The Botanical Kitchen
Recipes, travel and the occasional rant
I have never smoked anything before. Seriously. Not as in cigarettes, naughty things or food so this was a real challenge in my head. It was beaututifully simple though and filled my kitchen with the most amazing smells. First from the tea smoking, then the buttery walnuts and then the beautiful tarragon leaves. The recipe […]
This recipe is from Diana Henry’s Roast Figs Sugar Snow. It reminded me of the amazing pastries I ate in Austria once and indeed it’s based on on they use at Cafe Sperl in Vienna. If you like Danish Pastries then you’ll love these for breakfast and they are much, much quicker to make. […]
If you like Tart Au Citron you will love this and it’s much much easier to make. This is a fabulous ‘bung-it-all-the-in-the-processor’ recipe. Literally! I have made this in a pie dish and 25cm cake tin. Either works well. What you’ll end up with is a soft, thin pastry layer, a lemon flavoured tart filling […]
If, like me, you get an inkling for cheese in the evenings with your glass of red wine this is a brilliant recipe for you. They keep really well in an airtight container for about a week but never last that long in my house! These also taste amaaaazing with some Thistle Pate that was […]
This is one of my favourite recipes from The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook. I’ve made it so many times as a staple when we have a surprise guest come over for a meal. It’s quick, simple and bakes while you’re having dinner or lunch. We always have lemons in the house but it works just as […]
Making cake pops is a really good way of using up leftover cake or cake that maybe didn’t turn out to plan. I made a chocolate loaf using a different recipe than I usually do. It tasted amazing but really didn’t look too pretty. Usually I’d cut it up into square chunks, pipe swirls of […]
Loaf cake is so versatile and lasts really well. It’s a staple in our house and goes into packed lunches, school picnics or acts as a good pudding after weekday quick meals with ice cream, custard or a simple cuppa tea. I’ve given you three drizzle options below. Hibiscus Syrup for those of you […]
I’m warning you. These are decadent. I mean really, really decadent. I’ve added an extra layer of caramel to the version below because I made these for my girls as a ‘well-done-at-school-treat’. The caramel balances the bitterness of the chocolate really well. For an adult version leave the caramel out and serve with a dollop […]
Today, people across Mexico will be celebrating ‘Dia de los Muertos’ – a festival dedicated to their ancestors. Literally translated as ‘the day of the dead’ it honours both death and the cycle of life. In Mexico, neighbours gather in local cemeteries to share food, music, and fun with their extended community, both living and […]
This recipe is from Mexican Food Made Simple by Thomasina Miers. I think it’s a complex version of a creme brulee really but well worth a try even if it is to lick the saucepan of tequila flavoured sugar syrup! I’ve explained the recipe in my words. You’ll need 250g caster sugar 1 tbsp golden […]
This recipe is taken from The Gentle Art of Cookery. It does have raisins, currants and maraschino which I left out because I’m not a fan of them at all. This stores really well in the freezer. I only made half of the recipe in the book so the measures below will give you 4 […]
I’ve been to a few Gala Dinners and Drinks Receptions for work recently. It’s that time of year. I know I should be enjoying the dressing up part and the celebration itself. Don’t get me wrong, I love wearing an evening gown and heels and jewellery and being all girly. But ‘networking’ is soooo scary isn’t it? […]