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,...

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...

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...

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...

My sister in law (who is a sweet, gentle creature) once told me that many moons ago, during a lovers’ tiff with my brother, she was so cross she took the tomato sauce bottle and wrote ‘SHIT’ on the kitchen floor in ketchup.  You see?  Naughty words are a form of therapy.  And with this in mind, laydees and gentlespoons, I bring you the arsebiscuit. I’ve been banging on about them...

UPDATE: Okay, so the results are in.  And yes, I know, I know, this is just a bit of fun, not a competition, but Toria has chosen her faves: 1st Heather’s from Eggs, Cream and Honey.  They look mouthwateringly gorgeous and I want to stuff my face with them! Yum 2nd Mummy Limited’s heart cupcakes. Loving the sparkliness with the glitter and hearts that look fab on the cream frosting. Too pretty...

  *sigh* It’s bloody January again (to quote Flanders and Swann). Apparently there is no news in the whole world apart from the fact that it’s snowing.  And if that, plus the fact that fate decided to dump 4″ of it upon English Towers II wasn’t quite bad enough, it seems that no teacher can possibly drive in slush, so the kids are off as well. It’s enough to make you want to...

So if you’re snowed in, or just fancy a nice afternoon of Christmassy cooking in the kitchen, I can think of nothing finer than stollen.  Not only is it yummy, but the smell of it cooking is just the finest thang ever. As you can see from the picture, I actually made mine when I was back at English Towers in Ireland (it was for a magazine article, so they were unseasonably made in October), but they...