Inspiring friendly recipes and thoughts

These are not just any cupcakes, these are the very best chocolate cupcakes.

A good banana loaf recipe is a winning addition to any baking repertoire, and this is an update of a 2013 recipe, it’s one you definitely need in your life.

This is the perfect last minute pudding for when you have nothing planned or unexpected guests.

I know that After Eights (thin soft mint fondant filled chocolate crisps in little individual envelopes) are available all year round, but for me they seem very Christmassy.

Our family is divided over the issue of Christmas cake; I make one every year and some of the family devour it like there’s no tomorrow, and others would simply rather have anything else.

These are my riff on those nutty, icing sugar or caster sugar coated almond sandies or Mexican wedding cookies, but made nut free.

Do you celebrate Thanksgiving? For us it’s familiar from cinema but not in real life.

I felt rather proud seeing Claire Clark (my Patisserie tutor from Le Cordon Bleu) as a judge on Masterchef last night.

Children seem to love hot chocolate and it obviously needs no recipe – anyone can make their own delicious version with no instruction.

Fruit really isn’t particularly popular in this household and I definitely struggle with finding fruity puddings that appeal to everyone.

It’s been an ill week in this household – so it’s definitely time for some seriously good treat food.

If you need a chocolate fix, then this is the cookie for you.

It may still be March, but the weather today looks perfect for a trip to the beach.

For a dairy-free cookie these are remarkably ‘buttery’ and are perfect for cutting into any shape and even icing.

Here’s a chocolate chip cookie recipe that robust, soft, cakey and a little more substantial than your delicate cookie.

Here (at last) is the recipe for the celebration cupcakes I made for little S, the ones that were to be decorated with the rainbow drops I made on Thursday.

It’s been one of those days… but hopefully after three disasters in a few short hours things are going to start looking up.

Easter is a bit different for us, in a household where the children are dairy-free, egg-free and nut-free.