A visit to the allotment this week resulted in the discovery that after all this lovely sunshine, the rhubarb has sprouted. Embracing all the seasonality of this crop, it made perfect sense to make the pink stalks the centre of this weeks blog. It was very tempting to make a tart, sorbet, infused gin, crumble or cake - but sometimes simplicity wins. In this case I wanted the first crop of rhubarb to be celebrating all its sour, fruity flavours and not distill it into somethi

We are here! Week four of the afternoon tea series. This is where you get to pull all your delicious recipes together to make, along with a few other key elements, a very tasty afternoon tea – just in time for Mother’s Day (phew!) When I say other ‘key elements’ I am of course talking about sandwiches, clotted cream and tea, as it just wouldn’t be afternoon tea without them. If you are wishing to make the whole affair extra special, then it is worth taking a little bit of ti

The afternoon tea ideas are continuing today with a pastry element. Dreamy, light, golden, crispy, airy choux pastry; topped with a crackled effect and filled with Chantilly cream and fresh strawberries – what is not to love!? These look amazing and are a perfect addition to your afternoon tea party. Please don’t be scared that this involves making pastry, or even that with this pastry you make it on the hob – it is just a matter of beating with a wooden spoon – it’s as sim

You might have spotted the arrival of blood oranges in the shops and green grocers; they look like normal oranges on the outside but with a slight deep red speckle. I have seen them every year and never thought to try something with them, until now - this year is the year! I love to make lemon curd and I use it in my cakes at Sky Meadow Bakery, so I thought I would adapt the recipe and try blood orange curd. What a success! It can be used in buttercream, spread into layer

Every Friday this month, I will be sharing a recipe for a treat you might see at an afternoon tea. I LOVE afternoon tea, hooray for Anna, the seventh duchess of Bedford. Like any decent human being, Anna would get hungry around 4pm and need dainty sandwiches and tea. One of my best afternoon tea places is Fortnum and Mason’s in London; it is such a treat. The store alone is worth a visit if you are in the city, but if you have the time and can splash out a bit, then book i