Recently I published my grandfather’s bakery shortbread recipe. The day after making it my Mum told me that the shortbread which I remembered so fondly from my childhood was a different recipe made by my grandmother. Grampa’s recipe is excellent but it makes so much and because it contains 1 egg the ingredients can’t be reduced. When Mum gave me …
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Family treasure, my grandfather Cliff Pocket’s shortbread recipe
As a young man my maternal grandfather Cliff Pocket, trained to be a master baker in England, he then returned to Rhodesia* and took over his father’s bakery (Pocket’s Bakery) and tearoom in Salisbury*. After school my mother and her friends would go to Pockets Tearoom for knickerbocker glories. When grampa Cliff passed away, Mum found his old recipe book …
Read More »Cowboy cookies (Oat and Raisin cookies)
A long time ago my uncle, his Canadian wife and children packed up their tobacco farm in Rhodesia* and moved to Canada. As a farewell family gathering we spent a weekend together on the Natal South Coast before they left Africa. That weekend aunt Marg made a batch of cookies which we all loved, she called them Cowboy cookies and …
Read More »Incredible Hulk – Choc Chip mint cookies
Sometimes experimental baking does not yield what you have in mind but works out in a different way. I’ve been looking at the new bottle of mint essence wondering what type of cookies can be made with it. I chose to adapt a choc chip cookie recipe to fit the bill. The cookies taste good but the green colour really …
Read More »Roasted Red Bell Pepper soup
Last night my husband made the most incredibly yummy 3 course supper. Our starter was this Roasted Red Bell Pepper Soup, made from his own recipe. This may be the most delicious soup that I have tasted. Lucky you, he agreed to share his recipe. INGREDIENTS 3 large red peppers 1 tin tomato 1 onion chopped 2 rounded tsp crushed …
Read More »Rose Turkish Delight Cheesecake
Sometimes I want to build a recipe around a certain ingredient. On a visit to Ludwig’s Roses I bought a bottle of Rose essence. I have used the essence to make rose buttercream icing and it is an ingredient in the Angela Day recipe for Coffee and Malted Puff cupcakes, which Cliff declared to be the best cupcakes ever. A …
Read More »Angela Day – Chocolate filled chocolate biscuits
I have only previously tried 2 Angela Day recipes but that is changing. What I have tried so far have been so good. These chocolate cookies are perfect for Valentines day. I made these yesterday and my husband is taking them to work to give to the ladies in his department as a little Valentines gift. I did not sandwich …
Read More »Mrs Campbell’s Banana Bread
There are a handful of recipes which I have baked since childhood. My mother’s friend Yvonne Campbell always offered something freshly baked when we visited. While she and Mum held adult conversation, I would sit copying out Mrs Campbell’s recipes into my little recipe book. In a way it’s sad that children no longer use the respectful term of using …
Read More »Delicious Sunflower seed snack
When I was a little girl my parents had a friend who was a chef, he made these back in the 70’s when he visited us. This savoury sunflower seed snack has been part of my life ever since. I love sharing recipes, I have never really understood people who don’t want to share them. This one is the …
Read More »Christmas Tree Cookies
Once a year I use my grandmother’s cookie roller to make Christmas Cookies. The children help with cutting out the shapes and love eating them. I make these before Christmas day as there is always so much other food on offer on Christmas day. Here is the recipe. Mine look a bit scrappy this year but no one seems …
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