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Chocolate Coated Digestive Biscuits

It really isn’t often Tanny makes requests so when he does I make sure to make them exactly as he wants them. He asked for me to make his favourite biscuits Chocolate Coated Digestives but he wanted them in the shape of gingerbread men. He doesn’t eat alot of sweet things really and he likes these as they aren’t hugely sweet. This recipe is also a part of the Christmas Cookie Recipe Exchange…

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Golden Syrup

Continuing my mission to make my ingredients I found I had no Golden Syrup in my pantry which almost never happens as we use it alot for all kinds of things. It is a hugely loved ingredient both here in the UK and in Australia so I grew up using it and it is a must have in my pantry. When I found out I could make it myself I was very excited and had to give it a go and boy am I glad I did !!! 1…

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Specialty Brown Sugars

A couple of years ago it came to my attention that specialty brown sugars we buy for baking can be easily and cheaply made at home and save you a bunch of money. Considering the cost of ingredients these days I am determined to learn how to make as many of the ingredients I tend to buy to both save money and know what is in our food. Right now as I write this the cheapest granulated sugar you…

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Char Siu Pork

It can be hard to get Tanny to try new things. Last year I introduced him to Char Siu Pork and now I seem to have created a monster. Anytime he sees we have pork in the house he always looks hopeful that this is what I am making. He and I also decided that this year as we have no kids or anyone over for actual Christmas Day we are going to spend the day in our pjs, watching Christmas movies and…

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Mini Quiches

Boxing Day for us (the day after Christmas for those who don’t know what it is) is the day we have all the kids over to have a Christmas celebration with them. I find it easiest to put together a buffet of finger food as that way there is something for everyone. Purchasing premade finger foods though can and is really expensive so this year I am making my own and it all starts with there Mini…

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Easy Peasy Pickled Eggs

Every year I make pickled eggs because if I don’t there is a mutiny!!! Up until this year I was making them in 6Lb jars like you find on the counter in chip shops. This year however Tanny and I decided that 2Lb jars would be better for us as it really is only he and I and when we want one it is probably once a month and we are more likely to go through a few rather than a whole big jar. We were…

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Preserving Fresh Beans

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Scotch Eggs

As an Aussie the whole Christmas In July thing is something we do due to Christmas normally being in the depths of a sweltering summer and the idea of a turkey dinner being the furthest thing from our minds. You have to feel sorry for us really the idea of another Christmas spent getting up at 5am to get to the nearest fish markets to pick up giant lobsters and prawns is just beyond the pale…

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British Strawberry Jam

It is Jam It Up June time again YAY!!! Like last year I seem to have aquired some strawberries on the cheap YAY!!! I mean seriously it would be rude not to. To be honest though I was kinda thinking that maybe it wasn’t such a great idea due to loads of people do Strawberry Jam but honestly I find ways that make it slighty different. Last year it was a no sugar raw jam with chia seeds and this…

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Pickled White Fish

Dale from 9 Acres Family Farms again asked me this year to be a part of the Angler April collaboration #AnglerApril2024. I decided after last year sharing my seafood packed in oil recipe that this year I would share another traditional and quick way to preserve fish if the freezer goes down. So here we are. This particular recipe is so easy a child could do it so don’t worry if you haven’t done…

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Mile High Apple Pie

I was asked back to the #piesofmarch collaboration this year by LeAnne from The Mennonite Farmhouse and Tony at Kettle Kitchen. I decided that for their collaboration it was the perfect time to make my apple pie again. First time in 20ish years that I’ve done it. This particular recipe I used to make 5 of them 3 times a week when I had my bistro. This particular one showed me just how much I’ve…

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Apricot Ketchup

Farmers markets and local greengrocers are some of the best resources for purchasing “past their best” fresh produce which is perfect for making jams, jellies, chutneys and sauces and doing so for pennies. Sure it’s great if you have access to wild fruit trees or an orchard etc but not everyone does and shopping at local small businesses is probably the best way to go for alot of us. Apricots…

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A Delicious Recipe To Make The Most Of Your Apricots

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Plum Sauce

I think we all know by now that Tanny is the fussiest when it comes to food, flavours, textures etc. This sauce I was terrified of sharing with him but he has found his new favourite thing and honestly would happily drink this out of the jar if he got half a chance. In fact he has promised to take me to Leeds to get more plums as soon as possible so I can make more. When I have a reaction like…

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Spring Rolls

Self sufficiency is not just about making and doing the basic necessities of life for ourselves. It’s about doing the things we want as well. The treats, the special occasions, the alternatives to spending alot of money we may not have. Finding ways to avoid food fatigue, while at the same time not running to the supermarket or corner store for pre made equivalents. One of my favourite ways of…

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Mushroom Ketchup and Spicy Mushroom Powder.

I try to visit Kirkgate Market in Leeds at least 3 times a year. I do this to get cut priced fruit and veg for preserving. It is so worth the trip and even including bus and taxi fares or petrol and parking it is still at least 3/4’s cheaper than the supermarkets for the produce. This particular trip I managed to get 4 x 2.5Kg Trays of mushrooms for £1 each. Were they are their best? … No they…

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Welsh Cheesecakes

This one is one of my Nana Lucy’s recipes. I decided that for the Break Your Heart Bake collaboration I was asked to join this would be great. It’s a recipe I had never made before but wanted to and it is something I wanted to do because I had been thinking about my Nana alot recently. INGREDIENTS 1 Pack Or 1 serve Short Crust Pastry Raspberry Jam 50g Plain Flour 50g Sugar 50g Butter 1…