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Cooking & Lifestyle Blog

Christmas | Gingerbread Recipe & Pomander Craft Project

Posted by Gillian Whitaker

The presents are sorted, the Christmas cake is ready for decorating, and the festive celebrations are reaching their peak: what better way to enjoy the final days in the run-up to Christmas than with some tasty seasonal baking for the whole family to get involved in. See below for a great recipe for gingerbread biscuits, as well as a bonus craft project that’ll have your home smelling delightfully fragrant throughout the festive season.

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Topics: baking, Christmas

Christmas | Mince Pies Recipe & Christingle Craft Project

Posted by Laura Bulbeck

The holiday season is upon us! Whether for you Christmas is a time to remember the birth of Christ or simply rejoice in the festivities that brighten up a dark winter, there is much to enjoy. In today’s blog we’re offering a classic Christmas recipe – mouthwatering Mince Pies – as well as a fun seasonal craft project for all the family.

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Topics: baking, Christmas

Flame Tree Recipes: Victoria Sponge And A Bake Off Catch Up

Posted by Catherine Taylor

The 'Great British Bake Off' has in recent weeks been coming to a head. With the contestants now whittled down to only the very serious bakers, things are hotting up.

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Topics: Quick and Easy Recipes, baking

Simple Recipes for Easter: Easter Nest Cupcakes

Posted by Esme Chapman

Easter certainly came around quickly. Everywhere I look, I seem to see indulgent and incredibly elaborate looking Easter eggs, which I'm pretty sure never existed when I was a child and actually received Easter eggs. I have had to ban myself from going anywhere near a Hotel Chocolat for fear that I will fall prey to their unbeatably chunky eggs.

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Topics: Quick and Easy Recipes, cookery, baking

Simple Recipes for Mother's Day recipe: Chocolate & Almond Biscuits

Posted by Esme Chapman

With Mother's Day fast approaching, what better choice for this week's recipe than something delicious, indulgent and perfect as a homemade gift? With their crumbly shortbread, decadent chocolate layer and crunchy almond topping, these Chocolate & Almond Biscuits tick all the boxes.

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Topics: Quick and Easy Recipes, cookery, baking

Top Simple Recipes for Healthy Eating #8: Fruity Roulade

Posted by Esme Chapman

This week's recipe takes the form of a light, low-fat dessert – because we all need a treat every now and then! This recipe features low-fat alternatives to unhealthy ingredients, as well as making the most of the natural sweetness of fruit, meaning that there is no reason to fight against satisfying that sweet craving at the end of a meal. With strawberries beginning to crop up more and more in the shops, it's a good time to start thinking of tasty new recipes beyond the traditional (and excessively calorific) strawberries and cream combination. I highly recommend this roulade, it's one of those great simple recipes that looks a lot harder to make than it actually is, perfect if you've got friends coming for dinner.

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Topics: Quick and Easy Recipes, healthy eating, cookery, baking

Simple Recipes for Pancake Day: Chocolate Pancakes with Mango Sauce

Posted by Esme Chapman

It's Pancake Day next week and I am, to say the least, more than a little bit excited! Ever since I was a little girl, pancakes have always been up there amongst my very favourite foods, so this day has never ceased to be met with great anticipation.

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Topics: Quick and Easy Recipes, cookery, baking

Valentine's Day Simple Recipes: Honey and Chocolate Heart Cookies

Posted by Esme Chapman

Like most people, I am quick to moan about the way Valentine's day has become a consumer event blah, blah, blah...

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Topics: Quick and Easy Recipes, cookery, baking

Simple Recipes with a festive twist: Christmas Pudding Cupcakes

Posted by Emma Chafer

With Christmas just around the corner and the number of remaining shopping days dwindling, perhaps it is time to start thinking about those last few gifts you still need to get. However, instead of trudging out to the shops and enduring the commercial storm, why not make some gifts at home? These could be craft based or, even better, food based! Friends and family will love the idea of receiving something you have spent time making yourself, with them in mind.

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Topics: Quick and Easy Recipes, cookery, baking

Simple Recipes with a festive twist: Homemade Gingerbread House

Posted by Esme Chapman

With yesterday being exactly a week until Christmas, I indulged in a little bit of festive excitement in the form of The Great British Bake Off Christmas Special. It made for very pleasurable viewing indeed. Inspired by Paul and Mary's festive bakes, I found myself craving the likes of Stollen and Mincemeat Streusel (Mary's ingenious traybake alternative to thrashing out batches and batches of mince pies).

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Topics: Quick and Easy Recipes, cookery, baking

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