Category: Writing
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Sign up to my newsletter!
We all have full inboxes – once upon a time, I signed up to two separate language-learning email lists to teach me French, have I ever read their updates? No. How’s my French going? Terribly. However, what if I could offer you a newsletter that, unlike these emails sitting in my inbox, doesn’t require any…
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Moist Carrot Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
Unlike many bakers, I didn’t grow up baking at my grandmother’s knee. In fact, my most regular activity in my granny’s kitchen was drying the dishes (can you even qualify that as a skill? – ‘oh her baking is delicious’ ‘you haven’t seen anything, just watch her dry up’). My granny was of the generation…
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The Best BLT
There’s been a change of plan. The essential guide to making your own French charcuterie board – taking us all one step closer to living with joie de vivre no matter where we are in the world – never got off the ground. Instead of cheese and cured meats, there came a vicious cold and…
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Book review of Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci
Stanley Tucci is a chameleon. Turn on any film from a range of genres and his face is bound to pop up. Regardless of these artistic capabilities though, ask anyone whose age falls within the millennial generation and Mr Tucci is famous for just one film and one film alone. Gaylord’s memory for names is…
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Cheat’s Prawn Ceviche with Avocado
Our evening binge-TV is Modern Family. There are 11 seasons so it looks like we’re covered until next summer (who am I kidding, we’ll be finished within a month). In an episode we watched the other night, a character lamented, ‘Do you remember when summer meant fireflies, cut-off shorts and ice cream trucks?’ Do I…
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A Foodie’s 24 Hours in Toulouse
It goes without saying, but I’ll write it anyway – France is famous for it’s food. So, what could be on the agenda for a real foodie with 24 hours in Toulouse in the south of France? Out of France’s five major cities – which also include Paris, Bordeaux, Lyon and Marseilles – Toulouse is…
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Burrata Salad with Courgette, Basil and Pistachios
At the beginning of the summer, the thought that one day I might be sick of salads was a laughable concept. Fresh, cold and crunchy, salads was everything the weather was not as here in the south of France, the temperature has been balancing on the cusp of 40C for more days than I care…
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How to Make Focaccia (and survive a heat wave)
The heat wave came without warning. Although I can’t say the same for the focaccia. That came from an all-consuming craving for salt-crusted cushion-soft bread, and no matter how many heat waves we suffer, there will always be a focaccia in this house. I have not experienced many heat waves in my life. This is…
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I’ve launched something very exciting…
Once you’ve cooked a delicious meal and the smell wafts from the kitchen making everyone ravenous, you try to quickly take a photo to put on your blog or website. But are you disappointed that the picture doesn’t do justice to the food? Calling everyone who completely understands what I’m talking about! I have just…
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French recipe: Spiced Apricot Tarte Tatin
I’ve never kept it a secret that I’m a winter girl at heart. My favourite foods usually involve pastry or suet, I mean, I love lard for goodness’ sake. However, I will admit defeat in favour of summer fruits. This season can claim proud responsibility for the best fruits of the year. One of those…