Lemon Polenta and Almond Cake

Lemon Polenta and Almond Cake

I seem to be posting quite a few sweet treats at the moment but we have been eating these lovely things over quite a decent amount of time to try and keep some semblance of a waistline! This cake is extremely moist and tasty a 

Comfort food – lemon polenta and almond bisuits

Comfort food – lemon polenta and almond bisuits

Since lockdown came into being people seem to have become obsessed with baking. I can’t tell you how many instagram pictures of sour dough bread, brownies and cup cakes I’ve seen. This is not a problem just an observation as I have always been a 

9lb’s of donut peaches…

9lb’s of donut peaches…

This is what 9lb’s of donut peaches looks like! The first time I visited my friend in Italy, she had made a peach jam that was flavoured with bay leaves, it was divine. When I came home I got a bit carried away and bought 

A Wander in Florence

A Wander in Florence

A few years ago after a trip to Florence I created a book for The Sketchbook Project in Brooklyn New York. I used images from my sketchbook and turned them into cyanotype prints and used some photos I had taken turning them into sepia images 

Pink Peppercorn Risotto

Pink Peppercorn Risotto

On one of my visits to Florence I had a pink peppercorn risotto for lunch. It was beautiful! Subtle and delicate flavours perfectly suited to the warm and dappled February sunshine and chardonnay we were drinking. I have tried to recreate something similar, although it 

Peaceful grandeur in Rome

Peaceful grandeur in Rome

The Doria Pamphilj Gallery in Rome was a delightful discovery. Rome is a bit manic at any time of the year so finding a quiet place to wander around was lovely. For some reason it seems to be a bit of an undiscovered gem, not 

Everything you need to know about shoes

Everything you need to know about shoes

The first time I went to Florence, come to think about it every time I’ve been to Florence, it has been with a lovely friend of mine who is a little bit mad about shoes. I on the other hand am a bit clueless, although 

Bodies made from wax, stuffed animals and things in jars

Bodies made from wax, stuffed animals and things in jars

Florence is one of my favourite city’s in Italy. It has everything, food, art, architecture, a river, amazing views and friendly people. It is also relatively small so most places are walkable. La Specola is the oldest public museum in Europe and was founded in 

Walnuts and marmalade

Walnuts and marmalade

For many many years I have been making flapjack. Some time in the 1970’s my mum found a recipe on the back of a packet of oats that worked really well. We then lived on flapjack for years and it became famous with our friends. 

Drawings around the house

Drawings around the house

My friends house in Italy is very beautifully put together. There are lots of lovely objects and arrangements to look at everywhere you turn. One ingenious idea is the use of an old ladder high on a wall in the kitchen to hang all the