Thai butternut squash and noodle soup

Autumn is a month for some of my favourite colours - mustard, russet and earthy brown, warming food and soft comforting layers... This autumn I am kicking off with a spicy Thai soup made with seasonal produce and rice noodles, this is a quick recipe and makes a perfect lunch on a wet and blustery …

A Dorset life…

As many of you will be aware by now at the beginning of this year we made a big move - from a lovely little beach community just outside Brighton to a village on the Dorset coast. It hasn't been an easy ride, and, I'll be honest, I haven't felt like posting in my blog …

Weddings and other momentous occasions

Disclaimer - what you are about to read may offend. If so, I am sorry but ... this is how I feel about most of the weddings that I have been to (not all) but most. However I am sure yours was brilliant, a great knees up and opportunity to share your special day with …

The perfect culottes

I am on a mission. I 'need' to find a lovely pair of culottes, they are so damned perfect with everything, so chic, so right for this weather and infinitely practical when running around after small people but to find the right pair? That's not so easy... I don't buy new anymore. Well that's not …

I’m going vegan(ish)

Normally around this time of year I decide that I really can't stand the sight of myself in a swimsuit and I announce to anyone interested in listening that I am going on some sort of diet/health kick... I'm not a fan of exercise, I hate getting sweaty and suffer with a bad back (that's …

Second hand clothes shopping – feels as good as it looks …

I love shopping secondhand. Firstly you can find a piece that nobody else has (vintage) and there is a real thrill with finding something designer for much much less ... But it doesn't have to be designer. Sometimes vintage high street is very exciting - M&S, C&A (remember them) and, if you enjoy 80's fashion …

Is the perennial woman the new middle age?

Is the perennial women rendering the middle aged woman obsolete? I am in my late 40's now and (embarrassingly) I find myself trotting out phrases like my mum does: "I need to put my feet up and have a cup of tea" "I better take a cardi in case it gets chilly"... The current thinking, …

Vegetarian minestrone soup

When kids are sick it is a really worrying time and an incredibly lonely and isolating for parents. My son has just recovered from a really nasty bout of sickness, it seemed to go on forever (a couple of weeks) he lost quite a bit of weight and even lost interest in his Lego for …

Sweet potato felafel

I've tried many felafel recipes over the years, to be honest I’ve struggled to perfect a good felafel that works for me, either they fall apart when cooked, are too dry or simply lack taste.  I’ve been using sweet potatoes quite a bit just lately, shoving them in just about anything - sauces, frittatas, soup, …

Barbecue beans and baked sweet potato

Sweet potato's are utterly delicious, low fat and super super healthy. I'm using them more these days then regular spuds, they are wonderful roasted in their skins, and also cook much quicker then the conventional white potato. This recipe involves a little prep but basically cooks itself in the oven whilst you get in with …