Lemon & Almond Cake AND Lemon & Poppy Seed Muffins

When I first spied this recipe over on englishmum.com, I knew I had to make it. I love finding alternatives to butter in cake baking, and though I had started cooking with rapeseed oil, I hadn’t yet baked with it. This cake also has ground almonds, which I love. They give a great almondy flavour [...]

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Homemade Apple Turnovers (and a steep learning curve)

It began last week. I started thinking about apple turnovers. You know, the puff pastry, icing sugar-dredged, appley confection to be found in any self-respecting bakery in Ireland. You bite in, the pastry flakes everywhere. Someone makes you laugh mid-bite, you exhale rapidly out your nose sending icing sugar and flaky pastry flying onto your [...]

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Blondies: where have you been all my life?

I’ve never made blondies before. To be honest, I’d never really thought much about them. Aren’t brownies better, anyway? Turns out that brownies are great and all, but blondies are just a whole different animal. Imagine, if you will, a big, thick, chewy cookie. There’s never enough of the chewy part before you get to [...]

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Doggie Treats!

One of my housemates rescued a little puppy earlier in the year, so along with the kitten we rescued, our house is turning into a zoo! Seeing as kitty cat has been included in the Christmas present buying (we bought the loudest, most potentially annoying toy in the shop, perhaps a bad decision in retrospect), [...]

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Mince Pies & a Fancy Foodie Hamper!

For years and years, I really didn’t like mince pies. This is related to my dislike/fear of things like raisins, currants and mixed peel. I still haven’t got past the mixed peel (ugh) but I’m getting there with the rest. So, this is my first time ever making my own mice pies.

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Festive Thumbprint Cookies

Firstly, I have news! I have a new, under-cabinet, kitchen light. Yay!  I can now actually see what I’m doing in the kitchen! And my photos are marginally better.  About time really. Next step: a proper camera. Santa? Hello? Santa? No, ok then. So, for now, let’s concentrate at the task at hand: using up [...]

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