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Dried fruit compote was traditionally a breakfast dish and to this day, many friends add this to their morning meal. It can also be used as an accompaniment to meat or served as a dessert with custard. Head straight on to the Recipe For Dried Fruit Compôte ♥ So, let's carry on with my gremlin. … Continue reading Dried Fruit Compote
Trying to recreate the grapefruit tea I enjoyed in France, I made my own version using dried grapefruit. The addition of spices and fresh mint made it most refreshing. Head straight on to the Recipe For Grapefruit Tea ♥ It is amazing how we take basic things for granted. We turn on a tap and … Continue reading Grapefruit Tea
A few years ago my friend Dorothy served maple prunes soaked in whisky to go with our meal. When my friend Bev sent me a recipe for ginger cake containing prunes, I knew exactly which ones to use. This recipe for maple prune cake is an adaptation that I think can be served as is. … Continue reading Maple Prune Cake Spiced With Ginger
You can use any dried fruit to make a variation of this grapefruit cake. And to intensify the flavour why not try using infused olive oil? Head straight on to the Recipe For Grapefruit Cake ♥ Would you believe it if I told you we have a strike season in South Africa? I totally defend … Continue reading Grapefruit Cake
To make this dried fruit loaf you can use any dried fruit that you enjoy. Personally I always go for apples. But when I make it again I will use figs. Try it with dates or prunes to add some lovely dark colours. Head straight on to the Recipe For Dried Fruit Loaf♥ When I … Continue reading Dried Fruit Loaf | Adapted From Paul Hollywood
Feeling like a change and wanting to use up the fruit butter I made, I decided to turn my hand to making fruit butter granola. This is a great variation for home-made breakfast. Skip ahead to the recipe for Fruit Butter Granola When Dave and I started travelling overseas on a regular basis we invested … Continue reading Fruit Butter Granola
Dave and I enjoy a tea time treat, but if I make 6 scones at a time we will eat them all. That is unless I can get James to come and visit. But without his help I decided to experiment with freezing the scones. These freezer scones are the result and I just love … Continue reading Freezer Scones
Melinda Roodt says that she used to buy bread similar to this health bread on the South Coast (of South Africa), but it was often difficult to find and not available everywhere, so she decided to make her own. This bread is not only delicious freshly baked, but also makes beautiful toast the next day, … Continue reading Health Bread
There are two items my grandmother always had in her pantry. The one was pickled onions and the other was crunchies. I could eat the entire jar of her pickles in one setting had she let me. Wanting to replicate her crunchies but add my own twist, I came up with these blueberry and white chocolate … Continue reading Blueberry And White Chocolate Crunchies
As we will be away for Easter I decided to make chocolate hot cross buns a little bit early in the month. They were sticky and sweet and a little bit non-traditional. Skip ahead to the recipe for Chocolate Hot Cross Buns I recently entered a competition to win a trip to London. The prize … Continue reading Chocolate Hot Cross Buns
There are always plenty of egg whites in my house and they usually end up being used to make meringues. Last week I decided to make meringue rocky road. This was devoured over the course of the weekend and will be made again without a doubt. Head straight on to the recipe for Meringue Rocky … Continue reading Meringue Rocky Road
While watching Paul Hollywood City Bakes last year I decided I would make his chocolate cheesecake brownies. The opportunity was given to me in anticipation of his visit to Cape Town this year. Skip ahead to the recipe for Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies Step one in making this recipe for Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies was to buy a new brownie … Continue reading Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies
Oliebollen are a traditional Dutch fried doughnut. I did not try this Dutch doughnut while we were in the Netherlands this year. They remind me of the beignets I ate in New Orleans. Translated to oil spheres these treats are to be enjoyed on New Year's eve. Head straight on to the recipe for Oliebollen … Continue reading Oliebollen | Dutch Doughnuts
Florentines are traditionally made using nuts and dried fruit. These biscuits have been around since the 17th century and are usually coated on one side with chocolate. Typically one would use candied cherries but I have made mine using citrus peel and dried cranberries. Skip ahead to the recipe for Florentines I am totally behind … Continue reading Florentines
Baked apple pie is all about the freshness and tartness of the apples. I served mine baked in a flaky pastry shell with a side of ice cream. The Elgin Valley, a short drive from where we live, is known as the place in South Africa “where the apples come from”. This region is one … Continue reading Baked Apple Pie
The word charoset comes from the Hebrew word cheres which means clay. Charoset is a mixture of chopped nuts, apples, spices and wine that is presented on the Seder plate for Pesach, the Jewish celebration of Passover. It represents the mortar that the Jewish slaves used to make the bricks for the pyramids. Another item … Continue reading Charoset | Haroset | Charoises
Looking for something different to have for breakfast that offers variety as well as flavour, then look no further than this recipe for Gluten Free Cereal. Skip ahead to the recipe for Gluten Free Cereal Last year April when my parents came to visit I bought gluten free cereal for my dad. I decided there … Continue reading Gluten Free Cereal
To me, Christmas morning has to start with mince pies. I like to make my own and before I can bake, I make Christmas mince. The longer I leave it to stand, the better the Brandy infuses into my mixture. Head straight on to the recipe for Christmas Mince ♥ Some things, like this Christmas … Continue reading Christmas Mince
This recipe for cocoa dusted amaretti biscuits has been adapted from Ottolenghi: The Cookbook. When I get a book to review, I choose the recipes I would like to make, or that interest me, based on their titles alone. The actual recipes I make are chosen by the publisher, after I submit a request. I … Continue reading Cocoa Dusted Amaretti Biscuits
I have a very weak stomach when it comes to bad smells. A vile smell will turn my stomach so badly that I'm likely to be ill. I'm usually able to remove myself from the situation before it becomes bad for everyone but the other day it was a close call. Dave and I were … Continue reading Spiced Dried Fruit