Sweet Things

One of the surest signs that summer is on the way to Munich is the re-emergence of my local fruit stand on Munich’s Sonnenstraße. Perched in the most unlikely place amid the hustle and bustle, trams, buses, commuters and traffic of this busy street, this fruit stand appears only for the summer months. Piled high […]

Blue skies over Munich today. There is a hint of summer in the air, in the warmth of the sun and the gentle smell of grass and hay that wafts through the city when the wind comes from the south. We haven’t even had spring yet, but the warmer days are so close I can […]

Today, I’ve got beautiful Portugal on my mind. I adore Portugal: the warm and friendly people, the colourful landscape, and the stunning UNESCO heritage cities dotted all over with the most amazing tiles. The old fashioned trams and winding streets, and yes, oh yes, the food. And what food could be more associated with Portugal […]

Lemon curd has to be one of my favourite things in the world. The very best curd is the perfect balance between sweet, sour, creamy and buttery. Whether you eat it spread on toast, fold it through softly whipped cream for filling a sponge cake, or as the base to a quick lemon tart or […]

Hooray, it’s nearly the weekend. Here in Munich it is a blue sky day, bright and sunny and a balmy -3°C! The temperature doesn’t bother me in the least and during these darker months I crave sunshine so I’m soaking up every possible ray. I’m also thinking about breakfast for the weekend, and what could […]

Ok, so we all know I am a sucker for a bargain, which means when I spotted a kilo of luscious, juicy looking blueberries at the market today for only €4 they went directly in my basket without a second thought. I knew immediately what I was going to do with these blue beauties: a […]

Honey, Lemon and Raspberry Tart has a lusciously light, honey, cream, and lemon filling, set off with tart and juicy raspberries in a nutty pastry crust.

Kiss me quick, I’m Irish – well, one-sixteenth or so at least! Just a quick Cocktail Hour recipe today in honour of Saint Patrick’s Day, that famous drink from the Emerald Isle and much-beloved tipple of my mother, Irish Cream.  Homemade Irish Cream couldn’t be easier to make, tastes streets ahead of the commercial stuff, […]

It’s Valentine’s Day, the sun is shining and the florists are doing a roaring trade. Despite all the commercial corniness, I think the world needs a little more love and a bit of cheering up, so if we need the excuse of a particular day to spoil our partners, give some gifts and share a […]

I am still working my way through the mass of mangoes that I bought from the markets the other day, (I know, life is hard) and as the summer swelters on I couldn’t resist making a few of my favourite sweet treats: Mango Vanilla Nice Blocks. Even though I love this season, I always spend […]

While I may have summer on my mind, Bavaria is having a gloriously sunny, mild autumn, the bright blue skies a beautiful contrast to the falling leaves outside. If you’ve been following along, you‘ll know that Sunday is my favourite day for baking, especially when there is a little chill in the air. The shops […]

I have been watching the news from Australia with a bit of a heavy heart – due to industrial sabotage the strawberry growing community has been devastated. For those who haven’t been following, someone, or someones unknown has/have been hiding needles inside fresh strawberries with over 100 cases so far across the whole continent.  While […]

Red Currant Crumble Cakes (Johannisbeer Streusaltaler) are a long-standing German bakery favourite. Made from soft, enriched yeast dough and topped with a generous amount of tart red currants and masses of buttery streusel, these sweet treats are completely addictive!

Yesterday it poured with rain. All day. I’m not complaining, as these are my favourite days to hang out in the kitchen, put some jazz on the stereo, (good, vocal jazz, think Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Lena Horne), tie on my apron and get to baking. What could be more perfect on a dark, […]

We are back in Munich and summer is in the air. The sun is shining, the chestnut trees are verdantly green, and of course, the beer gardens are in full swing. Munich is such a summer city, with most days hot and clear, followed by an evening thunderstorm to wash away the humidity. I am […]

Every baker needs a never-fail, guaranteed-to-impress, showstopper, easy chocolate cake recipe in their baking arsenal. Let me tell you, this is that cake. Invented in the early 20th century by Hershey’s, this is one of those recipes that has been tried and tested and handed down through the generations. It never fails to impress with […]

Beautiful autumn continues here in Bavaria, this entire week has been cool, but beautifully clear and sunny – perfect for all the people celebrating the Oktoberfest on the Wiesn.  This morning has dawned grey and cool, which is the ideal kind of day to spend in the kitchen thinking about warming autumnal flavours and writing […]

Wow. July has just flown past! We have been so busy I’ve hardly had time to think – but I’m not complaining. We had a glorious trip to Zürich to see beautiful Lily and her wonderful mother Marianne, who spoiled us rotten as well as giving up loads of her time to show us around […]

I was working in a small village out of Munich the other day, and when I went out to buy lunch at the local bakery I stopped dead in my tracks. There, sitting in the counter window was such a glorious looking, braided bread, staring up at me, begging to be bought and eaten. One […]