That was the Month that was March 2025
Great taste and a look back at what's been happening in March
Hello
Sorry for the lack of Newsletter last week. Truth be told its been a busy March but I haven’t been at my desk much this month and I simply ran out of time last week.
I have spent almost half of March in Suffolk. We have made the decision to turn one of our holiday cottages into a long term rental, which meant that we had to clear the house ready to let unfurnished. The first week I chose a good time to go as the weather was lovely but that meant I spent more time working in the gardens than in the cottages. Oops! Well you have to make the most of good weather don’t you!
I was up there just in time to give the Bramley apple a good pruning while still dormant, they are vigorous growers and need attention each year in that short spell between winter and spring. Outside the city there is a much closer connection to the changing seasons and with the immanent onset of spring the garden is bursting into life. It certainly lifted my spirits to spend time outside.
That week we had Pancake day and I fully intended to make pancakes. Although I was there on my own I had the ingredients ready and my recipes planned out. Except with the lovely weather I completely forgot! The Tuesday slipped by and before I knew it was Wednesday. Probably a good thing for my waistline, eating a whole stack of pancakes myself might have been a bit much!
With the house finally emptied I spent my second visit painting and decorating and doing minor DIY jobs.
Back in London last week I spent time judging food for the Great Taste Awards. Great Taste is the world’s largest and most trusted food and drink accreditation scheme. It’s the third year I have been a judge and it was as always, surprisingly hard work but great fun. Working freelance at home can be a bit lonely at times, so it is also a good opportunity to network and catch up with colleagues from the food industry and other cookery writers. Sadly no 3 stars were awarded on the days I was judging; only a handful of the thousands of products entered get those.
On my mini allotment, things are also springing into life. For this year we have planted new gooseberry bushes, and a kiwi fruit vine, and while we were there today I picked my first crop of rhubarb. The long anticipated first crop of rhubarb always tastes the best! Now I just have to decide what to make with it. Hmmm, rhubarb fool, rhubarb cake or rhubarb crumble tonight?
So as you can see, whilst not much work has occurred on my blogs, I have been busy and they say a change is a good as a rest. I have one more day of judging, then I am raring to get on with my planned revamp of some of my bread posts, including some that need reshooting. On my early posts my photography using a hand held i-phone was not up to scratch.
Until next time, have a delicious week
Fabulous Rhubarb Recipes
While rhubarb crumble is a classic there are so many delicious things you can make with rhubarb which is why deciding what to do with the first pickings is so hard.
How to Make Easter Eggs
Have you ever made your own Easter Eggs? I’ll show you how, it is fun and you can make your own personalised eggs too.
Penne with Peas and Spinach
Looking for a quick nutritious and economical mid week meal Try this pasta dish made with just 5 ingredients Penne, Peas, Baby spinach leaves, Crème fraîche and gruyere or any vegetarian cheese. On the table in around 20 minutes!
Sounds a busy month