ENGLISH MUM

So the weekend was somewhat traumatic.  I won’t fill you in on all the events, but needless to say being trapped in a packed train carriage all the way from Shepherds Bush while the three teenagers I was escorting serenaded their fellow commuters with loud renditions of My Horse is Amazing (seriously – don’t bother watching it, it’s that bad) and then being politely told that we were,...

When I was in Dubai, I loved that they used Hibiscus in cooking, and in tea.  It has a flavour – and colour – similar to cranberry – fruity but tart – so when I saw some in the Bastakiya market I nabbed some, feeling that it would be excellent around Christmas time.  Here’s my first Christmassy experiment.  I...

So I’ve been reading up on our new abode (I know I should think of some funky new name, but I also know it will continue to be English Towers – why fight it?).  The village was listed in the Domesday Book (thank you Wikipedia), and the hill overlooking the village is not only a site of special scientific interest, but crossed by the Ridgeway as well.  There’s also a very old windmill here,...

When we were in the incredible Dubai Mall, searching for a place to sit down and have a quick coffee, we stumbled upon a cinnamon bun shop.  The place makes amazing cinnamon buns, very similar to our Chelsea buns, but much more gooey.  I didn’t actually eat one – not like me, but we were about to go on a rollercoaster – but the others were raving, and when I told my American chums on Twitter,...

Happy Paddy’s Day! I’m off home to see the folks for a few days, but seeing as it’s Paddy’s I thought I’d tempt you with a nice, easy and traditional recipe to celebrate. The lovely Spudness from The Daily Spud runs a fantastic Paddy’s Day Food Parade, so pop over to Spud Towers to check out all the other recipes. This is an adaptation of one of Rachel Allen’s recipes,...

So thank you to all the intrepid bakers who entered the Fresh Break Bakeoff.  There are some really great entries here – from complete novices to some very accomplished bakers!  Have a look at all the great entries and I’ll be letting you know the winner of all the Marriage’s goodies very soon! http://smorgasblog.ie/2011/02/03/tebirkes http://comidayvidauk.blogspot.com/2011/02/soda-bread-made-easy.html http://cookinginmammyskitchen.com/2011/02/hi-fibre-brown-bread/ http://fuzzytimes.wordpress.com/2011/02/08/snazzy-pizza-rolls/ http://cookingisagameyoucaneat.blogspot.com/2011/02/how-to-bake-focaccia.html http://stickyfingers1.blogspot.com/2011/02/walnut-teabread.html http://blog.maisoncupcake.com/kruschev-rolls-boursin/ http://thefivefsblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/fresh-bread-bake-off-entry-if-at-first.html http://cafebebe.co.uk/2011/02/adventures-in-gluten-free-breadmaking/ http://littlegreenblog.com/family-and-food/nutrition/i-made-bread/ http://2loaves.blogspot.com/ http://gluttonyforbeginners.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/dough-balls-009.jpg http://nicsnotebook.com/2011/02/14/fresh-bread-bakeoff-competition/ http://curtainsforthewindow.blogspot.com/

So recently I showed you my simple recipe for  easy step by step bread.  I had a lot of comments from people saying they’d quite like to have a go – so now’s your chance!  The newest, shiniest bakeoff is here – and it’s all about fresh bread!  What do you fancy baking?  A nice crusty loaf?  Some shiny conker-brown bagels?  Sticky buns? The Rules As usual, we laugh in the...

There is nothing, I think, quite as delicious as the smell of bread baking.  I know there are times in the kitchen when you want to rush in, whip up something quick, and rush out again, but there are other times when a quiet potter is just fabulous.  For those times, breadmaking is ideal.  I love kneading bread – there’s something quite hypnotic and soothing about it – and producing a home-made...

I have absolutely no idea why we calls these ‘milk rolls’.  Well, apart from the fact that they obviously contain milk, but then so do an awful lot of other bread recipes. Anyhoo, whatever their name they’re a firm favourite here.  Their soft texture makes them ideal for breakfast, toasted with a little of our favourite Whole Earth peanut butter and a dollop of bramble jelly.  The boys...

The lovely Tara Cain has a gallery every week where everyone can enter their photographs, based on different themes.  I’m not much of a photographer, but this week the gallery theme is food!  How could I not enter?!  And so especially for Tara, and embracing the spirit of the gallery,  I’m spreading the love and telling everyone about a fellow blogger/foodie, the lovely Vanessa, here’s...