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The trick to shaping these sourdough pretzels is to start by rolling a long rope of dough, with ends that are thinner than the middle. You then lay the dough in a U shape and twist the ends twice to create the loop. These ends are then turned over towards the base of the U, pressed … Continue reading Sourdough Pretzels
Judge Stone opening lines: Bria Gaines stood at the back door of the small brick office building she rented in Union Springs, Alabama, population 3,314. My blurb: Mary Stone is more than just a Judge. She is a farmer, a sister, and a Black Woman living in the Black Belt of America. In her courtroom … Continue reading Judge Stone, James Patterson
Karl is very correct when he says that this lamb and onion pie is so tasty! Despite the pastry not completely cooking on the bottom in the middle, I am sharing it with you. The filling is delicious and the pastry is easier to make than you think. Skip ahead to the recipe for Lamb … Continue reading Lamb And Onion Pie
Using a mayonnaise base made with Dijon mustard and sherry vinegar, I made a simple remoulade sauce. This is a great recipe to add to, depending on your taste buds, and what you are serving it with. Skip ahead to the recipe for Remoulade Sauce Variations of a remoulade sauce A remoulade sauce is used … Continue reading Remoulade Sauce
Antihero opening lines: Shiny penny-sized blood drops on the white tile floor of the East Los Angeles bodega reflect back the sterile fluorescent lights above. My blurb: Evan is ready to change a few things in his life. He will allow Josephine to go on a mission. But, he will not allow her to distract … Continue reading Antihero, Gregg Hurwitz
The text for the post on What Are the Most Overlooked Essentials Travelers Forget to Pack? was provided to me. What Are the Most Overlooked Essentials Travelers Forget to Pack? Most travellers remember the obvious things first. Clothes, shoes, toiletries, passports, chargers. Those usually make it into the bag without much trouble. The problem is … Continue reading What Are the Most Overlooked Essentials Travelers Forget to Pack?
Having seen okonomiyaki being made on MasterChef Australia I was really excited to find a recipe for this in Upwards. I made these Japanese pancakes for lunch and both Dave and I really enjoyed them. Skip ahead to the recipe for Okonomiyaki What is okonomiyaki? Okonomiyaki is a savoury pancake which originated in Japan. A … Continue reading Okonomiyaki
I had this caper mocha butter at the launch of Upwards, and came straight home to make it. Because I did that, I had to use what was in my kitchen, rather than what was in the recipe. I switched out Tabasco for my homemade sriracha, and used a freshly made espresso instead of instant coffee. … Continue reading Caper Mocha Butter
Kiss Her Goodbye opening lines: When I was a girl, I dreamed. Running through my father's orchard in pursuit of my brother, ten years older and newly returned from school. My blurb: Sabera is a mother who will do anything for her child. She will marry a much older man, just to have them both … Continue reading Kiss Her Goodbye, Lisa Gardner
I had a little bit of my togarashi left over so I adjusted the recipe for furikake in Upwards to only use what I had. Since then I have used this blend numerous times when making flatbreads. It really is an amazing addition to that, as well as a great topping for bread. Skip ahead … Continue reading Furikake
Karen recommends using sardine butter on steaks and fish. Or under the skin of a chicken that you are going to roast. She loves this with new-season radishes, which was an entirely new concept to me. I had plenty slathered onto toast when I was on a bread baking spree. Skip ahead to the recipe … Continue reading Sardine Butter
The Impossible Fortune opening lines: They show you how to make bombs on the internet. If you know where to look. My blurb: Elizabeth has not been her normal self for quite some time. But, with everyone occupied with their own lives, she is finally ready to be a part of the gang again. Only … Continue reading The Impossible Fortune, Richard Osman
I had thought that the heatwave had ended, but March 2026 proved me wrong. And, it was one of the hottest weeks we have had for ages. The temperature did not drop at night, making it even worse. And, despite Gordons Bay being known for the wind, it did not blow. That being said, we … Continue reading March 2026 Showcasing In My Kitchen
Karen is now looking and living upwards! This was so evident when I met her last November at the launch of her recipe book. It was amazing to see her living well, and with grace. In her latest recipe book, the recipe layout goes against the grain. With the method on the left and the … Continue reading Upwards, Karen Dudley
The Invisible Woman opening lines: My name is Elinor Gilbert. And I am the Invisible Woman. No, not the kind that can make a deck of cards look like it's shuffling itself. My blurb: Elinor was the best at what she did, because she could blend in. But, when her boss ends her career, she … Continue reading The Invisible Woman, James Patterson
Packed full of fresh coriander, flat leaf parsley, and a little bit of chives and lemon zest, these hake fish cakes will make for a perfectly simple meal any day of the week. Skip ahead to the recipe for Hake Fish Cakes Hake fishing in South Africa Merluccius capensis is one of our greatest exports, and … Continue reading Hake Fish Cakes
The key to making this confit garlic butter is to cook it low and slow. You want the garlic to be soft to the touch, and you do not want the butter to boil. Once cooled it is blended into a homogeneous compound butter, which can be served as is, or remelted to add on … Continue reading Confit Garlic Butter
One Night in Paris opening lines: It happened to people, this longing, emerging from an unknown void, grabbing the soul with a firm hand, the urge to simply let go and sink to the depths of the ocean. My blurb: Claire is not sure if she is just bored in her marriage, or bored with … Continue reading One Night in Paris, Nina George
These chocolate macadamia biscuits are a healthy, gluten free treat. I made a small batch, but you could easily double up the recipe. They will keep well if stored in an airtight container and make a great lunch box addition for children. Skip ahead to the recipe for Chocolate Macadamia Biscuits When biscuits are good … Continue reading Chocolate Macadamia Biscuits
This chocolate ginger slice is made from a base of condensed milk and chocolate, to which I have added nuts and cookies for texture, candied ginger for spice and dried cherries for something different. Use this recipe as a base and create your own flavour profile. Skip ahead to the recipe for Chocolate Ginger Slice … Continue reading Chocolate Ginger Slice