Summer Fruits

What can you do when your neighbour asks if you could possibly help him out by taking 1.5k of freshly picked blackcurrants of his hands? Creme de Cassis!!! This comes from Jane Grigson’s Fruit Book – much better than the expensive stuff you buy over the counter. We used it for kir, kir royale when […]

… well it was either that or hat jokes – put a turban in your cloche sort of thing. Back to road testing Crochendy Bethesda Pottery’s cloche. A Challah turban (two thirds white, 0ne third wholemeal) seemed an appropriate shape but this one (940g) was just a little to big: So when the lid was […]

One for Phil Joy

Phil wants the chile sauce recipe. I told him it’s not done to ask a chap to reveal the secrets of his chile sauce, but seeing as it’s you Phil … This is an adapted version from a favourite cookery book, Pickles, Pigs and Whiskey by John Currance. I’ve done it bakers’ percentage style giving […]

A Little Something For Marcus

Poor old Marcus was suffering withdrawal symptoms so I sent a little something in the post: That’ll keep the poor boy going for a little while but, don’t panic: Be ready about 2019 …

Gorilla Bread II

Some recently asked if there was such a thing as Gorilla Bread. Of course there is: Big, cheerful, rumbustious, loud, uncageable, bites your bum. First bake for about ten weeks what with having time out in France and trying to do some serious writing. 30 large ones and 12 Black Olive, Rosemary and Caramelised Onion […]

Brilliant Course

Simon and Judi came over from Dublin to do my Introduction to Sourdough course, a “one day” course over two days (two hours mixing doughs afternoon day one/five or so hours baking day two, fun and pizza lunch included). They came with intent, as you might say. Being busy people with family and work commitments […]

Pain Hirigoyen

Now this is what you call a cheese stall: Actually it’s less than a quarter of Cremerie Nicole Hirigoyen on the market in Arcachon. Mme Hirigoyen sadly died while we were on holiday a few weeks back. She’d been on the market for decades and, although we never had a conversation, in a sort of […]

Dead Starter

Steffi came round for dinner Friday night. She shamefacedly admitted she’d killed her starter – she did a sourdough course with me several weeks ago. I couldn’t be angry with her – she had a bottle of finest pear schnapps in one hand and red wine in the other. Plus I didn’t believe her starter […]