How to be truly British

Have you ever seen people dressed up as African warriors or wild animals, parading around for a group of German or otherwise equally amazed and entertained tourists, and you think to yourself, “What a sham!”? We all know that living in South Africa doesn’t mean we all have the Big 5 in the backyard (well everyone except my friend Mary, who literally does have elephants in her garden), and that this ‘wild African experience’ is mostly a tourist trap. In fact, game farms are now so overpriced that most passport-holding South Africans can’t even afford to go them, so pretty much only the tourists get to enjoy ‘unspoiled’ Africa. But I digress...

Oh Eton Mess!

In some past life I am certain that I was mother to two delightful little boys who attended Eton College, and I would lovingly attend their cricket matches in my stylish, but not always practical, Saturday dress and parasol. Being the doting mummy, I would pack them home-baked treats to nibble in the shade after their exertions on the field. But alas! One afternoon an excitable Labrador became entangled in my delicately sequined dress, causing me to fling my picnic basket aside. I managed to lose a high heel in the scuffle, and unfortunately (and most unintentionally) seemed to disturb the cricket match while in pursuit of the shoe-wielding pup. George and William were most upset by my behaviour (did I mention that I quite unknowingly picked up the cricket ball to bargain with the lab?), and I hadn't the heart to tell them that their délicieux pavlova was now ruined. So I served it anyway, and this is how Eton Mess came to be!

Princesses' Tea Cupcakes

Posh, pretty, and perfect- the things princesses are made of! These cupcakes are delicate and light, and are great for a tea party treat without leaving your tea party dress stretched around a engorged stomach. I ensure that these darling little treats will make you feel as special and stylish as Kate, but sadly will not help you to get the Pippa bum. Honestly though, if you had to pick between the bum and these cupcakes, I think it would be a very tough call, and the cupcakes would probably win.

Deconstructed Apple Crumble

One of my favourite things in the whole world; warm, sweet and spicy apples with a cinnamon crumble and fresh whipped cream- double cream in the name of Britain I say! This is the dessert that results in my sister sending me back into the kitchen to make a second batch, and has even been known to lure me to her house in order to get me to make the quick version (stewed apples and ice cream). It is also the dessert I made in an attempt to impress the boyfriend's parents ;)

'T was a cold and wintery Women's Day

It all started with Women’s Day, or as I experienced, the day of no remote recognition. The boyfriend came home to a delicious belated Meat Free Monday (MFM) dinner of Mediterranean roast veg with couscous, feta, a mixture of seeds, and a balsamic and olive oil dressing. In my attempt to prove that a secret desire to be a 1950’s housewife does NOT make you anti-feminist, dependent, ignorant or unmotivated, I tackled Women’s Day with gusto. To prove that I am the amazing, multi-talented woman of my dreams, I cleaned, I laundered, I vacuumed, I worked, I wrote, I studied, and I prepared what I thought was a healthy, nutricious, and delicious meal.

Silken Hot Chocolate

Quick, easy, and super versatile- make it thick and rich for serious chocolate connoisseurs, or light and delicate for those on diet :) or just eat the ganache as is!

Pizza è grande!

I have had a love-hate relationship with dough for some time now; I love how it smells, I love how it looks rising like a magnificent mountain and most of all, I love how it tastes in all its forms, experiments, and adventures. Sweet, savoury, confused- give it to me hot and straight out the oven! But I hate making it; it never rises, it never comes out light and soft, or crispy and delicious. Until now I had attempted bread and pizza dough several times, none of which even came close to something successful. And then I met the Italian, who looked at me ever so confused when I confessed that I could not make pizza dough. "But why??" (cue lovely Italian-accented English), "Is easy!". Yes, that's what all the recipes said: "Easy!", "Simple!", "Ready in a flash!". I defied them all with making it remarkably difficult, complicated and slow. 


The simple solution to my problem? Don't over think it. Yes there are some technicalities with dough, but it's pretty much like all other cooking, you judge it on whether it tastes right and looks right. I got too caught up on following dough recipe measurements and instructions, treating it as though I was dismantling a bomb. The Italian logic is, "You do until it feels good."


So, with this is mind, please try out this recipe, whether you have never made pizza dough before, or have done it countless times- it's a real cracker and it's yet to disappoint!

All you need is love.... with a side of cooking and dash of baking

After 6 months of being away from my boyfriend, arriving in London was like something out of a movie; I practically had ‘All you need is LOVE’ in neon lights on my forehead. But a week in and I realise that I need more than love- I need food, and a theatre in which to prepare my divine delights. I had all the best intentions of keeping up with my blog while I’m here in London; I mean, I have fantastic internet access, endless inspiration, and most luxuriously, the time. The possibilities always seem so much better on paper, don’t they?