Here's our Cilla, the epitome of the saying " as happy as a pig in mud". She loves the fact that after recent rain, small springs under the ground are bubbling to the surface. On her afternoon walk in the larger paddock, she stomps herself a mud patch and has a lovely time wallowing in … Continue reading It’s a Pig’s Life

I'm not all that great at baking sponge cakes.   However, with such an abundance of eggs as we have here at present, it seemed only logical to make one for today's Wednesday morning tea platter.   This 6 egg version didn't turn out too badly. It was filled with whipped cream and topped with … Continue reading Eggs and Eggs and Yet More Eggs = Sponge Cakes and More

Duck duck goose – with a chook's egg to the left by way of comparison.   I’d planned to make a duck egg sponge for tomorrow’s morning tea platter.   However a goose egg – well, I’m not sure what to do with this one – it’s the first our geese have laid. I am … Continue reading Goose Egg Dilemma

I have always aspired to making good puff pastry. I can do rough puff perfectly fine, but so much want to master the "real deal", lovely, buttery layers of puff.   Not only that, I want one that is quick and unfussy to make, a tall order really I suppose.   In yet another experiment, … Continue reading Savoury Rolls – a Hearty Snack for a Wintry Day

The old and the new of it - in the background a family favourite of decades (my Nan's pumpkin fruit cake, dating as far back to the 1940s).   In the foreground a gluten free coconut flour chocolate cake, a recipe a friend sent to me (thanks Anne). Oh my goodness - it is absolutely … Continue reading Gluten Free Chocolate Cake with Coconut Flour

It's that time of the week again, excellent! Wednesday morning tea platter to share around with friends - today's offering, Lumberjack Cake. I love this recipe (comes from my book "Sweet!"). The cake contains the hearty flavours of late autumn/winter produce - chunks of Granny Smith apples and a generous amount of lemon rind. The … Continue reading Flavours of the Valley – Lumberjack Cake

Our house looks quaint to say the least, shown here just before dusk this evening. This scene appears to be lifted straight from a fairytale. While we played in the snow outside, in the house a hot dinner was cooking on the warming wood fired stove. This picturesque snowfall is just one of the many … Continue reading Let it Snow and Snow and Snow!

It's snowing at last and getting worse (or better, depending on your perspective) by the minute. It's absolutely beautiful, and is already at least 2cm thick on the ground.   Old Tom seems happy about it all, asleep and smiling on his bed of blankets on the couch.   I wonder if it's because he … Continue reading Snow Arrives in Molesworth

A warming sight on a rainy winter's morning. Why? Because I was recently asked if I could develop a recipe for a shelf-stable chilli paste. I don't know really, but I'll give it a red hot go (pardon the pun). Step 1 = remove seeds and dehydrate the chillies' flesh. Note to self - next … Continue reading Chilli Time on a Chilly Morning

I love it when vegan-minded people come to visit, as was the case today. It gives me a reason to experiment, adapt, convert and expand some of my recipes and even more enjoyable, invent new ones. This morning - sticky multi-fruity, glistening vegan muffins containing apple (pureed as a substitute for the egg), banana, blueberries … Continue reading A Little Vegan Baking