Cardamom biscuits

Round little cookies that are comfortingly spiced and very easy to eat. As a bonus, they’re very quick and easy to put together! I had some chickpea flour from making MiMi Aye’s Burmese tofu–absolutely delicious and so easy, please get her book and try it–so I went from one cookbook to another as I returned … Continue reading →

Parkin (oatmeal gingerbread)

Gingerbread made from oatmeal, treacle, golden syrup, and dark brown sugar, spiced with ground ginger and nutmeg. I like the idea of bonfire night, and enjoy thinking of all manner of things to be eaten out of hand before this extremely pagan ritual, but I haven’t actually been out to a see any fireworks for … Continue reading →

Apple caramels

Another caramel thing, but who’s complaining? I’ve wanted to try this recipe for years and here it is: soft golden caramels with a cosy apple flavour. It’s coming up to Bonfire Night, which is when British people set things on fire when it is cold (as opposed to summer, when we set our food on fire to make the … Continue reading →

Salted Caramel Brownies

Okay, so, make these. I know at this point salted caramel is a cliche foodie thing which has become more of a gourmet marketing label and not necessarily an indicator of delicious caramel, but this bakes up into a tray of something friendly, inviting, and genuinely very good. Recently I made these for a party. I was a bit nervous, … Continue reading →

Small batch vanilla bean marshmallows for your hot chocolate

Vanilla is my favourite spice. Forget thinking of it as timid and beige–forget it, alright? It’s beautiful, dark, full, and rich, and should be respected. Marshmallows bear this perfume wonderfully. These ones have a fluffy egg white base, which means they melt slowly and perfectly into a mug of hot chocolate. There are a bunch of ways to make … Continue reading →

Salted golden caramel sauce + ginger hot chocolate

My favourite salted caramel sauce, made with a goodly amount of golden syrup, and my second-favourite hot chocolate, the sort actually made from scratch. I’ll be straight with you: my favourite hot chocolate is a powder mix and I make it in a microwave. I sincerely love it, not just the associated nostalgia. Now, I … Continue reading →

Agreeably lazy roast garlic & winter squash soup + brown butter

Sometimes I like my soups like this, rich, thick and velvety. This recipe was conceived and written during a bout of sleeplessness. Unlike me, Mr. Pear is consistently excellent at sleeping – barely 2 minutes and zonk. It’s comical. While he sleeps I try to exhaust myself in the quietest way possible, but the inside of my head itches … Continue reading →

Seven Spoons’ sugar buns: easy flaky danish pastry, spices, and brown butter

Well, it’s Halloween this month. Even if the current weather varies between muggy and miserable stark pallor rather than bright colours and crisp air, I’m determined to give myself fully to autumn. I drink hot chocolate in the evenings. I’ve knitted quite a few things for my friends and myself. The other day I ate a whole … Continue reading →

Onion Tartlets + Flaky Pastry for Moderately Lazy People

This is an approximation of French onion tart in bite-size form: light crisp pastry and tender savoury middles. The recipe has its origins in an issue of Stella magazine when I was learning to bake during sixthform (don’t let’s think about how long ago that was; my age is showing), and my Pearents seem to … Continue reading →

Vanilla Crème Fraîche Salted Caramels

Maki’s crème fraîche nama caramel recipe is the one I’ve been using for several years now. It is good. But hey, why use one word when you can use several overstuffed sentences? This caramel certainly isn’t the inoffensive and vaguely vanillary sugar-goo hiding inside chocolate bars; this is a confection with depth and flavour. As … Continue reading →