Do you know that feeling of finding a place you really like, be it a shop, cafe, theatre or garden, and hoping it will never ever change? That’s the feeling I have about one of my favourite places to visit when I am home in Ireland – The Brown Hound Cafe in Bryanstown, Drogheda. I… Continue reading Revisiting The Brown Hound Cafe, Drogheda
With Shrove Tuesday coming up, my mind has turned to pancakes and toppings. When I was growing up we rarely had pancakes but we often had drop scones for breakfast. If we were really lucky our minder would make them and have them on the table at 3pm when we came in from school. We… Continue reading How To Make Drop Scones (or Fluffy Pancakes)
Recently, and for the first time in my life, I encountered a rotten egg. I hadn’t noticed that one of the eggs we’d brought in from the hens was slightly cracked. A week or so later I cracked it in on top of another egg to beat for baking with and saw immediately that something… Continue reading Extra Moist & Fudgey Brownies
I love a proper cake like a Victoria sponge or a Black Forest Gateau. They need a bit of care and attention in the making though. When I’m in a rush and have more than a handful of people coming round, a tray bake is my go-to cake. This weekend I came up with a… Continue reading Raspberries & Cream Tray Bake
As a child I was oblivious to the fact that a lot of families don’t bake. I assumed that everyone knew how to make scones, pastry, brown bread, crumble, quiche and buns. My mother, grandmother and aunts all did. By the time I was ten, even I could make them – no scales, cookbook or… Continue reading Christmas Basics: Making Mince Pies
A few months ago I decided to share my Clear Out And Eat philosophy over on Instagram and I am so glad I did. The feedback has been great. I have really enjoyed seeing your photos and reading how you’ve made something from nothing, used up rather than thrown out or invented a delicious new… Continue reading The Big End Of Year #ClearOutAndEat Giveaway!
When I was a child I had a cookbook – the Usbourne first cookbook or something along those lines. I can’t remember much of what was in it, but I do remember there was a flapjack recipe and I loved it. My mother had a red square-shaped baking tin and that was the one we… Continue reading Addictive Flapjack Bars
As I have mentioned before, Halloween is not widely celebrated in Germany. As a result, I don’t generally go to huge lenghts to make a fuss of it. We hold a party for the children and I try to incorporate some of the Irish traditions I remember from my childhood. Out shopping yesterday I bought… Continue reading Simple Halloween Party Ideas for Children
Halloween is far from a massive thing in Germany. I don’t know how many times people have asked me what Halloween is or when it is. It is not something that people here have grown up with and not a traditional celebration for them. But it is something that I grew up with. I remember… Continue reading Halloween Muffins
Back in 2001 The Bavarian and I went on our first proper holiday together. Two weeks in America – Boston and Maine. Since it was the first two weeks of October, they were two pumpkin-filled weeks. I remember there being pumpkin spiced everything, from latte to bagels to candles. I even brought home a can… Continue reading Sweet, Spiced Pumpkin Puree
