Dessert

Strawberry carpaccio with smoked balsamic reduction and toasted pistachios

Thumbnail image for Strawberry carpaccio with smoked balsamic reduction and toasted pistachios May 22, 2013

When my brother and I were teenagers, we went through a phase (doesn’t everyone?) of wanting to start a band. I could play the piano; he could play the saxophone (well it was the 1980s – saxophones were de reigeur for all self-respecting bands); we could both write lyrics; and his friend Clinton Smith was willing to [...]

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Easy peach, almond & ginger cobbler recipe

Thumbnail image for Easy peach, almond & ginger cobbler recipe February 27, 2013

I grow old … I grow old …  I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled. Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach? I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach. I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each. I do not think that [...]

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Rose syrup poached fig & pomegranate pavlova recipe

Thumbnail image for Rose syrup poached fig & pomegranate pavlova recipe February 13, 2013

When I was about twelve, my mom had our bedrooms re-carpeted. I adored all the books of carpet samples that littered the house and spent hours poring over them, trying to imagine how each might look in my room.  In the end, I announced my choice:  a pale pink shag-pile carpet.  Luckily, my mother was [...]

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Apple and sage tarte tatin

Thumbnail image for Apple and sage tarte tatin January 25, 2013

Jeff Potter said that flavours are like notes on a piano: some join together far more harmoniously than others. Think about: tomato and basil. Beef and horseradish. Peas and mint. Bacon and eggs.  Apple and cinnamon. Strawberries and cream.  Chocolate and coffee. Flavour combinations that are so ingrained in our consciousness that we don’t even [...]

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Charred clementine and rum individual upside-down cakes

Thumbnail image for Charred clementine and rum individual upside-down cakes December 31, 2012

And here we are again – the fnal blog post of another year. In 2011 my final post was a visual toast to my readers. In 2010 my final post was a recipe for shredded Brussels sprouts with pancetta & pine nuts In 2009 my final post was a Christmas message (gulp – a whole week [...]

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Chocolate chestnut fondant – a decadent Christmas dessert

Thumbnail image for Chocolate chestnut fondant – a decadent Christmas dessert December 23, 2012

The other day, a friend and fellow-blogger asked an open question of his readers:  do you collect mementos when you travel, and if so, what?  If you’d aked me that question 15 years ago, the answer would have been a resounding “YES! How much time do you have?” At various times over my teenage and 20-something years, [...]

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Chocolate orange trifle in a glass – and a Bluebasil brownie giveaway [closed]

Thumbnail image for Chocolate orange trifle in a glass – and a Bluebasil brownie giveaway [closed] December 5, 2012

  How many times a day do you find yourself hearing (and repeating!) clichés?  Life begins at forty! If you can’t beat them, join them. All’s fair in love and war. Better to have loved and lost than not to have loved at all. A barrage of trite phrases that are overused, underwhelming and often [...]

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