My Blog
Welcome to my blog!
Menu Planner
MENU PLANNER I have invited friends over for the weekend and will be feeding ten people four courses and no stress whatsoever. I want to be available to meet and greet, have a drink, chat and quick catch-up before I sit them down thirty minutes after the last ones arrive. Here is my menu […]
Chickens
A few tips for those of you thinking of looking after chickens
My Year Long Challenge
Coming soon. I am endeavouring to share with you some of my household tips and recipes.
Such a Positive Feeling Around the North and South Bank of the Humber
In the last 2 weeks I have experienced the fantastic spectacle of the opening week of Hull City of Culture and opened a wonderful new restaurant in the hospital at Grimsby
Start 2017 with a Bang
Come to Hull City of Culture we are having a party all year.
Christmas
Christmas will soon be upon us but it is always tinged with a little sadness as our Turkeys will go to the butcher this week
The Year of 2014 Bakers Meet Up Again
What a fantastic time we all had when we met up in Manchester and you’ll never guess what. We all bake every day!!
Christmas is just around the corner
Mini Christmas cakes make lovely presents
Holiday Time
I love tasting the many flavours in the dishes of different cultures
I Love Entertaining People
One of the nicest consequences of winning Bake Off is that I meet so many lovely people.
Amazing time at Extra Slice
Treated so well with my own dressing room at the Extra Slice recording
A Surprise Meeting with Olympic Champions
I was invited to BBC Breakfast TV and was thrilled to meet several Olympic Champions.
Bake off is Back
I have just had a wonderful week on a Fred Olsen Cruise Ship ‘The Braemar’ demonstrating and talking to fellow passengers.
Public and After Dinner Speaking is a skill I have developed
This week I gave the After Dinner Speech at a charity luncheon in aid of our local Hospice.
Great Expectations
I spent the day at the filming of Antiques Roadshow for the BBC and I am always impressed by the knowledge of those who are experts in their field.
Recharging batteries
The tranquillity of France allows me time to relax and enjoy the local food
The Queen’s Birthday Celebrations in London and my Local Town
This week has seen me demonstrating baking to Veterinary personnel in London and cake judging in my local town
A week when I have been forced out of my kitchen
There is never an ideal time to decorate your kitchen!
La vie est belle ! (Life’s just great !)
My French life and the French language
Walking in the lakes
Last week I spent some time in the Lake District.
Tour de Yorkshire
A special blog post to highlight the culinary wonders of Yorkshire
Another GBBO anniversary and get together
It is 2 years since I and my fellow bakers entered ‘The Tent’ for the first week. Getting Star Baker that week was just the most exciting finish to my introduction to GBBO.
The first of my fortnightly blog posts
It is a week of giving talks which I enjoy.
Happy Easter Everyone
The clocks have gone forward but the weather is still the same!!
It’s the first day of Spring
Have fun with my patterned silk eggs
Inspirational People
This is the first anniversary of my Blog and this weekend I have been entertained and inspired by individuals who have reinforced my belief that if you try hard enough you can achieve anything.
A Perfect Mother’s Day
I had the day with my children just enjoying their company.
Meaty Issues at Smithfield Market
This week I meet another member of the ‘Countryfile Team’ in order to highlight the waste of meat products.
A fun Saturday
My first baking demonstration in a private house to a group of wonderful ladies.
February’s weather can change in an instant
Today was a day for walking with the dogs. Blue sky, sunshine and a very gentle breeze but how things can change.
We all need something to brighten up those grey,dull and rainy days
This week I have attended the meet of the Brocklesby Hunt
Wonderful skiing in the Italian Dolomites.
A group of us have just been to Italy skiing and had a wonderful week with great weather and beautiful snow.
” #Go Jo” for Sport Relief
Jo Brand is walking 150 miles from Hull to Liverpool for Sport Relief
Flavours are essential for good food
Often I am disappointed when a visually appealing plate of food is presented to me without any flavour.
There are still some lovely vegetables in the garden
Parsnips are a much undervalued vegetable.
HAPPY NEW YEAR READERS
Happy New Year readers ! What will 2016 bring ?
A dog is for Life not just for Christmas
My old lovely friend Charlie my Labrador is 14 years old in January
Christmas is only 4 days away
A Carol Concert at Hymers College in Hull gets me into the Christmas Spirit.
We all make mistakes
Last week I held a pork pie Masterclass and all did not turn out as expected.
Christmas reunion with the 2014 Bakers
A lovely bunch of people who now have become great friends
Time to start thinking about Christmas
Yesterday was the last of my demonstrations this year and what a great crowd at The BBC Good Food Show Birmingham
Entertaining for a large group
The festive season is a time for inviting friends into your house. This week I tell you about a meal I have just cooked for 12.
Exhausted after a busy weekend
Friday, Saturday and Sunday have been full of appearances now time for a little relaxation.
Several demonstrations in the next few weeks
I is almost a year since I did my first demonstration. I hope I have improved!!
The Shops are telling us Christmas is just around the corner
Time to make the Christmas Cake!
The Clocks go back and the early nights arrive!
The changing of the seasons is something we should embrace and enjoy.
A Week of Reflection
This week I have travelled to the South Lakes and on returning discovered more about my great-grandfather
What a worthy winner – Nadiya
A new year starts in the Great British Bake Off world
Baking Bread at the Cake and Bake Show
I have been asked about my bread recipes and this week I got a chance to demonstrate them at the Cake and Bake Show
Another busy week with LFHW and Countryfile!
What a great time I have had since winning the ‘Bake Off. This week has been no exception.
A Day with Love Food Hate Waste
Love Food Hate Waste are running a campaign entitled UseYourLoaf which highlights the large amount of bread that is thrown away each day.
A Demonstration at The Eden Project
Cornwall is such a lovely county but its a long way from North Lincolnshire
Food is precious
Often we take food for granted, when in fact is the most valuable commodity
Safety in the Kitchen
The school holidays are drawing to a close. Maybe if it rains again try my recipe this week. Its a winner with the children but always have safety in mind – read on !
Still excellent growing weather for vegetables
Some varieties of apples are ready for harvesting. So here is a recipe using my home grown apples.
Sometimes Nature Seems Cruel
This weeks post is mainly about my Guinea Fowl but I have included a lovely biscotti recipe
Fish and Chips French Style
Why is it so difficult to get fresh non filleted fish in England when we are surrounded by the sea?
Bake Off is Back!!
12 new bakers have been introduced to the nation.
Meeting up with Friends in Manchester
This week I have opened a garden fete in a small village near where I live
A Day of Baking with Children
What vitality,enthusiasm and honesty children possess.
An Entertaining Journey
You never know what to expect when flying with low cost airlines.
Summer flavours
Seasonal food has by far the best flavour
Hasn’t a year passed quickly
Reminiscences of the final which was exactly a year ago
The Season For Country Shows
It is the longest day and summer time officially starts today even though on the East Coast it may not feel like it
What grows together goes together
Elderberries and Gooseberries a great combination
A week that took me from London to Aberdeen
This week I have been in London twice and had a glorious time at The Taste of Grampian Food Festival
Another week of memorable experiences
Hi Readers – well, this is the end of the second of three very busy weeks for me. Exciting, varied and quite exhausting but loving every minute.
A busy week
This is week 1 of a very busy three weeks – not complaining though as I am loving every minute. No two days are the same which is a bit of a whirlwind at times but invigorating at the same time.
Rhubarb is one of my favourite plants
Try a Rhubarb Jelly
Cheese cake for Hull City Commentators
A cheesecake for the summer
It is Barbeque weather already
Tim has finished building the barbeque so Spit Roast Chicken is on the menu
Hospitality in France
Truly flavoursome French cuisine
Primrose day
19th April is Primrose day. It also happens to be my birthday!!
Don’t be tempted to sow your seeds too early!
Some lovely warm days but it can be bitterly cold at night
Longer days and much to do
Easter is traditionally a busy time in the garden and the kitchen
News from the Humber Estuary
Local news and my recipe for an Easter cake
Easter is just around the corner
Silk dyed eggs
Spring is on the way?!
Second blog with some indoor and outdoor work
My First Blog!
How to start to write a blog and keep the reader engaged without it becoming a long “me, me, me” is my challenge !