Cookbookmaniac
  • Chocolate Pear Pudding by Nigella Lawson
    Chocolate Pear Pudding by Nigella Lawson
    Baking Recipes

    I love corner shops, they have always been there for me. I could always count on them to have enough lollies, chips and ice cream to make me grin like a spoilt child. They were perfect for the after school snack of pies and sausage rolls in my teenage years. They were the place to get the newspaper and magazine for the bus/train ride to work as a young adult. I also love the corner shop because whenever I have a craving and want to make something simple and quick... I can simply duck over to the little shop around the corner. No need to start the engine of the car. No need to dress nicely. Sure its much more expensive, but the convenience is far more important when you just want a homemade chocolate cookie fix. The corner shop became my hero when I decided to pull this together…

  • Ham in Coca Cola by Nigella Lawson
    Ham in Coca Cola by Nigella Lawson
    American Recipes

    I have a quiet obsession with all things retro-kitsch-trashy. You wouldn't know it if you saw me. I mostly keep it to myself as I fear the sideways glance when people realise that I collect some of the stuff they tried to get rid of in their garage sale. I am not hardcore when it comes to going through vintage markets, I simply pick up items whenever I spot them. My obsession with cookbooks takes precedence. Here are some retro-kitsch-trashy things in my kitchen or on my mind * I have a timer in the shape of a hen with little chicks as the time guide * Two chicken-shaped egg holders live next to two owl salt'n'pepper shakers that sit on a celery green soap dish. * I have an ice cream scoop in the shape of an ice cream * Most of the items in my kitchen do not…

  • Hot Cross Buns by Nigella Lawson – Happy Easter!
    Hot Cross Buns by Nigella Lawson – Happy Easter!
    Baking Recipes

    House hunting. Patience is not a virtue of mine. If things aren't happening fast enough, a little voice inside my head starts panicking. I go into anxiety mode and either drop the whole thing altogether or scramble to try harder to get what I want. Looking for a house to buy has taught me a lot about patience. Pizzaboy and I have been house hunting for over a year now and it has tested me so me many times. Real estate agents, property prices and home loans have cluttered much of our conversations with friends and family since our venture into lifetime debt. I knew from the beginning it wouldn't be easy. We don't have all the money in the world to get what we want, and beggars can't be choosers... but we want a beautiful home, a gorgeous kitchen, a cool bathroom, a relaxing lounge room. So many things…