The English Kitchen: ABOUT ME

Did You Know???

Make Your Own Self Raising Flour: You can make your own self raising flour by adding 1 1/2 tsp of baking powder and 1/4 tsp of salt to every cup of plain flour.
Make Your Own Baking Powder: You can make your own baking powder by combining 1 tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda with 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar. It's ideal for coeliac sufferers who can't find the gluten-free variety of this raising agent, but measure it out carefully because too much or too little can upset a recipe's balance. Make Your Own Mixed Spice: You can easily make your own mixed spice: Combine 1 TBS ground cinnamon, 1 tsp each of ground coriander and nutmeg, 1/2 tsp of ground ginger, 1/4 tsp each of ground cloves and all spice. Mix well and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months. Make Your Own Cajun Seasoning: Mix together 2 1/2 TBS of salt, 1 TBS dried oregano leaves (Rub to a powder using your fingertips), 1 TBS sweet paprika, 1 TBS cayenne pepper, and 1 TBS ground black pepper. Store in an airtight container for up to six months. Make Your Own Pumpkin Pie Spice: Mix together 1 TBS ground cinnamon, 2 tsp ground ginger, 1/2 tsp ground cloves, 1/2 tsp ground allspice, 1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg and a pinch of ground mace or ground cardamom. Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months. Make Your Own Italian Seasoning: Mix together 3 TBS dried basil, 3 TBS dried oregano, 3 TBS dried parsley, 1 TBS garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1 tsp dried rosemary, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes. Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

Welcome to my English Kitchen. I moved over here to England from Canada in the year 2000. Before I arrived, I was told that the cooking and food over here was awful, except for the Roast Beef and the Fish and Chips. I had no idea of what to expect, but it didn't sound good. I landed at Heathrow with a bulging suitcase full of kitchen tools, handwritten recipes and a 4 litre can of Maple Syrup, totally prepared to be greeted with the worst. I am happy to say that over the past 12 years I have discovered that most of what I had heard was totally and completely wrong! Here in the UK we have some of the best poultry, meats, fishes, ingredients and produce in the world, and some of the most innovative chefs. I have learned so much about cooking in the past twelve years, and I've enjoyed trying and experiencing many new things, thankfully most of them wonderfully delicious! I love English food . . . both the traditional, and the wonderful blend that is modern British Cuisine . . . a delicious mixture of a variety of tastes and cultures. I hope you'll come along with me as I explore all the wonderful tastes, sights and textures that England has to offer even the most discerning of palates.

Buy My Cookbook

A lot of you have suggested that I write a cookbook. The good news is I already have. Recipes From The Big Blue Binder. A delicious sampling of all my tried and trues, and family favourites gleaned from a lifetime of love and good cookin'! Find such favourites as Banana Granola Pancakes, Mom's Split Pea Soup, Chicken Caesar Salad Pizza, and Grammy Woodworth's Blueberry Buckle to name but a few. 178 pages of delicious recipes and beautiful colour pictures, available as a lovely book or as a download. You can click on the book to go to my storefront to purchase. If you already own it, please feel free to leave feedback on my Lulu page. Thanks so much!

“She turned to the sunlight
And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbor:
"Winter is dead.”
~AA Milne, when we were very young

NOTE: I am away at the moment helping my mother with her treatment for lung cancer. I have set up a few posts to post whilst I am away as a special surprise. Some are new and some are reposts of old favourites that you may have forgotten, or if you are a new reader may not even have seen. I'll be back at the end of May, but in the meantime . . . Enjoy!

PS - I will only have sporadic internet use, so if you ask a question and I don't get back to you . . . it's not that I don't want to. It just may take me a while.

ABOUT ME

I am not married to a cowboy and I do not live on a ranch out in the middle of nowhere. I'm not young, nor am I beautiful. You will not find tips on here concerning how to take the best food photographs in the world. You may not even find the best food photographs in the world. What I can promise you though is good food and great recipes. These are my tried and true's . . . my experiments and successes, and maybe even a few failures . . . both as a home cook and through my experience as having worked as a personal chef for many years. I am not fancy. But I am good. There won't be anything here that I don't think anyone can cook, and I will endeavour to show you how to cook whatever it is I am cooking in the very best possible way, and hopefully we can all have some fun, and a few laughs along the way. Simple ingredients, simple methods, fantastic flavours. That is my promise to you.

26 comments:

Marthanna said...: Just found your blog today looking for a candied peel recipe...absolutely amazed at the amount of great recipes and information. Just bought your Christmas booklet...keep up the great work, can hardly wait to start cooking up a great holiday season! Thanks Marie! :)

Martha Clark
Buda, TX; 15 November 2012 02:49
Marthanna said...: This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.; 15 November 2012 02:51
Karen said...: I just love your blog and would love to pin it on Pinterest but I don't see a link. Great and interesting recipes.; 27 November 2012 03:19
Marie said...: Not sure what you mean by that Karen. If you have Pinterest, you should have a Pin it button on your browser which would enable you to pin anything you want to pin???

Thanks for your kind words! I do put a lot of work into my page and I am always happy to hear that people appreciate it.

Marthanna, I hope you enjoyed the cook-booklet!!; 27 November 2012 08:34
Anna Marie Tang said...: Hi Marie.
I stumbled onto your blog this evening and am enjoying it thoroughly! I very much admire England (I am from America.) There are so many good looking recipes that it is hard to know where to start.

AnnaMarie; 8 December 2012 10:02
Al said...: Hi Marie,

At last! A very useful blog about the GREAT English kitchen. I have lived in in the UK for over 20 years (now back in NL) and I've been missing all the lovely pies, chutneys, cakes, and roast foods,. I don't know where the myth of the English kitchen being less than others comes from but let me say there is no kitchen which gives such a comfort feeling as the english kitchen,. The dutch do have a bad kitchen and most do not know how to cook (everything comes out of a packet).
Thank you, thank you, thank you :); 15 December 2012 11:03
KandS said...: Hi Marie,

Thank you for all your wonderfull recipes.

KandS from Belgium; 19 December 2012 20:31
Angel Coker said...: I was just browsing your blog... can't wait to try some recipes (I especially am keen on the lemon ones.) I noticed that someone asked about how to pin something from the internet onto Pinterest. Here's the link from their site on how to add it to your bar: http://pinterest.com/about/goodies/
Now... back to browsing!; 29 December 2012 15:23
Jane said...: What a lovely introduction!; 26 January 2013 13:41
Sandy Edwards said...: Love love love your blog; 14 February 2013 00:29
Sandy Edwards said...: Love Love Love your blog; 14 February 2013 00:30
cherrybob1 said...: Was searching for orchard images for a catalog cover and came across your blog/website. Just wanted to congratulate you on creating such an authentic place in a medium that is difficult to do that! All my best to you.
Bob Sutherland, Glen Arbor; 19 February 2013 02:31
Christina Conte said...: Greetings from California, Marie! I just found you this morning and LOVE your blog! You are a woman after my own heart: trying to change the myth of "bad" British food! I grew up in Scotland to Italian parents, so I loved that you wrote about your misconception about English food before you went was totally blown away after you tasted the food the UK has to offer! Have you travelled to Scotland yet? Brilliant food there too! I hope you check out my blog too, however I've only been doing it about a year: http://christinascucina.blogspot.com Christina :); 21 February 2013 15:19
Homebird said...: I was wondering if I could include one of your recipes for banana and date muffins in my blog- you would get all the credit obviously!! They were AMAZING!!; 5 April 2013 15:19
Marie said...: So glad you enjoyed Homebird! Happy for you to share! They are pretty amazing, I agree! xx; 5 April 2013 15:44
Kyra M. said...: I'd like to invite you again to the CookEatShare Author Network. I don’t want the over 1 million unique monthly visitors to CookEatShare.com to miss out on your wonderful food.

By joining our Author Network, your blog posts will be indexed and users will be guided to your actual blog when searching your recipes or profile.

The service is free and easy to sign up for. Simply visit www.cookeatshare.com/blogs/apply or contact me at Kyra@cookeatshare.com. You'll get a unique link to claim and customize your profile. We look forward having you in our network!; 18 April 2013 00:48
Linda said...: I'm really glad you're who you are and I look forward to trying some of your recipes. I'm an Anglophile to the core even though I'm a Texan! I hope your Mom's doing well.; 18 April 2013 01:39
KSheLady said...: I cyber walked over here from Welcome Home. I now follow you on Pinterest! Love that place. My name is Karen Brightwell if you want to follow me. I am looking forward to trying out your recipes! Loved your introduction and I hope your mom is okay...see you in May!; 18 April 2013 02:44
evelyn1954 said...: I too had the same question that Karen had. I am kinda new to Pinterest and don't/didn't know how to "pin" a recipe with the pin button on the recipe.
Thank you Angel for explaining and the link I just tried it and now have a "pin" button on my toolbar :) I'm learning new things every day.
I do want to saw I do love your blog I just found it this morning and am still reading.
Hope your Mom is doing well I'm a 5 year Stage III BC survivor I wish her good health. I am also a care giver for my 93 year old Mother (she has lived with us and is total care for 6 years) that had 3 major strokes 6 years ago. So I also know the care giving side also.
Well wishes coming from Ohio USA; 21 April 2013 15:18
kanaboke said...: Your About Me made me smile!! Blessings for your mom and for you as a caregiver!; 25 April 2013 16:46
Johnny Parker said...: Really enjoyed your blog lovely photos too ,I started a little blog last year so taking lots of inspiration Johnnys Kitchen blog; 29 April 2013 15:14
Colette Just for Foodies said...: Marie, you ARE beautiful and I so enjoy your blog.

Wishing the very best for your mom. I'm currently undergoing chemo for breast cancer and can relate. Get her a fun & cute wig and push forward! oxo, Colette; 11 May 2013 01:31
Marie said...: Thanks Colette, that is so kind of you to say. I am glad you enjoy my blog. I do put a lot of work into it. Mom's cancer surgery went well, but there were some complications afterwards which mean she is still in hospital. Mom is a breast cancer survivor of 31 years. She opted for complete radical mastectomy and then reconstruction. We are hoping that she will soon be able to come home. It is discouraging for her to still be in hospital. Xxoo; 11 May 2013 10:49
The Twilight Chef said...: Hi Marie - I have just been looking at your blog and it is brilliant, I really love it. i have just started my own food blog and have got a lot of ideas and inspiration from your one. I am also based in the UK so can really appreciate your celebration of British foods. Thanks and looking forward to seeing your next post. I hope all is ok with you and your Mum. Best Wishes to you both.; 14 May 2013 16:22
Marie said...: Thanks Twilight Chef. Mom has had a few complications, but is doing better now. It was a bit touch and go for a while. Hoping we have turned a corner now! Welcome to the beautifully addictive world of food blogging!; 14 May 2013 19:04
Colette Just for Foodies said...: Hi, Marie.
That's a huge surgery your mom just had. But, she's in good hands and will be home before you know it.
Sending you best wishes. oxo; 17 May 2013 17:16