the kitchen

I don’t have a massive kitchen and it is definitely nothing like some of those that you may see on cooking programmes, but I love it!

the heart of our home

We cook and eat here, but it is also a site for painting/play dough etc.! Things I couldn’t do without are 1) my Kitchenaid mixer; baking would be a chore without, but with it is a dream!, 2) my Rangemaster as 2 ovens is an absolute necessity for me most Sundays…. and it makes up for the fact that we don’t have gas here!, 3) my blender; soup, cocktails… you name it, I can zuzz it!, 4) tongs for turning meat/veg when cooking and 5) Le Creuset casserole – a Wintertime staple piece of equipment – I also have a slow cooker which is also amazing when I have a busy day or when we are goign on a Sunday morning walk in the woods.  I also bought a light and flat griddle pan (propped up on the cooker) from a fantastic shop called ‘Sur La Table’ in the States. It is invaluable on days when I’m cooking pancakes, cooked breakfast or grilling meat, fish or veg as I can get lots done at the same time.

Baking made easy

the Rangemaster, the griddle and the le Creuset

my Rangemaster American-style fridge/freezer - is it right to love an inanimate object this much?

I have had some silly purchases (always in John Lewis Jan clearance!) namely …. a juicer (I am not ever going to have the juicing willpower of Gillian McKeith), a raclette/table top grill (inspired by a holiday to Lisbon – burned a hole in our old table on first outing) and our coffee machine (which sits redundant, unfortunately, while we make cafetiere after cafetiere). Lessons have been learned and I now know to evaluate how much I would use it and consider how lazy I can be; the most recent clearance purchase is indicative of this…. a Dora the Explorer toasted sandwich maker – in almost weekly use by one member of the household!!

Where it all started... Abbie's love for cooking began and is still developed here - she is very creative in the dishes she makes!