It’s that time of the year when I share a list of ideas for seasonal gifts – whatever you celebrate, or even if you just love giving and receiving presents, here are some lovely things that might appeal. These ideas are a mix of products I have tried myself and others that I covet! ... Read more »
I shared my pick of books already. Here’s the rest of my Christmas Gift Guide 2014. Bordallo Pinheiro Melon Bowls These gorgeously shaped and coloured Melon bowls, designed by Portuguese artist, Rafael Bordallo Pinheiro, are available in two sizes, 15 cm and 25 cm (£18.50 / £36.50). Bordallo’s pumpkin and orange designs are also lovely, ... Read more »
I’ve been a little slow in assembling my Christmas Gift Guide this year, so I’ll share it in installments. Here’s the first; for lovers of books. Noodle! by MiMi Aye I’ll preface this recommendation with the statement that the author, MiMi Aye, is a friend of mine so, of course, I wish her book to ... Read more »
These delicious individual marzipan cakes are thanks to my friend Lisa, who made them recently using a Nigella Lawson recipe for a full size marzipan cake. Lisa decided to pour the batter into a muffin mould to make individual cakes instead of one large cake, which appealed to me hugely. I took note of her feedback ... Read more »
Husky sledding at Sweden’s Ice Hotel – © Kavita Favelle 2012 ... Read more »
Kyoto City of Temples With a staggering two thousand Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, City of Temples is an apt epithet for Japan’s former imperial capital. One of the delights of a trip to Kyoto is not only visiting the famous ones in all the tourist guides but stumbling unexpectedly across so many others as ... Read more »
My sister and I were definitely Blue Peter girls. We loved making the many craft projects shown on the programme. I remember spending weeks making a cardboard dolls house with lots of furniture inside: instructions for additional items taught across a series of episodes; one week a chest of drawers made from matchboxes with split ... Read more »
I have always had a sweet-tooth. I’m overly sensitive to sour and bitter flavour profiles, so much so that I find regular wines make my jaw muscles clench in reaction to the taste – to me even those usually described as medium taste far too much like vinegar. It’s also the reason I struggle with ... Read more »
Having put so much time and effort into creating my previous Christmas gift guides, it’s lovely to be asked by regular readers when my 2013 one will be ready. Of course, that’s hugely gratifying – it makes me very happy that people find my gift guides helpful – but does put the pressure on when ... Read more »
Whether you spell it speculoos (French and Flemish) or speculaas (Dutch), it’s utterly delicious and absolutely perfect for Christmas! Speculoos are spiced shortcrust biscuits associated with the feast of Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas) in early December. Made from flour, brown sugar and butter with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cardamom and white pepper, they are a key ... Read more »
The Place of Onions, in old Lille. After last night’s rainstorm the intense sticky heat has broken and today is cool, breezy, fresh… I love it! A drop of… [more]
We went to Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire at The Void this morning, an amazing VR experience where we got to be Rebel Alliance members going undercover as… [more]