Crunchy ginger slice – vintage baking

Trawl through any old C.W.A. recipe book from the 1960s onwards and you’ll most likely find a version of this slice. It’s a classic, and for good reason. There is something about ginger that elevates any dish in which it is included. I first ate a version of this slice made by one of my…

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Granola – breakfast bliss

When I decided to make my own granola I looked at lots of recipes and found several that I liked, but they all seemed far too sweet for my taste, so I made up my own recipe that was loosely based on one by David Lebowitz via Nigella Lawson via Andy Fairfield with a large…

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Cinnamon palmiers

Crisp, cinnamon scented, buttery pastries and excellent coffee were what was called for at our place today. Treats are most needed when exam season begins. The wickedly rich chocolate ganache we had with them might have been  a little too indulgent, but then chocolate always makes studying easier! Palmiers are a traditional French pastry, often…

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Lemon and pine nut muffins

There was a bit of nose wrinkling at our place when I first floated the idea of lemon and pine nut muffins, but when they were ready; warm, sticky with lemon glaze, and topped with lightly toasted pine nuts, there was no shortage of testers, and plenty of positive feedback. I love the sweet nuttiness…

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Lemon friands

Friands are buttery, almondy and rich. Traditionally baked in a special oval shape, they have a completely different texture to other more traditional small cakes or muffins and are just a little bit glamorous.  I first started making friands when one of my children was diagnosed with coeliac disease because they can also be made…

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