I hadn’t intended to go down the dessert route. So says the glutton who’s long since lost all sense of direction when it comes to sweet treats. But it’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Or is that the sugar on my fingers? We’d gone out for lunch, a midweek trip to use a …
Author Archives: David Burbidge
Fyriskaka
As much as I admire the sentiment and applaud those taking part, Veganuary and Dry January are passing me by again. I know there’s been the inevitable overindulgence during the holiday period, not helped in my case by having a January 1st birthday. All of this followed by a week where ‘we better just finish …
Sometimes it’s not the writing
Sometimes it’s not the writing. It’s what to write about. I’m sure there’s supposed to be a goal when I sit down in front of a blank document. An ambition to fill it with prose which will leave any eventual readers interested stimulated and keen to come back for more. But it’s easier said (or …
Two Culinary Daydreamers
It was last Christmas. Our eyes met across a crowded bookshelf. You reaching for Nigella, me the latest Ottolenghi. We didn’t speak, didn’t acknowledge. Both lost in recipes, imagining how flavours on the page would taste on the plate. ‘I want to try that’ our first words. Two culinary daydreamers. We cooked together that night, …
A bread to brighten your day
I don’t think there’s ever been a time when the urge to shut myself away in the kitchen and bake has been stronger. The world feels as if it’s going to hell in a handbasket, the UK is reduced to changing Prime Minister every few weeks, even the Great British Bake Off is proving to …
Here’s one I wrote earlier
Clearing out a cupboard yesterday I found a long-since forgotten school magazine, dating back to when I spent part of my childhood in Malta. My Dad was a printer by trade and he’d gone out to Malta to help set up a print company. We were there for about four years and he still reminisces …
I’m still here
Up until the turn of the year, which feels such a long time ago now, I was writing regularly. The blog was thriving, words were flowing, and I was enjoying the whole experience. Something I’d prevaricated about for years was turning out to have been a very good idea. I even had the thrill of …
Beetroot, caraway & goat’s cheese bread.
First of all an admission. Under any other circumstances than this recipe, I don’t like beetroot and I certainly wouldn’t expect to find it cropping up here again in a hurry. For a long time now we’ve subscribed to a regular organic veg box service. Great at the best of times and an absolute godsend …
Carrot & Mango Cake
It would’ve been my Mother’s birthday today and I’ve no doubt at all if she was still here there would have been cake. The sweet things were always her favourites, I’m sure that’s where my indulgent streak comes from. She was one of those people who always looked at desserts first on a menu, making …
Unexpected flavours
One of the things I most enjoy when baking is dropping in unexpected flavours. Flavours that on paper probably shouldn’t be there. But when you eat them you’re glad they are. It’s great to watch the look of surprise on someone’s face when what you’ve served them turns out to be more than they expected. …
David in the kitchen. 