Hello! Over the past few weeks, I promised to share a list of 25 Best Summer Reads, and I'm so happy to have it ready for you! Photo by Terry Joshi I have curated a list of 25 novels I love and I hope you will too! From historical fiction with strong female characters to some great mysteries, a few light reads and a bit of fantasy, there's something for just about everyone here. The post includes a free downloadable printable list to make it easy to keep track of the books you would like to...
29 days ago • 1 min read
Hello from the sunny south of England! May always feels like a month of gentle contrasts to me — warm, sunny days interspersed with rainy, cool ones, new beginnings as well as recollections of days gone by. From a treasured family memory of VE Day to a visit steeped in royal history, fresh spring recipes and a rediscovered love of handwritten pages, here are a few musings and inspirations I’d love to share with you as the month begins – along with a few surprises I have been working away at...
2 months ago • 5 min read
Hello! Whether you're celebrating Easter, observing Passover, or simply savouring the joys of spring (or autumn in the southern hemisphere), this time of year is all about fresh beginnings and gathering with friends and loved ones. There’s nothing quite like a good catch-up over a relaxed weekend brunch. If you’re planning one anytime soon, I’ve got some deliciously simple ideas and recipes to help you make it extra special. Tips For Hosting a Relaxed Brunch Keep things as simple and...
3 months ago • 3 min read
Hello Reader, Feeling daunted by the recent advice to eat 30 different plants a week? I totally understand, but I promise it's easier - and more delicious - than you might think. In my experience, it can even be fun. Eating 30 different plant foods a week is not about being entirely-plant based, it's about introducing even more variety and choice to your menus. It's a great way to support your gut health, boost your immune system, and reduce the risk of chronic conditions like heart disease...
3 months ago • 3 min read
Celebrating the Everyday I don't know about you, but I'm finding the constant onslaught of rather alarming news to be a tiny bit wearing, and sometimes downright frightening. But other than avoiding the news, there really is not a whole lot I can do about most of what is happening. So I decided to fight back by celebrating the little things, the everyday stuff that seems like it does not matter, but that I would miss like anything if I couldn't do it anymore. And do you know what? It's really...
4 months ago • 3 min read
Hello February... I like to think of February as the month of all kinds of love - love for our friends, families, partners if we have them, our pets and fellow humans. There is so much going on in the world that is unsettling or even downright alarming, but if we focus on love, it can change our perspective and bring us hope. Even if you have mixed feelings about Valentine's Day or think of it as a bit of a "Hallmark holiday", looking at it as inspiration for a month of love can make...
5 months ago • 2 min read
January Encouragement and Inspiration As I write this, I am sitting in my cosy study looking out at frost-coated branches and frozen spider webs that look like works of art. The sky is heavy with cloud, but it's bright and there is a glint of sunshine peeking through, making everything sparkle. We are nearly half way through January, a month that for those of us in the northern hemisphere can be quite gloomy and cold, so these sun-dappled days are especially precious. Those of you in the...
6 months ago • 4 min read
Are You Excited For the New Year? I hope that this newsletter finds you enjoying the holiday season and looking forward to a fresh start. As we welcome a New Year, there’s often a sense of pressure to have everything in place—lists organised, resolutions set, and a clear path ahead. I like the idea of starting the year with a plan, but it's perfectly okay if you - like me - will not have all your goals and aspirations in place at the stroke of midnight on December 31st. We need to take our...
6 months ago • 4 min read
Happy Twixmas! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas! If you are celebrating Hanukkah, I'm sending warm wishes and I am wishing everyone a very Happy Twixmas! I want to thank so many of you who have left comments on the website or reached out to share your successes with my Christmas recipes, I love hearing from you all and it makes me so happy to know that my family recipes are becoming part of your family traditions as well. Christmas Leftovers Are you struggling to make the most of your...
6 months ago • 2 min read