The Victoria Sponge, also known as a Victoria Sandwich (and affectionately as a Vicky Sponge), is probably the most iconic of English afternoon cakes and I have to tell you, I am here for every last crumb of it. As a rule I’m not a big cake eater, but the Victoria Sponge is mesmerizing in its light, golden butteriness and the combination of sponge, jam and cream is perfection. Having said that, before I continue I would like to take this opportunity to address a difference between British and American cakes. British cakes, indeed most European cakes, tend to be…
British flapjacks are nothing like American flapjacks. Think granola bar, not pancake. They’re a little bit chewy, a little bit crunchy and nerdily uncool in their humble, oaty goodness–as compared to something like, say, the macaron, that superstar of the Parisian high style pastry world. Flapjacks are rich in buttery, caramelly goodness and have a surprising depth of flavour for something so simple. I make mine with a bit of lemon zest which rounds out and deepens all the toasty notes. And unlike the fussy macaron, flapjacks are ridiculously easy to make. In less than 10 minutes the ingredients are…
Rumours abound about the origin of Eton Mess. Some involve clumsy animals whilst others talk of dropped food being picked up off the floor, reconstructed and eaten anyway. Not terribly appetizing. Regardless, Eton Mess is a classic dessert made with those most classic of English ingredients: strawberries and cream. The Eton part of the name is derived from Eton College where it was (apparently) traditionally served at the annual cricket match between Eton and Harrow. The “Mess” comes from how the dessert is constructed; folded together to look a bit, well, messy. This is not the most elegant of desserts.…
Oh pork belly, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee in fried rice, I love thee in tacos, I love thee straight out of the pan (although please don’t tell anyone) and now I love thee over grits, served up with an egg for breakfast. I actually had no idea I was such a fan of pork belly until I had pork belly tacos at a restaurant one day. So incredibly delicious. And to boot the tacos were accompanied by crackling… freshly made and still hot when it arrived at the table. I had…
Today is the first full day of spring. The days are getting longer, the birds are getting chirpier and the everyday is getting a little more colourful thanks to the daffs, the tulips and the crocuses. And something else that always feels very springy to me are lemons, especially when they are made into lemon curd, which is quite the charming little kitchen basic to have in your back pocket. Maybe not quite as useful as onions or stock but what it lacks in practicality it more than makes up for in cheer and sass. It’s simple to make and…
~The 91st Academy Awards are this weekend. Nominations here, if you’re in need of a reminder. ~I have yet to watch Roma which seems to be a strong contender for best picture. It’s on Netflix, so I’ll definitely be watching it before Sunday, but also hoping to squeeze in Green Book as well. ~Personally I’m a big fan of The Favourite and Olivia Colman, but I just read that Glenn Close has been nominated for an Oscar several times and has never won, so I wouldn’t be at all disappointed if she nabbed the statue this time around: she was…
Trader Joe’s. Everybody’s favourite place to shop. And because I love to see everyone else’s most-loved items, I decided to put together one of my own. ~Croissants These will in no way, shape or form be able to hold their own against a flaky, crisp on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside croissant from a Parisian bakery. But they’re not half bad either and can happily hang out in the freezer until they’re needed. They do have to be left out overnight (a task which can sometimes prove elusive) but other than that they’re great for a quiet…
Aah…roasted garlic. So quick, so foolproof as to be almost unworthy of mention. Like caramelised onions, alchemy occurs in the cooking of it, taking something that has a bit of a bite and mellowing it into something milder and sweeter. And the humble garlic makes it look so easy, yet I, personally, am convinced that this little flavour powerhouse should be awarded medals and thanked at the Oscars. Once made it can be added to all manner of things: pasta, pizza, stews, spaghetti…or just spread on toast or a baguette for instant deliciousness. All you need to do is take…
Before the last of the warm weather hitchhikes south allowing us all to indulge in the comfort foods of winter, I wanted to share this quick and easy salad recipe. It came about mostly because I had arugula which needed to be used up and while I do love arugula for its peppery bite, any kind of greens would work. I also had these and these partying in the back of the fridge just longing for an occasion to show off. I added mozzarella balls because that’s what I had, but I bet goat cheese would be pretty fabulous too. I tossed…
~The unofficial end of summer is upon us. Of course if you live in the South summer doesn’t end until, oh, mid-Octoberish. No need to be jealous though, pretty soon we’ll all be experiencing long, hot summers. Some of us believe that. Some of us don’t. Some of us have known about it for a very long time. Crazy. ~Speaking of crazy, this is a great weekend to see Crazy Rich Asians if you haven’t already. It’s a gorgeous movie. Gorgeous people, gorgeous settings, gorgeous parties. And then there’s Awkwafina who slices right through all that gorgeousness with her slightly…
