The Botanical Kitchen
Recipes, travel and the occasional rant
The Amalfi coast is one of Italy’s most magical places. Sun drenched and scenic but surprisingly laid back. This book exudes the classic Italian style that is this region. Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi have travelled across the Amalfi Coast in search of recipes that define the area. This is their fourth book and my first. A little […]
I had heard great things about Asma’s supperclub from many friends on Twitter so when she invited me to come along on a very cold and windy winter’s day I was delighted to accept hoping the heat of the spices would spark some inner warmth to ward off my impending cold. As soon as I […]
There is one core quality which I associate with being a mother. Feeding. Aside from cuddling, it’s the very first thing we mothers do. It’s instinctive. It’s primal. It’s raw. It starts with milk Milk is a non botanical which I am completely in awe about. On my very first day of being a mother, […]
Every now and then I do crave a cupcake. A nice hot cup of tea, my latest issue of Red magazine and a cupcake. Just perfect for a lazy Saturday afternoon. This recipe uses frozen strawberries so as not to make the mixture curdle and you could substitute with any fruit. I’ve topped this with […]
Westfield Shopping Centre in London’s White City have been running a lovely programme called Food Explorers. There are foodie events and offers for all tastes. We popped along on a rainy and cold Saturday afternoon looking for relaxed and warming comfort food. We found it at The Real Greek. We arrived to a bustling restaurant […]
Sugar. Such a lovely word. Such a lovely taste. There is nothing better than a hot, buttery crumpet with a sprinkling of brown sugar. A teaspoonful is only 15 calories vs 22 in the same of honey. Bet you didn’t think that would be the case eh? Sugar is a carbohydrate that’s naturally in most […]
I have been following Sabrina on Twitter for some time now and had always been fascinated by the pictures and menus she posted of her supperclub dishes. So I booked myself onto a Persian Kitchen Supper on a weekday evening to find out if her food tasted as good as it looks. The evening was […]
I was reading the story of the Bramley Apple this week. Who knew that a little girl’s apple pips would result in such an infamous apple? That tree, planted in 1809, is still there and still producing fruit which I find heart-warming and reassuring. A 60% decline in traditional orchards Sadly this isn’t the case for many […]
I love Nigella. For me she’s just totally and utterly glam. I loved that she was recently on the cover of one of my favourite magazines and came across as this earnest, shy woman despite the sexy goddess persona we see on TV. Nigella Bites – a cookbook I use time and time again Her […]
I wasn’t a huge fan of the pear when I was younger as they always put me in a mood. At school I reached for the greenest but inevitably got the hard and bitter one that was neither sweet nor sour. I’d sit nibbling on it to minimise the distaste filled with food envy of […]
You know when you get a batch of apricots that are a little too tart to eat raw? Well those are the ones which are perfect for this recipe! It’s a really moist loaf and the crumbly topping adds a nice little crunch. Allow yourself time for this recipe as it takes minutes to make […]
I read a recipe using the pear and ginger combination in Dan Lepard’s Short and Sweet. I wanted to give it a go and came up with this really simple slice. It’s great with some vanilla custard or ice cream and a cup of Assam. I find the Assam is strong enough to cut through […]