Coconut and Porridge Biscuits

I tried to make these biscuits (my favourite ones that my Grandma makes) last week. And failed.

Okay, maybe failed is a slight exaggeration. But there was most definitely room for improvement.

You see, I was lazy and optimistic. Not a great combination of attitudes to attack baking with.

Spinach and Feta Phyllo (Filo) Swirls

Decisions, decisions.

We'll get on to this in a second..

If you take a moment to reflect on the number of decisions you make in just one day, well I know for me at least the total falls in and around the 100 mark. 

Tomato Balls with Tzatziki

Do you ever find a restaurant you like and keep going back to it? Worse, keep ordering the same dish because it was that good? 

That is exactly what happened on a recent holiday to Santorini. 

Peanut Butter Banana Bread with Coffee Ice Cream

Is it weird that this recipe sounds like breakfast to me?

Pintxos! Sweet and Savoury Goat's Cheese Bites and Grilled Halloumi with Peaches

Pintxos! "Yeh, what the hell is that?" I hear you ask.

Pronounced "pinchos", pintxos are small tapas like snacks eaten throughout Northern Spain in the Basque region. Eating pintxos at a bar, usually standing up with a glass of Txakoli ("Chak-o-lee") is the most common way for the Basque people to socialise with their friends and family.

As a Londoner, on hearing of this time old tradition I had the innate London cynicism to question how anyone in the modern Western world has time for such leisurely and social eating. Of course, the obvious thing to do in such a situation is go and find out for myself.

So, off to San Sebastian I went.

Pfttt, who am I kidding? Yes, I do love food. But the sun, sea and sand were pretty appealing as a holiday prospect too. And of course the chance to spend some quality time with friends. Just look at this place.

Simple Fresh Pasta

This recipe is a complete indulgence for me. It offers you ( as the reader) nothing particularly creative or unusual. I mean, it's pasta.

But for me. Well, I got to play with this toy all afternoon.

Imperia Pasta Machine

Every girl knows you've got to treat yourself from time to time. Alongside a heap of new clothes and some make up, the most recent gift I have given to myself is this shiny, new Imperia Pasta Machine.

Spicy Mixed Dried Fruit Hot Cross Buns

For me, this week has been about celebration. And any celebration worth celebrating has got to involve some baking! Fact.

With it being almost Easter and all, I thought it was about time I tried my hand at Hot Cross Buns. This guys' baking book has been on my shelf for a couple of years now. As you know, I'm not all that much into following recipes myself. But baking something new, well, I needed some expert, GBBO standard advice.

So swiftly turning to page 82, Chapter 3: Easter I found Chocolate Orange Hot Cross Buns - perfect!

Well, kind of... Inevitably I want to put my own stamp on my celebration buns. So out with the Chocolate Orange, and in with a little bit of what I fancy, which happens to be a lot of warming spice and dried mixed fruit. A fairly classic combo in anticipation of the melting butter that will marry so well with a freshly baked generously spiced and fruit bun.