Category: Dinner Parties & Entertaining
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Burnt Basque Cheesecake with Poached Rhubarb
I’m not what one would describe as a perfectionist. Gaylord and my mum commiserate about my appalling washing up and Gaylord has a mini panic attack whenever he sees how I hang laundry. There are occasional times though when I’m seemingly possessed by perfectionism; it kind of sneaks up on me and has me bound…
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Slow Cooked Lamb Shoulder with Ras El Hanout
I was thinking about this the other day – does everyone have a signature dish? Is there a food you are known for? If you went to a pot luck or, if you’re a generous guest and you don’t like to turn up somewhere empty handed, what would be your dish of choice? For me,…
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Tiramisu with Raspberries and Chocolate
A few years ago, my family and I each did a DNA test. Most of the results were evident without doing the cheek swab; our family is resolutely British, with a big blob of DNA in England which is then squashed and spread into Scotland and Wales. What we did discover, however, was that there…
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French recipe: Dauphinoise Potatoes with Thyme and Nutmeg
This weekend, I made two dishes of dauphinoise potatoes in two days. A tale of two gratins. We mustn’t compare or pick a favourite – just like a careful parent soothing offspring who are indignant to know the truth of the phrase ‘we love you equally.’ This makes no sense to the children who always…
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Easy Oven-Baked Risotto with Leek and Sage
This week’s oven-baked risotto came about because of the snow. I woke up this morning at 7:15 all of a fluster as I do every time my alarm rings. It’s a soothing alarm tone, one with bells and bird song, it’s very meditative rather an a literal alarm which rings like a screaming siren, but…
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Coconut and Passion Fruit Panna Cottas
For my 11th birthday, I had a Valentine’s Day themed sleepover party. Paper hearts in shades of pink and red were stuck to the walls, my mum and sister came up with a St Valentine quiz for me and my friends, and there was a ‘baking’ competition that involved the microwave and melted Skittles and…
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Comforting Miso Chicken Soup
If self-care had a physical form, it would be in the shape of miso chicken soup. You might be thinking that you self-cared yourself enough this Christmas – eating all that cheese would be anyone’s ideal form of self-care (besides anyone with lactose intolerance that is), all smug and warm like dipping into a bath…
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The Ultimate Pigs in Blankets
France is big on the meats, as you are probably aware, and never more so than at Christmas, so I’ve decided to dive into that melee with the ultimate pigs in blankets – it’s time to show those Frenchies what British cuisine is all about. This time a year ago, I was complaining about the…
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Christmas Prawn Cocktail
I try to remain cliché-free when it comes to my blog posts and recipes – ideally, I’d like turn up with something unexpected, much like that batty aunt who appears in a kaftan and a new boyfriend every visit. However, at certain times of year predictability is inevitable. The most predictable of all is Christmas…
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Toffee Apple Pie with Easy Homemade Pastry
The beginning of November is marked by a sudden chill in the air, cold hands and feet for people with poor circulation (including yours truly), conkers and shiny toffee apples. Or at least, the toffee apples make an appearance in the UK, the same can’t be said for here in France. So, to recreate that…