Our Daily Bread [The National Loaf, and the value of stale bread in the rationed kitchen]

Post-industrialisation, and through the intervening decades of the early -mid 20th century, Britons came to love their soft white bread; the softer and whiter the better. White bread had historically been preserved for the wealthy and ‘upper classes’ due to the extra cost and effort involved in milling white flour, and thus its desirability was…

Enough to Stir the Heart

Sunday November 21st 2021: Stir Up Sunday Tradition holds, that the last Sunday before advent, 5 weeks ahead of Christmas itself, is the time to make Christmas puddings and cakes. The name 'Stir Up Sunday' is taken from the prayer that is read out in churches on this day: “Stir-up, we beseech thee, O Lord,…

Best Ever Picnic Cake

I’ve always been a fan of the stay-cation. Maybe it’s all the Famous Five books I read as a child, or simply my love of my local downland landscapes and magical wealden woods, but there’s few things that get me more excited than packing a picnic of tasty goodies and heading out for a walk…