Elizabeth's Kitchen Diary
fuelling that adventure
In collaboration with Cole & Mason. The sun came out yesterday! For the fourth time this summer I actually felt the warmth of the summer sun on my face. It was gloriously wonderful! As it’s still the school holidays the kids and I packed a picnic lunch and headed to a nearby wooded area for …
In collaboration with James Villas Holidays. Many, many years ago I had the privilege of visiting the island of Sardinia on an all expenses paid whirlwind weekend trip. It was the car launch for the Fiat Idea and I was a plus one, and let me tell you, I have never been so wined and dined …
They say that familiarity breeds contempt. I’ve called Shetland home now for over 17 years. Shetland, in case you don’t know, is a little island archipelago in the North Sea midway between Iceland, Norway and Scotland. It measures a mere 80 miles from tip to tip and about 35 miles wide. It really is a …
In collaboration with Heinz [Seriously] Good Mayonnaise. I confess, when I was growing up in Canada mayonnaise was not one of those things that regularly appeared on the menu. In fact, I actively avoided it as it was this strange, unsual condiment and I really had no idea what I was supposed to do with …
In collaboration with Chippa – the UK’s only free-from condiment range. There’s something intensely satisfying about a table filled with food, a table so full that there’s no room to sit – you all have to stand around the outside of it and pick, graze and nibble until your belly is full. What makes it even better …
In collaboration with Spam. Good weather was predicted for yesterday. 16 degrees C, the BBC weather app was saying, with full sun the entire day. In reality, the car temperature thermometer read 22 C. It rarely gets that hot here in Shetland even in the middle of the summer, let alone the beginning of May. …
In collaboration with Bertolli – A Taste of the Mediterranean. Pasta has got to be one of those ultimate comfort foods, wouldn’t you agree? It’s a remarkably versatile ingredient, inexpensive and quick to cook too, so you’re never more than a few minutes from a steaming hot bowl of indulgent carbohydrates. I find it fascinating how …
In collaboration with Delicious Alchemy: Gluten Free Magic. One of the most common food intolerances in the UK, and in fact much of the Western world, is that of gluten – a protein found in many cereal grains, especially wheat, which gives bread its characteristic elasticity. More and more people are becoming intolerant to this …
I’m always looking for speedy supper ideas. As much as I love spending time over the cooker, some nights I really can not be bothered. Those nights tend to be the three nights in the week I’m working in our village co-operative – my ‘getting out of the house’ job where I work a few …
Scones were one of the first recipes I learned how to make as a child. Baking powder biscuits, they were called, back in the rural Cape Breton of my childhood. They were served warm with plenty of butter and, bizarrely enough, lashing of blackstrap molasses. Oh my goodness gracious me what fond memories I have …
In collaboration with Expedia and their #WorldonaPlate Challenge. It’s funny how our tastes change as we grow up. My childhood diet was quite limited – baked meat and mashed potatoes being the staple, supplemented with seasonal wild fruits harvested ourselves (one wild strawberry for the basket, three for me!). I was very reluctant to try …
In collaboration with Veetee Rice. I love home cooking, I really do. I enjoy the whole chopping, preparing and assembling process which results in a nice, tasty home cooked meal for the family, but time isn’t always on my side. Sometimes, at the end of a long, busy day ferrying children to clubs and events, …
In collaboration with Rennies. The summer growing season is officially in full swing! Poor weather for the first half of this year has meant that many gardens in Shetland have been suffering. Things haven’t been growing as well as they could be and so we’ve only started receiving weekly (instead of fortnightly) vegetable box deliveries. …
A light and fluffy gluten free orange and almond cake soaked in citrus syrup. I had a proper day off yesterday. I woke early with no imminent deadlines to worry about, it wasn’t raining, and I could fill my day with what I pleased. It was bliss!
This deliciously crunchy, buttery oatcakes recipe is made in true Cape Breton style. Serve with plenty of butter, cheese, or jam and a cup of hot tea to dunk! This post also includes some of my Cape Breton genealogy as well as Amazon affiliate links. We earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra expense to …
Nothing beats a home made pizza on a Friday night! We’re a pizza loving family, it has to be said. My bread machine, gifted by my mother-in-law a few years ago, has a convenient 45 minute pizza dough cycle, so there’s absolutely no excuse for not making home made pizza on a Friday night. Simply …
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 …
“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 …
Pastitsio is a Greek-style macaroni cheese pie. In this easy family favourite recipe layers of ooey gooey macaroni cheese sandwich a spiced lamb mince. Recipe originally published in 2015 and was updated in March 2019 with new photos. What is Pastitsio? Pastitsio sometimes spelt pastichio, is a Greek baked pasta dish with made ground meat …
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 …
