cooking


How to Make Potato Rösti 

We really love Potato Rösti and it is something we always order from Bettys which is a local institution that is a Yorkshire/Swiss tearoom that serves amazing food. I always assumed that there was some magical ingredient involved in addition to potatoes to make potato rosti and they would be hard to make, but I was wrong. Once you follow a few simple tips, this potato rösti will be easy to make.


Peanut butter and Jelly Scones

Peanut butter and Jelly Scones is a paid collaborative post with SKIPPY® peanut butter to celebrate summer. So when I think of afternoons in the garden or picnics in the park, I always think of scones. They are a summer favourite and an English classic, so I decided to combine the classic American flavours of Peanut Butter and Jelly and create some delicious peanut butter scones to be served with seedless raspberry jam (or jelly as it is called in the US) using my boys favourite SKIPPY® peanut butter which is creamy and delicious.


King Prawn and Spicy Maple Curry – Cooking with Teens

King Prawn and Spicy Maple Curry – Cooking with Teens is a paid collaborative post with Maple from Canada. People who have been following this blog for a while will know that encouraging children to cook is a passion of mine. I believe it is a life skill that we need to empower in our children.


Rhubarb Brulee Cheesecake – cooking with kids 16

I look cooking with my boys.  When they were small I was determined that I would provide them with life skills and cooking was one that was key.  I grew up cooking by my Mum’s side and I wanted the same for the boys.  This Rhubarb Brulee Cheesecake is a twist on a classic New York cheese cake is a real crowd pleaser.


Oreo dirt desserts or chocolate mint puddings 28

This shop and recipe for Oreo dirt desserts or chocolate mint puddings has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CollectiveBias We have been busy planting in the garden and to celebrate this I decided to make some Oreo dirt desserts or chocolate mint puddings.  We have made dirt desserts with jelly worms in the past (I was first introduced to them in California) and this time I want to make them a little more adult.


Hacks for leftover food 17

We have been making the most of a fabulous week of weather here in the North Yorkshire for the second week of the school Easter holidays (hence the lack of posting this week)! Holidays for us mean lots of family activities and lots of cooking and eating together.   With two boys aged ten and nearly nine I have to make my food stretch and with these hacks for leftover food you will never throw any food away again!


Eggy Bread – cooking with kids 23

The aim of our cooking with kids series is to encourage the boys to try new foods, but also to build on basic cooking skills and provide them with a repertoire of usable recipes.  Eggy bread is one of those simple recipes that I know they will return to a lot (they have already made it for breakfast three days on the trot).


Cinnamon Apple Fries 26

Back in 2013 we visited LEGOLAND Florida twice, yes twice and one of the highlights for me was the Granny Smith apple fries, which are delicious cinnamon apple fries. I have tried to bake these fries and also attempted to cook them in the air fryer, but trust me you need to actually fry these in vegetable oil to get the crisp coating.  The secret is to cook a few at a time in a really hot oil, that way the outside crisps and prevents the inside absorbing oil.


The best Carrot cake in the world – c is for carrot 32

Yes I know it is a big things to say, but this really is the best carrot cake in the whole wide world.  We have tried others and nothing comes close and other people have made out best carrot cake in the world and agree with us. We do to even peel the carrots, just wash them and top and tail them.  This is a beautifully moist cake that is delicious and if you have kids that refuse carrots this will really turn them round. This recipe is great for making with kids as you do it all the mixing by hand.  


Pies, Cooking with kids 152

Hoorah! Its British Pie Week! We love pies in The Mad House, both savory and sweets ones and they are perfect for using with leftovers and also for cooking with kids.  So in celebration I have a cooking with kids pie special.  For the purpose of this round up, I am also including tarts and quiches which have a pastry bottom!  For those reader in the UK I have teamed up with pie makers Higgidy to celebrate British Pie Week, so do read to the end to see our fab giveaway.


B is for.. Banana Muffins – Cooking with kids 36

So here is part 2 of our fab new series the A-Z of cooking with kids.  You can find A is for Apple Muffins here.  Today is B is for Banana Muffins.  My kids have been know to allow bananas to turn so that they can make these as they are their favorite muffins in the whole wild world. These are simple to make, delicious, moreish and perfect for freezing.