It’s the last thing that I reach for when I leave the cottage in the morning. Satisfying to the touch. Slightly scratchy but soft and reassuring with years of wear. My old hat usually travels on the passenger seat on the outward voyage to work. In the evening it views the world from the top of [...]

Back in the eighties I was given a blender. A large device that stood on a stand with an orange plastic cap over the hole in its lid. And, to keep it company, a nifty compact electric whisk with two metal prongs for whisking stuff. “These are essential in any kitchen.” I was assured.  Both rarely left the darkness of [...]

I have been tagged by Compostwoman at The Compostbin to share 6 random things about me.   Tag Rules: Link to the person who tagged you. Post the rules on the blog. Write six random things about yourself. Tag six people at the end of your post. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a [...]

I’m not keen on naked cauliflower but cauliflower cheese has been a staple for years. Somehow dressing the cauli in a cheese sauce and grilling the top transmogrifies the ingredients into something delicious. Or so I thought before I presented my old traditional version to Danny with a flourish. He wasn’t overly impressed. “Can we have it [...]

Many years ago, eight years at least, I was walking Dr Quito and his new wife, The Contessa. Suddenly a large dog jumped out from the shadows and sniffed them. He worried them but did not bite. Dr Q had just recovered from a nasty ‘left for dead episode’ on Newmarket Heath. Just the mere sight of [...]

There is something magical about Celia. This was the last day of her open studio and garden. An irresistible combination. As with most of the Cambridge Open Studios, Celia’s place is as intriguing as her artwork. Many bloggers know her as Magic Cochin. She writes the excellent Purple Podded Peas blog. Celia is that wonderful combination [...]

Sometimes I find an egg with a small deformity on the shell but last month I found these two weirdly shaped eggs. What was going on? The larger one is Carol’s (aged three) and the one with the twist was laid by Barbie (aged four). I rushed back to the cottage and fired up the computer. DEFRA has [...]

“What do you think galengal tastes like?” My mum shrugged. “I would leave it if I was you.” I was examining the spices to add to our ten minute soup. So I put back the galengal and grabbed a small jar of Massaman Thai curry paste. This includes a lot of the ingredients that I use for our [...]

“This bread looks mouldy. Or is it just dusted with flour?” Danny held the slice under the light. “It’s definitely mould.” We had some sliced bread in the barn freezer so I pulled on my wellies and went out. I knew that something was wrong when I tried to open the door. There was a scraping sound of glass [...]

In the autumn of 2006 I split a fat head of French garlic and planted it in a sunny position in the kitchen garden.  Even though we grow our own, our supply is supplemented with huge heads of garlic that Jocelyn and Miles bring back from France. Danny pottered down to the engine room (gardening [...]