Elizabeth's Kitchen Diary
cooking up a storm at the edge of the world
Authentic flavours at your fingertips! Go on. Go check the expiry dates of the spices on your spice rack. If you’ve got some cardamom pods there, how long ago did they go out of date? No really – go check! I thought I used cardamom pods regularly. Clearly I don’t. February 2010!
This take on the classic slow cooker Cuban chicken recipe combines the zing of orange and lime with the warmth of smoked paprika, to create a light summery dish. Serve with a green side salad and brown rice. Slow Cooker Cuban Chicken Ok, I have to admit it. I really am quite a lazy cook. …
A small quartered log and a few pieces of kindling can provide enough fuel for one meal. Regular readers will be aware that I contribute to Promote Shetland’s A Taste of Shetland food blog – a collection of recipes and stories featuring ingredients from the UK’s most northerly island archipelago, my home, Shetland. I am …
Rosemary-infused olive oil lends a savory note to this Mediterranean inspired bundt cake. A few months ago I mentioned on Facebook that I needed to get out of the house more. Full time blogging can be a lonely occupation with hours and hours spent by oneself experimenting with food in the kitchen, and even more …
In collaboration with Villa Plus. I do believe spring is officially upon us, here in Shetland. The days are growing longer, and my eldest and I noticed that the sky was still bright to the west come 10:30 pm recently as we were driving back from our sea kayaking lessons in the local pool (we’re …
Because the first 40 years of childhood are the hardest! I am not getting any younger. The years just seem to be flying by faster and faster. Why is this?
A recipe commissioned by Redmond. As a food blogger I am regularly approached by a wide variety of food related companies looking for honest opinions about their products or services. I love these challenges – trying out new things is something I really enjoy, so when Redmond contacted me last year asking if I’d …
In collaboration with Alpen Swiss Muesli. Are you a breakfast skipper? I am. I try not to be. I know I shouldn’t be, what with breakfast being the most important meal of the day, but I just can’t bear to eat anything for the first few hours after getting up. I’m just not hungry! Saying …
Recipe from 150 Fast & Simple Recipes by Parragon Books. There are times when carbohydrates are required. How about carbohydrates… with bacon… tossed in more crispy carbohydrates! Eee! This spaghetti with bacon and crispy breadcrumbs, ready in less than half an hour, was one of the many recipes which caught my eye from Parragon’s …
A whole lot of science and a little bit of cake. The beauty of waking up each morning, for me, is that bit after you dreamily return to reality and that subsequent anticipation of what might happen that day. It’s a new day! What adventures could possibly lay before you in the following 24 hours? A …
Fresh lime juice takes these cupcakes to a whole new level. My husband came home from work the other day to find four strangers sitting at our kitchen table eating their lunch. When he told me this after I returned home after my day out, I belly laughed, and then, as the realization slowly dawned …
Going back in time to a Middle Devonian lake bottom! It’s the Easter Holidays. I completely forgot about the Easter Holidays until the Thursday before the schools broke up for the Spring Break. This meant that I had to take the kids to work with me (there being no childminders around where I live, and …
“These gluten free brownies give my tummy a hug!” Gluten-free brownies Brownies come in a variety of textures, and everyone has their favourite version. Some like them cakey, some like them fudgy. Some think they should have frosting and some prefer them without nuts. At this time of year (Easter) some like them with copious …
An adventure story involving an airplane! Have you ever had one of those days where you say to yourself (and anyone else who will listen) – I love my life! Monday was one of those days for me, when my adventures took me to Fair Isle, a tiny island midway between the Orkney and Shetland …
This pastitsio recipe is a Greek-style macaroni cheese, which I’ve been told numerous times does not remotely resemble the authentic Greek recipe. However, this is how my father taught me to make it. In this easy family favourite recipe, layers of ooey, gooey macaroni cheese sandwich a spiced lamb mince, and it’s been a go-to …
A fantastic Mother’s Day adventure out! The Muckle Roe lighthouse has long been on my bucket list of places to visit, by land, when I first saw it from the sea: an intriguing beacon of light warning sailors of the dangerous cliffs ahead and marking the entrance to Swarbacks Minn. I’ve explored the base of the …
Freeganism: the practice of reclaiming and eating food that has been discarded. Regular readers might be aware of an appalling lack of recipe posts on my blog as of late. This is for several reasons: a) This past winter has been a long and dark one and I have found the poor light quality caused …
A cheat’s bread machine focaccia recipe PLUS a fantastic giveaway! Despite the fact I feel like I never stop moving at all in a day, I am ultimately quite a lazy person. I love bread, but after a day at work the last thing I want to do is to start hand kneading and proving …
This is a rich, warmly spiced gingerbread cake recipe from my Canadian childhood. This remarkably light and fluffy cake is served with a generous spoonful of warm lemon sauce, just as they did in the village potluck suppers I used to attend as a child. Prep Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 35 minutes Difficulty: Easy …
In collaboration with Dr. Oetker Baking. I absolutely love organizing and throwing birthday parties for my children. It’s one of those things I can get completely immersed in what with all the planning and creativity. I also might be overcompensating for the fact I’ve never had a birthday party of my own! They don’t get …
