The Botanical Kitchen
Recipes, travel and the occasional rant
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 […]
I demonstrated this recipe at the London Chocolate Festival and it raised a few eyebrows with some of the bakers in the audience. It’s really like a cake pop but made from oats. You’ll need 50g unsalted butter 4 tbsps whole milk 80g caster sugar 2 tbsp cocoa powder 100g oats 100g desiccated coconut 2 […]
Eric Lanlard has become a true baking celebrity with so many TV programmes and appearances to his name. I had the honour of meeting him recently and was really rather surprised at how down to earth he is. And I say honour because there is some proper talent and experience behind that sparkling, cheeky personality! […]
This book like the one that accompanied series two (which I took part in!) was written by Linda Collister with inputs from Paul Hollywood, Mary Berry and the contestants. It’s split into eight categories : Cakes, Biscuits, Breads and Sweet Dough, Tarts, Pies, Desserts, Puddings and The Basics. Each section has a basic recipe and then three […]
I love frangipane based tarts but sometimes I don’t have the time or energy to make pastry so I just pop the frangipane mixture into some loose bottomed tart tins with whatever fruit or nuts I have lying around. If you’re making them for breakfast, sprinkle some oats on top The timing will vary depending […]
This is such a classic dessert and very simple to make. The pastry cases keep in an airtight container for a couple of weeks so you can make them through the strawberry season. Of course you can also top with whichever fruit you like. You’ll need For the pastry 200g plain flour 100g cold unsalted […]
I made this cake for the WI tent at the Diamond Jubilee Pageant in Battersea Park on 3rd June 2012. It was part of a 12 ft tower of a 1000 cakes. Lovely to have been a part of these amazing celebrations in this way. It’s an easy sponge recipe and you can adapt the […]
This cake is a lovely moist everyday cake. The kind you want to make on a Sunday and keep in the tin for a little slice to cheer you up when you get home. You’ll need 200g self raising flour 1 tsp baking powder 100g ground pistachios 100g caster sugar 2 eggs 250ml plain yoghurt […]
I got a beautiful non stick madeline tray from my babies this year and I’ve been waiting for a really authentically French recipe. I found it in Michael Paul’s Sweet Paris. The addition of cardamom is my little bit of decadence and Indian-ness. I also added brown sugar for a slightly more caramel taste. This […]