CAROB CHEESECAKE

Leaving the country seems to be very much in fashion this season; and if the individuals doing so had a pack of carob powder lying abandoned at the back of their kitchen cupboard, they too would be making this wonderful thing called, carob cheesecake.

OREO CRUMB FUDGE

It's not for me to know when winter and its green wool jumper will grant us earthlings a half-time break; or when I'll find the words again, and sing the songs I should have sung; or when the scene will light up and I'll notice forgiveness at the side of the stage; but, strange to say, I'll be here waiting, with my comrades by my side; and I've made some comforting Oreo crumb fudge for us to nibble on, and put hazelnuts in it especially.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CHESTNUT THUMBPRINT COOKIES

They say it’s all about the little things so I say, make a toast to Pret coffees on the house, pack your wardrobe with pretty summer dresses, buy Lego notebooks for your friends, read Italian patisserie recipe books until you feel the urge to bake enough crostata to feed an army, and if all this is still not enough to fill the hole in your heart, then go fill your stomach (it works just as well). May I suggest that you make chocolatey hazelnutty chestnut flour cookies that are so delicious and that you can share with the whole universe as they are vegan and gluten-free and no Oreo-manufacturing Scottish cows were harmed in the process.

At your service.

CAROB HAZELNUT SPREAD

My very good friend carob is back. This time, it’s in spread form and it saves me from impending poverty. It might be that I’m now the one and only tenant of a flat in trendy (?) Dalston, or that yesterday evening I drowned my sorrows in my other very good friend dark chocolate spread, officially running out. In either case, my survival instinct took over and lead me to my pack of carob powder. And I made spread with it. Spread is my very good friend. So here it is, my dear, dear carob spread. Poverty I fear you not.

CHOCOLATE & HAZELNUT TARTLETS

Comfort food anyone?

CANDIED HAZELNUTS

These tasty nut things are so so easy to make. The weather has been so merciful to us that I didn’t want to spend ages in the kitchen, melting in front of the oven or on the hob to prepare some cake or cream or ganache or baked stuff. I’d rather go to the park with all my friends and enjoy the sun and drink lemonade and be merry.

No, I’m only joking. I’m munching on these whilst watching Masterchef with the curtains down and the company of my only friend Calvin the yak. Living the dream.