I recently received a new Madeleine pan and I found a lovely recipe to bake in it.  I love French Madeleines . . .  tiny little moreish shell shaped little cakes . . . rich and wonderful for dipping into hot drinks.   I wanted to do Gingerbread ones because Todd really loves Gingerbread and I found the perfect recipe here.

I had some bananas here in the house that were just about to the point where they needed to be tossed . . . I hate wasting good, ripe banana . . . it's such a necessity when it comes to making banana cakes and such . . . in fact I always purposely hide a few . . . just so I can have some to bake with.

One of my favourite late spring/early summer fruits is cherries. When we lived down in Kent at this time of year you could find lots of cherry sellers set up on the many laybys in the area, their tables just laden with glorious cherries, of several different varieties.

Sometimes I just have a craving for cake.   I haven't yet been able to sort out a way to make a diabetic cake which actually tastes good and has a texture that I enjoy, but I am working on it.  I have decided that a tiny taste of what  you enjoy  once in a blue moon has to be enough, and so every now and again I treat myself to a slice of cake.  Not an over the top cake . . .  mind . . .  but, beggars can't be choosers can they!

 Its Father's Day this Sunday and I thought it would be fun this morning to share with you some of the things I wish I could cook for my dad.  Unfortunately he is all the way over in Canada, so it will have to be just a wish list.  I suppose I could cook some of them for Todd, even though he's not my dad.  He probably wouldn't complain too  much!  Here are my choices and I hope you will give some of them a go yourself as well!  The "Dads" in your life are sure to appreciate them!

I saw this recipe on Julies Eats and Treats the other day and as soon as I saw it, I wanted to make it.  I love mexican flavours and I love pasta.  I did have to adapt it somewhat according to the ingredients I have available over here in the UK, but I was very pleased with the end results.

I watched the Pioneer Woman doing something like this on the television one day and it looked dead simple and delicious and decided to try to replicate it for us here at home. 

I was in the mood for something quick and easy the other night and so I threw together these delicious foil packets, BBQ Chicken Packets.  So simple to make and so tasty when done!  You can either cook them in the oven or on the BBQ.  Its all up to you!

I recently received a cookbook for review entitled Perfecting Sourdough, by Jane Mason.  Mastering the art and science of baking with starters and wild yeast. Expert author and founder of Virtuous Bread, Jane Mason, has provided the ultimate companion for those wanting to master the art of baking with starters and wild yeast. Chapters dedicated to each type of sourdough cover everything from basic step-by-step instructions to troubleshooting tips and advice on equipment and ingredients. Perfecting Sourdough is packed with useful information to give even the most novice baker the confidence to crack sourdough!

I found that I had quite a few sweet potatoes and white potatoes in the potato bin the other day and I thought to myself why not make a potato salad using both of them and this is what I came up with.  Honey Mustard Two Potato Salad!  It was delicious!

This is a simple cake and very easy to make. Sometimes people think that if something is simple, then it can't be very good, but they are so wrong . . . wrong, wrong!

In my experience it is quite often the simplest things that taste the best of all!

 

The shop shelves are starting to fill up with early British Strawberries now.  My plants in the garden have small green berries on them, but it's far too early yet for us to be eating our own.   We have had a week of just gorgeous weather this past week and I took advantage of it by making us some nice light food that we could enjoy eating out on the patio.  Dishes like this delicious salad went down a real treat and used the beginnings of the British Strawberry Season to their best!

AMARA has composed a list of 71 blogger's favourite recipes.  (This above is Ombre Cheesecake by  Capture From Lucy)   If you love good food and are keen to discover a new food blog that you perhaps have not yet discovered, do hop along to the The Lux Pad by Amara to find out more and drool a tiny bit! 

I confess to having a certain fondness for Mexican food.  I have never been to Mexico actually, no even close, but I do love the flavours of that type of cuisine   Now I don't want purists messaging me here telling me that this is nothing like Mexican food.  This may well be true, but this is what I know as Mexican and this is what I like, and well . . .  it's my kitchen, afterall!




This casserole is much simpler to make than traditional enchiladas.  I have adapted the recipe from one which I discovered on Whats Gaby Cooking.  It looked so delicious that I wanted to try it.  I have taken the liberty of using already poached chicken and changing out a few steps . . .



But that is what cooking is all about isn't it?  Finding inspiration and then using that inspiration to create something delicious depending on what is available and what you like or don't like . . .




I always have poached chicken on hand.  I use it all the time.  I probably poach a whole chicken every week., or a bag of chicken breasts or thighs, a mixture, etc.   Its a very versatile ingredient to have and it works well in impromptu salads, sandwiches and quick suppers like this!

I just have to tell you about this delicious pickle we have been enjoying these past few weeks from the people at English Provender!  English Provender Proper Pickle, Beetroot! Naturally delicious, crunchy and all grown up, English Provender Co.’s Proper Pickle taps into the nostalgic taste of traditional sandwich accompaniments, but with an altogether more refined flavour and texture for the more discerning palate.

I have always love LOVED beetroot in any way shape or form, and I am happy to say I am loving this Beetroot proper pickle also!

 

Packed full of flavour and having just the perfect amount of punch, earthy English Provender Beetroot Proper Pickle is made with authentic, natural ingredients that champion British produce, with no added preservatives, colours or flavours.  This is pickle as it should be.  If you’re looking to add a twist to your ploughman’s lunch or daily salad then Beetroot Proper Pickle could be the pickle for you. Rich and fruity, crunchy British beetroot is combined with a unique blend of pickle spices.  We've been enjoying it on sandwiches and with cold meats.   I've even been tucking into it with a spoon when nobody's looking.  Shhh . . .  don't tell anyone!



Other flavours are Proper Pickle Chunky, Proper Pickle Finely Chopped and Proper Pickle Pickled Onion.  If they are anything near as tasty as the Beetroot one, I am sure they are gorgeous too!   I would buy this pickle.  Many thanks to English Provender Co for sending me a jar to try.

These tasty pickles are available online in the English Provender Co online store or instore at Waitrose and ASDA.

To find out more about English Provender and their products be sure to check out their Homepage.

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Note - although I was sent a jar of pickle free of charge to try out, I was not required to write a positive review.  Simply put.  I really liked this.