone shouts ‘rape!’ from the back seat (yes, yes, it’s not politically correct, but try explaining being PC to any 15 year old and then you’ll really understand the meaning of a lost cause). Anyhoo,...

One of my favourite recipe books is a very old and slightly crusty ‘Curry Club’ book called 250 Favourite Curries and Accompaniments that my Mum bought me years ago.  I was searching high and low for it earlier as I’m currently suffering from a glut of courgettes, and knew that I’d seen a recipe for spicy fritters in there.  But no, it was nowhere to be seen (it’s since turned...

As I sit here, simmering in my sun-baked conservatory and squinting at the dusty screen, I’m really beginning to believe that summer’s in full swing. Here and there at farmers’ markets and farm shops, the glossy punnets of British strawberries are stacked up high, making it the perfect time to treat your loved ones to some pretty strawberry cupcakes. I like this recipe as it perfectly demonstrates how...

Wow it’s hot.  If you’re in Ireland, where I spent several summers bemoaning the fact that the south of England was always about 8 degrees warmer than us, then ahahahaha erm, I mean you’re probably not experiencing the epidermis-melting heat of the last few days here in England, but trust me, it’s hot. And when it’s hot, all thoughts of chocolatey desserts go right out the window....

Ooh I love the sunshine.  One of the few downsides of living in Ireland was watching the weather forecast and seeing that our family at home in the south of England were enjoying weather a good 6 or 7 degrees warmer than us. Happily, we’re now enjoying those extra degrees (interspersed with a few proper English days of torrential rain –  just to keep us in our place), plus a few more it would...

My lovely commenter Jen contacted me on Twitter yesterday and said she’d just made some of my lemon meringue cupcakes.  I was inspired to knock up a batch, but when I went to find the recipe of course they weren’t here as I’d done them as a guest post for Rosie Scribble back in March. Anyhoo, if you haven’t seen them, they SO deserve another outing.  In fact, even if you don’t...

Barely a recipe this one.  More an exercise in getting the kids into the kitchen and allowing them to become covered head to toe in chocolate . Still, they taste quite nice, which is always a bonus.  Firstly, then, you’ll need: 150g Green and Black’s Milk Cooking Chocolate 1 tbsp golden syrup 100g Rice Krispies 30g mini marshmallows 50g Maltesers 50g dried cranberries 50g brazil nuts 1 pack mini...

So this is slightly cheating as after I’d finished my lovely hot cross buns, I realised I’d forgotten to take any pictures.  So here, then, in a bit of a ‘mash-oop’, as De Brevren would say is a new recipe, with pics from last year. This recipe takes a bit of time, but is one of those recipes that’s just so much better home-made than bought.  So set aside a chilly Easter weekend...

One of my golden rules here at English Towers 2 (and there aren’t many, in fact, I think that’s the only one – oh no, hang on, there’s the no saying ‘eurgh’ at the table… oh and then there’s not referring to one’s wedding vegetables as ‘nads’ – I hate that…) is that everyone has to have breakfast.  I will never complain if I’m...

So today is a happy and a sad day. I’m happy, because I love all things Irish, and we’d always have a wonderful day out at a pararde or a mad boat race or somesuch nonsense, and then a special St Patrick’s Day dinner at English Towers to mark the occasion. Sad, because I miss our lovely Irish home and even lovelier Irish friends. So this post is dedicated to all of them: wonderful, bonkers...