Chocolate Dump-it All Cake a la Hesser

Normal. Is not a word I’d use to describe me. Myself. Is that bad English? I am intrigued by butter. Sticks of butter. The allure of reading American recipes that call for a ‘stick of butter’ hasn’t worn off……and I can count January the 8th as one of my best days in the history of food! Because in a shop round the corner from me, a shop that has given me graham crackers and cheese, gianduja chocolate and Marrons de glace….I found sticks of butter. Do you hear me? Sticks of butter. Now if you had sticks of butter on...

Happy Valentine’s Day: (Celebrating) Love In The Time of Fat

  Saint Francis And The Sow  The bud  stands for all things,  even for those things that don’t flower,  for everything flowers, from within, of self-blessing;    though sometimes it is necessary  to reteach a thing its loveliness,    to put a hand on its brow  of the flower  and retell it in words and in touch  it is lovely  until it flowers again from within, of self-blessing;    as Saint Francis  put his hand on the creased forehead of the sow, and told her in words and in touch  blessings of earth on the sow, and the sow began remembering all...

The Anatomy of an Artichoke

Note: The exploration for this post was done in 2011 while I lived  in The Netherlands. Artichokes haven’t appeared in any store aisles in Nigeria (that I’ve come across anyway….). I am sharing it because I unearthed some ‘gems’  in the process. I hope you enjoy reading it. —–♥♥♥♥♥—– None of my memories, sleeping or waking…have been consumed with artichokes of any sort. Globe or Jerusalem, pickled, boiled, fried or grilled. Australia’s cooking doyenne, Stephanie Alexander says in her book, ‘The Cook’s Companion’, a compendium of ingredients and recipes for the Australian kitchen ‘Artichokes have a reputation of being tricky to...

Pumpkin Maple Oat Rolls

Healthy 6am weekday conversations in our home are rare. As I guess they are in most households with children of any sort: pre-teen and post teens! Usually, moaning and grumbling tend to dampen the chit-chat of the blue tits and red robins; and even the cocks crowing-a dawn. The kids channel crackles with dragging feet and sniffling that has tears lurking close by.

Twelve (12) Resolutions for 2012

Updated 12th Februrary, 2012 Thanks for your suggestions, I’ve finally updated #12. X X X Treat myself with true & honest kindness – including the occasional manicure and pedicure. And also continue to swim, run, sleep and most of all eat right. Women, Food and God by Geneen Roth has shown me why this is important.

Merry Christmas & A Happy 2012

Dear friends, readers, strangers and loved ones. Thank you for the wonders that 2011 held for me – the loss of a friend, a country move, lots of food and still intense passion about cooking and learning and sharing. I feel blessed to be me, surrounded by a world of amazing people – you. Every single one of you made and make a difference, every kind word soothed my aching soul, every shared remembrance filled me with joy. Thank you. I haven’t been a diligent blog reader as in the past. I still love you. In 2012, I have plans...

‘Simmer & Stir’ Christmas Cake

No corny statements about how quickly Christmas has come this year.No, none. Only cake. A fruit cake. The likes of which I’ve never made before. Dreamt of making….yes but one of those dreams which die hard and early. I grew up with Fruitcakes every Christmas, lovingly made by Mrs O, a friend of my mum’s. A master baker, she would start her preparations months before the cakes were delivered, gratefully received and devoured.