Using violets to test ph from My Kitchen Wand

Spring has arrived where I live and the wild violets are in bloom. In the weeks to come look for candied violets, violet sugar, wild violet jelly & syrup posts but today I wanted to focus on violet’s ability to indicate ph. From simple.wikipedia.org comes this definition “pH (potential of hydrogen) is a scale of […]

Continue reading

Evergreen Needle Honey

In some parts of the world, spring has sprung and it may already be too late to gather fresh needles but if you are still buried under snow and ice, feeling like spring will never arrive, there is something that can be done before the shoots push up or buds open; collect new growth evergreen […]

Continue reading

Mushroom Brie Galette

A galette is a simple free form pastry that can be filled with either sweet or savoury deliciousness. This one is made with a processor puff pastry but regular pastry is also an option. Try whipping up a few batches of pastry and popping them away in the freezer so that when inspiration strikes all […]

Continue reading

Hot Cross Demi Loaves

This year Ostara and Easter are about as far apart as possible so there are still several weeks to enjoy the flavours of the season. Hot Cross buns are one of those flavours. This no knead, overnight bread is a simple way to create a tasty addition to a lunchbox, weekend brunch or afternoon tea. […]

Continue reading

Old Fashioned Mac & Cheese

In January, I shared my adventure judging a chocolate cake throwdown. This past weekend, I stepped out of judging for the Mac & Cheese throwdown and what a range of dishes showed up! We had a white wine & white cheddar option, topped with panko with truffle sauce on the side. A vegan recipe with […]

Continue reading

Irish Coffee Doughnuts with Bailey’s Glaze

Food has fashion cycles. Just like clothes there are times when something is all the rage and then eventually you can not find a Harvey Wallbanger anywhere. Dessert coffees are one of those things. For a time almost every restaurant was featuring Spanish & Irish Coffees. Things have moved along but I wanted to use […]

Continue reading

Almond Baked Turkey Scotch Eggs

One story suggests that Scotch eggs have been around since Fortnum & Mason, a London department store, invented them in 1738. The Scotch part may have originally come from “scotched” rather than Scotland meaning “with anchovies” in the way that “a la mode” now means “with ice cream” and “Veronique” implies there are fresh grapes […]

Continue reading

Elderberry Rosehip Syrup

Spring might be struggling to find a footing over winter but colds are a year round thing. If you are feeling that a boost to your immune system would be good, this tonic may be just the thing. Please consider this is a short term solution, used as added protection during ” cold season” or […]

Continue reading

Shower Buddies for that nasty cold or other uses

When I first started teaching bath bombs, I wondered, in the back of my mind how to make them useful in a shower. The bath tub is a place my step-mother can no longer go but there are times when a little essential oil therapy would be a good thing, a soothing shower before bed […]

Continue reading

Banana Spelt Pancakes with Fir Tip Honey

Do you really need an underlying reason to make flapjacks on a cold winter morning? Pancake Day will be here shortly and with it the coming of Lent. For some, pancakes were seen as a cleanup of the last of the `good stuff`before a voluntary period of lack. For others, they were a sun shaped […]

Continue reading