Herman the German Friendship Cake

Herman the German Friendship Cake

Herman came into my life my accident.  My plans were to have morning tea with my sister and gorgeous little niece.  This did happen.  But what I didn’t expect was to leave my sister’s house with my very first sour dough starter for my own Herman the 

Parsley pesto

Parsley pesto

It was time to slay the mighty parsley-beasts.  I felt a little regretful about this, as they had done me proud by growing all green and bountiful, despite my doing very little to help them.  But, many leaves had been picked for many dishes, and 

Smokin’ hot

We have recently started smoking.  No, not the nicotine kind (don’t worry Mum!), the charcoal kind.  And my is it fun. Our little smoker cost us the princely sum of $50, half price on the GrabOne daily deals website.  I think it looks a bit 

Hot Water Beer and Mussels

Hot Water Beer and Mussels

It simply wouldn’t be a summer holiday without a little cold beer, would it? And luckily the remote, beautiful Coromandel Peninsula, the current holiday location, was happy to oblige us with the the Hot Water Brewery. You find this little delight on the Tairua-Whitianga Road, 

Tasting notes from Papamoa Beach

Tasting notes from Papamoa Beach

Hello everyone, this shan’t be my usual post with recipe, or even a very long one – the Mister and I are on holiday, currently in the beautiful Bay of Plenty, NZ, at the dazzling Papamoa Beach. But I thought I might share a few 

Macadamia and chocolate chunk cookies

Macadamia and chocolate chunk cookies

Who knew that the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, Australia was a hot bed of macadamia nut growing?  I for one did not, and yet, I find myself in possession of a packet of macadamia nuts from Nutworks, thanks to my parentals and their recent visit 

Almond biscuits

Almond biscuits

We now found ourselves at Almond Biscuits in the Edmonds Cookbook index. Almond Biscuits, as a category of baked good, enjoy a little more history and reputation than I had suspected.  The internet informs me that these popular biscuits are “prepared in different ways across various 

A roast beef date with Delia

A roast beef date with Delia

On a recent trip to the supermarket, ample signage informed me that Sunday 4th August was National Roast Day.   Although no doubt a ploy to sell more products, it’s been a while since my tiny kitchen knew the joys of a hearty roast, so 

Afghan biscuits: Sure to Rise

Afghan biscuits: Sure to Rise

I have been toying with the idea of cooking my way through the entire Edmond’s Cookery Book for some time now. The seed of this idea began to germinate a while back, after I watched Julie and Julia and my mind leapt to some more 

Putting on the ritz

Putting on the ritz

I am probably not the only person inspired by the recent New Zealand’s Hottest Home Baker episode featuring caramel garnish.  With my sister and sweet-toothed brother in law due for dinner later in the week, what better and tastier way to impress than a simple